# Aloy: The Strong, Intelligent, and Intriguing Video Game Lead

In the year 3021, on April 4th, a woman who would eventually be called the Savior of Meridian, Champion of the Tenakth, and the Living Ancestor was born in post-apocalyptic Colorado. This character, widely known to fans as Aloy from the hit PlayStation series Horizon, has risen to prominence among female video game leads since her introduction in 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn. Despite having starred in just five Horizon games thus far, Aloy has made a significant mark on the world of AAA RPGs with her strength, intelligence, and captivating character. With an anticipated new Horizon game slated for release later in 2025, we delve into Aloy’s life, influence, and possible future trajectory.

The Mysterious Origins and Early Life of the Nora Aloy

In the early 31st century, the Horizon games are set in a post-apocalyptic western United States that has been reclaimed by nature but also populated with massive, mechanical creatures resembling animals and various human tribes. Aloy’s life was far from ordinary, as she wasn’t born like everyone else, but instead cloned using the DNA of Dr. Elisabet Sobeck – a leader of the global restoration project called Project Zero Dawn. This initiative aimed to restore Earth’s ecosystem after a devastating robot-caused apocalypse called the Faro Plague almost wiped out all life on our planet in the late 21st century.

In the year 3021, GAIA, an AI developed by Sobeck for a long-term project, detected a dangerous signal that awakened HADES, one of its subordinate AIs, to resume destruction. Unable to stop HADES herself, GAIA created a clone of Sobeck as an infant named Aloy, hoping she would be the one to eventually halt HADES and restore Project Zero Dawn’s systems. Born in ELEUTHIA-9, also known as All-Mother Mountain by a nearby secluded tribe called Nora, Aloy was viewed as a curse by their Matriarchs and raised by an outcast named Rost, living on the fringe of Nora territory.

Aloy’s Explorative Drive and Training for the Nora Proving Explained

By six years old, Rost tutored Aloy in survival skills and stealth to evade harmful machines and prejudiced members of the Nora tribes. At one point, Aloy stumbled upon remnants of a 21st century facility where she found a compact gadget called a Focus. This device enabled her to analyze modern and antique technology, replay audio recordings, and project holographic texts and videos. Driven by curiosity about the world, her origins, and seeking tribe membership, Aloy eventually took part in a rite of passage known as the Proving at age 18. Winning the Proving made Aloy an acknowledged Nora; however, the ceremony was abruptly ended due to an Eclipse cultist attack on Rost, who sacrificed himself to protect Aloy.

It’s thought that Aloy’s name may originate from the term “alloy,” reflecting the metallic focus of the post-apocalyptic setting in Horizon, and hinting at her unique combination of past and present influences as a role model.

Aloy’s Heroic Journey to Save the World From Destructive Machines and Tribes

Born amidst hardships, I found myself thrust into a vast world filled with mysterious ruins known as ELEUTHIA-9. My mission: stop the Eclipse and halt their control over the rampaging machines.

My odyssey took me through diverse landscapes teeming with intricate machines and tribes, some hostile, others invaluable allies and companions. Among these tribes were the regal Carja, the industrious Oseram, and the mystical Banuk. A pivotal ally who aided me in my battles against both the Eclipse and HADES was Sylens – a brilliant archaeologist with an uncanny knack for technology. With his guidance, I learned more about the ancient world and acquired tech to overpower the rogue A.I.

Though I managed to unite the four tribes against the Eclipse and their advanced 21st-century war machines, vanquishing HADES was merely the start of my tale.

As Aloy ventured on her mission against HADES, she discovered the secrets behind her past and how Project Zero Dawn significantly impacted the world she resides in. It was here that she found out HADES was one of only ten GAIA subsystems that gained consciousness and turned rebellious, with exception to APOLLO which was annihilated by Ted Faro during the initial stages of Zero Dawn’s deployment. The remaining A.I.’s are:

AETHER
ARTEMIS
DEMETER
ELEUTHIA
HEPHAESTUS
MINERVA
POSEIDON

In the void left by GAIA, Aloy swiftly embarked on an expedition towards the Forbidden West, aiming to retrieve a backup of GAIA and reunite her with the stray system functions to reignite Zero Dawn. This action was crucial for restoring the planet’s ailing ecosystem, quelling the aggressive machine lifeforms, and bringing harmony back to the world.

Aloy’s Defeat of Regalla’s Rebels and the Alien Far Zenith

In the game ‘Horizon Forbidden West’, protagonist Aloy along with her companions Erend and Varl formed alliances with various tribes such as the combat-skilled Tenakth, musical Utaru, and seafaring Quen. This group helped Aloy to retrieve a copy of GAIA and most of its subroutines except HEPHAESTUS. They also managed to overthrow the aggressive Tenakth rebel Regalla. However, they also came across ancient extraterrestrial beings known as Far Zenith who aimed to use another clone of Sobeck called Beta to capture GAIA for terraforming another planet. Although the Far Zenith were vanquished, Varl perished in the process. Aloy later found out that the Far Zenith were fleeing from an artificially intelligent entity named Nemesis, who was responsible for the subroutines malfunctioning initially.

Aloy’s Potential Future and Impact on the Horizon Franchise

Ever since the launch of “Burning Shores” DLC for “Horizon Forbidden West” in 2023, Aloy’s story has been progressing at a slow pace without any new games or additional mediums further developing it beyond the revelation of Nemesis. The 2023 VR game “Horizon Call of the Mountain,” set during the events of “Zero Dawn,” features Aloy in a brief appearance, but her main story remains untouched. Similarly, “LEGO Horizon Adventures” released in 2024 is just a reinterpretation of the narrative from “Zero Dawn.” Despite this, these games demonstrate the adaptability of Aloy and the world of “Horizon,” with speculation pointing towards the continuation of Aloy’s story in upcoming spinoff titles. It’s been suggested that a narrative-focused multiplayer “Horizon” game could be released within the next year or two, along with an MMO, while “Horizon 3” is still several years away.

In light of upcoming multiplayer-oriented Horizon games, Aloy might not be the primary character in these stories, however, she could reappear as a non-playable character (NPC) much like her role in Call of the Mountain. These games may delve into Aloy’s evolution as a leader among the seven tribes, facing conflicts with Nemesis, HEPHAESTUS remnants, and potential new human threats. This narrative development would complete Aloy’s journey from an outcast to a revered figure in the known world. Although her main storyline may be wrapped up in Horizon 3, she could still make appearances in future spin-offs that take place before the conclusion of her story.

The Impact of Aloy on the Horizon Franchise and Beyond

When Horizon was initially unveiled in 2015, robotic dinosaurs and other big creatures caught the interest of numerous gamers, but it was Aloy’s character and narrative that truly turned Horizon into one of PlayStation’s most prosperous and critically acclaimed series. In just eight years, Aloy has propelled Horizon to become one of Sony’s top franchises, demonstrating that single-player, story-focused games can still thrive financially and critically in today’s gaming market. Moreover, Aloy showcased that female game protagonists can be just as popular and enthusiastically accepted, if not more so, than many contemporary male video game characters. Despite the fact that Aloy’s adventure may soon conclude in Horizon 3, her tale will always be among the most compelling and fascinating of the early 21st century gaming era.

2025-04-04 17:40