Saturday, 29 May 2021 21:38

Horizon Forbidden West Fans Are Arguing About Aloy's Looks in the New Game

Written by Richard Warren
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A controversial social media post sparks a debate about Horizon Forbidden West protagonist Aloy, with players arguing over her appearance.

Horizon Forbidden West dazzled fans with its first gameplay a few days ago, leaving many impressed by the sequel’s visuals. However, one person has criticized Horizon Forbidden West for its character models, specifically pointing to Aloy’s physical features.

Aloy boasted a unique look in Horizon: Zero Dawn, as it is fitting of the post-apocalyptic world she lives in and the culture she was raised with. Alongside her clothing, her braided red hair helps her stand out, and she also wears no makeup. However, it seems one fan would prefer to see a “prettier” version of Aloy, complaining that she does not have enough “feminine features” in her design.

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The comments come from Twitter user ApexAlphaJ, who feels Aloy’s design as overly “masculine.” Comparing her to Ellie from The Last of Us, ApexAlphaJ says that she is not “curvy” enough and nothing like an “average woman” before sharing a mock-up of a fan-made version of Aloy that's far from the original. Aloy sports white teeth, a skinnier face, and loses her freckles. She also wears an abundance of makeup and lipstick. While the post has garnered 1,000 likes, the 9,000 quote tweets and numerous replies calling out the take shows many fans disagree.

Aside from many calling out the post's sexism, others point out how silly the suggested look is given the world of Horizon. Fans like alexandertyler on Twitter point out how a “dolled up” Aloy makes little sense given how much time she spends in water and how practical her gear is. A comment from Byrne1487 backs this up, saying every female character should not need to have the features some men want to see. Others parody the original "hire fans" comment with memes.

Twitter user _Daks_ also calls out the original Tweet with a comment pointing to the frustrating nature of the comparison photo. Forcing Aloy to smile and change her angry expression so that she looks “prettier” is frustrating to many based on real-world comparisons, and it is easy to understand why many people are upset about the post. However there are others like it, with several calling Aloy “fat” or suggesting she looks too old in the sequel. Still, with a vast majority of comments praising Aloy’s design in Horizon Forbidden West, it is clear that most fans are happy with her appearance.

Gamers are sharing an outpouring of support for Aloy to counteract the negativity. With several posts also praising the standout gameplay of Horizon Forbidden West, many are trying to drown out these comments that have drawn a lot of attention.

Horizon Forbidden West releases for PS4 and PS5 in 2021.

MORE: More Horizon Forbidden West News May Come Sooner Than Expected

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