Highlights
- Aloy & Seyka bond in Burning Shores while fighting Walter Londra & conquering missions together.
- Horizon Forbidden West Burning Shores lacks a true romance mechanic due to Aloy’s focus on saving the world from Nemesis.
- Given the weight of her responsibilities, Aloy probably won’t have romance options in Horizon 3 either.
Horizon Forbidden West has Aloy on yet another mission to save the world. This time around, she must contend with the red blight that threatens to extinguish all life. At the same time, she is up against the Far Zeniths who have come from outer space after hundreds of years.
In Horizon Forbidden West‘s DLC, Burning Shores, Aloy travels to Los Angeles to deal with yet another Far Zenith named Walter Londra. During her adventures, she meets Seyka, a member of the Quen tribe. Although the two are compatible, there are still no romance mechanics involved, and for good reasons.
One Year Later, Horizon Forbidden West’s Burning Shores is Still a Must-Play
One year ago, Horizon Forbidden West’s Burning Shores was released, and there are many reasons why it is still a must-play for fans of the franchise.
Aloy and Seyka’s Bond in Burning Shores
Aloy and Seyka are seldom apart in Burning Shores, and they help each other accomplish missions that would have been impossible to do alone. Together they defeat Walter Londra, who has managed to form a cult around himself which some of the Quen have become a part of. In doing so, they also rescue Seyka’s sister, Kina.
Aloy and Seyka have a lot in common. They both know what it feels like to be an outcast and to struggle with a sense of what home is. For this reason, they bond very quickly, as they understand each other’s struggles and life experiences. Despite this, a romantic relationship between them never truly sparks.
Walter Londra’s Satire
Londra is one of the most interesting Far Zenith members. He is a narcissistic tech magnate who has formed a cult of personality around himself. There are obvious parallels to draw between him and real-world individuals such as Elon Musk, and in many ways, Londra satirizes such figures.
Why Burning Shores Doesn’t Open Romance Features
It is obvious that Seyka and Aloy would make perfect partners, thanks to their empathy for one another. At the end of the main campaign, the pair meet at the shoreline and Seyka confesses her romantic feelings. Players then have the choice to turn her down or reciprocate, which results in them kissing.
Even if Aloy admits she feels the same way, it doesn’t mark the start of a relationship. The core problem is that there is just too much on Aloy’s plate. She has to contend with the arrival of Nemesis, a malevolent AI that is on its way to Earth and has an intense hatred of humans. With the fate of the world on her shoulders yet again, Aloy simply has too much on her mind to have a proper romantic relationship. For this reason, it’s unlikely that the third Horizon game will feature much romance either.
Why Does Nemesis Hate Humans?
Nemesis is out for revenge against humankind, and the Far Zeniths are to blame for it. It was created to store digitized copies of the minds of the Far Zeniths. However, the project was abandoned and Nemesis was imprisoned, leading to Nemesis developing an acidic hatred of humans. It is this AI that sends the extinction signal that sparks the events of the Horizon franchise.
It may be disappointing to some that there isn’t more romance in the Horizon franchise, especially when Aloy and Seyka are so compatible. Nevertheless, it makes perfect sense in the context of the story. When the world is at stake, things like romantic relationships have to take a backseat. Maybe once the threat of Nemesis is defeated, Aloy will have a chance to consider matters of the heart.
Horizon Forbidden West
Aloy returns in the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn. Forbidden West follows the now iconic machine-hunter as she embarks to the aptly named Forbidden West to attempt to find the source of a powerful plague that is destroying all that it infects.
- Released
- February 18, 2022
- Engine
- Decima
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 29 Hours
- Metascore
- 88
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium