Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores (PS5)
By: Sony
IF YOU'VE rinsed last year's Horizon sequel and still hanker for some robo-dinosaur action, Burning Shores offers a welcome excuse to fire up the blockbuster one last time.
Less a coda to the main story than a taster for what’s to come in Horizon 3, Sony’s DLC reunites gamers with Aloy, the feistiest dinosaur-troubling redhead since Wilma Flintstone, as she heads to Los Angeles for some California screamin'. As Billy Idol trilled, it's hot in the city tonight, with the La La Land of Burning Shores a volcanic, lava-belching archipelago.
Picking up where the core game finished, Burning Shores ties up its loose threads as Aloy aids Sylens (the late, great Lance Reddick in his final gaming role) by tracking down the last remaining Far Zenith member, Walter Londra – an egotistical tech magnate with more than a whiff of Musk about him.
With the coast toast, Burning Shores turns up the heat on Horizon’s well-oiled mix of combat, crafting and errands across a variety of LA landmarks. While the main story can be polished off in around five hours, seeing everything will take double that, with new beasts to bash, weapons to master and a fresh partner-in-tow, Quen warrior Seyka, as you traverse a map offering around a third of the base game’s acreage.
And, with gameplay catering to players who’ve completed Forbidden West, Aloy’s full suite of abilities is called upon from the off, meaning plenty of flying around on the new Waterwing mount, which can also dive underwater, Avatar-style.
Burning Shores’ pick n’ mix of eye candy is arguably the finest yet seen on a console – and, despite the base game being available for the last generation, it's a PS5 exclusive - with breathtaking cloud and lava effects that would have the poor old PS4 chucking in the towel. Crank up your halogen heater for the full volcanic experience.
Continuing Sony’ drive for accessibility, the game even features a mode for those with thalassophobia – a fear of deep water. By removing the need for oxygen and improving underwater visibility, those who have nightmares about the Sonic drowning music can rest easy.
With barnstorming production values and one of the best final bosses committed to binary, Burning Shores is a tantalising tease for what’s to come – and at only 16 quid for around ten hours of gameplay, your pocket won't get singed.
