MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD for Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West.
Summary
TheHorizonfranchise boasts a unique beautiful post-apocalyptic world sprawling with robotic dinosaurs and creatures. The world of theHorizongames is certainly breathtaking, and players could easily get lost while exploring its beauty. However, the world Aloy lives in wouldn’t be possible without one very important project, and that is Project Zero Dawn.
InHorizon Zero Dawn, players met Elisabet Sobeck, who founded Project Zero Dawn, which was an initiative with the goal of creatingan artificial intelligence known as Gaiato save the world and create the world in which theHorizonfranchise is set. Unfortunately, there is one devastating detail about Project Zero Dawn that could spell a bad omen for Aloy’s ragtag group inHorizon Forbidden West’s sequel: every member of Project Zero Dawn died in an untimely manner.
A Parallel to Project Zero Dawn Would be an Interesting Narrative For Horizon 3
Aloy and Elisabet Have a Lot in Common With Each Other
Elisabet Sobeck and Aloy share a lot of traits with one another, which is no surprise considering Aloy is a genetic clone of Elisabet. However, there is a specific trait that they both share that is very prevalent when it comes to working with other people, which is that they both prefer to work alone. The two women parallel each other by slowly coming to accept that they can’t save the world on their own, and that they need a team of allies.
Aloy’s Team and Project Zero Dawn Both Have the Goal of Saving the World
Elisabet Sobeck’s team onProject Zero Dawn was formed of many specialistsfrom around the world. However, Elisabet took time to warm up to her team, and just like Aloy, Elisabet also begrudgingly accepted the help of others. Both Aloy’s team and Elisabet’s team have the same goal of saving the world from an AI threat, and even though Elisabet’s team managed to achieve their goal, they all died in the process.
Withthe similarities of both Aloy and Elisabetwhen it comes to cooperation, the fate of Project Zero Dawn could be a bad omen for Aloy’s team. There is certainly a chance that Aloy could lose some members of her team inHorizon 3, or maybe all of them, as it would make a good but devastating parallel to the fate of Elisabet’s team.
Aloy Has Already Lost One Team Member
InHorizon Forbidden West, Aloy eventually agrees to work with others and to have a team of her own team of specialists. Unfortunately, on the first team mission in which they attempt to capture the artificial intelligence known as Hephaestus, they lost Varl, who was killed by the Far Zenith member Erik Visser. Varl had been Aloy’s friend since the early events ofHorizon Zero Dawn, sothe loss of Varl inForbidden Westmade quite an impact on her and her team.
Losing Varl could potentially foreshadow more deaths among Aloy’s companions. Since there is a theme of Aloy losing at least one person she is close with in each game (Aloy’s father figure, Rost, dies inHorizon Zero Dawn), she might lose another person inHorizon 3, and it would likely be a member of her team.
A Good Narrative With a Devastating Tone
If the narrative ofHorizon 3has all or most of Aloy’s team die while saving the world, it would certainly add an unexpected and devastating twist to the story. Sometimes a well-written narrative needs an element of tragedy, and it wouldn’t be out of place inHorizon. Hopefully, Aloy’s team survives the events ofHorizon 3, but the fate of the members of Project Zero Dawn makes one wonder whether Aloy’s team will survive or not. The AI threat known as Nemesis does lower their chance of survival, asNemesis destroyed the Far Zenith colony. No matter what happens, with Guerrilla Game’s track record with theHorizonfranchise, the narrative ofHorizon 3will likely be just as grand asHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden West.
