Though Aloy retains her independent personality inHorizon Forbidden West, she finds herself having to rely on her friends more than ever to overcome the powerful Far Zeniths. This is great for players, as it allows for side characters like Varl, Erend, and Zo to be fleshed out more completely. One character that gets neglected is Sylens. This is a pity, as he is an enigmatic character whose alliances aren’t always made clear. Fortunately,Horizon Forbidden West’s upcoming DLC has the opportunity to mend this.
Thereveal trailer for theBurning ShoresDLCshows a Horus Titan awakening, suggesting that this may be a threat that Aloy will have to face. If this is the case, she may need Sylens' help more than ever. His vast knowledge of the Old Ones may mean he knows a lot about the Horus Titans, and this knowledge may come in handy for Aloy.
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Sylens Was Underutilized in Horizon Forbidden West
Sylens is one of the most interesting characters introduced inHorizon Zero Dawn. His love of knowledge has him learning a lot about the Old Ones, and he may be one of the most studied people on the planet. He discovers the AI HADES, though it is terribly damaged. Upon repairing it, they form a mutual partnership and share knowledge. During theevents ofZero Dawn, Sylens is betrayed by HADES, and he aligns with Aloy, though his enigmatic ways often frustrate her. By the end of the game, players are left unsure whether he is a friend or foe.
Sylens' role inHorizon Forbidden Westis relatively small, and he mostly works in the shadows. This gives very little opportunity for character development, hence Sylens remains a frustratingly enigmatic figure. At the end of the game, he seems to fully commit himself to Aloy and her cause, though it is impossible to determine where his loyalties truly lie, as he has continuously proven himself to be capable of advanced deception.
How Burning Shores DLC Can Incorporate Sylens
Sylens may be deceptive and secretive, but he is a useful character to have around. His intelligence is undeniable, and he is one of the best people to turn to when seeking accurate knowledge of the Old Ones. This knowledge may be vital to Aloy in theBurning ShoresDLC’s Los Angeles. In the announcement trailer, it is revealed that the coastline has been turned into a volcanic archipelago. Most interestingly, a Horus Titan is shown awakening and destroying the Hollywood sign.
Horus Titans, also known as Metal Devils, are large combat robots that were used to destroy human fortifications in the Old World. When the Faro Plague struck, the Horus Titans caused mass destruction. In Aloy’s time, the Horus Titans are menacing structures that pepper the landscape, though they are inactive. If one awakens, it will easily be the biggest threat Aloy has faced yet. TheBurning ShoresDLC could shine the spotlight on Sylens by having Aloy turn to him to learn how to defeat this colossal enemy, as brute strength likely won’t work.
The upcomingBurning ShoresDLC will be a PS5 exclusive, which is a disappointment to last-gen players. However, it does suggest that Guerrilla Games may have something special in store if it believes that the DLC can only be fully realized on current-gen hardware. Whatever the studio is brewing, hopefully, Sylens is a part of it.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available on PS4 and PS5. TheBurning ShoresDLC is scheduled to release on April 19 on PS5.
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