Review: Horizon: Zero Dawn The Frozen Wilds is more than worth a visit

Platforms: PS4 (Code provided)

Developer: Guerilla Games

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

MSRP: $19.99 ($14.99 with PS Plus)

Introduction

Horizon: Zero Dawn was an incredible surprise when it released earlier this year. Coming from a developer who was only known for linear Sci-fi First Person Shooters, I wasn’t expecting much from Guerilla Games’ first attempt at an open world, Third-Person action RPG. And yet, they pulled it off, exceeding all of my expectations with a wonderfully crafted world, interesting characters, meaningful quests and a fascinating story that continually answered questions that were burning in the back of my mind. It was near-perfect.

The Frozen Wilds, Zero Dawn’s first and only expansion is a welcome addition, especially within the same year. It doesn’t feel like a cash-in. It wasn’t unveiled before the game’s release. Its announcement came after fans have already scoured the world of Zero Dawn and craved for more adventures for Aloy to go on, and Guerrilla Games once again delivered.

Go North

Like many quests in the base game whose NPC’s can differentiate between you beating the game or not, The Frozen Wilds is integrated in a way that you can access it either before, or after you complete the main story. However, with a suggested level of 30, you should at least get to that first before attempting to step into the new territory, as one of your first encounters will be with a new dino-mech, and it’s no walk in the park, even if you now laugh in the face of a Thunderjaw or a Rockbreaker.

This is largely because the machines in the North have a new Daemon affliction, which means just like ‘Corrupted’ mechs were more difficult than their standard counterparts, the Daemon mechs are even tougher. It’s certainly a welcome change, especially for my level 53 Aloy who scoffs at any challenge before her. With these new Daemon mechs, I once again had to be careful how I approach these combat situations, staying mindful of what kinds of weapons or ammunition I’m using.

The feeling of dread that was lost once you upgraded your gear and learned the mech’s attack patterns, was back again. Now, whenever I’d see blue lights in the distance, signaling a horde of mechs, with the chance of them being new to the Frozen Wilds expansion, I approached them with caution, sometimes even opting to take care of them later, when I knew I was better prepared.

Also new to this zone are Daemon Towers, new combat encounters that are similar to Corrupted Zones from the base game. Here, you not only have more difficult mechs to contend with, you also have to deal with the Daemon Towers which continually pulse energy and gradually heal the mechs around them. Each Tower location serves as a unique challenge, where you must figure out a way to disable the tower ASAP, either while taking on the mechs as you make your way toward the tower, or try to sneak past them and disable it in stealth. These challenges are fun, and there’s just enough of them where you’ll want to do more once you’ve done one, but not too many so it doesn’t become too repetitive. There’s also a brand new Hunting Ground, which is devilishly difficult, as well as a fairly large bandit camp.

All of this is tied to the Banuk Tribe, only referenced in the main game. It’s now the focus of the expansion, giving Aloy’s inquisitive and good-natured mind, even more, to learn about and take part in.

Skills and Gear and Bluegleam, oh my!

Aloy’s skill tree gets expanded with the Traveller branch, which provides some much needed post-game skills that wouldn’t otherwise feel all that great if starting a new game. One branch of the skill tree is focused on your Mount, allowing you to repair it if damaged, give you the ability to pick up resources while riding it or perform a powerful dismount attack. The other part of the skill tree is the game changer, allowing you to carry more resources (a problem I continually have), or give you a better chance at receiving rare drops from animals, which will make upgrading your various pouches much easier.

There’s a slew of new gear that you can get, whether it’s different armor that all have various specializations or all new weapons that act like rifles, allowing you to shoot electrified projectiles to stun enemies or to unleash a stream of fire with a flamethrower. However, even with these new weapons, I still found myself going back to my trusty bows. And even though I already possessed the Shield Weaver armor from the base game, I still found myself switching to some of the new armor sets, like the new stealth one, with mods attached that make me near invisible to enemies.

These new pieces of gear and weapons are all tied to Bluegleam, The Frozen Wilds’ new collectible that also acts as the expansion’s currency. You’ll earn Bluegleam by completing story and side quests, but there’s also a slew of them you’ll be able to find in the wild.

The gorgeous gets gorgeous-er

It’s no secret that Horizon: Zero Dawn was a looker, even without playing on a PS4 Pro back when it was first released. However, with a 4K TV and HDR, it became a showcase for Sony. The Frozen Wilds, somehow, looks even better. Guerrilla Games made their facial animations and motion capture more realistic and sprinkled some more interesting camera angles so you’re not constantly going from one static face shot to another static face shot. I remember being impressed when I first talked to one of the Frozen Wilds quest-givers, not remembering how they looked in the base game until I traveled back and initiated a conversation there. It’s not game changing by any means, but the subtle tweaks are noticeable.

The new area certainly steals the show. Upon entering it for the first time, seeing the dark red sky, and the sparkle of the white snow that crunched beneath each of my footsteps, that first impression was everything, and it just continued the further I delved. If the new area’s goal was to make me feel cold, it certainly succeeded.

Conclusion

At $20, and especially at $15 for PS Plus members, The Frozen Wilds expansion is a no-brainer. It’s more of what you loved in the base game, but more tightly constructed. The map isn’t overwhelmingly large, and the collectibles, side quests and activities are all manageable. And yet, the whole experience will still last you anywhere from 10-20 hours, depending on your willingness to simply get lost in the expansion’s beauty.

The new mechs and their Daemonic affliction are terrifying enough to once again make you scared of new encounters, even if you scoff at the face of danger. The story is also a bit more personal, focusing on spirituality and what it means in this post-apocalyptic world.

If Horizon: Zero Dawn hooked you with its concept and its wonderful approach to an open-world Action RPG, then The Frozen Wilds will sink those hooks even deeper.