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[Memento]

Her design is amazing. She is attractive, yet the design does not follow the idealized (in many cases outright sexualized) "beauty" pattern established by the industry, which is refreshing and very, very welcomed.

The voice acting is amazing. Ashly Burch really nailed the character and her performance was outstanding.

The writing is incredible and the story behind her is fascinating. John Gonzales just cemented his place as one of the best writers in the industry with her character (and the overall game story of course, which is amazing, especially for an open world game).

Her gameplay controls are fantastic. She is super responsive, yet there is an incredible amount of high quality animations for all her movememts, which makes the responsiveness and fluidness of the character even more impressive. Summarizing, she is a joy to control, and considering the clunkiness of character movement in big AAA open world games, it is definitely something worth pointing out!

All in all, I loved everything about her and I am starving for more Aloy already!

 

[Jawbreaker]

She's one of the most well-written characters in gaming. Absolutely love her.

 

[madstarr12]

Her design and her personality are fine, but the voice actress did a mediocre job.

 

[AudioEppa]

She's definitely a bad one. Can't say I would be super excited for a sequel (I want to old world prequel) But getting to play Aloy again with her sassy dialogue would be enough to bring me back.

Her design and her personality are fine, but the voice actress did a mediocre job.

What? Her voice actress was literally the only thing that was keeping me going lol


But I have to say she's not my favorite. Actually I have no favorite. I just really like well told characters. So any game that develops interesting people is good in my book. The best thing about PlayStation is they have so many, some I don't care for, but a lot I do.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

Agreed, OP. One of my favorite aspects of Horizon Dawn is that the writing and acting are so great I found myself getting lost in scenes multiple times, forgetting I was watching a game. My only complaint are dialogue choices...I don't like them in any game.

 

[The Jazz Cabbage Master]

Agreed on all parts. Wonderfully well realized character with a beautiful world to support her.

 

[Servbot24]

She's great. I really like 2B and Kat as well.

However if Trico counts then he's the best.

 

[Apt101]

I like her because she so often responds to dialog how I think I would. I find myself nodding along and agreeing with her all of the time. I haven't had that kind of connection with a character since Shepard in Mass Effect 2.

 

[Gaminar]

I want Guerilla to reboot the KZ franchise. For fucks sake can you imagine Helghan in the Decima engine with a good story and not rushed product...

*dribbles down there a bit*

And yes... back to topic. SUPERB design.

 

[Jblanks]

Agreed.

 

[NJShadow]

Still waiting patiently for Senua in Hellblade.

 

[molnizzle]

I like how sassy she is. Doesn't take shit from anyone. lol

 

[OrlanisWorks]

Hell yes.

And Ashly Burch is damn good. She did a great job. I felt there was a little Chloe Price kinda coming through, but I think it's fine since Aloy is rebellious in some aspects.

 

[ckaneo]

Not enough romance options

 

[AudioEppa]

Still waiting patiently for Senua in Hellblade.

I remember a few months ago people were down playing her in order to prep up Aloy. I personally can't wait to play hellblade. More so then HZD. The game feels like a spiritual spinoff of heavenly sword. One of the few gems of PS3's early days.

 

[Bishop89]

Yeh she's great.

More than I thought I would

 

[Chamber]

Agreed, friend.

Aloy is love.
Aloyd is life.

 

[Oni Jazar]

<3 Aloy In Spite of the Nora.

 

[Dabi]

She's great, I can see her right up there with Kratos, Nathan Drake as the main Playstation Mascots if future games are done correctly.

 

[ambar_hitman]

Agreed. Probably best female protagonist ever in gaming.

 

[molnizzle]

Hell yes.

And Ashly Burch is damn good. She did a great job. I felt there was a little Chloe Price kinda coming through, but I think it's fine since Aloy is rebellious in some aspects.

Thanks to Horizon I discovered "Hey Ash Watcha Playing" on YouTube, which has been a real treat.

 

[RootCause]

Best new character of the generation.

Not enough romance options

You joke, but this was an actual complaint. &#128557;


Had no idea she played Aloy. That's pretty cool.

 

[VanWinkle]

Amazing character. Sooo much sass.

 

[Radical Edward]

She's pretty good but 2B is where it's at

 

[Bold One]

Ashly Burch from 'Hey Ash' wow!

Good for her

 

[eyeball_kid]

The writing is incredible and the story behind her is fascinating. John Gonzales just cemented his place as one of the best writers in the industry with her character (and the overall game story of course, which is amazing, especially for an open world game).

I guess I'll have to watch some Lets Plays because I have no desire to play this game, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that the writing is actually fantastic. It would be great if that's true. Even though every scene I've seen of this game shows the writing more at the level of a bad YA novel.

 

[Kyoufu]

Her design and her personality are fine, but the voice actress did a mediocre job.

wat

Ashly Burch did an incredible job. The best performance I've seen in any game, TLOU included.

 

[bomblord1]

While I can't say I think she's my favorite character lead she seems pretty good from what I've seen of her.

Was watching my roommate play Horizon the other day and he said something along the lines of "Dang I just need to find a girl like her she doesn't take crap from anyone"

 

[SolicitorPirate]

Thanks to Horizon I discovered "Hey Ash Watcha Playing" on YouTube, which has been a real treat.

As someone who knew about Burch for years through HAWP, it weirds me out seeing her play serious characters. Is the reverse true as well?

 

[Strangelove77]

Ashly Burch killed it.

 

[scoobs]

Her design and her personality are fine, but the voice actress did a mediocre job.

Loved her design and personality, but I tend to agree... I wish her voice actress was a bit more into it. Kind of a drab performance.

I also wish they fleshed out her character a bit more outside of the main story line, maybe its the Witcher that has spoiled other games for me, but I want to explore her personal life outside of the main quest

 

[PooBone]

I'm just about 3 hours or so in and so far she's pretty bleh. I'm sure she's about to have some revelations.

 

[SolicitorPirate]

She's pretty good but 2B is where it's at

NIER AUTOMATA SPOILERS

Spoiler

Is 2B even a protagonist? I have to admit, I haven't had the chance to play Nier yet, but my friend who has been playing it tells me she's only playable in 1 of 5 playthroughs

 

[Goldboy]

She's pretty great.

 

[Radical Edward]

I guess I'll have to watch some Lets Plays because I have no desire to play this game, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that the writing is actually fantastic. It would be great if that's true. Even though every scene I've seen of this game shows the writing more at the level of a bad YA novel.

The writing is pretty standard but slightly above the crap that's usually in these games. You probably won't be impressed

 

[fastmower]

Mine too. I had real tears of joy and sadness because the character was so well done.

 

[Sword Of Doom]

Ellie is still the best but Aloy is pretty well
Written as well

 

[Radical Edward]

NIER AUTOMATA SPOILERS

Spoiler

Is 2B even a protagonist? I have to admit, I haven't had the chance to play Nier yet, but my friend who has been playing it tells me she's only playable in 1 of 5 playthroughs

You gotta play it. Don't spoil anything for yourself.

 

[truly101]

Best new character of the generation.
You joke, but this was an actual complaint. &#128557;

If you are referring to my thread, I wasn't complaining that Aloy needed a romance option, more observing and questioning why female leads like her (and Lara Croft) often do not. Nowhere did I say the game really needed a romance option for her.

 

[Drillary Clinton]

Honestly didn't care much for Aloy. I feel like they didn't do a good job of developing her as anything more than a smart-ass. Her voice actress wasn't amazing either. Although, I don't think the characters or character development were that game's strong suits. Sylens, Vanasha, and the dude that waits outside the bandit camps were pretty good. I don't really get the hype with 2B either. I get that she's an android and all but she seems pretty devoid of personality.

 

[SolicitorPirate]

You gotta play it. Don't spoil anything for yourself.

Bit too late for that. I already know most the major plot points. Yoko Taro games just tend to be things I prefer observing from the sides. I fully acknowledge why they're beloved, but they aren't the specific experiences I'm looking for

 

[Yabberwocky]

Aloy is definitely now up there for me in the fav department, I was shocked how much I ended up loving her, as I thought she'd be super generic. There were times were scenes with her could have gone cliched, especially when dealing with heavy plot stuff, but the writers made clever little side steps to subvert it each time, so well done. There are so many genuine nuanced moments of humanity with Aloy, even just in the prologue. Ashley Burch was incredible, and her performance was incredibly naturalistic. Even when Aloy made quips, she never was too over the top. It's a really hard line to walk. I thought Burch did so beautifully.

2B is wonderful, too. It's been fucking awesome to get to play two female power fantasy characters, one after the other, though Aloy is more grounded, whilst 2B is more stylized.

 

[potatohead]

Gravity Kat for me. By far.

I thought aloy was pretty devoid of personality tbh

 

[Mobile Suit Gooch]

I like Aloy, but I think 2B edges her out by a huge margin.

 

[Tyaren]

Her design and her personality are fine, but the voice actress did a mediocre job.

Her voice actress was literally the only thing that was keeping me going lol.

That's imo both cuh-razy! O:
Ashly Burch did a good job. Great emotional range. She could sound sweat and caring as well as snarky and super angry.

Not enough romance options

I actually liked that the game didn't try to shoehorn romance in there.
Aloy was an outcast all her life, people didn't speak to her and treated her like shit, she had a certain mistrust for people in general. She also had no experience with romantic love (something she admitted in one side quest) and then shit hit the fan and she had a much, much bigger role to play than suddenly jumping from one bed to the other Witcher style.

 

[Radical Edward]

Bit too late for that. I already know most the major plot points. Yoko Taro games just tend to be things I prefer observing from the sides. I fully acknowledge why they're beloved, but they aren't the specific experiences I'm looking for

Too bad. It's the only game I would classify as an experience this gen, tbh. What kind of games do you normally play?

 

[Garlador]

I'm adoring Aloy thus far. Very down to earth yet smart, talented, and resourceful.

 

[GGNKovalski]

The past two games I have completed have given me two characters that are quickly becoming two of my absolute favorites ever. Aloy and 2B

 

[Tinfoilhatsron]

I like Aloy, but I think 2B edges her out by a huge margin.

Hmm... Never would have figured that out!


I enjoyed the writing. She started out as the "sassy chick" trope, but gained enough depth for that to work and make her a believable instead of being a generic wise-cracking cardboard cutout. Like say ME:A. Really speaks to how good the writing is.

 

[Bold One]

What is this pathological desire to 'ship' characters into romances?

They can be complete without them

Leave Aloy be