Importance Score: 20 / 100 🔵
Days Gone: Broken Road DLC to Unleash Intense Horde Assault Mode on PC
Upon its 2021 arrival on PC, I held mixed feelings regarding Days Gone. My reservations, however, primarily stemmed from its cumbersome narrative execution rather than fundamental flaws. Traversing the expansive world on Deacon St John’s motorcycle while outmaneuvering throngs of shuffling undead proved sufficiently captivating. Even brief detours for fuel could escalate into protracted struggles for survival.
Anticipating the Horde Assault
Consequently, Sony’s announcement of the impending Broken Road DLC, spotlighting a horde assault mode, piqued my interest considerably. As the DLC’s launch approaches in a couple of weeks, recent revelations from Sony regarding this new mode have me speculating whether it might become the definitive way to experience the game.
Sony’s recent Steam update characterizes horde assault as a “survival arcade” mode. Essentially, it distills the core survival feedback loop of Days Gone into a concentrated 30-minute, do-or-die battle, eliminating narrative distractions.
Gameplay Mechanics and New Features
Players enter the map as Deacon or select from several alternative playable characters, including six fresh avatars. The immediate objective is to overcome an initial horde to reach a motorcycle. Once mounted, players can explore for supply caches containing enhanced weaponry for defense, notably including a brand-new flamethrower.
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Increased Intensity and Unlimited Hordes
Horde assault is crafted to deliver a more heightened experience than the standard Days Gone gameplay. Supplementing the tighter structure, the mode amplifies the horde sizes. Furthermore, enduring a full half-hour will trigger an “unlimited horde,” seemingly relentless in its pursuit until the player’s demise.
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Injectors and Customization
The mode incorporates a progression system bestowing in-mode incentives, encompassing the aforementioned new playable characters and unique injectors. Injectors, a feature retained from the main narrative, function as gameplay modifiers.
Positive and Negative Modifiers
Horde assault broadens both the quantity and potency of these injectors, featuring 12 positive injectors that elevate scoring opportunities while intensifying the game’s difficulty, alongside 12 negative injectors yielding the contrary effect. Examples include “wanted,” an injector initiating players at the peak intensity of undead hordes, and “exploding freakers,” seemingly designed to augment challenge, but actually intended to aid in thinning enemy ranks.
Release and Additional Content
While positioned as an endgame challenge, Sony indicates horde assault mode will be accessible to players immediately, potentially adding 10 hours beyond the base game’s playtime. It is important to note that the Broken Road DLC extends beyond just this mode, also introducing permadeath, speedrun, and photo modes.
Final Thoughts on Horde Assault Mode
However, none of these additions captivates me quite like horde assault. While I appreciated traversing Days Gone’s rendition of Oregon, I occasionally questioned whether the expansive open world detracted from the experience, diluting its survival loop across too vast a region. We will soon discover how this new mode reshapes the gameplay, as the Broken Road DLC is set to launch on April 25th.