Fans ofHorizon Zero Dawnhave known about the upcoming sequel,Horizon Forbidden West, for quite a while now. Fans got an even more exciting look atHorizon Forbidden Westin this week’s State of Play where 14 minutes of brand new gameplay was revealed. The footage shows off the graphic upgrades between last-gen consoles and this generation, not to mention new combat and enemies to look forward to. What should have been an exciting sneak peek atHorizon Forbidden Westhas now devolved, unfortunately, because some viewers have expressed disgust and disappointment at Aloy’s updated facial design.
Aloy is the protagonist ofHorizon Zero Dawnand the upcomingHorizon Forbidden West. She’s voiced by Ashly Burch and modeled after Hannah Hoekstra, a Dutch actress. Aloy is widely regarded as a strong leading female character, with many players appreciating the way she was written, designed, and depicted.Aloy’s appearance has changed fromHorizon Zero DawntoHorizon Forbidden West, as the sequel takes place six months after the events of the first game. Her face looks a bit rounder, which could be explained by a few different things, but some fans reacted and decided her rounder cheeks were enough reason to now call Aloy “fat” and “ugly.”
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Aloy’s Appearance in Horizon Forbidden West vs. Horizon Zero Dawn
Perhaps the biggest factor at play here is that people are comparing last-gen screenshots with next-gen screenshots.Horizon Zero Dawncame out on the PS4, meanwhileHorizon Forbidden Westwill be both a next-gen and last-gen release. It makes sense for the developer toshowcaseHorizon Forbidden Westwith its PS5 next-gentechnology, even though it will release for both PS4 and PS5. A large part of the complaints that some people have wagered simply comes from the technological difference that makes Aloy appear more realistically inHorizon Forbidden West.
There’s also a time jump to contend with betweenHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden West. A lot can change a person’s appearance in six months, which many fans have noted under the posts talking about how Aloy is now “fat.” Fans have also come to her defense by noting that,given the context of the games, she and everyone else in the post-apocalyptic world of San Francisco hardly used to eat. Things have surely gotten better since the end ofHorizon Zero Dawn, so it makes sense that her cheeks may be a bit bigger. However, that doesn’t make her “fat.”
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Aloy Does Not Need to be More Feminine in Horizon Forbidden West
Aloy doesn’t “wear makeup” inHorizon Zero Dawn, so it’s a little confusing as to why some people think she needsto wear makeup now inHorizon Forbidden West. If Aloy was the type of woman to wear makeup, then it would be within fans’ right to ask why she isn’t wearing it. However, she’s not the type to wear makeup. She lives in post-apocalyptic San Francisco — even if she did wear makeup, it would be smudged and largely sweat off by the end of the day.
The upset around Aloy’s changed appearance inHorizon Forbidden Westis indicative of a larger issue within the gaming community. Female characters who are created like Aloy,or evenThe Last of Us 2’s Abby, to look like realistic women help other women see themselves in video games. Representation matters, and not every woman is extremely feminine or would take the time to put on a face of makeup before going into battle.
All in all, Aloy looks greatin the upcomingHorizon Forbidden West. Her appearance may have changed, and in turn caused some fans to grow upset, but those upset about it really don’t need to be. Women exist to just be themselves — not to satisfy the male gaze or live up to a fantasy that other video games have perpetuated in the past. There’s nothing wrong with Aloy’s more filled-out cheeks, but there is something wrong with how some fans have perceived them.
Horizon Forbidden Westis in development for PS4 and PS5.
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