Verdict:
6.5/10
B-
TL;DR:
If Joshua Graham wasn't in it, I wouldn't recommend it; he has to take some time to recover his back from carrying this DLC. It's really the only reason to play this DLC, besides the loot. While I did find enjoyment in the quest line, it's not without its faults. I wish it had undergone more development time to address the issues that both I and other players encountered.
The Good:
- Survivalist: A highlight is the Survivalist's story, conveyed through terminal entries scattered throughout the caves. I strongly suggest delving into these terminal logs for a deeper understanding of his backstory. If collecting the logs seems too tedious, I recommend watching Synonymous' video on this topic.
- The New Loot: The newly introduced weapons and attire are great, particularly Joshua's handgun and his outfit. Additionally, the Survivalist's rifle deserves a noteworthy mention.
- Scenery: Zion Canyon's landscape is distinctly beautiful and immersive. Offering a refreshing departure from the Mojave wasteland, it provides a unique environment.
- The portrayal of the Christian Mormons, known as the New Canaanites, was nice and respectful. It's a pleasant departure from the stereotypical image of Christians in the media.
- Joshua Graham, known as the Burned Man, saves this DLC from mediocrity single-handedly. A compelling and memorable character, he serves as the highlight of the entire experience. Graham's brilliant, engaging, and highly quotable voice lines contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment. The exceptional voice performance by his actor further enhances the depth and impact of his character.
- No Essential NPCs: If you desire, similar to the base game, you have the freedom to kill any NPC in the valley. However, there's an odd exception with the NPCs of the Happy Trails Caravan at the beginning of the DLC. Attempting to kill these NPCs would of prevent you from visiting Zion. Which is probably why this is the case. But still weird nonetheless.
The Bad:
- Abruptly Short Playtime: The playtime of Honest Hearts is a significant drawback, resulting in an unsatisfying short experience. The DLC concludes abruptly, leaving you with a sense of unfulfillment and a feeling that potential opportunities were missed.
- The absence of unique new creatures in Honest Hearts, despite the distinct landscape of Zion, is a noticeable drawback. The DLC heavily relies on reusing and reskinning creatures from the base game, hinting at a potentially rushed development and contributing to a sense of disappointment.
- Unfortunately, the ugly cave interiors are copied directly from the base game.
- The side quests weren't that good and were very simple and short.
Story Critique:
The central conflict in this DLC revolves around the different approaches of Joshua and Daniel in addressing the White Legs threat. Daniel advocates a more passive option, suggesting the evacuation of The Sorrows and the Dead Horses from Zion Canyon to prevent potential conflict and preserve the peaceful nature of the Sorrows. In contrast, Joshua proposes a more militant response, advocating the use of the tribes to crush the White Legs and essentially commit genocide against them. Despite expressing his distaste for killing, Joshua sees it as a necessary chore when done righteously.
While I appreciate the underlying concept of the story in this DLC, I believe its execution could have been handled more effectively. As the near ending approaches, players are presented with a choice to side with either Daniel or Joshua, influencing the DLC's ending and slides. However, a notable issue arises as the non-chosen character proceeds without protest, failing to present a convincing argument for their perspective. This missed opportunity denies players the chance to witness an engaging conversation and heated debate between two clashing ideas.
Another aspect that could have been improved is the lack of input from the two temporary companions, Waking Cloud and Follows-Chalk, representing the Sorrows and the Dead Horses tribes, respectively. Their failure to express their opinions on the preferable approach for their tribes represents a missed opportunity to delve deeper into their characters and offer additional perspectives.
The White Legs are portrayed as a ruthless and evil faction, demonstrating cruelty and a lack of mercy towards their enemies. It is revealed their actions including the slaughter, destruction, and genocide of the inhabitants of New Canaan. This brutal assault was carried out to gain entry into Caesar's Legion and eliminate their long-standing rival. The Legion, particularly Caesar, was motivated by the death of Joshua. The ruthless attack on New Canaan left no one spared, including children and the defenceless. To ensure no chance of rebuilding, they salted the earth in the aftermath of their destructive campaign. The DLC begins with the White Legs chasing the surviving refugees into Zion, setting the stage for the conflict.
In both endings, players confront Salt-Upon-Wounds. In the evacuation ending, players are presented with the choice of either killing him or convincing him to leave through a speech check. However, this decision appears to render the entire evacuation process pointless, as the White Legs' threat was primarily under the leadership of Salt-Upon-Wounds. If he departs or leaves, the threat is effectively nullified, and the evacuation of The Sorrows from Zion seems unnecessary.
On Joshua's path, players witness a moral decision regarding Salt-Upon-Wounds at the end. Three choices are presented: killing Salt-Upon-Wounds personally, letting Joshua execute him, or sparing his life. Each choice significantly impacts the ending slides for the Sorrows, the Dead Horses, and Joshua himself. Sparing Salt-Upon-Wounds results in the Sorrows maintain their peaceful ways, the Dead Horses avoiding increased violence, and Joshua occasionally showing mercy. Killing Salt-Upon-Wounds personally leads to the Sorrows becoming a warlike tribe, the Dead Horses triumphantly returning home, and Joshua remaining steadfast in his beliefs, occasionally showing mercy. The final option, having Joshua kill, results in the same Dead Horses slide as the second option, while the Sorrows become more violent and warlike. Eventually, the Sorrows reject Daniel, and for Joshua, he becomes even more brutal, and his alias as the Burned Man takes on a more depraved nature.
The pivotal moment in the tribes' evolution and Joshua's transformation into warmongers hinges on the decision to kill or spare Salt-Upon-Wounds, an objectively evil character. This situation seems implausible given Salt-Upon-Wounds' monstrous actions, including the mass murder of innocent individuals, including children. His character is a equivalent of a IRL terrorist leader.
The moral quandary of deciding Salt-Upon-Wounds' fate appears unnecessary, considering the atrocities he committed. A more fitting alternative could involve Salt-Upon-Wounds dying during the battle, followed by the surrender of the remaining White Legs, particularly children and non-combatants. Joshua's proclamation that the surviving White Legs must be dealt with to eliminate threat for good could present players with a choice between a merciless approach or a more merciful alternative. This alternative offers a realistic and thought-provoking choice, aligning better with the potential consequences for the tribes, as the slaughter of defenceless individuals would profoundly impact the tribes' development and endings.
The only choices offered are to either crush the White Legs or evacuate Zion. There's no opportunity to negotiate or persuade the White Legs to leave peacefully. A potential option, like bribing them to relocate, could have been a choice. The lack of a pacifist route is noticeable, as both endings involve killing. This missed opportunity may be to rushed development.
6.5/10
B-
TL;DR:
If Joshua Graham wasn't in it, I wouldn't recommend it; he has to take some time to recover his back from carrying this DLC. It's really the only reason to play this DLC, besides the loot. While I did find enjoyment in the quest line, it's not without its faults. I wish it had undergone more development time to address the issues that both I and other players encountered.
The Good:
- Survivalist: A highlight is the Survivalist's story, conveyed through terminal entries scattered throughout the caves. I strongly suggest delving into these terminal logs for a deeper understanding of his backstory. If collecting the logs seems too tedious, I recommend watching Synonymous' video on this topic.
- The New Loot: The newly introduced weapons and attire are great, particularly Joshua's handgun and his outfit. Additionally, the Survivalist's rifle deserves a noteworthy mention.
- Scenery: Zion Canyon's landscape is distinctly beautiful and immersive. Offering a refreshing departure from the Mojave wasteland, it provides a unique environment.
- The portrayal of the Christian Mormons, known as the New Canaanites, was nice and respectful. It's a pleasant departure from the stereotypical image of Christians in the media.
- Joshua Graham, known as the Burned Man, saves this DLC from mediocrity single-handedly. A compelling and memorable character, he serves as the highlight of the entire experience. Graham's brilliant, engaging, and highly quotable voice lines contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment. The exceptional voice performance by his actor further enhances the depth and impact of his character.
- No Essential NPCs: If you desire, similar to the base game, you have the freedom to kill any NPC in the valley. However, there's an odd exception with the NPCs of the Happy Trails Caravan at the beginning of the DLC. Attempting to kill these NPCs would of prevent you from visiting Zion. Which is probably why this is the case. But still weird nonetheless.
The Bad:
- Abruptly Short Playtime: The playtime of Honest Hearts is a significant drawback, resulting in an unsatisfying short experience. The DLC concludes abruptly, leaving you with a sense of unfulfillment and a feeling that potential opportunities were missed.
- The absence of unique new creatures in Honest Hearts, despite the distinct landscape of Zion, is a noticeable drawback. The DLC heavily relies on reusing and reskinning creatures from the base game, hinting at a potentially rushed development and contributing to a sense of disappointment.
- Unfortunately, the ugly cave interiors are copied directly from the base game.
- The side quests weren't that good and were very simple and short.
Story Critique:
The central conflict in this DLC revolves around the different approaches of Joshua and Daniel in addressing the White Legs threat. Daniel advocates a more passive option, suggesting the evacuation of The Sorrows and the Dead Horses from Zion Canyon to prevent potential conflict and preserve the peaceful nature of the Sorrows. In contrast, Joshua proposes a more militant response, advocating the use of the tribes to crush the White Legs and essentially commit genocide against them. Despite expressing his distaste for killing, Joshua sees it as a necessary chore when done righteously.
While I appreciate the underlying concept of the story in this DLC, I believe its execution could have been handled more effectively. As the near ending approaches, players are presented with a choice to side with either Daniel or Joshua, influencing the DLC's ending and slides. However, a notable issue arises as the non-chosen character proceeds without protest, failing to present a convincing argument for their perspective. This missed opportunity denies players the chance to witness an engaging conversation and heated debate between two clashing ideas.
Another aspect that could have been improved is the lack of input from the two temporary companions, Waking Cloud and Follows-Chalk, representing the Sorrows and the Dead Horses tribes, respectively. Their failure to express their opinions on the preferable approach for their tribes represents a missed opportunity to delve deeper into their characters and offer additional perspectives.
The White Legs are portrayed as a ruthless and evil faction, demonstrating cruelty and a lack of mercy towards their enemies. It is revealed their actions including the slaughter, destruction, and genocide of the inhabitants of New Canaan. This brutal assault was carried out to gain entry into Caesar's Legion and eliminate their long-standing rival. The Legion, particularly Caesar, was motivated by the death of Joshua. The ruthless attack on New Canaan left no one spared, including children and the defenceless. To ensure no chance of rebuilding, they salted the earth in the aftermath of their destructive campaign. The DLC begins with the White Legs chasing the surviving refugees into Zion, setting the stage for the conflict.
In both endings, players confront Salt-Upon-Wounds. In the evacuation ending, players are presented with the choice of either killing him or convincing him to leave through a speech check. However, this decision appears to render the entire evacuation process pointless, as the White Legs' threat was primarily under the leadership of Salt-Upon-Wounds. If he departs or leaves, the threat is effectively nullified, and the evacuation of The Sorrows from Zion seems unnecessary.
On Joshua's path, players witness a moral decision regarding Salt-Upon-Wounds at the end. Three choices are presented: killing Salt-Upon-Wounds personally, letting Joshua execute him, or sparing his life. Each choice significantly impacts the ending slides for the Sorrows, the Dead Horses, and Joshua himself. Sparing Salt-Upon-Wounds results in the Sorrows maintain their peaceful ways, the Dead Horses avoiding increased violence, and Joshua occasionally showing mercy. Killing Salt-Upon-Wounds personally leads to the Sorrows becoming a warlike tribe, the Dead Horses triumphantly returning home, and Joshua remaining steadfast in his beliefs, occasionally showing mercy. The final option, having Joshua kill, results in the same Dead Horses slide as the second option, while the Sorrows become more violent and warlike. Eventually, the Sorrows reject Daniel, and for Joshua, he becomes even more brutal, and his alias as the Burned Man takes on a more depraved nature.
The pivotal moment in the tribes' evolution and Joshua's transformation into warmongers hinges on the decision to kill or spare Salt-Upon-Wounds, an objectively evil character. This situation seems implausible given Salt-Upon-Wounds' monstrous actions, including the mass murder of innocent individuals, including children. His character is a equivalent of a IRL terrorist leader.
The moral quandary of deciding Salt-Upon-Wounds' fate appears unnecessary, considering the atrocities he committed. A more fitting alternative could involve Salt-Upon-Wounds dying during the battle, followed by the surrender of the remaining White Legs, particularly children and non-combatants. Joshua's proclamation that the surviving White Legs must be dealt with to eliminate threat for good could present players with a choice between a merciless approach or a more merciful alternative. This alternative offers a realistic and thought-provoking choice, aligning better with the potential consequences for the tribes, as the slaughter of defenceless individuals would profoundly impact the tribes' development and endings.
The only choices offered are to either crush the White Legs or evacuate Zion. There's no opportunity to negotiate or persuade the White Legs to leave peacefully. A potential option, like bribing them to relocate, could have been a choice. The lack of a pacifist route is noticeable, as both endings involve killing. This missed opportunity may be to rushed development.