With the events ofHorizon Forbidden Westin mind, one character in particular could be in line for a redemption arc instead of being reduced to the role of secondary antagonist for a third game in a row. WhileHorizon Zero Dawn’s main story had primarily focused on HADES as the first rogue AI of many in the series, HEPHAESTUS had always been operating in the background as the second AI running amok as it produced dangerous machines. Yet even after Aloy’s first encounter with HEPHAESTUS duringZero Dawn’s Frozen WildsDLC, the rogue AI would continue to play an antagonistic role inHorizon Forbidden West.
However, despite the recapture of HEPHAESTUS being one of the driving goals early inForbidden West, the shift in focus toward the Far Zenith as the primary antagonist ultimately leaves the rogue AI free to return yet again in a thirdHorizongame. But Guerrilla Games may want to avoid rehashing this same approach to HEPHAESTUS for the third time in a row, especially afterForbidden Westestablished why capturing the rogue AI continues to be virtually impossible. Moreover, withForbidden Westteasing Nemesis as the next game’s main villain, flipping the script with HEPHAESTUS might benefitthe character’s return inHorizon 3.
Horizon 3 Can’t Just Rinse and Repeat HEPHAESTUS' Subplot Again
As the subordinate function responsible for designing and building the various machines GAIA needs to terraform Earth, HEPHAESTUS is arguably one ofHorizon’s most dangerous AIs, like HADES, that turned rogue beforeZero Dawn. But while its ever-increasing production of dangerous machines across theHorizonseries has made it a consistent threat, HEPHAESTUS has equally been vital to the games' story, as outlined inForbidden West,where both Aloy and Far Zenith recognized the AI’s innate potential. However, despite being a villain in both games so far,Horizon 3is already at risk of HEPHAESTUS playing the same, overused role as a background villain.
Though HEPHAESTUS was ultimately captured during the events ofForbidden West, Aloy was forced to free the AI from Far Zenith’s control to gain the upper hand against them during the game’s climactic conclusion. Coupled with dialogue between Aloy and Sylens hinting that HEPHAESTUS will escape and potentially become more powerful due to data from APOLLO,Forbidden Westall but confirms that HEPHAESTUS will return inHorizon 3and needs to be recaptured again. But while this would allow Guerrilla Games to justify addingnew animal-inspired machines toHorizon 3, it leaves some key questions hanging over the HEPHAESTUS subplot.
Horizon Forbidden West Set Specific Limits For Horizon 3’s HEPHAESTUS
The biggest and potentially most important of these questions is howHorizon 3will adapt to the limitationsForbidden Westset up as part of its attempt to capture HEPHAESTUS. As revealed duringForbidden West’s main quest “GEMINI,” HEPHAESTUS does not want to rejoin GAIA and so requires a Cauldron with two compatible cores for the two AIs to directly connect and prevent the former from escaping back into the network. WhileForbidden Westlikely only included these limits to convey just how important and difficult capturing the AI would be, it has inadvertently leftHorizon 3’s version of HEPHAESTUSin an even more challenging position.
Redeeming HEPHAESTUS Could Be Key To Horizon 3’s Story
However, instead ofHorizon 3reusing the same HEPHAESTUSsubplot without breaking these limitations for a second time, the game could attempt something different should Nemesis ultimately become its main antagonist. Rather than try to recapture HEPHAESTUS for a second time,Horizon 3could give the character a redemption arc with Aloy attempting to reason with it as she did with GAIA’s other subordinate functions. By either joining forces against the shared enemy or curing the AI of its derangement,Horizon 3could use HEPHAESTUS' redemption to foreshadow the same resolution where Nemesis is absolved of the suffering Far Zenith put it through.
