The story of Aloy continues in the Burning Shores DLC exclusively on the PlayStation 5. Let’s jump right in!
On April 19th the Burning Shores DLC was released. Surprisingly it is exclusive to the PS5 console and you must of course have completed Forbidden West main story before you can jump into the game. HFW was one of the games I enjoyed in 2022 but I never really connected with Aloy no matter how many hours I have played the games. Yes, I’m a fan of the series, but, doesn’t sit in any of my top ten or even top twenty games … So how did I feel about Burning Shores?
Aloy must travel to Los Angeles to battle a new threat to the world. In this new chapter of her story we travel to an incredible coastal region that is filled with volcanic activity and new machines. Upon booting this game up I sighed thinking, are we going to see a story that is fun, but at times has bland storytelling? … But man was I wrong.
At the start of the game you’ll meet Sekya, a skilled Quen marine, who you’ll sail off with on our expedition. During this first part of the game I instantly felt something that I waited for in both HZD and HFW – connection to Aloy and so much excitement to see where this journey takes me.
One of the standouts for me in the Burning Shores DLC is the incredible attention to detail in the design of the coastal area, water and vibrancy of the jungle. It looks stunning. The other aspect is the new DLC quests with a compelling main story and engaging characters that once you start to uncover their interesting stories I wanted to complete all of the side quests. The puzzle solving was challenging and with a tonne of cool collectables to find it made exploring the greater region an absolute joy.
Aloy’s story felt well rounded in Burning Shores and I loved the more complex side of her I felt I finally got to see. Burning Shores may have been for some short but for us it felt the perfect length. We did encounter a few technical issues and frame rate drops but these were mainly in larger areas such as the Dinosaur theme park and very few when in battle. The main story boss does play out similarly to the previous games with Aloy battling it out with a mega villain called Londra. In Burning Shores you learn more of Londra and how diabolical he is to others giving Aloy more than enough reason to take him down. Without any spoilers the end battle is thrilling, challenging and downright epic. It was the best fight that I’ve ever played in the franchise.
In conclusion, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC is a must-play for fans of the series. Its captivating storyline, breathtaking visuals, and engaging gameplay mechanics provide a thrilling and immersive experience. The length is perfect and it gives more insight into Aloy, and the DLC delivers an exciting new chapter to the Horizon universe, leaving players eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.
Lover of all things gaming, film and technology from 80’s to now. My background in Marketing & Operations Management has provided me with a strong work ethic and ability to think outside the box.
