15 New Video Game Heroes - Ranked From Worst To Best

2. Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn)

Pegged to be Sony's 'next big PlayStation mascot', I... don't think that's become the case, though the fault lies with everything I described in the introduction - the industry's size doesn't work with marketing where your entire brand is behind one character anymore, even if they are extremely well crafted.

Speaking of which, we get to see Aloy grow from an infant all the way through to a young adult, challenging the various tribespeople and their values, as she's forever labelled an unwanted outcast due to not knowing her mother. Obviously, the world of Horizon is one filled with just as many comments on religion and individualism as it is the advancement of technology, fear-mongering and destiny, but we're with Aloy every step of the way.

She finds out precisely what happened to her mother, who Aloy is 'supposed' to be, those former tribespeople attempt to shift their view on her due to unforeseen circumstances, and Aloy's reaction/rant about their fickle nature is one of the best scenes in recent memory.

Hopefully Sony will do a better job of pushing Aloy going forward, but right now, the quality of her game and the writing within more than does so already.