Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores Review: Flaw in the Machine
When Horizon Forbidden West, Guerrilla Games' sweeping post-post-apocalyptic epic sci-fi action RPG, came out in February last year, its highs and lows embodied the double-edged sword of video gaming. Its next-gen graphical fidelity, dynamic combat sandbox, and ambitious open world design were all dimmed by the lack of an emotional core. Not for a lack of trying, Forbidden West failed to ground its chaotic action with considered writing. Despite upgraded facial capture technology, fully animated cutscenes, and a crew of new support characters who all talked a lot, the game often felt bogged down by artificial clunk. While its lush flora, azure waters, and pristine mountains came to life in breathtaking visual detail, its people, more often than not, refused to do so. Even the series' torchbearer, the redheaded huntress Aloy, remained elusive.
Fourteen months on, Horizon's plucky protagonist returns to add another page to her saga with Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores, the game's first expansion. It adds a sizable new map section, new tools and toys, and new stories to the base content. Released April 19 on the PS5, Burning Shores attempts to address some of these complaints made against the main game, and expands on the series' lore as it dives deeper into science fiction territory. There are some novel mechanics at play, too. Aloy has a few new tricks up her quiver, and her aquatic adventures have received special attention in the DLC, with a focus on more ways to traverse the watery world. She's not alone in her travels either; while previous games in the series have included companions who join Aloy on quests, this time she has a proper partner in crime.
On the whole, Burning Shores seems to be a meaty package,
Read more on gadgets.ndtv.com
