(Image credit: Guerilla Games)

Aloy Enters the Frozen Wilds

Aloy’s debut was impressive back in 2017 with Horizon Zero Dawn, and my initial playthrough was a fantastic experience. The Complete Edition is out for both PC and PlayStation and lives up to the original third-person adventure. It contains the main campaign, the DLC The Frozen Wilds, and several content packs covering an expanded open-world worth playing. Since the developer Guerilla Games has not announced a full release date for Forbidden West, The Load Screen decided to give Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition a review.

The single-player RPG follows a young female outsider named Aloy as she hunts, grows, and discovers an ancient evil that once destroyed the world and threatens the post-apocalyptic present. She is strong and fearless after surviving the wilds with Rost, who is another outsider that cared for her since she was a baby. The story jumps from a short young child section to when she is old enough for the proving, a local challenge that is open to anyone if sponsored by a Matriarch. The story and gameplay open up after completing the trial missions, and the large open-world map becomes available for exploration.

The map size, including the DLC, is significantly large and full of epic sights, bandit camps, and loads of fun. This action-adventure RPG has plenty of cybernetic dinosaurs that can vary in beauty and danger. Aloy can take down most of the machines through a clever weakness system that changes with enemy type. The variety of enemies and their abilities gets more complicated as Aloy unravels her story. Some enemies are corrupted, a particular condition that gives ordinary machines enhanced skills and health regeneration. Machines found in the Cut have a separate nasty corruption that only appears in the DLC section. Of all the creatures Aloy runs into,  the gigantic Tallneck was the most awestriking since their skyscraper size dominates the landscape. They roam and give an unimpeded view of the world without requiring a leap of faith into a pile of hay.

(Image credit: Guerilla Games)

The map was also ripe with distinct tribes that have a variety of beliefs scattered everywhere. Some of them shunned anything robotic, like the Nora tribe Aloy is fighting to join. Other groups are not afraid to use parts of the machines in their everyday life, and their chieftains have elaborate headdresses made entirely from the robots. A Cybernetic prehistoric look dominates the beautiful landscape, but tribes have individual looks that often end up in gear that Aloy can acquire. Most tribes are eventually willing to reveal their rich stories, especially after getting help or a little taste of Aloy’s abilities. She never backs down from any challenge presented and has the skills to back it.

The basic combat and stealth mechanics are sound and presented well throughout the game. The walkthroughs never get overbearing, and the skills are utilized throughout all stages of progression. However, I felt that stealth mode started as just waiting for the enemy to complete its route while hiding in a bush, but it grew from there, especially when corrupted Sawtooth started showing up. Melee combat was always quick, and utilizing the bow made Aloy a hunter on par with Robin Hood at any distance.

Throughout the game, Aloy’s skills and proficiencies fit well within the prehistoric yet post-apocalyptic world built for Horizon Zero Dawn. Some skills benefit her foraging, such as increasing her carrying capacity to recovering additional parts from enemies. In contrast, others focus on her hunting, sling, or archery skills. Eventually, she can override AI and take control of certain enemies, which leads to her riding most of them into battle or using them as allies.

The gear accessible also fits her world since it is primitive yet incorporates the robotic parts as if they were dinosaur bones or feather accessories. Aloy’s bows and spears are made the same way, with bits of the bots everywhere. The traps and the bombs she launches require harvesting specific parts for crafting but are also purchasable as stock in some vendor’s inventory. That crafting system allows for Aloy to stay self-sufficient without feeling too broad or confusing.

The quality of equipment and gear allows for further upgrading with modifications. The list of mods is long when including the common, rare, and very rare versions. The higher the quality, the better the modifier. There are coils designed for weapons that increase damage or handling. There are also weaves for armor that adds damage resistance for specific damage types or stealth. The DLC has unique modifications buried around the expansion map that have no counterparts in the main game.

(Image credit: Guerilla Games)

When it came to playing The Frozen Wilds for this review, I had the choice to continue my original save at the end of the game or begin again. Since I beat the primary campaign earlier, I decided to try the expansion from there. It was a little weird to have the protagonist run away from the final fight to solve another issue somewhere distant, so I quickly started over with New Game+. Once Aloy was through the trial missions, and the map opens up, I ventured into the new section called The Cut. It was full of new stronger enemies and allies that kept me constantly on guard. Even a separate form of corruption had me using all Aloy’s tricks even at over level 50. The story and feeling of entering the DLC felt way more appropriate when I played it this way instead of just heading over from the endgame.

While the Frozen Wilds narrative can take an entire workday to play through, it can take almost twice the time to get everything out of The Cut. It is a vast wilderness worth exploring, and assisting all the different Banuk offers a deeper look into their beliefs and society. It provides the chance to banish an ancient enemy that has recently awakened and add another heroic deed to Aloy’s record. The entire expansion story is stand-alone but points back to the main campaign, so it is playable at any time.

The one unclear thing is where the weapons and gear content packs are accessed, even if not difficult. Each set is available in treasure boxes sold by vendors in either The Cut or The Embrace. The player has to keep an eye out for the Carja Storm Ranger Outfit Box, Banuk Trailblazer Outfit Box, Carja Mighty Bow Box, and the Banuk Culling Bow Box at various merchants. Each set has its abilities and looks. However, I prefer the Banuk Trailblazer gear for Aloy to override machines stylishly. The added equipment does not break the rest of the content by overpowering the enemies.

Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition is the best way to experience the title for any gamer that has not yet undergone the main story or anyone planning on playing Forbidden West when Aloy returns to save the world again. The Frozen Wilds DLC is entertaining but not necessary for preparation for the upcoming title. I found The Complete Edition was worth playing through one more time since it was also my first time in The Cut. While the graphics did not get a massive overhaul from the initial release, the world is immersive and impressive. Everyone should experience this RPG at least once since Aloy is a commanding female protagonist in a post-apocalyptic world that contains an underlying story that is tragic and triumphant.

Horizon Zero dawn: Complete Edition

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4

• Developer: Guerilla Games

• Publisher: PlayStation

• Release Date: Dec 4, 2017, on PS4, Aug 7, 2020, on PC