Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores – A Return to Familiar Territory, but With a Glimpse of Deeper Meaning
Aloy’s journey continues in Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores, the first expansion for Guerrilla Games’ sprawling post-apocalyptic RPG. While the game offers a sizable new map, intriguing new machines, and fresh gameplay mechanics, it ultimately feels like more of the same. The familiar strengths of Forbidden West are present – stunning visuals, engaging combat, and a sprawling open world – but familiar weaknesses linger, leaving a lingering sense of déjà vu. Burning Shores struggles to break free from the established narrative and character patterns, offering a satisfying yet ultimately predictable experience.
A New World, Familiar Foes
Burning Shores takes players to the volcanic archipelago that was once Los Angeles, a landscape scarred by fire and ash. Here, Aloy encounters the Quen tribe, struggling to survive in this volatile environment. The main plot revolves around halting the plans of Walter Londra, a surviving Zenith with a sinister agenda. Londra, much like the Zeniths from the main game, embodies a stereotypical villain, lacking the depth and complexity that would make him truly memorable.
While the new setting offers visually stunning landscapes and opportunities for exploration, the central storyline feels relatively straightforward and lacks the emotional weight of the main Forbidden West narrative.
Aloy Finds a Friend (But Is It Enough?)
Perhaps the most significant addition to Burning Shores is Seyka, a skilled Quen warrior who becomes Aloy’s companion throughout the DLC. This marks a significant departure for the series, as Aloy has historically preferred to operate independently, often pushing away potential allies and embracing her loner status. Seyka, however, offers a compelling counterpoint – a skilled hunter who matches Aloy’s strength and provides a genuine sense of camaraderie.
The dynamic between Aloy and Seyka hints at a potential for deeper exploration of human relationships, particularly Aloy’s emotional growth. However, the relationship feels somewhat forced and underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more depth and complexity. While the attempt to address Aloy’s emotional detachment from others is commendable, it ultimately falls short of its potential.
An Enhanced Combat Sandbox
Burning Shores enhances the already impressive combat system of Forbidden West, offering new tools, abilities, and challenges. The addition of the Waterwing, a new amphibian machine that can both fly and swim, brings a new dimension to exploration and combat. Aloy also gains access to a variety of new weapons, including the Sharpshot bow and the Pulse Cannon, as well as new armor sets and upgrades for existing gear.
The grappling hook-like Grapple Strike is a standout addition, allowing for swift attacks and strategic maneuvers during combat. New enhancements to Aloy’s traversal options, including the ability to deploy shields and use weapons while gliding, contribute to a more dynamic and engaging combat experience.
A Short, Satisfying Dive
While the expansion offers a sizable new map and a plethora of activities to engage in, the main storyline is relatively short and leaves players with a sense of wanting more. This can be viewed either as a positive or negative depending on individual playstyles. However, the expansion does successfully expand on the lore of the Horizon universe, incorporating new details about the Zeniths and their motives, as well as their impact on the world.
Burning Shores is undeniably a visually stunning experience, with landscapes and environments that are breathtaking in their detail and realism. The game runs flawlessly on the PS5, showcasing the full potential of Guerrilla Games’ Decima Engine. While some minor technical issues exist, such as occasional popping and a slight layer of jank, they do little to detract from the overall experience.
Overall: A Familiar Yet Enjoyable Excursion
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores offers a worthwhile expansion for existing fans of the series, delivering a captivating blend of exploration, combat, and storytelling. The addition of Seyka provides a fresh perspective on Aloy’s character, while the new gameplay mechanics and expanded combat systems keep things feeling fresh and exciting.
However, the expansion ultimately falls into the trap of familiarity, offering a predictable narrative and a villain that lacks true depth and complexity. While Burning Shores offers a visually stunning and compelling experience, it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to delve further into the emotional complexities of Aloy and the wider world she inhabits.
Pros:
- Stunning visuals and detailed environments
- Engaging combat system with new weapons and abilities
- New machine types and traversal options
- Intriguing expansion of the game’s lore
Cons:
- Relatively short main storyline
- Underdeveloped and forced character dynamics
- Uninspired antagonist
Rating (out of 10): 8
