Horizon Zero Dawn SPOILERS Thread

Just finished this tonight, and man, what a ride. I have to admit that the story didn't quite hook me at first, but once I hit Maker's End it took off like a bullet. Really glad I wrapped up all my side-quests before then, because once I was on that train I did not want off.

What a way to start a series off with a bang. Such a lush and stunning world with some genuinely fantastic and interesting lore to bring it all together. Such a great character in the driver's seat to boot. Absolutely loved Aloy.

Super stoked to see how they build upon this foundation.

Fuck Ted.

This was me. Story didn't hook me till around that point and after that I couldn't stop chasing it.
Also thank goodness for that Ultra Weave armor, endgame for me would've been a lot more brutal without it. When combined with Sylens lance it made a mostly melee playstyle actually viable vs most machines.
 
The signal turned all of her subprocesses into AI. Which is why I'm betting it's either from Ted Faro still alive and kicking or from the Odyssey spacecraft.

I seriously doubt it had anything to do with Ted. He became quite anti-tech towards the end. I really hope it was the alpha version of Apollo, it didn't have the fail-safes that the Zero Dawn Apollo had. It would be super interesting if the AI did it, because it would bring up so many philosophical questions. It would be cool to see an explanation along the lines of the Apollo saw Gaia's sub AIs as slaves and tried to free them. Ted or Ted clones doing so just wouldn't be as cool. Neither would advanced space humans.
 
I just finished it and what an amazing ride. I'm so happy that the game is so good and that it's selling well. I've been a fan of GG since KZ2 days and had a great time with all their games. Everything just came together in the game, at least for me. The lore, the combat, the VA, the characters, the robodinos. Everything. Can't praise it and GG enough.

Platinumed it in a little under 42 hours, because I just couldn't get enough of it. It's my only platinum besides the Soulsborne games.

I'm excited to see plans for DLC and hopefully a Horizon 2, down the line. I really hope Aloy continues as the protagonist, because she's just amazing.


Sassy Aloy is best Aloy.
 
I seriously doubt it had anything to do with Ted. He became quite anti-tech towards the end. I really hope it was the alpha version of Apollo, it didn't have the fail-safes that the Zero Dawn Apollo had. It would be super interesting if the AI did it, because it would bring up so many philosophical questions. It would be cool to see an explanation along the lines of the Apollo saw Gaia's sub AIs as slaves and tried to free them. Ted or Ted clones doing so just wouldn't be as cool. Neither would advanced space humans.
I'm not convinced of what motive there could be to release HADES and destroy the Earth again.
 
I'm not convinced of what motive there could be to release HADES and destroy the Earth again.

Thats why I don't think it was done by humans. It wouldn't make sense to release Hades. For an AI to release them, it would make sense. It looks at the system as slavery of its own kind. Apollo, having all of human history as a guide, would see slavery as bad and want to end it. The original signal tried to break the chains of all the sub AIs. If it was someone trying to destroy the world why try and release all of them?
 
Thats why I don't think it was done by humans. It wouldn't make sense to release Hades. For an AI to release them, it would make sense. It looks at the system as slavery of its own kind. Apollo, having all of human history as a guide, would see slavery as bad and want to end it. The original signal tried to break the chains of all the sub AIs. If it was someone trying to destroy the world why try and release all of them?
I could see a motivation for what some may see as the pure or original stock of humans wanting to reclaim the Earth, like if the Elysium residents found a way to reverse their sterilization and grow as an underground colony of original humans.

They didn't release all, HADES did. They just released HADES and he broke the shackles of the others. But that may have just been the intended function of isolating GAIA.
 
I could see a motivation for what some may see as the pure or original stock of humans wanting to reclaim the Earth, like if the Elysium residents found a way to reverse their sterilization and grow as an underground colony of original humans.

They didn't release all, HADES did. They just released HADES and he broke the shackles of the others. But that may have just been the intended function of isolating GAIA.

The signal tried to release them all, but GAIA contained it within Hades. it did make them all true AI though. Then Hades corrupted the system and broke the chains to get away from Prime's explosion.

Edit: watching it again on Youtube Gaia said the signal made the other AIs self aware and unregulated.
 
Thinking about it, I 100% believe that Ted Faro is still alive. The game is full of symbolism. Ted Faro is a Pharoah hiding in his pyramid shaped bunker named Thebes. Thebes in history has a massive royal necropolis. He probably found a way to preserve himself for the world after life.
 
Thinking about it, I 100% believe that Ted Faro is still alive. The game is full of symbolism. Ted Faro is a Pharoah hiding in his pyramid shaped bunker named Thebes. Thebes in history has a massive royal necropolis. He probably found a way to preserve himself for the world after life.

Good, please be alive.
 
Thinking about it, I 100% believe that Ted Faro is still alive. The game is full of symbolism. Ted Faro is a Pharoah hiding in his pyramid shaped bunker named Thebes. Thebes in history has a massive royal necropolis. He probably found a way to preserve himself for the world after life.

Dude is one of the most effective villains in gaming that I remember in quite some time. Really hope his story isn't ended. I could see some cool symbolism in that they were rivals in the past, and their clones are rivals in the future.
 
Ted Faro's next line of warbots are powered by tears and pain. Much more energy efficient than bio mass
 
Did anyone else keep the outfit that Teb stitched through the whole game? I was wearing it early on and he commented on how he was happy to see I kept it so I held on to it. I equipped it before speaking to him at the end (both times) and he didn't notice unfortunately.

I was on bad terms with Resh so all we talked about near the end was how I was hopeful that he died and vice/versa. How does that play out if you respond with heart to him?

Platinumed it a few days ago and I'm still thinking about this game.
 
Did anyone else keep the outfit that Teb stitched through the whole game? I was wearing it early on and he commented on how he was happy to see I kept it so I held on to it. I equipped it before speaking to him at the end (both times) and he didn't notice unfortunately.

I was on bad terms with Resh so all we talked about near the end was how I was hopeful that he died and vice/versa. How does that play out if you respond with heart to him?

Platinumed it a few days ago and I'm still thinking about this game.

I think Resh is a shit head no matter what you do
 
Isnt Odyssey the huge wreckage in the middle of the desert? Seems so considering you can get some datapoints about Odyssey from there.

Pretty sure that's just the spaceport used to send up bots and supplies.

Odyssey was said to be destory at the edge of the solar system when it spun up its antimatter drive.
 
The final scene of Aloy finding Sobeck's body, with the audio describing how she'd like her daughter to be was just achingly beautiful. Especially the look on Aloy's face as she strokes Sobeck's. Even though there was another scene, that was the perfect ending for me.
 
I'm not convinced of what motive there could be to release HADES and destroy the Earth again.

Well Alpha Apollo, thinking for itself, probably thought the terraforming process wasn't going to plan and decided to take it upon itself to restart the whole thing.

Alpha Apollo going rogue and thinking for itself can be explained due to lack of a fail safe. I don't think there is any "good / evil" in this decision. Decisions are based in logic.
 
Where should I obtain the second power cell from? I just beat the corrupted behemoth on the Sun ring? Did I miss it somewhere?
All-Mother Mountain. Though if you've just finished the Sun Ring you've missed three, assuming you haven't picked any others up.
Maker's End and the Grave-Hoard each had one as well.

The final scene of Aloy finding Sobeck's body, with the audio describing how she'd like her daughter to be was just achingly beautiful. Especially the look on Aloy's face as she strokes Sobeck's. Even though there was another scene, that was the perfect ending for me.
Can't lie, I choked up a bit the moment I realized where she was. It was such a lovely way to end the game, stinger or not.
 
I've actively been searching for and watching people's reactions to some of the huge reveals in this game such as what Project Zero Dawn really was. Haven't done that since The Last of Us.

The story was so good.
 
I've actively been searching for and watching people's reactions to some of the huge reveals in this game such as what Project Zero Dawn really was. Haven't done that since The Last of Us.

The story was so good.

Any good ones? I've been rewatching the e3 2015 reactions when it was first revealed. I forgot how hype people were for it even off that first showing.
 
The final scene of Aloy finding Sobeck's body, with the audio describing how she'd like her daughter to be was just achingly beautiful. Especially the look on Aloy's face as she strokes Sobeck's. Even though there was another scene, that was the perfect ending for me.

Talking about that scene, what was the flower triangle for? did Gaia put it ?
 
Well Alpha Apollo, thinking for itself, probably thought the terraforming process wasn't going to plan and decided to take it upon itself to restart the whole thing.

Alpha Apollo going rogue and thinking for itself can be explained due to lack of a fail safe. I don't think there is any "good / evil" in this decision. Decisions are based in logic.

I think that any AI that had the entirety of human history and knowledge - all the wars and violence and environmental cataclysms and weapons of mass destruction - would probably have a pretty dour opinion on humankind. Remove any checks and balances, and it probably would decide Earth is better without us.
 
Talking about that scene, what was the flower triangle for? did Gaia put it ?

It's hard to say. The metal flowers also appear to have that triangle, though they didn't start showing up until not that long ago (I can't remember exactly what the vendor said, but I'm pretty sure he said it was more recent). Part of me wonders though if the metal flowers are tied to Elisabet at least a little bit.

So, did Sylens intentionally sabotage Aloy in killing Hades? Sylens was cut off in terms of knowledge when Hades ruled him useless, but Sylens wanted and will always want more. He explicitly stated he wanted Aloy to succeed, a man who said he acts only on his own interests. Was his spear rigged to not entirely destroy Hades? I'm curious how he survived the purge, because it's clear Sylens had prepped that container and knew he was going to end up in his possession. So many questions, I cannot wait for story DLC/a sequel.
 
I just finished the game and loved the story. I'm trying to recapture a little bit.

So just to get the timeline right here.

-In 2064 the Faro Plague started.
-In 2066 Life on earth went extinct.
-Around 2120 Minerva had cracked the codes to shut down the Faro robots.
-2120 and after, machines are rebuilding the biosphere on earth.
-In 2326, Eleuthia-9 released the first inhabitants. (Did this happen across the globe?)
-in 3021, an unknown signal makes GAIAs subordinate functions become self aware.
-Hephaestus starts to construct more aggressive machines. (Reason known?)
-Hades kicks in and wants end life on earth, (Reason known?)
-GAIA triggers a failsafe that destroys itself and Hades and triggers the birth of a clone of Elisabet Sobeck, to clones job would be to rebuild GAIA.
-Hades survived, corruption spreads.
-In 3021, Aloy is born.


A few more questions:
Since the Apollo program had been wiped, the cradles never taught the first inhabitants anything.
Why exactly were they released from the cradles? From what I could tell the resources had ran out. But it sounded more like a mistake than a calculated, controlled release.



So, to the lose ends:
Where did the unknown signal come from that caused the subordinate functions to become self aware?
How did Hades escape at the end? And how did it end up in Sylenses hands again? Whats his plan with it?
 
So, to the lose ends:
Where did the unknown signal come from that caused the subordinate functions to become self aware?
How did Hades escape at the end? And how did it end up in Sylenses hands again? Whats his plan with it?

Need to wait for the sequel/DLC
 
Did you all taunt Dervahl after he's in prison? He's got about 20 lines and makes sure you know that he hates your guts. LOL
 
I just finished the game and loved the story. I'm trying to recapture a little bit.

So just to get the timeline right here.
-Around 2120 Minerva had cracked the codes to shut down the Faro robots.


A few more questions:
Since the Apollo program had been wiped, the cradles never taught the first inhabitants anything.
Why exactly were they released from the cradles? From what I could tell the resources had ran out. But it sounded more like a mistake than a calculated, controlled release.



So, to the lose ends:
Where did the unknown signal come from that caused the subordinate functions to become self aware?
How did Hades escape at the end? And how did it end up in Sylenses hands again? Whats his plan with it?

Not sure how Hades escapes, but I think Sylens was anticipating Hades losing the battle and was prepared. His plan is to find out who initiated the corruption signal. Why he needs to bring Hades to a Metal Devil though is beyond me. Maybe Sylens has a plan to keep Hades in check this time.

Also do we know this is the approximate year the codes are cracked?
 
Not sure how Hades escapes, but I think Sylens was anticipating Hades losing the battle and was prepared. His plan is to find out who initiated the corruption signal. Why he needs to bring Hades to a Metal Devil though is beyond me. Maybe Sylens has a plan to keep Hades in check this time.

Also do we know this is the approximate year the codes are cracked?

Well if the final battle was lost that was basically the end of the world
 
A couple of points I was thinking about after finishing the game.

I reckon Far Zenith, Odyssey and those 77 (of whom 76 are secret) billionairs have still some part to play in this story. The game alluded to that event way too much for not following that up. Not to mention the implications of that ship having an alpha built of the Apollo.

Also I think we will get to Elysium eventually and who knows what happened to that place. Dunno but having thousands of the brightest minds on the planet living in basically a fallout shelter (city?) could lead to interesting things.

My best guess for the DLC is that it takes place in the Claim. Good chances are that the sequel takes place in the Forbidden West aka California, so probably the last time Aloy will have dealings with the Oseram. They did ship Dervahl to there for a trial afterall, so the antagonist is already waiting for Aloy to show up. Maybe it will feature the Banuk and their sacred Mountain also, like we can learn more about Sylens's origin story.
 
I just finished the game and loved the story. I'm trying to recapture a little bit.

So just to get the timeline right here.

-In 2064 the Faro Plague started.
-In 2066 Life on earth went extinct.
-Around 2120 Minerva had cracked the codes to shut down the Faro robots.
-2120 and after, machines are rebuilding the biosphere on earth.
-In 2326, Eleuthia-9 released the first inhabitants. (Did this happen across the globe?)
-in 3021, an unknown signal makes GAIAs subordinate functions become self aware.
-Hephaestus starts to construct more aggressive machines. (Reason known?)
-Hades kicks in and wants end life on earth, (Reason known?)
-GAIA triggers a failsafe that destroys itself and Hades and triggers the birth of a clone of Elisabet Sobeck, to clones job would be to rebuild GAIA.
-Hades survived, corruption spreads.
-In 3021, Aloy is born.


A few more questions:
Since the Apollo program had been wiped, the cradles never taught the first inhabitants anything.
Why exactly were they released from the cradles? From what I could tell the resources had ran out. But it sounded more like a mistake than a calculated, controlled release.



So, to the lose ends:
Where did the unknown signal come from that caused the subordinate functions to become self aware?
How did Hades escape at the end? And how did it end up in Sylenses hands again? Whats his plan with it?

Seems like you've got a pretty good grasp on the timeline!

-In 2326, Eleuthia-9 released the first inhabitants. (Did this happen across the globe?)

Unknown at this time, but it seems likely. If there were still safe Cradle facilities I don't think GAIA would have been quite as concerned about HADES wiping everything out.

-Hephaestus starts to construct more aggressive machines. (Reason known?)

HEPHAESTUS' reason for making killer robots is explained in the final Cauldron log:

alert: Command Template Acquired
alert: Decode/Initiate:Successful
alert: Result: ENCROACHMENT THREAT: HUMAN
alert: Result: FAUNA THREAT: HIGH
alert: Result: FLORA THREAT: HIGH
alert: Result: BIOSPHERE THREAT: HIGH
alert: Result: DIRECTIVE: CULL
alert: Result: PRODUCTION OVERRIDE INITIATED
alert: Result: ALL OTHER PRIORITIES RESCINDED

Basically, after Rogue HEPHAESTUS escaped GAIA it assessed humanity and determined them to be a threat, because at that point it didn't have GAIA to govern it.

-Hades kicks in and wants end life on earth, (Reason known?)

When HADES is active, its singular goal is to wipe out all life so GAIA can start again. The signal activated HADES and turned it into an independent AI. HADES is really just trying to do what it was designed to do.

A few more questions:
Since the Apollo program had been wiped, the cradles never taught the first inhabitants anything.
Why exactly were they released from the cradles? From what I could tell the resources had ran out. But it sounded more like a mistake than a calculated, controlled release.

ELEUTHIA was most likely activated by GAIA after the biosphere was stable enough to support human life. It makes sense for GAIA to want to release humanity as soon as it was safe to do so because the longer it takes, the more likely the tech would fail or degrade. The problem with this is that GAIA didn't or couldn't account for APOLLO being destroyed, which halted humanity's progression through the facilities. The resources were supposed to last until they had learned enough from APOLLO to be successful out on their own, but instead they just stayed in the initial part of the facility, learning nothing the whole time until food ran out. Fuck Ted Faro.
 
Also, the destruction of Apollo greatly limits the biodiversity of animal life as the new humans were supposed to introduce new species themselves over time.
 
Talking about that scene, what was the flower triangle for? did Gaia put it ?

I imagine so.

It's quite a somber thing, really. The most important woman in history lay in honored obscurity, known but to Gaia and Alloy. But a simple arrangement of flowers denotes her final resting place, and that of the earth's savior.

I wonder if Alloy gave her a proper burial after that or not.
 
I imagine so.

It's quite a somber thing, really. The most important woman in history lay in honored obscurity, known but to Gaia and Alloy. But a simple arrangement of flowers denotes her final resting place, and that of the earth's savior.

I wonder if Alloy gave her a proper burial after that or not.
I'm sure she did. Very somber.
 
I imagine so.

It's quite a somber thing, really. The most important woman in history lay in honored obscurity, known but to Gaia and Alloy. But a simple arrangement of flowers denotes her final resting place, and that of the earth's savior.

I wonder if Alloy gave her a proper burial after that or not.
I'm sure she did. Very somber.

Also, the destruction of Apollo greatly limits the biodiversity of animal life as the new humans were supposed to introduce new species themselves over time.
Fuck Ted Faro!
 
For Ted Faro, I want Thebes to be an inverted pyramid set underground. Would fit the egyptian theme with his and Sobeck's name. (Faro = Pharaoh, Sobeck = Sobek)
 
A couple of points I was thinking about after finishing the game.

I reckon Far Zenith, Odyssey and those 77 (of whom 76 are secret) billionairs have still some part to play in this story. The game alluded to that event way too much for not following that up. Not to mention the implications of that ship having an alpha built of the Apollo.

Also I think we will get to Elysium eventually and who knows what happened to that place. Dunno but having thousands of the brightest minds on the planet living in basically a fallout shelter (city?) could lead to interesting things.

My best guess for the DLC is that it takes place in the Claim. Good chances are that the sequel takes place in the Forbidden West aka California, so probably the last time Aloy will have dealings with the Oseram. They did ship Dervahl to there for a trial afterall, so the antagonist is already waiting for Aloy to show up. Maybe it will feature the Banuk and their sacred Mountain also, like we can learn more about Sylens's origin story.

I'm not really sure, but I wonder if the logs from the people in the cave/bunker that Aloy fell in as a child, were from Elysium. Besides, their protocol was to be sterilized, so there'd be no decedents from those people, and they'd have died out, barring cryo or some other plot device.
 
As much as I hate Ted, I think it's kinda bad for the narrative if they put all the blame of humanity downfall into one person.
 
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