The world of Horizon Zero Dawn is a marvelous and awe-inspiring one. Following a dystopian catastrophe, nature has reclaimed humankind's once-great urban sprawls, carpeting the landscape with lush grass. Dilapidated buildings are pulled down by mighty trees and the powerful force of time, and in place of cars, wildlife roams freely. The few humans that do remain in Horizon Zero Dawn have been forced to live in primitive societies where they make use of the scraps left behind by past civilizations.

Within this strange world, one woman stands out. Her name is Aloy and though she begins life as an outcast, she is destined for great things. She is unlike the typical PlayStation mascot. She does not wield any guns nor is she is a stoic man on a mission. Nevertheless, she is well on her way to becoming one of the platform's most recognizable faces. Through providing something new for gamers to appreciate and demonstrating some admirable qualities, Aloy has managed to stand proudly alongside some of the most memorable gaming heroines.

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Horizon Zero Dawn - Aloy's Story of Overcoming Difficulty

Aloy holding a peace sign in Horizon Zero Dawn

Aloy grows up not knowing much about her origins. She is cast out of the Nora tribe, and she is raised by a strong yet kind man named Rost. Growing up as an outcast is difficult, and Aloy sometimes faces ridicule from the Nora children. However, instead of allowing her status as an outcast to define her, she does something radical which she continues to do for the remainder of her life - she chooses to rise above her difficulties.

Rather than accept that she is an outcast, she chooses to participate in the Proving, a competition that gives her the opportunity to become a Nora. Although Aloy has all the potential to win the Proving, the competition is cut short when a group of cultists attacks, murdering many Nora. In the chaos, Rost is also killed. Consequently, Aloy finds herself at an impasse yet again. She can decide to give up in the face of insurmountable odds, or she can rise from her grief and find the cultists who enacted the atrocity. Once again, Aloy chooses to rise above her difficulties, and she embarks on a quest to defeat the cultists.

This theme of overcoming great difficulties is constantly repeated in Horizon Zero Dawn. As Aloy explores the world around her, she must deal with robot dinosaurs called machines. Some of them, like the Watchers, are waist-high and can be taken down with a few swings of a spear. Others, like the Thunderjaws, are colossal foes that dwarf Aloy and test her in every way. Time after time, Aloy has to make the choice to face the difficulties that stand in her path tackle them with all her might. In doing so, Aloy serves as an admirable heroine who demonstrates that with the power of perseverance, any hardships can be overcome.

Aloy Avoids Common Pitfalls

horizon forbidden west aloy model

Part of what makes Aloy such a good heroine is that she avoids many common character-building pitfalls. Many potentially great characters have been let down by weak voice acting. Fortunately, Aloy, who is voiced by Ashly Burch, does not fall victim to this. This is particularly useful for a character like Aloy who is often muttering to herself as she is out exploring. Aloy remains one of Ashly Burch's best performances.

Another very common pitfall many potentially great characters fall into is the infamous romance plot. At times, it seems as though it is essential for all hero stories to feature a romance subplot. While they can be successfully implemented, there are plenty of cases where it just feels like a forced distraction. One of the most appreciable aspects of Horizon Zero Dawn is Aloy's lack of romantic interests. With no lovestruck guys or girls to weigh her down, Aloy can dedicate herself to her goals wholeheartedly.

Importantly, despite possessing many positive qualities, Aloy never seems like a perfect Mary Sue that one cannot relate to. It is true that Aloy achieves some feats that make her appear seemingly superhuman; taking down enormous robot dinosaurs is certainly not a skill most people possess. However, by displaying some vulnerability, Aloy remains relatable to the average gamer. Moments of vulnerability are illustrated when Aloy goes to Rost's grave to grieve. Though she may be a skilled machine hunter, Aloy is still a human with emotions and weaknesses.

With the release of Horizon Forbidden West fast approaching, gamers will get to continue Aloy's epic story soon. Hopefully, it will cement Aloy's position as one of gaming's greatest female protagonists.

Horizon Zero Dawn is available on PC and PS4. Horizon Forbidden West is scheduled to be released on February 18, 2022 on PS4 and PS5.

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