Guerrilla Games is far from done with the franchise, and gamers can expect Horizon Call of the Mountain on PSVR 2 after the headset launches. There have also been rumors that a Horizon Zero Dawn remake may be on the way. Although some fans are questioning whether a re-release is necessary and whether it will start a trend of remaking fairly recently released games, it will certainly make it easier for newcomers to enter the series. Regardless, there is clearly a lot of potential to expand the Horizon universe, and the aforementioned prequels would be a good area to explore.
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The Nora Tribe
The most obvious tribe to explore is the Nora tribe, the first one that gamers are introduced to in Horizon Zero Dawn. It is this tribe that finds Aloy the motherless child. Instead of taking her in, the tribespeople are gripped by fear and reject her, forcing her to live as an outcast. Their shunning of Aloy aligns with their general culture, as the Nora are isolationists and are apprehensive about technology and the world outside the Sacred Lands.
The Nora tribe is matriarchal and is led by the High Matriarchs. It differs from other tribes that players encounter, such as the Carja, which are patriarchal. The Nora have a complex religious system which is also matriarchal, and they believe in a Goddess known as All-Mother who lives in a Project Zero Dawn facility they are unable to enter. When they are old enough, the Nora have the opportunity to participate in the Proving, which is an intense challenge that tests both agility and strength.
Not much is known about the tribe’s origin and their early years because they rely on oral storytelling to pass down their history. Hence, it would be worthwhile for a prequel to uncover the tribe’s early history, as they are one of the oldest tribes encountered. Discovering more about the tribe’s intricate religious beliefs and cultural customs would give more depth to Horizon’s world, and it may also shed light on how they became so staunchly isolationist.
The Carja Tribe
One of the biggest tribes players cross paths with is the Carja tribe. Their settlement features structures as beautiful as anything one would find in the Old World, and through their embrace of technology, they have easily dominated surrounding tribes. The Carja tribe splintered off from the Noras when they dared to venture out of the Sacred Land and explore the rest of the world. The outcasts formed their own tribe with their own culture and religion that is sun-centric.
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Things haven’t been smooth sailing for the Carja’s entire history, and they have faced civil was concerning who should be the Sun-King. Although most Carja recognize Avad as the Sun-King, a small group believes that Jiran’s bloodline should rightfully hold the throne. These Carja form a splinter tribe called the Shadow Carja, and some of them are recruited by HADES, a rogue subordinate function of GAIA’s.
Though the Carja’s history is long, it appears that their story is just beginning, as they are mending their relationship with the Nora and other neighboring tribes. Witnessing the formation of the Carja tribe, and how rebels within the Nora tribe found the courage to venture beyond the Sacred Lands, would be interesting. Discovering more about the tribe’s solar religion and rituals would also be a blast, as it is apparent that they have intricate customs and myths that they adhere to.
The Utaru Tribe
Players are introduced to the Utaru in Horizon Forbidden West. The tribe is found in Plainsong, and the tribespeople have a very close relationship with nature. They toil the land, and they are helped by Plowhorns that they call the Land-Gods. Their way of life is seriously threatened when the Red Blight spreads through their homeland, killing most of their crops. Fortunately, Aloy saves the tribe from its demise.
Most Utaru are pacifists, and while this is admirable, it does leave them quite vulnerable against hostile tribes. They also love singing, and players will always hear a chorus of beautiful voices when visiting their homeland. Like the Nora, the Utaru tribespeople stay close to their homeland, although they are not isolationists. They have a close relationship with the Tenakth, whom they regularly trade with. In Horizon Forbidden West, players become acquainted with a few Utaru, including Zo who becomes Aloy’s close friend.
The Utaru have an interesting history, as their relationship with the Tenakth hasn’t always been friendly. At first, the Tenakth would plunder the Utaru who were an easy target due to their passivity. However, the Utaru learned to appease the Tenakth by giving them some of their harvests. In return, the Tenakth began training some Utaru in combat, beginning their peaceful trade relationship. A prequel exploring the formation of the relationship between the Tenakth and Utaru would expand the Horizon’s world-building, and answer many questions regarding how these two vastly different tribes can get along.
Horizon Call of the Mountain focuses on Ryas, a former Shadow Carja, and this will hopefully give gamers a little more insight into this mysterious tribe. Future titles may also introduce new tribes as Aloy prepares herself for the arrival of NEMESIS. Although there is plenty of action awaiting in the future, it would be worthwhile for Guerrilla Games to turn back the hands of time and unravel the early days of the tribes, allowing gamers to see how the humans were able to brave the harsh environment and establish societies once again.
Horizon Zero Dawn is available now on PS4 and PC.
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