Reflecting on the events of Horizon Forbidden West, there’s potential for one character who, rather than being typecast as a secondary antagonist yet again, might find redemption in the series’ next installment. Although Horizon Zero Dawn primarily centered around HADES, the first of many rogue AIs in the franchise, HEPHAESTUS lurked in the shadows, crafting perilous machines. Even following Aloy’s initial encounter with this rogue AI in the Zero Dawn’s Frozen Wilds DLC, it continued to play a menacing part in Forbidden West.
Interestingly, the pursuit of HEPHAESTUS served as a key objective early in Forbidden West, yet the primary adversaries turned out to be the Far Zeniths, leaving HEPHAESTUS free to appear in a potential third game. Guerrilla Games, however, might want to steer clear of repeating HEPHAESTUS’ role in the same manner for the third time. With Forbidden West suggesting Nemesis as the new villain, providing a unique twist for HEPHAESTUS might make its storyline in Horizon 3 more compelling.
HEPHAESTUS, responsible for crafting various machines needed for GAIA’s mission to terraform Earth, stands as one of the more dangerous AIs in the Horizon series, similar to HADES. Yet, while its ongoing production of lethal machines continues to pose a threat, the AI’s contribution to the storyline in Forbidden West, through both Aloy and the Far Zeniths acknowledging its inherent capabilities, cannot be overlooked. If Horizon 3 replays the same narrative for HEPHAESTUS, it risks becoming a stale, background villain.
Despite being captured during Forbidden West, Aloy had to release HEPHAESTUS from the Far Zenith’s grasp to gain leverage at the story’s climax. Conversations between Aloy and Sylens suggested that HEPHAESTUS might escape once more and grow stronger due to data from APOLLO. This storyline forecast almost assures its return in Horizon 3, but it raises some pivotal questions regarding the continuation of HEPHAESTUS’ subplot.
Perhaps the most critical question is how Horizon 3 will navigate the constraints introduced in Forbidden West around capturing HEPHAESTUS. Forbidden West’s “GEMINI” quest revealed that since HEPHAESTUS is unwilling to reunite with GAIA, a special Cauldron with dual compatible cores is needed to trap it. While these limitations were likely meant to emphasize the difficulty of capturing HEPHAESTUS, they leave the AI in a tough spot for its role in Horizon 3.
Rather than recycle HEPHAESTUS’ subplot, Horizon 3 could take a different path with Nemesis emerging as the main adversary. Instead of re-capturing HEPHAESTUS, Aloy might attempt to reason with and redeem it, as she did with GAIA’s other subordinate functions. By possibly joining forces against a common enemy or curing its derangement, HEPHAESTUS could witness a redemption arc that aligns with a narrative of reconciling Nemesis’ suffering inflicted by the Far Zenith.
Overall, breathing new life into HEPHAESTUS’ story could enhance its significance in Horizon 3, providing a narrative shift that keeps the game fresh while complementing the potential for a riveting storyline centered around Nemesis.
