After Horizon Forbidden West, One Big Character’s Legacy is in Question

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After Horizon Forbidden West, One Big Character's Legacy is in Question

As a long-time Horizon fan, I’ve always been captivated by the intricate tapestry of characters that have graced this post-apocalyptic world. Among them all, Ted Faro stands out as a towering figure whose influence is felt throughout the entire timeline of the series, from the original Zero Dawn to the latest Forbidden West and even the upcoming Call of the Mountain.

In the world of Horizon, numerous figures from its distant past have significantly impacted and determined the course of events a millennium later, such as Aloy’s journeys. Anita Sandoval, for instance, developed the Caldera of Yellowstone Analytic Nexus (CYAN) to prevent the Yellowstone volcano from erupting, as seen in The Frozen Wilds. On the other hand, Doctor Elisabet Sobeck is responsible for Project Zero Dawn, the potent artificial intelligence GAIA, and Aloy’s genetic lineage. However, the impact and legacy of one ancient figure – Ted Faro – remains uncertain in future Horizon games following events depicted in Horizon Forbidden West.

Horizon’s Ted Faro Explained

The mark of Ted Faro is evident across the post-apocalyptic settings of Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West, and Horizon Call of the Mountain. In essence, the realm of Horizon might never have come into being without the intricate plans of Ted Faro. A prodigious entrepreneur born in the early 21st century, Faro was known for his visionary approach to technology, with a particular focus on robotics. Abandoning higher education at just 20 years old, he established Faro Automated Solutions (FAS), which would create technologies that would ultimately bring both destruction and salvation to the world. Initially producing basic robots, FAS garnered global fame and admiration when Ted Faro hired Elisabet Sobeck in 2040.

By the midpoint of the 21st century, Earth was swiftly declining, primarily due to rapid environmental degradation brought about by human actions. With funding from FAS, Chief Scientist Sobeck devised numerous eco-friendly robotic systems that aided in restoring environments and purifying the atmosphere and oceans. However, despite Sobeck’s significant contributions to planet preservation, she received less recognition compared to Faro, as her projects were carried out under FAS, with Faro being widely hailed as humanity’s savior for some time.

In my passion for war-torn tales, I swiftly steered Faro’s innovative path away from eco-friendly robots and towards formidable war machines. This choice led to Sobeck departing from Faro’s endeavors, and eventually, the creation of the Chariot series of military machinery. Sadly, these mechanical titans, fueled by their own ambition, ultimately brought about the devastation of our planet.

The Fate of Ted Faro

In this scenario, the renegade robot groups named Swarm and Faro Plague, as identified by Sobeck, threatened to eliminate all life on Earth within a 15-month timeframe. To ensure survival for future generations, Sobeck initiated Project Zero Dawn with financial backing from FAS. Tragically, Sobeck gave her life to secure the success of Zero Dawn, but in retaliation, Faro ordered the extermination of all surviving members of the project and erased records of human history dating back to APOLLO. This was done by Faro to conceal his part in Earth’s destruction and shield developing humans from potential dangers associated with human history.

In his self-made sanctuary in San Francisco, known as Thebes, Faro, one of the few original humans left, pursued immortality. However, his efforts to achieve this goal led to an unexpected outcome: he was transformed over centuries into a monstrous creature due to his experiments.

Additionally, Ted Faro’s company, Faro Automated Solutions, was involved in creating a versatile augmented reality gadget called the Focus.

Ted Faro’s Role in Future Horizon Games

In Horizon Forbidden West, Aloy assists the Quen in obtaining access to the Thebes bunker. Their goal is to retrieve Faro’s Omega Clearance and data that could potentially save their homeland from ecological disaster. Inside the generator room of the bunker, they encounter a grotesque form of Faro, who was still alive. Repulsed by this twisted representation of their hero, the CEO orders the incineration of Faro. While Forbidden West appears to have concluded Faro’s story, with scenes detailing his fate post-APOLLO destruction as seen in Zero Dawn and showing his ultimate demise, it is possible that Faro and his influence may play crucial roles in Horizon 3.

Toward the conclusion of the Burning Shores DLC in Forbidden West, Sylens shared with Aloy about possible 21st-century weaponry that might help combat the approaching Nemesis threat. Since Faro Corporation strayed from its original focus to develop military technology, it’s plausible that some of these weapons were either created or at least financially backed by Faro.

In the realm of Horizon, it’s plausible that the founder of the FAS could impact the Quen, as they revered Faro as their most esteemed Ancestor. Some of the Quen’s elite and high-ranking individuals might harbor animosity towards Aloy due to her involvement in Faro’s demise, thereby elevating Faro to a symbolic martyr status. Despite his physical absence, Faro’s impact within the Horizon world could linger for many years yet.

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2024-11-18 01:33