Guerrilla Games and Firesprite have revealed some new information for Horizon Call of the Mountain, launching next month on PlayStation VR2. Instead of Aloy, Ryas is the protagonist. A former Shadow Carja, he investigates a mysterious threat to the Sundom, using his skills as a master hunter and climber.
But what is Ryas’s backstory? A new PlayStation Blog post reveals that he was one of the soldiers loyal to the Mad Sun-King Jiran, responsible for the Red Raids and who would be overthrown by Avad. Jiran had a group loyal to his cause in the Shadow Carja, with Ryas playing a role in the abduction of Prince Itamen.
In Call of the Mountain, he lets the Carja capture him and is tasked by Avad to investigate this new threat in exchange for his freedom. However, his main objective is atonement and regaining his honor.
Ben McCaw, Guerrilla’s Studio Narrative Director, said: “Ryas ended up on the wrong side for the right reasons. His family was torn apart, and ultimately, he was incarcerated. This is the story of how he tries to come back from that.” He’ll encounter new characters along the way and reunite with “familiar ones.”
“Having fought for the Shadow Carja, Ryas’ relationship with these characters is at best adversarial. He needs to make inroads and amends if he hopes to be accepted.”
One such character is Hami (seen below), who escaped the Red Raids by acting as a Border Guard. She must escort Ryas but hates him for the atrocities committed. Hami is described as sharp-witted but quick to anger.
As for why Guerrilla went with a new character in Call of the Mountain, McCaw said, “We took the Horizon experience and built it from the ground up for virtual reality. And for this, we felt we needed a new protagonist. As a master climber, hunter, and explorer, Ryas offers the perfect viewpoint of the sweeping vistas and dangerous wilds of Horizon.”
Horizon Call of the Mountain launches on February 22nd and is one of several launch titles for PlayStation VR2. Head here for the latest gameplay trailer.
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