While Aloy herself is a powerful character with a lot of fans, theHorizonfranchise builds its identity just as much on the backs of her friends.Horizon Forbidden Westwouldn’t be the same without Varl, Erend, Beta, Zo, and many more there to back up Aloy and highlight different aspects of the franchise’s sprawling lore. Nil belongs to that category, although he played the part more dramatically inHorizon Zero Dawn,helping Aloy clear bandit camps. While Nil is a little hard to find inHorizon Forbidden West, his appearance shows that he’s still growing, and could keep doing so inHorizon 3.
Aloy’s allies have a wide variety of personalities, from Beta’s anxiety and pessimism to Kotallo’s warrior attitude, but perhaps none are as unique as Nil. Although Aloy works with him throughoutHorizon Zero Dawn, she struggles to actually like him, given his unquenchable bloodlust and self-interested, thrill-chasing ways. Nevertheless, Nil takes quite a shine to Aloy, and the pair do a lot of good for theHorizonworld together. Given how Nil’s life has changed inHorizon Forbidden Westand his slightly different relationship with Aloy, Nil could emerge as a key ally in the battle against Nemesis.
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Nil Could Find a Greater Calling After Horizon Forbidden West
In a franchise where tribe allegiances define nearly every character, Nil is a notable renegade. While he’s still a Carja, he seems to lack connections or friendships inHorizon Zero Dawnand hunts bandits as lone wolf. Aloy seems to be his only true friend. This changes somewhat inForbidden West, where Aloy can find Nil living among the Tenakth doingHorizonGauntlet Runs. It seems the thrill of the race and competition sates Nil’s violent urges, and what’s more, he’s found a community among the Tenakth machine riders. His life seems to have gotten much more comfortable.
Given that Nil finally has some allies beyond Aloy, he may have a big journey ahead of him inHorizon 3.Aloy and company now face the threat ofFar Zenith’s malevolent AI NEMESIS, which seeks to destroy the Earth as retribution for its treatment. While it wouldn’t be surprising to see Nil fight NEMESIS with Aloy in pursuit of excitement, he may stand with her for more than cheap thrills. It would be the perfect opportunity for him to protect people that he truly values and show how far he’s come sinceZero Dawn.
Nil still has a menacing side inForbidden West, but he also explains in no uncertain terms how much kinship he feels with his Tenakth friends. Nil may not express his feelings in the same way as everyone else, but he still shows in his own ways that he cares. Fighting NEMESIS' machine terrors to defend theTenakth machine riderswould be the perfect way for Nil to prove how much he values his new community.
This could also offer Guerrilla Games the perfect opportunity to explore Carja-Tenakth relations and the Red Raids in a new light, given that Nil suggests he participated in some of the Mad Sun-King’s atrocities in Tenakth territory.Horizon 3could shed new light onthe Red Raidsand Nil’s exact role, stirring up questions of his place among the Tenakth and whether he can be redeemed in the eyes of the tribe at large.
After his limited role inHorizon Forbidden West, Nil deserves a broader opportunity to impacttheHorizonstoryin a way appropriate to his journey. Nil may live a more peaceful life now, but he’s amoral to the core, andHorizon 3shouldn’t forget that. Letting him use his brutality for a greater cause – one that’s truly personal to Nil, instead of a means to an end – would showcase his growth while preserving the core concept that made him so interesting in the first place.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now for PS4 and PS5.
