Horizon Zero Dawn brought to light the story of Aloy, the resilient underdog who rose to become the hero in her mission to salvage the world. But the narrative didn't solely revolve around Aloy; it was also entwined with Ted Faro's catastrophic creation and the efforts of Elisabet Sobeck. While Horizon Zero Dawn delved into the downfall of civilization and the pursuit of truths from the past, Horizon Forbidden West catapults Aloy into a precarious new terrain, where uncertainties loom as large as the threats, spanning from the formidable Tenakth tribe to the extraterrestrial peril of the Far Zenith.
The Far Zenith, a group comprising the world's affluent elite, conceived the ambitious Odyssey project aimed at dispatching explorers to other star systems, safeguarding humanity's survival. Surviving over a century post their arrival on Earth, they emerge as the primary antagonists in Horizon Forbidden West. Beyond their advanced technology and internal conflicts, their inherent self-interest and negligence birthed the destructive entity known as Nemesis, the renegade AI intent on annihilating the planet, ultimately leading to their downfall at the hands of Aloy and her allies.
Elisabet Sobeck's Role in Horizon 3
Elisabet Sobeck's genetic blueprint served as a pivotal element for the participants in the Odyssey mission, serving as the key to unlocking the Zero Dawn systems and providing unrestricted access to the terraforming marvel, GAIA. The creation of Beta was solely driven by this necessity, with no intention of crafting another formidable entity or an equal to Elisabet.
Beta exists as a genetic replica of Elisabet Sobeck. Consequently, her own identity was largely disregarded, viewing her merely as a tool designed solely to facilitate access to GAIA. This revelation, however, raises the question of whether Beta is the sole clone produced by the Far Zenith colony. Beyond the deliberate dehumanization, even her appellation hints at a predecessor, an alpha. Considering this possibility, the threat posed by Nemesis could be more dire than anticipated.
The Potential for Additional Clones of Elisabet Sobeck
The intriguing prospect of more clones of Elisabet Sobeck emerges from Far Zenith's possession of her genetic material. This leads to speculation about whether they also procured a brain scan, potentially integrated into Nemesis. It is plausible that in Far Zenith's endeavor to develop a supremely powerful AI, they might have harnessed the brilliance of the woman pivotal to it all.
Perhaps Nemesis will manifest as a distorted replica of Elisabet Sobeck, presenting a mental challenge for Aloy, transcending mere physical combat as she grapples with the unsettling concept of confronting a warped replica of the woman she holds dear as her mother.
The Menace of Nemesis
Nemesis was an ill-fated endeavor by the Far Zeniths, their attempt to upload their collective subconscious to transcend corporeal existence and attain true immortality. This aspiration speaks volumes about their inherent self-centeredness and fear of oblivion, illustrating their underlying dread of being forgotten. While Nemesis failed and was ultimately abandoned, it remained intact.
Horizon Forbidden West sets the stage for Horizon 3 to focus on the looming threat of Nemesis, as it concludes with the revelation that Nemesis has escaped its confinement after decades, retaining the knowledge of each Far Zenith mind that was uploaded. Due to its prolonged captivity and abandonment, Nemesis harbors a deep-seated animosity towards humanity, with a determination to eradicate it. Considering Tilda's consciousness likely being uploaded, a version of Nemesis embodying Elisabet Sobeck would presumably resonate with Tilda.