Horizon Zero Dawns DLC, The Frozen Wilds, has finally hit PS4. Is this a thrilling return to an awesome game or a disappointing add-on? Read on at Kidzworld!
By: Max Cannon
If it wasn't for a nasty glitch toward the end of the game, I would say that Horizon Zero Dawn is the most well-made game I played this year so I was gladly looking forward to diving into The Frozen Wilds DLC. And I'll say if you're up to the challenge, this is a fantastic chance to dive back into Aloy's world.
The Base Game
Here's what we had to say about the base game when we reviewed it back in February:
"I love Horizon Zero Dawn. It's probably the best RPG I've ever played, as crazily hyperbolic that sounds. When I play games like Skyim, Fallout, or The Witcher, I love the freedom and depth of the world but the gameplay often holds them back with boring combat and dated controls. Horizon bucks the trend that an RPG will control poorly and injects life into the genre.
So I'm going to continue to shower this game with praise and encourage every gamer to give it a try while I keep jumping for that handhold.
Why?
Because Horizon Zero Dawn is just that good."
Luckily, it turned out that the bug was fixed by the time the game came out and I was able to finish the game just in time. But the game is clearly so good that I was confident it's DLC would clean things up with the polish I was hoping for.
The snowy visuals of Horizon Zero Dawn have nothing on the DLC's world.Courtesy of PlayStation
Aloy Returns
If you've got a save file that's far enough in the game to allow you to play The Frozen Wilds you'll notice a new chunk of playable area toward the top of the map is now accessible. Once you venture in, the first thing you'll be sure to notice is that this game really is gorgeous and the second thing you'll see is that it's much more challenging. Of course, it visually astounds, just like the main game does, but the focus on much heavier snow gives a new biome even if you think you've seen it all in the base game. But, as you climb your first snowy mountain and hop into a cold river you'll find one of the toughest enemies yet in the game. And after taking it down, many deaths later, and seeing The Frozen Wilds appear on the screen I realized that things were going to be much harder this time.
The Banuk tribe is at the center of the story.Courtesy of PlayStation
If you're familiar with how the last game plays then you'll fare well in figuring out The Frozen Wilds. To keep spoilers light, the story brings Aloy together with a new tribe that shares a mutual friend. When the robotic creatures of The Cut are suddenly more powerful and violent than usual, Aloy teams up with the Banuk to solve the mystery. The main story is interesting but it's hard to get fully invested when you know how certain things unfold, especially because this DLC sets players before the conclusion of the main game. The lengthy 15 hours spent is constantly interesting not just because of the story and setting, which is fun to traverse and fits perfectly in the base game's world, but of course, it all comes down to the gameplay of which Horizon continues to deliver.
A Chillier Challenge
Things are much harder in this add-on than the main game. I certainly had a few moments that were pretty challenging when playing the game back in February but things never felt impossible. Right from the start, the odds felt insurmountable but I chalked that up to losing my familiarity with the game and while I certainly got into the swing of things as time went on, it's clear that this is a tough challenge. But when things feel at their hardest, making use of tools and abilities that weren't available in the base game feel like a necessity that forces you to adjust from any habits you developed last time you played.
The impressive vistas from the first game are just as impressive in the DLC.Courtesy of PlayStation
On top of using your new tools and skills, the new DLC seems to focus more exploration than before. The dense forests, snowy prairies, and steep mountains feel enormous and I've even found myself getting lost on most occasions finding myself too stubborn to open a map. I've also found that the game forces you to climb onto yellow climbing points more than I recall in the main game, it's not a problem but it's certainly something I noticed and stuck out every time I jumped onto a wall.
Enemies are much tougher this time around.Courtesy of PlayStation
Final Thoughts
I would've been truly surprised if I disliked this DLC. The main game was so impressive that there would have to be some serious missteps to turn me away. The story isn't as thrilling as the base game but the setting captivates and the increased challenge is fun to some and undoubtedly going to frustrate others.
Pros
- Awesome visuals
- Exciting Challenge
- New tools and abilities
Cons
- Challenge might be too much for some
Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds PS4 Game Rating:
Horizon Zero Dawn Cover Art
Available Now!
Have Your Say!
Did you get a chance to play Horizon Zero Dawn? Will you be picking up The Frozen Wilds ? Comment below
