Warning: This article contains spoilers forHorizon Forbidden WestandThe Last of Us Part 2. Proceed at your own risk.Sony’sHorizonfranchise has become a major pillar of its first-party library, and the success ofHorizon Forbidden Westwill likely warrant a third entry in the series. The events ofHorizon Forbidden Westset up a variety of directions a sequel could go in as the threat of Nemesis looms over the Earth, but one more grounded aspect of the game could play large role as well. The threat of Far Zenith left Aloy with little time to grieve the death of Varl, but a thirdHorizongame should steer away from the same revenge motivation that plagued Ellie inThe Last of Us Part 2.
Grief can be a tricky subject to cover in a video game, as when done well it can help players emotionally connect with characters. However, it can also drag down the game’s story if the way grief is presented falls flat or is trivialized.The Last of Us Part 2was controversialfor its portrayal of the grief over Joel’s death leading to revenge as the primary motivation for Ellie’s character in the game. Having Aloy follow a similar arc in aHorizon Forbidden Westsequel would likely be ill received as well.
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Horizon 3 Needs to Handle Aloy’s Grief Carefully
TheHorizonseries had established Varl as a friend and confidant of Aloy, and his role as the empathetic glue that held Aloy’s band of allies battling Far Zenith together made his presence inHorizon Forbidden Westall the more important. However, whileVarl’s sacrifice to save Betafrom Far Zenith came as an emotional twist for the player, Aloy was never given the proper time to grieve due to the pace of the game’s plot. Although Zo was able to build a memorial to Varl and share a moment of reflection with Aloy, it’s unclear if that will be the end of her period of grieving, or if Guerrilla Games plans to do more with this point in the future.
One of the best character traits of Aloy is her ability to keep her cool in the face of danger and deal with her emotions in a collected manner. It would be a drastic break from character if the nextHorizongame forced a revenge plot and had Aloy seek vengeance onFar Zenithfor Varl as some sort of closure for his death. Not only would this plot line get in the way of the much larger threat that is Nemesis, but it would undercut everything that has been established about Aloy’s reasonable demeanor so far.
This type of response to grief makes sense for a character likeThe Last of Us’Ellie, given her established nature as a hotheaded and sometimes shortsighted character. While her grief-ridden revenge quest was controversial enough forThe Last of Us Part 2, having Aloy go down a similar road would likely be even more controversial given how much of a departure it would be for her. Joel was also a much more crucial character toThe Last of Usseries, so his death being the catalyst for the game’s plot is more justifiable than Varl’s would be for the nextHorizongame.
There is still room for aHorizon Forbidden Westsequelto deal with Aloy’s grief after Varl’s death, but it should reflect Aloy’s character and not be the primary focus of the game. Varl’s death deserves more attention, and he ought to be paid the proper respects. However, grief takes on many forms, and it would make for a much more compelling game to see Aloy deal with grief in a more stoic manner that fits her established personality.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now for PS4 and PS5.
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