Featured Image Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment / the author
Topics: Horizon Forbidden West, PlayStation, Opinion
Topics: Horizon Forbidden West, PlayStation, Opinion
When you look through the many franchises PlayStation has to offer, there’s no shortage of iconic characters. From Uncharted’s Nathan Drake to God of War’s Kratos, and Final Fantasy’s Cloud to Persona’s Joker, you can’t for top-tier protagonists.
However, with the arrival of Horizon Forbidden West, one Sony character has been brought into the spotlight again. Aloy cemented her place as an icon some years ago with the release of Horizon Zero Dawn. Since her debut back in 2017, she has since appeared in Fortnite and Genshin Impact, showing just how far-reaching an appeal she has.
Watch the story trailer for Horizon Forbidden West below
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Now, as we brave the Forbidden West, it’s clear that Aloy’s status as a household name is fully deserved. She is brave, tenacious, determined, and a genius. In addition to these fundamental attributes, Aloy is also capable of being charismatic - depending on how you choose to handle certain situations in Horizon Forbidden West.
In fact, Aloy’s personality is partially determined by the player controlling her. Despite this, she never strays far from being a noble warrior who wants to do everything she can to save humanity from impending catastrophe.
Obviously, these wholesome traits aren’t unique to Aloy. Video games are full of characters who possess such qualities, but Aloy’s fine balance between intellect and compassion is so well executed by the folks at the game's developer, Guerrilla Games, it’s hard not to pay special attention to her.
As if that wasn’t enough, Aloy is also prioritises logic above all. Throughout the Horizon series, our hero is subjected to vitriol, and this is often due to people who are mired in the traditions of their religions.
After all, Aloy was an outcast from birth due to the beliefs of the Nora tribe. Having her life affected by such dogma, it’s understandable that Aloy doesn’t submit to the blind faith of other people. Throughout her adventures, Aloy has resisted and undermined belief systems that have stood in the way of the greater good.
In other words, Aloy is openly atheist in her worldview, and that commitment to fact over faith is an admirable quality in a character. When Aloy sees a problem, she solves it. When Aloy sees a barrier, she overcomes it. When someone stands in her way because of superstition and hearsay, Aloy tests such ghost stories because she wants to see before believing.
With her incredible strength, unparalleled intellect, legendary bravery, and scientific mind, it’s clear that Aloy earns her place as a true icon of the PlayStation world. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to play more Horizon Forbidden West.