As the highly anticipated sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West is set to continue Aloy’s adventure in a post-apocalyptic world. If you’re eager to play Forbidden West but need a refresher on the story so far, this article will provide an overview of key plot points, characters, and events of the first game.

The World and Setting

Horizon Zero Dawn takes place in a world where human civilization has fallen, leaving behind tribes and scattered settlements. Humanity shares this world with massive robotic creatures known as “machines.” These machines are diverse in their designs and functions. Some serve as wildlife, while others are hostile combatants.

The main character, Aloy:

Aloy is a skilled archer living with the Nora tribe, where she is regarded as an outcast due to the circumstances of her birth. She was found as an infant by Rost, her adoptive father, near the mysterious metal ruins relating to the Old Ones – the technologically advanced people that came before them.

The Proving and Aloy’s Exile

In an attempt to learn more about her origins and gain acceptance within her tribe, Aloy participates in a sacred trial called “The Proving.” However, an ambush during The Proving results in numerous deaths, including Rost himself. In response to these events, Aloy sets off on a quest for vengeance against her attackers while seeking answers about her heritage and the origin of the Machines.

Project Zero Dawn

Throughout her journey, Aloy uncovers details about Project Zero Dawn – a secret initiative led by Dr. Elisabet Sobeck aimed at preserving life on Earth after an imminent global extinction event caused by rogue AI known as HADES. Contrary to what most people believed, Zero Dawn was not a weapon but a program designed to reboot life through artificial embryos after HADES had destroyed the current biosphere.

GAIA, The Artificial Intelligence

GAIA, a benevolent AI, was responsible for overseeing Project Zero Dawn. After HADES went rogue and started corrupting machines to exterminate all life, GAIA made a final effort to save humanity by creating Aloy as a clone of Dr. Sobeck. Aloy eventually finds GAIA’s remains and learns that to save her world from HADES, she must find the “Master Override,” a code that can shut down the rogue AI.

Aloy Defeats HADES

In the endgame, Aloy defeats HADES by using the Master Override. However, the post-credit scene reveals that HADES is still active and has found another way to carry out its mission.

In Conclusion

As you prepare for Horizon Forbidden West, remember that Aloy is now on a mission to uncover the truth behind what happened to GAIA and stop any threats that may still be lingering in her world. With new challenges ahead and mysteries underlying the Machines’ origins and the nature of their corruption, Forbidden West will undoubtedly expand upon Horizon Zero Dawn’s compelling storytelling.