Intro: Life, at the snap of a finger can be created and destroyed without human interference. Horizon Zero Dawn showcases the beauty, brilliance and psychological underpinning of a society that is rising from the ashes once again.
The Orphan
An orphan in a shattered world, to only find herself isolated and asking more questions then getting answers and people treating her as a false god. Aloy, trapped in a mental abyss of seeking the truth dives head first into gaining knowledge and creates her own world.
The theme of the “Mother” is one used throughout the game to symbolize Aloys quest to find herself. Everything else found in the game through her motherly searches was just an added bonus. Early on in the game I could tell this story would have multiple plotlines woven in. In Horizon Zero Dawn the story goes from the intro of the game where we see Aloys abandonment issues play a crucial role in her development, to the end of the game where she has embraced being he own mother to an extent. She learned, grew, and adapted to the new realities shown before her in a world where nothing was certain. The Story is vibrant and combines new age and old world concepts in a way that doesn’t leave the player with unneeded questions, or left feeling confused.
Mechanical Murder: “A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.” Isaac Asimov, I Robot
In this game the flashbacks I got to the story of I-Robot are immense. The story of Horizon Zero Dawn challenges the rules of robotics in an almost organic way. The state of the robots in this game are almost human where they can procreate almost instantly, sense danger, harm other human in the territorial fight for their survival and consume humans as sustenance, or “bio fuel”. The concept of the robot, which is meant to help humans, then going against them is an age old tale. Taking it now to a degree of vengeance where the robots actually consumes the humans is both freighting and realistic. We live in a world where technology runs the way we live, breath and eat, it wouldn’t be far off to suggest that this could be a reality if given the opportune moment.
Zero Dawn: This story is by far one of the best I’ve ever seen. Its on the level of Death Stranding it is just that good. When I first started playing the game it was a slow burn type build up that lead to an explosion of rich themes, intense characters’ and story that was original, unique, and something incredibly special. The premise of project Zero Dawn is one that it creates and automated terraforming system that shuts down the robots and re-creates life on earth again. Dr. Sobeck created this system to give the world a fighting chance, and its uniquely brilliant and laced with hard science fiction. This story has a lot that is interwoven. This isn’t just a plotline you experience and move on. This has impact, and the story was calculated and not thought hazily on which I love!
With project zero there is also another creation that goes hand in hand with this, and it is, GAIA. GAIA reseeded earth based on the stored DNA and taught humans not to make the same mistake the old ones did. This act of wash, rinse, and repeat is showing us that the world is a dry erase board that can have multiple histories. What I mean by this is that, the earth favors life, no matter what, creation of life will happen. Death, destruction, chaos it all can birth a new form of life, and a new era of possibilities. Like Phoenix, the earth many times over has risen from the ashes, and will continue to do so.
The Final Fight: When it comes down to it the core of this game is unbelievable unique and so impactful. It discusses psychological themes of abandonment, trust issues and a re-birthing of the world in a fascinating way. Another major thing I truly loved was the representation of different kinds of people in both culture and skin color. Its one of the first games I’ve seen to be very well rounded in the way the characters were made. The controls were well crafted, and no bugs occurred for me which is an amazing thing so I have no critique on that. Overall this game was incredible and if you have not played it I highly suggest you do, the story takes its time and has a consisting flow that makes the ending both shocking, and gears you up for the next title in the horizon zero dawn series. Life as a whole is simple. Its also messy, beautiful, and constantly growing and adapting like and ever conscious program.
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