In Guerrilla Games’Horizonfranchise, gamers come across several tribes, each with its own customs and unique history.The Carja tribe is one of the biggest, and it has had a significant impact on neighboring tribes. Though the tribe was once known for its ruthless warring, that era was brought to an end by Avad. Players meet Avad inHorizon Zero Dawn, where he is still on a mission to mend the relationships between the Carja tribe and its neighbors.
ThoughHorizon Zero Dawndoes a good job of unraveling the tribe’s history and Avad’s role in the story, the character does feel underutilized considering how important he is. This could be mended by having a spin-off title focused solely on his rise within the tribe. With the franchise showing a willingness to release games that have protagonists other than Aloy, the chance of a spin-off centered on Avad seems more possible than ever.
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Avad is the son of Jiran the 13th Carja Sun-King.Jiran starts the Red Raids, which are a series of attacks enacted by the Carja tribe on other tribes. Foreign tribespeople are kidnaped and used in human sacrifice in hopes of ending the Derangement. Avad and his brother Kadaman do not agree with the bloodshed and conflict caused by the Red Raids, and they stand against their father. Kadaman attempts to reason with his father, but he is sacrificed as well. This convinces Avad that Jiran is beyond reason and must be eliminated if the violence is to end.
Helped by friends like Erend and Ersa, Avad forms an army to go against his father. He gains aid from Marad, who is Jiran’s advisor, and the plot is successful, with Ersa landing the killing blow on Jiran. Despite Jiran’s death, he still has loyalists who split off from the main tribe andform the Shadow Carja cult. After becoming the new Sun-King of Carja, he promotes a far more peaceful way of life for the tribe, though he still has to deal with the looming threat of the Shadow Carja. As part of his reformation plan, he attempts to mend the relationships between the Carja tribe and all the surrounding tribes that were affected by the Red Raids.
Thus far, theHorizonfranchise has been focused mainly on Aloy and her story. However, things seem to be changing. WithHorizon Call of the Mountain, players are introduced to Ryas, who is an ex-Shadow Carja seeking redemption. Even though Aloy isn’t around, the franchise is still able to prosper, proving that spin-offs with different protagonists are viable. Avad is an excellent candidate for a spin-off, as he is one of the characters with the richest backstory. A spin-off focused on Avad’s rise in the Carja tribe and the defeat of his father could greatly expand the lore of the Carja while allowing players to better understand one of the most important characters in the franchise. Furthermore, Avad is also a capable warrior, so a game with him as the protagonist wouldn’t have to slow down the action.
Horizon Call of the Mountainhas launched, but there is still plenty fans can look forward to, includingHorizon Forbidden West’s sequel andDLC titledBurning Shores. Aloy has served as a phenomenal protagonist thus far, cementing her place in gaming history. However, it may be time for the franchise to explore the lives of other characters, and Avad would be a great place to start.
Horizon Zero Dawnis available on PC and PS4.
