WhenHorizon Zero Dawndebuted in 2017, players weren’t just introduced to the once isolated Nora huntress Aloy. As she journeyed through a post-apocalyptic landscape inHorizon Zero Dawn, Aloy met many memorable characters. The likes of Varl, Erend, Sylens, Avad, Petra, and Talanah were so integral to her story that they made their way into the second game,Horizon Forbidden West.
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WithHorizon Forbidden Westbeing twice the size ofZero Dawn, there are even more characters for Aloy to be introduced to. Fromthe Utaru tribe and Tenakth clans, the wandering Oseram and Carja, to the main antagonists of Far Zenith. There are so many new faces to meet, but a handful left their mark out west and will hopefully reappear in theBurning ShoresDLC, as well as a future third game.
7Regalla
As the first antagonist Aloy meets inForbidden West,Regalla is a formidable foe. Expertly portrayed by the legendary Angela Bassett, Regalla is the leader of the Tenakth rebels. Having learned of Tenakth Chief Hakarro’s plans to make peace with the Carja, Regalla is hellbent on making the Meridian-based clan pay for what they did to the Tenakth during the Red Raids.
Having been spared by Hakarro during a challenge, Regalla vowed to turn against him with her rebellious tribe – with the help of the Sons of Prometheus. While not in the game for as long as she should be, it’s hard not to forget Regalla’s presence as Aloy journeys through the Tenakth clan lands.
6Tilda Van Der Meer
The enigmatic Tilda van der Meer is undoubtedly one of the stand-out characters inForbidden West. Thanks to theperformance of Carrie-Anne Moss, the Far Zenith member seems like yet another antagonist for Aloy to face down. But thanks to her deep connection with Elisabet (the pair were in a relationship) and Aloy being a genetic copy, Tilda ends up betraying the Far Zeniths and siding with Aloy. However, she later shows her true colors when trying to make up for past mistakes with Elisabet.
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For such a mysterious person to have significant character development, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for Tilda at points. Well, if you look past her trying to kidnap Aloy, that is.
5Kotallo
Out of all Aloy’s allies inForbidden West, Kotallo has become a fan favorite. Portrayed by Noshir Dalal, players meet the Tenakth marshal briefly during The Embassy. As Regalla leads the charge on those attending, Kotallo is maimed on the battlefield and loses his arm to a Bristleback. When Aloy comes across him once more, having ventured to the Sky Clan settlement of Stone Crest, he reluctantly agrees to help her in her quest to access the subordinate function AETHER.
Kotallo is a steadfast warrior with an insatiable dry wit, providing some of the most unforgettable encounters of the game (includinghis fascination with seashells). He finds common ground with Aloy in that they’ve both gone through a lot of trauma in such a short time.
4Beta
The introduction of Beta is a shock to not only Aloy and her friends but players too. Another clone of Elisabet Sobeck,Beta is Aloy’s genetic twin, created for the same purpose – to use her biological signature to access GAIA’s subfunctions and other Zero Dawn and Faro facilities.
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Having been raised in isolation by the Far Zeniths, Beta is much more sheltered than Aloy and is wary of people. She views herself as not living up to Elisabet’s standards, believing that Aloy shares more of the same characteristics than she does. Beta’s personality crisis over this is a genuinely moving part of the story, especially when you consider thatAshly Burch is playing three genetically identical but mindfully different characters.
3Zo
As one of the first new allies you meet in theForbidden West, Zo leaves quite the impression. Played by Erica Luttrell, Zo is a Gravesinger for the Utaru Clan who falls in love with Varl. Wanting to learn more about the world outside of Plainsong, she joins Aloy on her quest to repair GAIA. Like Aloy, Zo is intelligent but is a little more level-headed. She often calms her allies down and gives them a new perspective on the task at hand.
Zo will be a formidable force in future games, particularly with Kotallo at her side if they follow Aloy beyond the Forbidden West and to the Burning Shores.
2Alva
A Divinerfor the Quen tribe, Aloy stumbled across Alva at the Greenhouse as she was tasked with seeking out the knowledge of “The Legacy” – the Quen’s term for learning information about the Old Ones via their focuses. Portrayed by Alison Jaye, Alva is a curious and intelligent character who becomes another ally for Aloy in her eventual fight against Nemesis.
Alva’s excitement in finally being able to explore and read data she hadn’t been able to access was a delight to see. She’s also unique in being the only person among Aloy’s companions to be immediately familiar with the focus, in turn having a grasp on what Aloy has seen through the device her entire life.
1Erik Visser
Out of allthe Far Zeniths, Erik Visser is pretty distinctive. As an enforcer of the organization, he has a terrifying knack for finding pleasure in killing. Portrayed by Marc Kurdish, Visser was the founder of a private military company and would often go out on assignments for the thrill of taking people’s lives. Then, as the Far Zeniths traveled to the Sirius star system, he’d get his sadist kicks in augmented reality games and simulations to pass the time.
While he doesn’t play as big a part in the story as Tilda does, he does provide two of the most significant battles inHorizon Forbidden Westas the muscle of Far Zenith. That and the way he continuously taunts and cackles at Aloy as she figures out a way to penetrate that pesky shield.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now for PS4 and PS5.
