Guerrilla Games' Horizon franchise features a diverse cast of characters from all walks of life. Though Aloy is seen as the bravest hunter around, it could be argued that her friend Talanah is a worthy competitor. Talanah, who is a Carja hunter, has shown her skills in both the Horizon games and the comic books. If Aloy ever needs a replacement after Horizon Forbidden West, she may be one of the best choices.

At the end of Horizon Forbidden West, Talanah is still on her quest to reform the Carja Hunters Lodge. Her ability to work with people and serve as an effective leader may make her more admirable than Aloy to some. Talanah's story is far from over, though there has been no word on whether she'll make an appearance in Horizon Call of the Mountain.

RELATED: Horizon Call of the Mountain Has to be a Killer App for PSVR 2

Aloy the Outcast

horizon-forbidden-west-aloy-in-water

It is difficult to imagine the Horizon franchise without Aloy, as she has served as an effective heroine that has roped in millions of fans from around the world. She is rejected by the Nora tribe and raised by Rost, who is also an outcast. Despite the adversity she faces, Aloy still has a good heart, and she is willing to lay her life on the line to protect innocent people. Furthermore, she never loses faith in herself, and she is always determined to prove her worth and capabilities.

Aloy's presence is greatly appreciated within gaming, as strong female protagonists are rare. Nevertheless, Aloy is not without her flaws. As one would expect from an outcast, her social interactions aren't always the smoothest, and instead of being a leader to those that eventually look up to her, she prefers to embark on quests on her own. Though her independence is admirable, she can take it to unnecessary extremes at times. For players who find themselves not clicking with her for these reasons, there is another heroine who may be just as fierce, if not more.

Talanah the Trailblazer

Horizon Forbidden West Talanah

Players meet Talanah in Horizon Zero Dawn, where it is revealed that she descends from a noble line of Carja hunters. Despite this, she struggles to gain respect in the Carja Hunters Lodge, mostly because she is a woman. She has a bone to pick with Ahsis, the lodge leader, known as the Sunhawk, who maintains a culture in the lodge that is hostile and demeaning to women. Instead of accepting the current circumstances, Talanah dreams of overthrowing Ahsis and becoming the first female Sunhawk.

To achieve her goal, Talanah must defeat the deadliest machine, which is a mean Thunderjaw known as Redmaw. Ahsis attempts to thwart her by sending some hunters out to assassinate her, but his plan fails, since she has Aloy around to watch her back. Together, Aloy and Talanah defeat the terrible Thunderjaw, and Talanah becomes the new leader of the lodge, ending its harmful patriarchal culture.

Like Aloy, Talanah is a prodigious hunter capable of taking down the biggest threats. She also proves herself to be an impressive leader, serving faithfully as the Sunhawk. This is something that Aloy would be unable to do, as it is shown several times that she prefers to shun leadership roles and is fiercely independent, perhaps to a fault.

Should the Horizon franchise seek a future without Aloy, Talanah would make a worthy replacement, as she has all the determination and perseverance of the red-haired heroine. She has the leadership qualities necessary to serve as a strong female lead, and in some ways, she could fulfill the role better than Aloy, whose outcast upbringing causes her to be a bit socially inept at times. Hopefully, gamers get to see more of Talanah in future titles.

Horizon Forbidden West is available on PS4 and PS5.

MORE: The Chronological Timeline of the Horizon Franchise