Guerrilla Games' Horizon franchise has managed to become one of PlayStation's flagship IPs for many reasons. In addition to its action-packed gameplay, it also features beautiful environments that blend natural settings with sci-fi elements. It has also attracted many fans thanks to its impressive worldbuilding which features a lengthy history and a slew of unique tribes. In Horizon Forbidden West's DLC, Burning Shores, the Quen tribe receives the spotlight, and it illustrates all the best parts of the franchise's worldbuilding.
As players learn in Horizon Forbidden West, the Quen tribe is deeply interested in the lives of the Old Ones. However, their interpretations of the past aren't always accurate, leading to some interesting cultural productions. Through the Quen tribe, players also realize how vast Horizon's world is, and that it stretches far beyond the American continent.
The Quen Tribe and the Old Ones
Aloy originally meets the Quen tribe in Horizon Forbidden West's base game. The tribe is quite developed, and they have a keen interest in water travel. They are very interested in the Old Ones, and they use Focuses. Their interest in the Old Ones results in them forming a body of recovered knowledge known as the Legacy. Their interpretation isn't always accurate, however, which leads to some interesting theories being formed.
This can be seen, for example, in the language the Quen tribe uses. The term CEO has become the label used for great leaders, and it is the title given to the Quen tribesman who heads the Eastern Expedition to San Francisco. It is also seen in the symbols they adopt, such as the Wi-Fi signal sign frequently used by the tribe and found on pendants they wear. The Quen tribe's understanding of the Old Ones is an extension of a lot of the worldbuilding that has been present in the franchise. For example, random keys that Aloy finds are referred to as Ancient Chimes, and what appears to be a pacemaker is called an Ancient Necklace.
In most cases, these misunderstandings are relatively benign, and they provide players with a humorous take on the modern world. However, the gaps in knowledge can also be dangerous, as it leads the Quen to believe that Ted Faro was a good person who helped humanity.
The Quen Tribe's Expansion of Horizon's World
In Horizon Zero Dawn, players discover some of the tribes surrounding the Nora tribe. These tribes are on the North American continent, and while Aloy gains a broad understanding of the tribes in her area, not much is revealed about faraway tribes and their civilizations. Through the Quen tribe, players learn more about the wider world and how tribes in other parts of the world are keeping up.
The Quen tribe is from the Great Delta. Although it is never explicitly stated, it is implied that this land lies somewhere in Asia. The tribe travels across the Pacific Ocean and eventually discovers San Francisco and Los Angeles. Having these faraway tribes is an important aspect of Horizon's worldbuilding, as it expands the scope of the franchise. As opposed to limiting the story to one continent, players gain a greater understanding of the wider world and how populations around the world have survived in a post-civilization context.
The Horizon franchise offers a unique dystopian view of humanity's future, and there is certainly a lot to be learned from this forward-facing vision. However, the franchise's reflections on the past are also noteworthy, as they encourage gamers to look at their society from a different perspective. While many aspects of modern life may seem to be natural and normal, they can be quite ridiculous from the right perspective, as Horizon illustrates.
Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PS4 and PS5.
