Horizon Forbidden Westdoesn’t emphasize Sylens in the same way asHorizon Zero Dawn,but he remains a central figure.Regalla’s rebelsand the Sons of Prometheus wouldn’t be such thorns in Aloy’s side if it wasn’t for Sylens, and his innovations are crucial to defeating Far Zenith at the end of the game. Guerrilla Games has implied that Sylens will be even more important inHorizon 3, however, now that he’s working with Aloy face to face. His character arc is going in a very different direction, now that he’s not condescending Aloy from a distance, and that could result in a lot of ends to his story inHorizon 3.
WhileAloy’s character arcis naturally the most important in theHorizonfranchise right now, Sylens' journey is worth watching too. He may have a contentious relationship with Aloy, but he still deserves a lot of credit for her discoveries and successes, and he’s still an enigmatic character with a shady history. Not only couldHorizon 3finally reveal where Sylens really comes from, but it could see him redeemed for his deceit through true friendship with Aloy’s team. Whether that means newfound peace or a heroic sacrifice, something big seems to be ahead for Sylens.
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Why Sylens May Die in Horizon 3
TheHorizonfranchise isn’t afraid to kill off major characters.Regalla and Varl’s deathsnear the end ofForbidden Westcomes after other major losses like Rost’s death at the Proving. Interestingly, many of these characters die fighting for Aloy, and so it stands to reason thatHorizon 3will feature another grand sacrifice from someone with a complicated relationship with Aloy. To that end, Sylens could lay down his life to stop Nemesis after forming a closer relationship with Aloy over the course ofHorizon 3.
TheHorizonfranchise has made significant efforts to frame Sylens as a callous character with selfish intentions. He manipulates Aloy throughoutZero Dawn,even tricking her into thinking HADES is dead so that he can capture and interrogate it without interruption. He also schemes to abandon Earth after nearly trickinga Tenakth armyinto storming Far Zenith’s base on his behalf. Still, he seems to have a change of heart atForbidden West’s end. Sylens' decision to at least temporarily set aside his mission to preserve himself from Nemesis' wrath could pay off poetically with his death in the battle against Nemesis.
Sylens, the Odyssey, and Horizon’s Future
While killing off Sylens would make some sense, given the risks he’s taking, it might not be the most creative direction for him. With that in mind, maybeHorizon 3should let him take the journey that he planned after all. AlthoughFar Zenithhas been wiped out, the Odyssey is still in orbit around Earth, and Sylens very nearly took it and GAIA to another planet. Nobody seems to be making any use of the Odyssey right now, but Sylens could still take advantage of it over the course ofHorizon 3.
Guerrilla Games could handle this journey in a few ways. He could leave Earth before Nemesis arrives after months of preparing Aloy’s team for the battle; it would be well within character if he set up a long-term scheme in Aloy’s favor that she doesn’t fully uncover until he’s already aboard the Odyssey and away from Earth. Alternatively, Nemesis' approach might make the Odyssey temporarily unsafe, forcing Sylens to stay on Earth until the AI is stopped. This could result in a great epilogue scene where Aloy and friends say a tearful goodbye to Sylens, showing how far their relationships have come sinceZero Dawn.
Letting Sylens take off on the Odyssey – possibly carrying a copy of GAIA – may be the best way to push his character forward. Sylens has always hungered for knowledge, and so an interstellar journey of discovery would be a wonderful way for Sylens to start a new chapter in his life. It also presents Guerrilla Games with a great opportunity fora spin-off game starring Sylens. If he can get his hands on a second GAIA and make use of Far Zenith tech, Sylens might lead aHorizonterraforming game about starting a second human homeworld on another planet.
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Developing Sylens Among Horizon’s Tribes
However, Nemesis presents a cosmic threat that may mean Sylens will remain on Earth. It wouldn’t be surprising if Nemesis destroyed the Odyssey during its approach to prevent humanity from attempting any kind of escape. As a result, Sylens might have to find a place for himself among theHorizontribes that he’s spent two games disdaining. Due to his knowledge ofHorizon’s machinesand the Old Ones, Sylens has always viewed himself as superior to others, but now that humanity has a copy of APOLLO, his intellect isn’t so unique anymore.
Interestingly, APOLLO might be Sylens' best opportunity to learn some empathy. Once GAIA clears it of Far Zenith’s data, Sylens may be the best person to use APOLLO’s records to teach humanity, since he has even more experience with the Old Ones than Aloy. While training the tribes to fight Nemesis with the help of this data, Sylens might gain a better appreciation for each of the tribes' cultures, skills, and potential uses for machines. He might even reconcile withthe Banuk, whom he betrayed in a major way. It’s hard to say which tribe Sylens might eventually settle down with, but one way or another, he may find a new home.
Whatever ending Guerrilla Games goes for, a renewed emphasis on Sylens feels crucial forHorizon 3. While his schemes with the Sons of Prometheus were interesting, he felt far more distant inHorizon Forbidden Westthan he was inZero Dawn,where he worked closely with Aloy throughout the game. As perhaps the only Focus user who can rival Aloy in technological know-how, Sylens deserves to stand in the spotlight, rather than coordinating puppets from the shadows. Hopefully he can be found inHorizon Forbidden West’s Base throughout the third game, opening opportunities to go on missions with Sylens and develop his character before some form of dramatic conclusion to his character arc.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now for PS4 and PS5.
