Horizon Forbidden Westtakes Aloy to new lands where she discovers terrifying machines and even more tribes. One of the tribes is the Quen, and they are quite interesting, as they are not from the Forbidden West. Instead, they hail from somewhere beyond the Pacific Ocean. The Quen have huge reserves of data about the Old Ones, and after crossing paths with Aloy, they forge a good relationship with her. Due to these factors, the tribe could be of great aid toAloy during her battle against Nemesis.
As players learn inHorizon Forbidden West, the Quen’s knowledge of the Old Ones is impressive, but it is also incomplete. As a result, they praise Old World figures that are less than admirable. If the tribe hopes to understand Nemesis and the threat it poses, they may need to shed some of their old beliefs. This could be a difficult task, as the tribe holds steadfast to their beliefs.
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The Quen Tribe and the Old Ones
Of all the tribes encountered inHorizon Forbidden West, theQuen tribeis perhaps the most interesting. Their culture is centered around the Focus, which is the gadget that Aloy wears on her ear. The Quen recover many Focuses in their homeland, which is said to be across the Pacific Ocean. The Focuses have allowed them to gather a lot of knowledge about the Old Ones. They call their record of the ancient past The Legacy, and they are motivated to collect as much information about the Old Ones as possible.
The Quen are aware of many important figures of the Old World, including Dr. Elisabet Sobeck and Ted Faro. They are also aware of a fewFar Zenith members, including Peter Tshivhumbe and Erik Visser. Due to the limitations of technology, their knowledge of the Old World stops at around the mid-2050s. Consequently, they don’t know the full story of many of the Old World figures they revere. They call Ted Faro the Renewer, and they believe that he is one of the greatest humans to have ever lived. Little do they know that he is responsible for so much destruction. Similarly, they call Visser the Protector, not knowing how the Far Zenith betrayed humanity.
The Quen’s Eastern Expedition
Following terrible environmental disasters, the Quen tribe decide that they have to head eastward to gather data from the Old Ones in hopes that it will tell them how to solve their problems. The expedition takes seven years to prepare for, and it is headed by a Quen named Ceo. Though their ships are sturdy, things do not go as planned, and many Quen perishes during the journey. Fortunately, they eventually arrive at the ruins ofSan Franciscowhere they locate Thebes, the final resting place of Ted Faro.
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The Quen also find the Greenhouse, which was once a Faro Automated Solutions research facility. It is here where the Quen cross paths with Aloy. Together, they access the data core of the ruin, allowing them to claim very valuable agricultural archives. Aloy also helps them access Thebes, though Ceo is killed byTed Faro’s statue. Overseer Bohai takes over Ceo’s position, and he is much friendlier toward Aloy. It is through the Eastern Expedition that Aloy meets Alva, a Quen who becomes close friends with her.
The Quen Tribe and Nemesis
The latest threat headed humanity’s way is Nemesis. This malicious AI was created by the Far Zenith, and it is responsible for the extinction signal that set off the events ofHorizon Zero Dawn. Nemesis was powerful enough to destroy the Sirius colony created by the Far Zenith, and it wishes to destroy humans on Earth as well. Aloy had the chance to flee the planet with Tilda, but she has chosen to stand her ground and fight for the planet.
Alva is also aware of Nemesis' imminent arrival, and after the defeat of Far Zenith, she warns Bohai of the danger. Bohai sets off home to ask the Quen Emperor to help Aloy in her struggle against Nemesis. With the Quen on her side, Aloy has a much better chance against Nemesis, as the tribe has shown itself to have fierce fighters. The Quen’s vast reserves of data about the Old Ones may also be of great aid. AlthoughNemesis is from outer space, it was still created by the technology of the Old Ones, which is something the Quen are very familiar with. If Nemesis has a weakness, it may be the Quen who have knowledge of how to exploit it.
For the Quen to take up the battle against Nemesis, it may be necessary for the tribe to undergo some radical shifts in their beliefs and understanding of the world. To fully understand Nemesis and the circumstances that led to its creation, they would need to let go of their deified views of figures such as Ted Faro andErik Visser. Ceo illustrated how difficult that can be for some Quen, which is why Aloy and Alva may have a tough job ahead dealing with the cultural politics of the tribe.
Although aHorizonthreequel has yet to be officially announced, the ending ofHorizon Forbidden Westall but confirmed that one is on the way. Until then, gamers can amuse themselves withHorizon Call of the Mountain, an upcoming virtual reality game that shifts focus away from Aloy and follows Ryas. He is a Shadow Carja warrior who is seeking redemption, though it is not yet clear why he requires it.Call of the Mountainwill be a launch title for the PSVR 2, and it could be a system seller, as the world ofHorizonis one that seldom fails to inspire awe.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available on PS4 and PS5.
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