Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds: PS4 Review

Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Developer: Guerrilla Games

There's no doubt that Horizon Zero Dawn has been one of the more successful new IPs of the year.

The post-apocalyptic romp that put you into the world of tribes fighting robot dinosaurs and creatures with a deeply engaging story for its protagonist Aloy was never anything but a joy.

With winter coming in the Northern hemisphere, it seems no surprise that a new DLC for the title would drop, covered in frosty snowy goodness - and so it is with The Frozen Wilds, a DLC which feels like a whole new world rather than a simple bolt-on to current existence.

Set in the snowy north, in a region known as The Cut, the game may hint at colder edges, but with a fiery protagonist known as the Scorcher, it seems unlikely that things are going to cool down.

While the game unlocks a third of the way through the main Horizon Zero Dawn playthrough, it's worth making sure that you have got Aloy past level 30 in terms of upgrades, because the DLC's fairly tough in its execution and takes no prisoners in its desire to get rid of you.

The challenge is worth it though, and along with some truly impressive frosty vistas, it reminds you why Horizon Zero Dawn proved to be such a boon .

This time around, everything's the same, but not as familiar as you'd expect.

There's a little more structure in terms of what's needed of Aloy - clearing out camps takes time to see down the Banuk tribes and result in a final boss fight; Tallnecks lay beneath snowy climes and need gifting a life before they can be used to your advantage and there's a fiendish new twist on corrupted zones as well that requires a bit more skill.

New weapons and a new outfit are on offer in quests meaning the need to find merchants is a little less necessary - there's plenty to remind you why Aloy's world is so enticing.

Worth investing in as a complete experience, The Frozen Wilds DLC has some stunning visuals, some deeply engaging gameplay and a great female protagonist - really, there's no better reason to dive in.