The Horizon franchise is a notable and successful one, and audiences can expect to see a third entry rear its head before too long. Much of the franchise's popularity can be attributed to its unique science-fiction worldbuilding, which is funneled through the lens of Aloy, the series' red-haired protagonist.
Spoilers ahead for Horizon.
Aloy certainly isn't perfect—Horizon's critics have cited her blandness and placid nature as narrative demerits—but she's still a very popular character. Created by a GAIA protocol from the genetic data of Elisbet Sobeck, Aloy is the quintessential Chosen One: not only does she possess preternatural athletic ability, but she is quite literally the only one capable of saving the world, as her DNA is required to initiate the Zero Dawn contingency. Naturally, this makes her personal journey one of epic proportions rather than intimate concerns, but there's still room for satisfying and emotional character development. Horizon Forbidden West tees up a particularly suitable next step in this regard.
Varl's Child Could Represent a Second Chance for Aloy in Horizon 3
Aloy Has to Come to Terms with Her Childhood and Origins
To understand where Aloy's story might go next, it's essential to understand how it began. Since she is a clone of Elisabet Sobeck, she was grown in one of the artificial wombs of ELEUTHIA-9 for the express purpose of saving the world from annihilation. These are mythical origins indeed, but Aloy's early life was defined more by loneliness than glory: considered an outcast for the unusual circumstances of her birth, she was forced to be adopted by another Nora exile, Rost.
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While Rost had immense love for Aloy, he could never provide the community that a growing child requires. And so Aloy was raised mostly in isolation from the rest of society, only able to join the Nora tribe after proving herself as a young adult. Still, Aloy demonstrates some awkwardness and aloofness that contrasts with the often warm camaraderie of her companions, and there's narrative meat hiding within this disparity. Indeed, Aloy's troubled and isolated upbringing is a core part of her identity, and thanks to the dangling plot thread of Zo and Varl's child at the end of Horizon Forbidden West, these areas could be ready for exploration.
This subject has already been explored in some ways, like through Aloy's emotional connection to Elisbet Sobeck, her quasi-mother. But Horizon 3 ought to look to the future.
Zo and Varl's Unborn Child Could Be the Key to Completing Aloy's Character Arc
Near the end of Horizon Forbidden West, it's revealed that Zo became pregnant by Varl, though the latter died before hearing the news. With the father of her child gone, Zo makes the decision to travel to the Sacred Lands—the home of the same Nora tribe that ousted Aloy as a child. With Aloy continuing her adventure and striving to save the world from Nemesis, she likely won't be around for much of the child's early life, but she could still influence it.
Aloy likely still feels scarred over her own unusual and lonely childhood, and could be galvanized by the arrival of Zo's baby: another child born under extraordinary circumstances, with only one parent, just like Aloy. It would make sense for her to see herself in this child, who could represent the future—a chance for Aloy to get things right this time around. Children can often serve as metaphors for hope, but Zo's child could double as a new emotional inspiration for Aloy. By helping to ensure the best life possible for them, she would better come to terms with her own upbringing, which could greatly elevate Horizon 3's story.
Horizon Forbidden West
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
- Released
- February 18, 2022
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
WHERE TO PLAY
Join Aloy as she braves a majestic but dangerous new frontier that holds mysterious new threats. This Complete Edition allows you to enjoy the critically acclaimed Horizon Forbidden West on PC in its entirety with bonus content, including the Burning Shores story expansion that picks up after the main game.
Explore distant lands, fight bigger and more awe-inspiring machines, and encounter astonishing new tribes as you return to the far-future, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon.
The land is dying. Vicious storms and an unstoppable blight ravage the scattered remnants of humanity while fearsome new machines prowl their borders, and life on Earth is hurtling toward another extinction.
It's up to Aloy to uncover the secrets behind these threats and restore order and balance to the world. Along the way, she must reunite with old friends, forge alliances with warring new factions and unravel the legacy of the ancient past.
- Engine
- Decima
- Franchise
- Horizon
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unsupported
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 29 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
