As if the titular character of the Horizon Zero Dawn series didn’t already challenge the predominantly male gaming community, Aloy is now canonically queer. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
is critically ranking at around 8/10, Burning Shores boasts a measly 2.9 stars in the Audience Ratings of Google. As a long-time fan of the series, I totally agree with some of the grievances. The DLC didn’t deliver as we all hoped. The characters felt a little flat compared to previous games. It was a PS5 exclusive, meaning you had to upgrade or be left out. The new monsters were a little boring. As a lover of the series, I agree with these points. But 90% of 1-star reviews had nothing to do with these grievances. It’s because you can choose to kiss a woman.
Burning Shores’ Narrative and Themes
Out of the 7- to 15-hour gameplay – depending on whether you choose to 100% it – Aloy’s love life is hardly in the forefront of her brain. She has bigger things to do. She always has. A big part of Horizon Forbidden West’s story is Aloy’s habitual lone-wolf syndrome and difficulty asking for help. So it makes sense narratively to explore this again after the events of the main game. (No spoilers here, but teamwork makes the dream work.) If you choose to see Aloy and Seyka’s relationship as platonic, their story is about the trials of building trust and a friendship after countless losses and a lifetime of trauma. The actual interaction between the two makes up a small percentage of the game, compared to other companions such as Varl.
Can One Choice Really Ruin It All?
But then, in the last minutes of the DLC, Seyka confesses her feelings for Aloy. In return, Aloy has three choices. She reciprocate with a kiss, tells Seyka that she is not ready for a relationship – at least right now, or that she will probably never have the time or freedom for a relationship. This single moment is what ruined it for many former fans of the series.
It would be understandable if players had an issue with how the story wrapped up. The fact that Seyka’s role in Aloy’s future is never discussed between the two makes this confession seem unnecessary. Will she be joining Aloy on her adventure? Maybe. But it’s probably vague on purpose just in case they decide not to include her in the third game.
Burning Shores: Forging Connections and Character Development
so does having a queer protagonist automatically equate to being “woke”? Does it undermine the world-building and character development prior? And if the protagonist is female, can male players only tolerate it if she can be a romantic or sexual conquest? As a character, Aloy has traditionally put her feelings aside to her greater mission. Saving the world is important, after all. And it’s what she was born to do. But Burning Shores shows us that even Aloy can find time to feel compassion and forge connections with others. So maybe players can too.
