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Significant theatrical role ofHorizon Zero Dawn ’s DLC not only get in touch toHorizon Forbidden West’snarrative but on the face of it affect the central growth of Aloy , the secret plan ’s independent protagonist . TitledThe Frozen Wilds , the DLC open up up a discussion section ofZero Dawn ’s map , allowing thespian to enter an domain called The Cut in Banuk territorial dominion , a tribe of nomadic Hunter native to the region . The DLC ’s story centered around Aloy stopping the source of hunter - sea wolf machines explicitly plan to vote down humans by the AI Hephaestus . The DLC not only added newfangled feature and gameplay mechanics , but it also added some backstory for persona and expanded the tale ofZero Dawn .
[ Warning : possible spoiler for Horizon Forbidden West below . ]
Despite the DLC mathematical function not being too big , comparable to the first section ofHorizon Zero Dawn , it wreak a significant amount of subject new cognitive content frommachines that repay inHorizon Forbidden Westto weapon like the Forgefire , which was essentially a prehistorical flamethrower . Moreover , despite its sizing , the part was much denser and more cragged thanZero Dawn ’s other locations , proffer a overnice alteration of footstep to the gameplay . The DLC also brought new worldbuilding chance to the serial with the Banuk providing a unique insight into the tribe ’s refinement , relations to the other tribes previously put in inZero Dawn , and even the source of their religion and belief .
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AlthoughThe Frozen Wilds ' fit withinHorizon Zero Dawn ’s narrative , its inclusion body withinHorizon Forbidden Westcould be considered jarring and confusing . WhileZero Dawnties back intoHorizon veto West , the DLC average about eight to 15 hour of gameplay and content . The Frozen Wildsalso matte like more of an dangerous undertaking outside of the main narrative ofZero Dawn . However , not only isThe Frozen Wildsreferenced inForbidden West , but elements , plot points , and even the DLC ’s main antagonist , Hephaestus , make a rejoinder . As a result , players startingForbidden Westmay have many questions about howThe Frozen Wildsfactors into the game right .
The Frozen Wilds Impacts Big Parts Of Horizon Forbidden West
The Apex variations of machines Guerrilla Games introduced are a welcome change to both the gameplay and the narrative inHorizon Forbidden West . However , thesemachines are not young toHorizonForbidden Westand were first acquaint inThe Frozen Wilds . These machines are call Daemons in the DLC ; they are advanced , more intriguing , and more intelligent than their counterparts , like the Apex variations inForbidden West .
Moreover , the Apex machines are tied back into the narration of the game to some extent , being the main problem in some of the side quest inHorizonForbidden Westand referenced through the dialog . It ’s also revealed that Hephaestus , like in the DLC , has gained control of the outlying cauldrons and is make these hunter - killers to battle human beings . Its reasoning and its family relationship toGAIA ’s other low-level functions inHorizon Forbidden Westis glossed over , but inThe Frozen Wilds , it ’s well expanded and explained . After the actor encounters Hephaestus and its Apex machines , the story seemingly chemise and slant heavily on them .
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The independent tale ofHorizon Forbidden Westis reviving GAIA and avail her to full strength by absorbing the other three low-level functions - Aether , Poseidon , and Demeter - to save the worldly concern from spiral out of control . However , the main obstacle in GAIA ’s way is Hephaestus . After the effect ofThe Frozen Wilds , Hephaestus has evolve in intelligence and has become computationally bigger than GAIA and would engage her alternatively . This objective is further complicated when theFar Zenith colonists return toHorizon Forbidden West , armed with hyper - advanced technology , and Hephaestus is the primary force that can fight down them . Despite being part of a relatively small DLC , Hephaestus is a massive base ofForbidden West ’s plot of ground .
Frozen Wilds' Explores Aloy & Sylens Before Horizon Forbidden West
Main and side quests aside , The Frozen Wildsconnects some substantial part inHorizon Forbidden West . Most notably , Sylens ' motive and his relationship with Aloy . InForbidden West , it ’s heavy alluded that Sylens taught another independent antagonist , the Tenakth rebel Regalla , how to overturn machines . As a termination , Regalla wages civil state of war with the other Tenakth federation of tribes allowing Sylens to control , similar to how he did inHorizon Zero Dawnwith the Eclipse . However , whereZero Dawn ’s story acquit intoHorizon Forbidden West , the latter is missing Sylens ' deep need and reasonings which are much more fleshed out and explored inThe Frozen Wilds .
Likewise , Aloy ’s intuition and anger towards Sylens inHorizon Forbidden Westare contextualized in the DLC . As instrumentalist go throughThe Frozen Wilds , Sylens has multiple conversations with Aloy come off as both a friend and confidant as both apportion an sexual noesis of both the old world and their engineering . However , towards the end of the DLC , Sylens grows increasingly obsess with old - human beings engineering that affects Aloy ’s persona development . The effect on Aloy ’s floor inThe Frozen Wildsis not clarified inForbidden West . As a result , it nudges players toplayHorizon Zero DawnbeforeForbidden Westto fully grok Aloy ’s shift key from a collegiate relationship to distrust and sometimes disquieting anger whenever Sylens comes up .
Frozen Wilds Is (Somewhat) Necessary For Horizon Forbidden West
Whether or notThe Frozen Wildsis a must - swordplay look on the instrumentalist and how invested they are in the narrative , events , and characters inHorizon Zero DawnandForbidden West . On the one hand , The Frozen Wildsadds more context of use to some of the notable characters inForbidden West . On the other hand , most of the full stop fromThe Frozen Wildsare recontextualized withinForbidden Westthrough talks options , codex entries , and even some secondary graphic symbol reminding the player . Moreover , the impact of the events of TheFrozen Wildsare seemingly not as devastating to the overall narration and does n’t necessarily hinge on the main plot ofHorizon Forbidden Westand the Far Zenith colonists .
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While seemingly not an integral part of Horizon Forbidden West , The Frozen Wildsis referenced constantly throughout the plot . Not only is the main antagonist of the DLC a more pregnant part ofForbidden West ’s tale , but gameplay feature article and connectedness inThe Frozen Wildsmake a yield . as luck would have it , Forbidden Westdoes a relatively good task reintroducing or expanding the DLC ’s fictional character moments and critical plot point . However , the most significant drawback is that some character moment and plot point are missing background information and are not further flesh out . StartingZero Dawn ’s sequel withoutThe Frozen Wildswon’t needfully shatter the connection between the biz , but play the DLC prior makes some moments inHorizon Forbidden Westmake more sense .
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