Aloy may have defeated the Far Zeniths in Horizon Forbidden West, but her troubles aren't over just yet. She must prepare for the arrival of Nemesis in Horizon Forbidden West's sequel, and that is a malevolent AI fixated on eradicating humankind. Before she tackles this threat, Aloy is headed to Hollywood in the upcoming Burning Shores DLC. It appears that a Horus Titan has awakened, which could prove to be a mighty foe. However, Aloy will likely have to face smaller enemies as well. The DLC will have to rethink how it approaches enemies, as some of the strategies in the past may not be applicable anymore.
In Horizon Forbidden West, Aloy mainly had to deal with Regalla and her Tenakth rebels when it came to human combat. With Regalla defeated, the Burning Shores DLC will have to feature new enemies. It may not be a wise idea to include more generic bandits, as the idea has been used thoroughly already. The wisest choice may be to introduce a new tribe that perhaps has a new way to engage in combat.
Horizon Forbidden West's Burning Shores DLC Will Bring New Threats
Currently, gamers mainly have a brief trailer to dissect if they're seeking more official information about the upcoming DLC. The Burning Shores DLC presents a future version of Los Angeles that has been turned into a volcanic archipelago. In the trailer, a Horus Titan, also known as a Metal Devil, is seen awakening. Some promotional art also depicts Aloy in battle with a tribeswoman, suggesting that human combat will feature in the DLC.
During Horizon Forbidden West, Aloy puts a stop to the rebellion within the Tenakth tribe, and players can choose whether to kill or spare Regalla. Hence, she should no longer have anything to fear from her rebels. This leaves gamers to ponder about what kind of human enemies Aloy may be facing in Burning Shores. There are few options, but developers should ensure that whichever route they take freshens up human combat.
How Burning Shores DLC Can Freshen Up Human Combat
Instead of having generic bandits, it may be a good idea for Burning Shores DLC to feature a new tribe. This would open the opportunity to expand on the franchise's lore, giving players a reason to see human enemies as more than just obstacles. It would also be an avenue to introduce new human combat methods. Horizon Forbidden West did a lot to improve human combat, though it can feel quite repetitive at times, even with the new skill tree introduced.
This could be mended, for instance, by having a tribe that specializes in stealth and traps. This would change the dynamic of combat encounters, turning them into more strategic battles as opposed to showdowns of raw power. The promotional art suggests that Aloy may have a few aerial encounters which would also be an excellent new addition, as the Sunwing was underused in Horizon Forbidden West as far as its combat capabilities go.
The Burning Shores DLC will only be available on PS5, which has been disappointing news to some players. However, it does mean that developers can do far more with the upcoming DLC. This could include far more intense boss battles, with a Horus Titan perhaps even coming into the picture. Hopefully, developers also focus on human combat, as the DLC could be an opportunity to expand human combat and discover more about how humans have formed new cultures after the fall of civilization.
Horizon Forbidden West is available on PS4 and PS5. The Burning Shores DLC will be released on April 19 on PS5.