Pikmin 4: Wonderful Fun

 I was so excited for Pikmin 4 when it was announced because I really enjoyed the previous Pikmin games. When it was finally here, I dove in right away because I could not wait to explore and have all my little plant friends with me again. Pikmin 4 differs from the previous games in the fact that Olimar is not the main character. There is a brief introduction with Olimar explaining what happened with his ship and giving a glimpse into Pikmin 2 and 3. This time around, you can create your character who is a rookie of the Rescue Corps team arriving to rescue Olimar. Unfortunately, their ship crashes and it's up to the newbie to find and rescue the rest of the team and any castaways. The character creation isn't bad. There are some nice options with hair color and you can choose the suit colors for your team. Naturally, I went with my favorite color of purple. 

Creating my character. 

You're not alone in your search for survivors. You have a cute rescue pup with you named Oatchi as you work with the Pikmin to explore, build, and fight your way through this alien world. You also have to find treasures that fuel the ship which is where the world map comes in handy and gadgets like a treasure tracker that sound an alarm when treasure is near. The map shows treasures as a star icon which is really helpful as well as where various points of interests are. 

checking out the map. 

Having Oatchi helping you out is a delight. He's very cute and he makes friends with all the Pikmin. I could just whistle and the Pikmin would hop on Oatchi to hitch a ride which was quite convenient for getting around obstacles like small bodies of water since not all of the Pikmin can swim. One big difference from the previous Pikmin games is there's no time limit for the number of rescue days. I love this change because it allowed me to take my time exploring while fulfilling objectives and getting every area to one hundred percent. Sometimes I would mess up or a mistake would happen and my poor Pikmin would be lost. This was no longer an issue with the rewind time feature. Until the end of the current day, you can rewind time to correct a mistake or try a different strategy so Pikmin aren't lost. It's a smart choice to add this especially for players new to the world of Pikmin so there's not a lot of frustration and they can continue enjoying the story. 

The Pikmin hitch a ride on Oatchi.

There are many things you can grab to help you on your journey if you have collected enough raw materials to get them crafted from the engineer. Bomb rocks and mines helped me a lot. Having Oatchi to help out was perfect because he would help with the Pikmin and rescues. Oatchi has a lot of useful abilities as well that allow him to fight alongside you. Once he has enough Pup Drive you can make his skills even more powerful with training so it's worth your while. 

Training Oatchi.

Raw materials are vital in Pikmin 4 because they're needed for so many things like having the Pikmin build bridges or making a valve to turn off sprinklers. Oatchi can help with this too as you unlock more of his skills. His rush ability was very useful for taking out monsters and a strategic way to not lose Pikmin to them. Once his rush ability was fully maxed out, Oatchi was a powerhouse and it was really satisifying to take monsters out quickly. 

Working together to build a bridge. 

There are sub levels that are basically caves that have a certain number of floors with a boss that is saved for the last floor. In these you find more treasures to be used for fuel as well as people in need of rescue. It's also another way to introduce two new types of Pikmin and one of the types the glow Pikmin became a favorite of mine. Besides the main story, there are also what is known as Dandori battles and challenges. Dandori is described as the ability to organize tasks strategically and work effectively to execute plans. There are twelve Dandori challenges in the game and they are timed. The whole trick is to work effectively with the Pikmin to gather items quickly and efficiently to score the highest amount of points possible before time ran out. While I understand that it's meant to be challenging, Dandori was my least favorite thing in the game. It got really tedious after a while and at times frustrating as the Dandori battles got progressively harder. I will say one nice thing about it is if I felt too aggravated by it, I could choose get help and the battle would be done for me so I could try it again later in my own time back at base camp. 

Night expeditions felt a bit like Dandori with the timer, but at least I had help from Oatchi and the glow Pikmin. These are set up in different areas you've explored in order to get something called glow sap. This is kind of like a protect your fort situation as you defend a structure called a Luminkoll which is where the glow sap comes from. This was an interesting way to see the area at night. You can have the glow Pikmin grab what look like star candies and put it in the Luminkoll which makes more glow Pikmin. They help you and Oatchi protect it from the monsters that try to come and destroy it. In some of the missions there are two Luminknolls and you can work as a team with Oatchi having him protect one while you and the glow Pikmin protect the other. These get progressively harder too as you go and you can select get help just like with the Dandori battles. I found these less frustrating because it's easy to replace the glow Pikmin quickly and run out the clock. You get a nice reward of glow seeds which allows you to have glow Pikmin with you in the sublevel caves which comes in handy with boss battles. 

Preparing for a night expedition with glow Pikmin.

Finding all the different treasures was a hoot because the different names that were given to every day items put a smile on my face. For example a rubber ducky was dubbed a Dapper Rubber Cutie. The descriptions in the treasure catalog of each item was also great because there was so much whimsy and creativity in each one. I made it my goal to find every single treasure and fill up that catalog and I was thrilled when I actually did it because it meant I had completed every single treasure set. 

Ah, the treasure catalog!

There are side missions in the game too of course. Some of the castaways will have requests ranging from blooming Pikmin to discovering a certain number of creatures. You get rewarded with raw materials which is helpful for all the building you have to do in the game. I took my time with the story and exploring everywhere I wanted. I enjoyed all of it especially just taking in the scenic views with Oatchi and the Pikmin. There is post game content and it's really well done. It gave more exciting things and added more fun to an already brilliant game. There is co-op too, but I tend to prefer playing on my own. However, I did try it out and it's disappointing to say the least because it limits things so much for the second player and feels like maybe they should have just left it out altogether. The main campaign of Pikmin 4 is where it truly shines and I loved every minute of it because it was simply wonderful fun. 

Time for everyone to go home!

*Pikmin 4 is available to play on the Nintendo Switch

*Join our community on Twitch as we play games and discuss mental health: https://www.twitch.tv/mothergamer

Frank and Drake: A Beautiful World Full Of Mystery

 *Note: I received a game code for the Nintendo Switch for the game for my honest review. Thank you to Stride PR and Chorus Worldwide for the game code!

Frank and Drake is an interesting experience. It's a point and click rotoscoped mystery. From the start, I was impressed with the beautiful art style as the story introduces Frank. Just walking down the street, the art really stands out and I was curious to know more about Frank and waiting for Drake to make his appearance.

The rotoscope art looks stunning. 

The game itself lets you know right away that each decision you make doesn't just affect the story's ending, it can also affect what layers of the story you uncover and the relationship between the two characters. It's a unique and complex choose your own adventure visual novel with six different endings. We meet Frank in the story first who is the super in an old apartment building and Frank has amnesia. The building's owner has helped Frank just live a quiet life with his cute two legged dog and helping the neighbors where he can. 

Frank and his cute dog in their apartment.

Things change a bit when Frank gets a note from the building's owner letting him know he's going to be getting a new roommate, Drake. This gives a cool introduction into the puzzle aspects of the game with a puzzle as Frank gets Drake's room ready before he moves in. There's no rush and you can take your time with it. The first one I felt was nice and simple to ease you into things which I like so I wasn't overwhelmed. 

Trying out this puzzle. 

I was already invested in the story with the interesting beginning, but then it added another fascinating layer with how Frank and Drake communicate with post it notes on the fridge. Frank is the daytime character doing things during the day while Drake is nighttime and figuring things out at night. I genuinely loved them both and wanted to know more about them. How did they get there? What were these strange things happening around them? They each offered a unique perspective with their viewpoints as they worked together the best they could with their circumstances. 

Drake walks by a really cool art mural. 

Every time I thought I had the story figured out, it would surprise me with something new and the mystery deepened. The choices you make in the story really matter because they not only affect which ending you get, they can also affect how Frank and Drake interact with the world around them and with each other. The music is great and changes with the characters and the mood of each location they explore. There are various items you can interact with that add more details to their story. The artwork and music complement each other really well which added to the overall story and gameplay.

Some of the puzzles are hit or miss where some took a few minutes for me, a couple were a bit frustrating and took a little longer because it wasn't quite obvious what to do. It didn't sour my like of the game, but I do feel that perhaps there didn't need to be that many because I wanted to keep going with the story. 

Drake was mad at this puzzle. This one was a challenge for me.

The game itself isn't very long. I finished the first playthrough in about four to six hours. The whole point is it's meant to be played multiple times so you can get those six endings and get more answers to the mystery you're exploring. Frank and Drake is a beautiful world full of mystery and I didn't mind playing through again to unlock those secrets. Besides, Frank and Drake are pretty good company. If you appreciate beautiful art, music, interesting stories, and puzzles in a visual novel format then Frank and Drake is worth your time. 

Drake and Frank slowly getting to know each other.

*Frank And Drake are available on the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam, Playstation, and Xbox

*Join our community on Twitch as we play games and discuss mental health: https://www.twitch.tv/mothergamer

Nova Lands: Building Fun With Robots

 *Note: I received a free game code for the Nintendo Switch for my honest review of the game. Thank you to Stride PR!

Nova Lands is a cute builder and exploration game. If you liked the game Forager you will like Nova Lands. It definitely gives off Forager vibes, but it also has its own unique style. Nova Lands has a minimal story, but it gives you the gist of what you're supposed to do. You're an explorer on a new planet island and you must expand your base, build machines and factories to craft, and unlock new resources and other islands. You're not alone however, as other capsules with people land who can help you upgrade your inventory space and various other items you use. 

Meeting Armando. 

Unlocking the islands isn't so simple. You have to build a machine that requires certain resources to unlock them. This is beneficial to you as each island has a variety of resources. You also can build robots to help you gather resources. This is an interesting way of integrating automation into your factories and building. You can designate a robot to collect a specific source and have them add it to storage areas. Other robots you can assign to constantly keep the factories running. Each robot has their own job and it definitely helps to make things a bit easier with gathering and building. 

Just keep building with the help of robots. 

The game itself is a bit of grinding, but I didn't really mind because there was always something to do and before I knew it my character had leveled up. With each level up you unlock skill points that you can use to improve abilities, upgrade the machines to work faster, or improve your robots. Some require multiple skill points so at times I found myself waiting until I had enough points to upgrade specific things.

Upgrading skills. 

You can also unlock more things in the research menu if you have the resources to unlock it. There's a ton of things to unlock ranging from better armor to solar panels to add more energy to your factories to having a farm for growing crops. This is where the automation with the robots really shines because it gives you a chance to explore and come back to all the resources you need. It's convenient and helps to get towards end game things a lot quicker. 

All the research things! 

There is also a museum where you can add the various items you find on each island to complete the collection. This is on the encampment island where you can get upgrades for your armor, new outfits, or upgrade your weapons. The museum is great and it also gives you a hint about what resources you might find on the other islands. There are also monster bosses you have to fight and if you're not prepared they can really hurt you. I died pretty badly to one that caught me by surprise, but once I had upgraded some things I was able to come back and take it out pretty quickly. Without giving too much away, you also meet some aliens and they help you on your journey. It adds a really cool twist to things that help move the story along. 

Checking out the museum. 

Nova Lands is a blast to play. I enjoyed puttering around in this bright colorful world with a relaxing music soundtrack. It's easy to lose track of time as you're just building, exploring, and having a good time seeing what each island holds. My only issue is the aiming system with the rifle and the extractor. Sometimes, I would be targeting one thing and then accidentally hit a wild animal and then I would have to run and avoid the other animals coming after me. It's a small thing, but it is definitely something that should be improved so that doesn't happen. Other than that, the game is a good time and having fun building with robots is great. I also love that the game itself leaves things open ended for more updates and additions which I am looking forward to. If you want a fun builder time sink, definitely check out Nova Lands. It's very much worth your time. 

Getting some upgrades. 

*Nova Lands is available on the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC

*Join our community on Twitch as we play games and discuss mental health: https://www.twitch.tv/mothergamer

Hello Goodboy: Yes, You Can Pet The Dog

 *Note: I received a game key for the game for my honest review. Thank you to Stride PR and Rolling Glory Jam for the game key!

I was instantly drawn in by the cute art in Hello Goodboy. The whole premise of the game is exploring the idea of handling death and negative emotions, but is done in a way that is gentle and simple. I feel that the game perhaps was also done in a simple style for a way to explain death and dying to children in a way that isn't scary and overwhelming. 

You play as Iko, a young boy transported to the afterlife that is called Kuroto and your guide is a cute dog companion named Coco. Coco tells Iko that all he has to do is be a "good kid" and this is where the game sets you on your journey and the choices you make are up to you. Coco does explain that your time is limited so you have to make those choices carefully. I loved that you could take a moment right away to stop and hug Coco, pet him, or give him belly rubs. You can do this throughout the game any time you want so of course I would hug Coco often. 

All the dog hugs! 

You can pick a door to go through among doors that show four different seasons. You have a magic hourglass which shows that your time is limited and when you choose a door, some of the sand in the hourglass is spent. I discovered because of this you can only pick two doors. However, after you finish the game, you can do a new game+ which lets you choose the two doors you missed. I chose the Summer door first then the Autumn door. 

Choosing the Summer door. 

Each area is beautiful and I enjoyed that you could stop and sit for a moment and just appreciate the view. The artwork reminded me of colorful storybooks with the vibrant colors and lovely scenes. It was a subtle way for the story to remind us to stop and savor those moments of beauty and joy. 

Enjoying a mountain view. 

There are simple puzzles in the game where you have to fix things like a broken mailbox or a broken traffic light that erase a darkness clinging to them. The puzzles aren't terribly challenging and after you repair the broken items you get sparks of happiness. These are used at different intervals in the game for helping others which is pretty interesting.

Iko and Coco repair a mailbox. 

There are also a collection of drinks in your inventory that can be used on the different characters you meet. The whole point is helping these characters with a problem they might have and the drinks that are left over are used during a boss fight to weaken it. I enjoyed meeting the characters and helping them. Each one was unique and wonderful in their own way. They also added special layers to the story when discussing negative emotions or processing something that may be sad. 

A cute moment of joy. 

The music for the game itself is lovely and in some settings hauntingly beautiful. It definitely sets the tone for different areas that Iko and Coco travel to. I love the fact that they let Iko stop and play with Coco. Coco's movements are well done and very much like real dogs. Having those moments in the game helped me to not rush and savor each nuance of the game. 

Wow, it's Autumn! 

I'm not the best at puzzles, but I love puzzle games. There aren't a lot of puzzles in this, but the puzzles in this game weren't overly challenging or stressful which I appreciated because it let me continue the story and enjoy the relaxing vibes the game offered making it feel more like a wonderful visual novel. 

Iko and Coco hang out with a lumberjack. 

I think my only issue is the game is rather short, the main story is only two hours. However, I think that is because I really liked the game a lot and I was a bit sad when it was over. The final boss at the end is a little underwhelming, but I feel that their heart was in the right place and it got the message across about remembering and holding onto the good memories in order to overcome the negative emotions you feel in a thoughtful and mindful way. 

The ending itself is heartwarming and explains why Iko and Coco are there. It also says in its own gentle way that even though saying goodbye is difficult, that sometimes we have to in order to move forward and that the people we love are never truly gone if we keep them in our hearts. Hello Goodboy does a great job of showing that journey of kindness and connection and I genuinely appreciated every minute of it. 

High five!

*Hello Goodboy is available on the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC

*Join our community on Twitch as we play games and discuss mental health: https://www.twitch.tv/mothergamer

End of Lines: Beautiful Art and Compelling Story

 *Note: I received a game key for the Nintendo Switch for my honest review of the game. Thank you to Fernwaves and PlayerTwoPR for the game key. 

Right from the start End of Lines drew me in with the beautiful artwork with the introduction of the story. Each scene is colorfully hand painted and really well done. End of Lines is a visual novel set in the future (around 2090) showing the possibilities of what could happen if global warming and the climate crisis aren't taken seriously. The story is told from the viewpoint of three different members of a Sahara Desert tribe. The climate change has affected everything making it impossible to stay in their home due to the heat and sandstorms which means they have to travel to find somewhere safer to live. This is where the game begins and explains that the character narrative can change at any time depending on which decisions you make throughout the story. It cautions you letting you know that each choice you make matters and can affect the outcome of each chapter right to the end. 

The three main characters of the story. 

There are also times where you have to set up camp and then you have to decide who will search for much needed resources such as water and food. You have to choose carefully because members of your group can be exhausted which means they won't be much help. The game does a great job of showing how precious each resource is with the artwork and the story. It also causes you to think carefully about every decision and think about the bigger picture trying to make sure that everyone is okay on your journey. 

Pick who goes looking for resources.

I was so invested in the story and the characters. I especially loved Camille and his interactions with his son Sam. Sam is a great foil to Camille as he asks about what the world was like before. For example, Sam had never seen a duck before and asks his dad about them. There's a gentleness to Camille with everyone, but especially with Sam not just because he's his dad, but because Sam is a child. There aren't a lot of children in this world and Sam represents hope for many. I loved every moment with Camille and Sam because of how well written the story is. 

A moment with Camille and Sam. 

Each scene stands out because of the lovely artwork and I was fascinated by each setting because of it. The way the water is painted in a seaside town in Spain as Camille dives underwater searching for resources is so well done that I found myself captivated by it. The game does a great job illustrating every moment in each chapter. 

I found the artwork for this scene really beautiful. 

The commentary about global warming is heavy and serious, but it's not heavy handed. It gently guides and tells through the storytelling how the world is in ruins and that sometimes humans are the real monsters. Vital resources are scarce and there are people who are in militia groups that enslave people, steal, and showing that many towns are filled with danger. Add that to the fact that the weather can be unpredictable because of climate change and you understand why the travelers are so cautious and wary of strangers. 

A wild lightning storm appears.

One of the themes was about family. Camille holds his wife Nora and their son Sam very dear. There is also the lively "Uncle" Rafik who is best friend to Camille and Nora. They are the core group and while they do have people that join them on their journey, they are clearly the main characters. I loved them so much. Each decision had to be weighed so carefully because I didn't want anything to happen to them. I got attached to them and wanted them to make that trip safely together. 

I loved Rafik because of his cheerfulness and his fondness for Sam. Sam was hope for him too. I was also pleasantly surprised that depending on decisions made in the story Rafik has a chance for a queer romance and it's beautifully done. It's thoughtful, gentle, and it showed how it's okay to celebrate moments of joy where we can find them. 

The one I worried for the most was Camille. Camille was not a fierce fighter like Nora and not full of jokes and laughter like Rafik. Camille worried all the time about everyone and he was an idealist. There are memories he flashes back to of what the world was like before and of when things started to get too bad to ignore. Camille even has flashes of imagining talking with his parents about the current state of the world. It's heartbreaking as Camille is honest about his feelings of despair while understanding that he feels he has to keep wearing the mask of being strong for his family. 

Camille is honest about his feelings. 

The music throughout the game is hauntingly beautiful. Each hand painted illustration is captured perfectly with the music and definitely sets the mood for each one. There is no voice acting for the game, just the story and the music. Personally I think that works because it set the tone for each moment throughout the story. I know that for some they may not like that, but honestly not everything needs voice acting. For a visual novel like this, the artwork and music complement each other and work together to tell a compelling story. 

Taking in the view. 

There are four different endings for End of Lines depending on choices you make. I played through just to get them all along with the achievements. The nice thing is after you play through the game once, you can start from a save point and play through to see them. I liked each one for different reasons, but the one thing I appreciated was that each ending had a bit of hope in them. That made a more meaningful impact. I genuinely appreciate what they were trying to do with this game because it is up to us to protect our world and change for the better. I enjoyed all of it and I'm glad I got the chance to experience this visual novel. 

A touching moment with Sam. 

*End of Lines is available to play on the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam

*Join our community on Twitch as we play games and discuss mental health: https://www.twitch.tv/mothergamer

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly Warm Drinks and Cozy Vibes

 *Note: I received a free game code for the Nintendo Switch for my honest review of the game. This game is also done by Toge Productions who also created my favorite indie game this year, A Space for the Unbound. 

If you ever played the first Coffee Talk game, you know a bit of what to expect in Coffee Talk Episode 2. In the first game, the story was set in an alternate Seattle where vampires, elves, and werewolves and various other fantasy creatures were a normal sight to see as they lived among the humans. You played as an unnamed barista at a late night shop called Coffee Talk who made their drinks and chatted with them while giving them advice here and there. The sequel brings you back to Seattle in that same coffee shop a few years after the first game. 

The game plays over a series of days. Each evening you get your newspaper delivered with various headlines and then hear the door chime as a customer walks in. Coffee Talk Episode 2 is a visual novel like the first game and you will see some familiar characters from the first one as well. There are some new characters too and right from the start, the artwork is beautiful and charming drawing you into the cozy vibes of the story. 

Lucas the satyr enjoys a cup of coffee.

You can chat with the customers and they will order drinks. Sometimes they will tell you directly what they want such as coffee with honey in it. Other times, they will give a description with hints about what kind of drink they're looking for. It's up to you to figure it out as you brew the drinks and the artwork for making the drinks is lovely. There's no pressure as you make drinks, but when you get it right there's a nice conversation with them as they enjoy that first sip. 

Brewing tea for our vampire friend.

There are new tea blends that add gorgeous pops of color to the drinks. The artwork for the drinks themselves are wonderful adding the right touch of whimsy and that invitation to enjoy a warm comforting drink on a rainy night. As you discover each new recipe, they're added to your recipe book. There is also an endless option for the game where you can just brew drinks nonstop and discover some new drink recipes that way which is a fun way to experiment with creating drinks. 

A lovely tea. 

The atmosphere in the game is very relaxed with chill lo-fi beats as the background music while the story takes place entirely in the cafe. Each character has their own little mini story as they chat with you and a couple of them connect a few of them together. Seeing familiar faces made me really happy, but it was great to meet the new characters. Their stories were interesting and I found myself invested in all of it because of the great writing that made me genuinely care about all of them. 

Supernatural and human customers come to the cafe.

There is an added mini game in the second game where a customer leaves something behind or they give you something to give to another. It adds a nice layer to the nuance of the interactions with the game. I liked the fact that all of the characters feel comfortable with your barista as they chat about things they're thinking about or just sharing how they're feeling. Brewing drinks for them is a nice element to those interactions. It was interesting to see how each person's stories played out and it was lovely to see familiar faces from the previous game. 

Having a chat with a mermaid and an orc.

Coffee Talk Episode 2 isn't a very long game, I finished it in a few hours. It doesn't really change much from the first game, but it still has all of the charm and warmth that felt like hanging out with a wonderful friend you haven't seen in a while. The artwork, the music, the stories, and the whole vibe is perfect creating an enjoyable experience.

The perfect drink for the game! 

*Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is available to play on the following platforms: Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 5, Playstation 4, and Xbox Cloud Gaming

*Join our community on Twitch as we play games and discuss mental health: https://www.twitch.tv/mothergamer

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC Review

 I know there is a lot of frustration about the Burning Shores DLC only being on PS5 because it's still not that easy to get the next gen console. It does make sense that studios are moving away from the previous consoles, but I understand that is frustrating nonetheless. I got lucky with mine in the fact that my husband was able to get one and surprise me with it for an early birthday gift last year. This allowed me to check out the Burning Shores DLC for Horizon Forbidden West. I was pleased to find that there was a free upgrade to the PS5 version of the game and that my PS4 save data carried over. After that I was ready to hang out with Aloy again. *SPOILERS AHEAD* 

Burning Shores takes place after the defeat of Far Zenith. It was a bittersweet moment hearing Lance Reddick as Sylens at the beginning, talking with Aloy. Sylens informs Aloy that there were actually thirteen people from Far Zenith. The last Far Zenith person is an industrialist named Walter Londra and he fled to what was downtown Los Angeles now known as the Burning Shores. Aloy takes her sunbird to fly there, but gets shot down by a tower that is firing all sorts of lasers, finding herself stranded there because Walter has essentially locked down the entire area. 

Aloy arrives at the Burning Shores. 

Aloy meets a Quen marine by the name of Seyka and Seyka explains to her that Walter has stranded the Quen marines with his actions. Right from the start there was something about Seyka that was interesting as she and Aloy agreed to work together to take down the tower and stop Walter. It turns out Seyka has some similarities to Aloy in that she's not sure where she belongs and is a bit of an outcast herself. Some of the conversations between Seyka and Aloy stand out because they discuss those feelings of not belonging and how it affects everything around them. I really liked Seyka and I thought she was a great foil to Aloy on this adventure. 

Aloy and Seyka take a boat ride. 

Wandering around the Burning Shores, I stopped often to take in the scenery. There was something beautiful about seeing nature reclaiming Los Angeles and seeing a surreal mix of decay and life blending together. There are many vistas that are gorgeous and I had fun exploring this new area discovering new treasures and doing a few side quests alongside the main story. 

Seyka and Aloy at the Hollywood sign. 

One of the things is Aloy helping Seyka find her sister and the other missing Quen marines and that Walter is involved because he enchanted them as a living ancestor. Burning Shores much like the main story shows how dangerous and manipulative the Far Zenith people are in the form of Walter. Sam Witwer does an amazing job as Walter Londra with the perfect amount of charm and malice, always keeping you on your toes with every scene he's in. All of the Far Zenith people were narcissistic sociopaths, but like Walter said himself he's different. There's something more sinister about him with his promises of a better life to the Quen who followed him. There's also an air of paranoia surrounding Walter as he demands absolute loyalty without question and Sam Witwer delivers this performance beautifully. 

Aloy sits with a holo of Walter Londra. 

There's the usual fight with machines and Aloy has all her weapons and tools to handle each one. There are also new tool upgrades and a new weapon that can be fully upgraded. Aloy has to get parts for a new type of bird machine, a Waterwing that looks a lot like a pelican. This is so that she and Seyka can bypass the lasers from Walter's tower with a mix of flying and diving under the water. It's a great idea and works really well while introducing a new machine to the game. 

As the story progresses, you start to see just how far Walter is willing to go to get what he wants. It leads to what can only be called an epic and grand showdown between Aloy and Walter as Walter tries to kill Aloy with a Horus machine. It's a brutally challenging fight, but it's also exciting giving quite a great sense of victory defeating it and Walter in the process. 

With the whole situation with Londra resolved, Aloy is ready to head home. Before she does that however, she gets a very sweet moment with Seyka where they get to confess their feelings to each other. It's a beautiful moment that is sweet with a touch of melancholy that makes sense because Aloy is looking to the future with the threat of Nemesis. However, she and Seyka both understand each other and their responsibilities while holding their hearts open for each other and appreciating that moment of joy and love they had. As a queer person, this made me so happy because it shows that we have joy and love and are more than our pain. It's a wonderful moment for Aloy and Seyka.

Aloy sends Sylens the data from Walter's Focus and when she returns home Sylens has decrypted the data showing her that there were companies working on experimental weapons that might be the key to defeating Nemesis. It's a good moment between Aloy and Sylens as he thanks her for her help. It also sets the stage for the next game. The story of Burning Shores DLC isn't too long. It's about 8-10 hours of gameplay and if you are a completionist like me, it takes about 15-20 hours. I enjoyed all of it and it was fantastic to hang out with Aloy again on her adventure. 

Aloy heads home. 

*Horizon Forbidden West is available to play on Playstation 4 and Playstation 5

 Burning Shores DLC is out now only on Playstation 5

*Join our community on Twitch as we play games and discuss mental health: https://www.twitch.tv/mothergamer