If you're a fan of Horizon Zero Dawn, and somehow missed this DLC your first time around, go boot this up - you're in for a treat.

This DLC has a lot of heart. It explores themes of loneliness, duty, and the dynamics of familial love. It believes that no one really has to go it alone. It questions those beliefs and myths that you tell yourself that may no longer be true.

I was repeatedly impressed by the writing, in particular scenes with Aratak, Ourea, CYAN and of course, last but not least my new favourite father and daughter merchants - Burgrend and Varga!

The DLC continues to provide glimpses into the world before the Zero Dawn protocol was initiated through text and audio logs, and some interactions with the AI CYAN near the DLC's end. I have to applaud the writers, VO actors and VO directors because an optional audio log right near the end had me tearing up over the fate of a fictional AI character. Awesome stuff!

One other aspect that they completely nail is the sense of place. They often crop up in our videos games, the beloved 'snow level' or area. I have never experienced one so transporting and vivid. I know this game is almost six years old, and I likely have missed some great ones since, but it was amazing. Between the blizzarding effects and the snow walking tech to the aurora borealis equivalent, they really nailed a winter setting.

Lastly, while I had lots of fun with this DLC, if I have one gripe it would be around the skill tree the bolted on for the DLC. The trait that lets you break down items seems so helpful it makes me hope it's in Aloy's skill set in the sequel by default. Everything else seemed kind of useless. I never found riding a mount to be all that helpful or engaging in HZD, and never felt the need to repair them. Minor gripe with something I didn't really have to interact with, but makes me wonder if there could have been better skills in their place.

Too long, didn't read: Go play this thing if you're fan of the base game. It should be easy considering it's part of the story in the often on sale Definitive Edition.