Khalifa Jayy
Banned
Several people have said that, and major reviews lauded the story. I don't know what rock you're living under, but the game's story and writing has been consistently praised.
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Aloy is my favorite videogame protagonist in recent memory
- Thread starter Memento
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Radical Edward
Member
Lol, it seems you're living under a rock if you think HZD is one of the best sci-fis written. It's no even the best sci-fi game I've played this month, nevermind comparing it to literature and film.
whatever6352
Member
A lot of salt in this thread and I agree OP Aloy is one of the best video game characters ever.
Rexatality
Member
Your standards are overly high, my friend.
Ohhhhh enlight us with your holy taste
What sci-fi game? Genuinely curious because sci-fi is my favorite genre.
Can't say I thought Aloy was anything special. Her design is great, but her character is pretty forgettable. She seems way more informed than she should, she can never do any wrong, and side characters get more fleshing out than she does.
Having come off of Nier after Horizon it became pretty apparent how boring her character was.
Having come off of Nier after Horizon it became pretty apparent how boring her character was.
Did you miss something called focus?...
Unless you hate Geralt
How can anyone hate Geralt?
Edit: Also starting to detect quite a bit of bitterness from Nier fans, its not a competition, both characters can be great.
Even with the focus it didn't feel earned. She's still young, knowledge doesn't mean wisdom.
MegaSackman
Member
Oh cynics, my favourite.
Aloy is great, it's one of the best new main characters I've seen, that doesn't mean it's super incredible or something.
Aloy is great, it's one of the best new main characters I've seen, that doesn't mean it's super incredible or something.
Did you also miss that she is
the clone of one of the, if not the most intelligent person that has ever lived, Elisabeth Sobeck
Edit:
Her biography, in case you missed:
At age 13, Elisabet enrolled at Stanford University, graduating with a B.S. in Experimental Physics, and another degree in Computer Science three years later. In 2040, she completed her Ph.D. in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Design at Carnegie-Mellon University, and joined Faro Automated Solutions (FAS) as a Junior Scientist. By the age of 22, she quickly rose to the rank of Chief Scientist. For the next eight years, her green robot designs played critical roles in realizing environmental cleanup and detoxification efforts in "The Claw-back" decade.
In 2048, she suddenly resigned from FAS in protest over their products shifting to automated military-technologies, and founded Miriam Technologies a year later, which was dedicated to the design and production of "life-positive" robots, and other similar creations. Miriam then became one of the world's largest suppliers of green-robots, winning numerous awards and accolades such as the 2053 Nobel Prize for Physics, and the 2056 Rachel Carson Award for Environmental Progress.
At age 13, Elisabet enrolled at Stanford University, graduating with a B.S. in Experimental Physics, and another degree in Computer Science three years later. In 2040, she completed her Ph.D. in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Design at Carnegie-Mellon University, and joined Faro Automated Solutions (FAS) as a Junior Scientist. By the age of 22, she quickly rose to the rank of Chief Scientist. For the next eight years, her green robot designs played critical roles in realizing environmental cleanup and detoxification efforts in "The Claw-back" decade.
In 2048, she suddenly resigned from FAS in protest over their products shifting to automated military-technologies, and founded Miriam Technologies a year later, which was dedicated to the design and production of "life-positive" robots, and other similar creations. Miriam then became one of the world's largest suppliers of green-robots, winning numerous awards and accolades such as the 2053 Nobel Prize for Physics, and the 2056 Rachel Carson Award for Environmental Progress.
Reckheim
Member
This annoyed me quite a bit about her as well,
I mean of course she was gonna win the prooving
Again knowledge doesn't equal wisdom. Also
although she's a clone, she's still herself. If you come at it from this angle it's not about Aloy anymore but about Elisabet. Elisabet was fleshed out more than Aloy imo, but they're not the same person. I think melding the two is a disservice to Aloy.
Messofanego
Banned
This. She looks way more interesting. I don't care about Aloy from what I have played of Horizon so far.
Isnt that EVERY protagonist ever? This is like approaching colossal nitpick right here...
Also,
she literally trained her whole life for The Proving.
Yes, they are not the same person, but Aloy inherited Sobeck's cunning, she is obviously no ordinary woman.
Radical Edward
Member
I know this is bait and off topic but...
I'm partial to John W Campbell jr.
In film, take your pick - GitS, anything Verhoeven, Children of Men, Snowpiercer all come to mind without thinking too hard
I also just finished Nier Automata which I thought outdid HZD in every area except graphics and openworld.
I've already mentioned I like HZD and Aloy but I found the story and writing to be slightly above average. It will probably fall 6-7th on my personal goty list (which is awesome, considering the competition)
Relax
Agree with this.
She really did feel like a smart ass most of the time. Her character development was kind of non-existent besides the first 5 hours or so(which were pretty much the game's prologue) She starts a badass and finishes a badass. Hardly interesting. The writing wasn't anything special, with the exception of a few characters.
Luckily the combat and world are good enough to make this game great. Can only imagine how good it would be with good writing.
oh c'mon I thought you were gonna at least talk about high brow sci fi, hahah. I was expecting you to be like "Hard to Be A God, Solaris, 2001"
RoryGamesFree
Neo Member
same!
<3 <3 <3
<3 <3 <3
Radical Edward
Member
Sorry, I'm one of the few that tried so many times to like W3 but it never clicked
I'm a fan of Nier, HZD and BotW.
They all do different things amazingly but I didn't really think it was the writing that elevated HZD to the great game that it is. This year has been absolutely stunning for gamers and I can't wait for the inevitable GotY shitshow
Radical Edward
Member
I picked mainstream stuff that most people would have consumed.
2001 is a little too obvious and I wasn't a fan of Solaris. I am kind of partial to sunshine, as well. You've given me a new one to watch. Will def. check out hard to be a god and will probably rewatch Solaris
Reckheim
Member
The reason why Ellie and Joel are such good and lovable characters is because they are obviously not perfect.
Aloy, at least in my opinion was completely perfect; and it makes her boring.
Agreed OP. She isn't a trope femme fatale. Shes pretty but not in the Hollywood way where they subtlety or not so subtlety give them huge curves and revealing outfits. She's badass, tough, kind, always willing to do what's right and has an intriguing backstory.
I really like how she was written.
I really like how she was written.
I think Aloy is fine, not great but also by no means bad.
But she has clear shortcomings. I think we first have to decide whether we view her as her own autonomous character or more of an avatar (this is an RPG after all) for the player and I think Aloy's a little bit of both.
She fails as a character because she's a little too flawless and that makes her shallow. She is given a clear motivation, a great visual design and (imo) voice performance and that's a great baseline for an enjoyable experience. But not much more.
She fails as a more generic player avatar, a vessel for us to roleplay (like Shepard), because dialogue choices are too rare and Aloy often responds on her own in a decidedly snarky, arrogant and defensive way as if having this great need to prove how strong and badass she is to everyone she meets. And this may well be at odds with how the player would like to rp her.
But she has clear shortcomings. I think we first have to decide whether we view her as her own autonomous character or more of an avatar (this is an RPG after all) for the player and I think Aloy's a little bit of both.
She fails as a character because she's a little too flawless and that makes her shallow. She is given a clear motivation, a great visual design and (imo) voice performance and that's a great baseline for an enjoyable experience. But not much more.
She fails as a more generic player avatar, a vessel for us to roleplay (like Shepard), because dialogue choices are too rare and Aloy often responds on her own in a decidedly snarky, arrogant and defensive way as if having this great need to prove how strong and badass she is to everyone she meets. And this may well be at odds with how the player would like to rp her.
Triggerhappytel
Member
same!
<3 <3 <3
Do you remember that guy who really over-analysed this image and claimed her fingers were too long? Man, people were trying so hard to find stupid reasons to hate this game before release.
I mean, did you guys keep chosing the "smart ass" answers for the dialogue trees? Because then I guess she will be a smart ass alright. But she is much more than that and the voice acting perfectly sells her other facets.
Also, not exactly aimed to you two guys, but it seems Nier fans are taking this as a competition coming here and saying how much better 2B is. I am just rolling my eyes at these posts...
What cements it for me are the segments of her as a child. Really gives her depth and makes her so likable and someone you feel for from the get-go.
That being said, her jump animation is terrible, and I could do without the constant talking to herself and snarky comments. The game also doesn't need to keep telling me constantly early on that I'm an outcast. I get it.
That being said, her jump animation is terrible, and I could do without the constant talking to herself and snarky comments. The game also doesn't need to keep telling me constantly early on that I'm an outcast. I get it.
Man, I felt like it was the opposite. She was pretty bland but the voice actress did everything she could with the character, making her enjoyable and likeable to be around and making you invested in her chances of success.
As for design, she and everyone else in the game is a triumph of fantastic concept art married to astonishing tech.
I'd agree with this bar the voice acting.
I definitely had the feeling that she 'fell between two stools', so to speak. She was written to be quite generic so that you could treat her as a bit of an avatar, but she's clearly not an blank-slate avatar and it's clearly not a role playing game.
I like it. They clearly took inspiration from Nathan Drake, and considering how beloved and iconic he is, I think people that dont like "talking to himself" characters are in the minority. It makes me feel I am actually playing as a living character instead of a robot that only talks in cutscenes.
Same. Blows my mind that Tiny Tina and Aloy are the same voice actress. Also discovered her brother was one of the head writers for the Borderlands series which I guess explains how she got the Tiny Tina part heh.
Ashly Burch is great.
![[TW]Stone](/data/avatars/m/638/638488.jpg?1515785180){kind=avatar}
These two are my favourite by a country mile.
Basketball
Member
I like Aloy too
but some of the pre release images made her look like Blake Griffin
but ingame she actually looks like her real model ... (smd Bioware).
but some of the pre release images made her look like Blake Griffin
but ingame she actually looks like her real model ... (smd Bioware).
Guess I liked the smart ass options better than the cheesy or agressive ones. To be honest, I felt she was a smart ass most of the time without needing any of my help. It's the same feeling I got from the obnoxious Nathan Drake.
I followed her story all the way to the end and I still think it wasn't anything special. I don't doubt the fact she is well presented as a strong female character, but that alone isn't enough to make a character interesting. She is strong willed and fierce, and I did like it at the start of the game(The prologue, basically), but it doesn't get any better. Her character remains almost unchanged from the prologue to the end.
If it wasn't for meeting
Sylens
JetSetRadio
Banned
I'd enjoy a pint of ale with her and erend.
I do know that, but none of it was the updated Engine.
Agreed. Aloy is a great character with depth. Loved every minute playing as her.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Agreed OP. She's awesome. Fuck the haters, the snark and sassiness are great. <3
Pfffft like I'd pick anything else but the Fist option for this moment!
Aloy is almost, almost, everything I ever wanted in a female protag. The only thing I'd like a bit more is for her to be a bit more of an anti-hero.
Pfffft like I'd pick anything else but the Fist option for this moment!
Not really. It's a legitimate opinion. Not sure if I share it yet, but I think I might.
Aloy is almost, almost, everything I ever wanted in a female protag. The only thing I'd like a bit more is for her to be a bit more of an anti-hero.
Did you miss those moments where she obviously feels daunted about some of the nastier machines?
You are contradicting yourself. You literally just said she wasn't "the bigger person" and has a mean streak, and the next post you say she's flawless. Clearly she's not flawless but has a nasty, vindicative side to her.
mcz117chief
Member
If only they fixed her hair.
It looks like a parasitic octopus is eating her brain, it makes me extremely uncomfortable looking at the gameplay videos. I don't think I could play the game without getting nauseous.
It looks like a parasitic octopus is eating her brain, it makes me extremely uncomfortable looking at the gameplay videos. I don't think I could play the game without getting nauseous.
eso76
Member
Whoa, where did you find that outfit in the game ?
I can totally understand that and i'm not even complaining. I love her look, I was just puzzled as to why the OP said she was not "idealized beauty", because she's absolute perfection.
When I say Greek Goddess i am thinking of Artemis, which makes sense.
She seems inoffensive, but nothing about her particularly stood out. That goes for all of the Horizon story and characters though. I'm just skipping it all at this point.
It's weird when she chimes in to herself in the open field. She's not silent, but doesn't do it enough that it feels natural.
It's weird when she chimes in to herself in the open field. She's not silent, but doesn't do it enough that it feels natural.
Are you serious?