It's fun to overhear companions' conversations as they try to make sense of the "Old Ones' world." We hear Zo trying to explain the concept of soda to Varl, Erend's newfound love of sports and death metal, and Varl's hatred of stuffed animals. Eventually, it evolves into a nice addition to the game. It has a Mass Effect vibe that, at first, felt forced and against Aloy's lone wolf persona. Old friends Varl and Erend set up camp, along with Zo and Kotallo, new Utaru and Tenakth friends, and Alva, an academic from the mysterious Quen tribe from across the great ocean. You establish a home base in an old Project Zero Dawn base, collecting friends and allies along the way. In the first game, side characters drifted in and out as Aloy went along on her quest. Which is just as well because, as it turns out, she literally cannot do this alone.Īloy's companions bring warmth and comfort to the game. It gets tiring, but Aloy thankfully comes around. Themes of belonging and the importance of connection frequently pop up, hammering the point home: You Cannot Go Through Life Alone. In the early hours I found myself wanting to shake Aloy, yelling "Let them love you! " But ultimately, Aloy is still that little exile girl who is getting used to the concept of just being an accepted member of society. On the surface, it's very "Strong Female Character," a trope I despise. These kinds of pressures would be a lot for anyone – and at first, Aloy reacts by keeping her friends at a distance, rejecting help and comfort lest they end up suffering because of her. Now, Aloy is The Hero, idolized by everyone and surrounded by people who love her– maybe even a couple of people vying for her heart (something that is incredibly funny to watch). Less than a year earlier Aloy was an exile, shunned from her matriarchal Nora society. And look: It wouldn't be easy to be basically the only person who is able to save the world twice in one year from an ancient and existential threat. Horizon Forbidden West is an incredibly gorgeous game, with a number of new environments: the desert of Las Vegas, snow-capped mountains, lush redwood forests and a now strangely tropical San Francisco.įormer outsider Aloy takes on the role of lone wolf hero, burdened with a glorious purpose. Once you hit the ground running in the West, the real fun begins. An intense change of pace from the somewhat meandering (but brief) opening tutorial where you're eased into Aloy's world after five years. A good portion of this scene plays out in a cutscene, but it's thrilling and dangerous. Of course, the appearance of Regalla results in a fearsome clash as the meeting between the Tenakth and Carja is ambushed, and we're left fighting for our lives. Regalla is a machine-riding rebel leader with one thing on her mind: death to the Carja and death to those who dare parlay with the Carja of the East. They growl threats of violence and death at Aloy if she dares continue her quest into their territory.īut that's quickly thrown aside as a new, bigger threat appears: antagonist Regalla, played by the incomparable Angela Bassett. They loom over our heroine Aloy with fearsome, colorful body paint and mohawks, glaring at us, the outsiders. As the name of the game implies, the Tenakth aren't the most welcoming. It's a cinematic introduction to the titular Forbidden West: a gathering of the Western Tribes – the Tenakth. There's a part of Horizon Forbidden West, about two hours into the game, that made me think: yes.
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