Summary
In just a few more weeks, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC gamers will be able to playLEGO Horizon Adventuresfor the first time when it releases onThursday, November 14th. Here, players new and old to theHorizonfranchise will be able to embody the red-headed heroine Aloy once more as she attempts to save post-apocalyptic tribes from emerging, mechanical threats. WhileLEGO Horizon Adventuresis expected to be a more child-friendly take on the events ofHorizon Zero Dawn, with most actors returning to reprise their roles, there’s one aspect of the game which may shed light onHorizon 3: the recasting of Lance Reddick’s Sylens.
Sylens’ LEGO Horizon Adventures Story So Far
Sylens is one of the most important characters inHorizon’s story, possibly only second to the series’ protagonist Aloy. Initially introduced as a disembodied voice guiding Aloy through her focus inHorizonZero Dawn, Sylens is later revealed to be a tech-savvy archaeologist and researcher who seeks out to learn more about the Old World by any means. In his early years, Sylens found and repaired a Focus by himself, which led him to discover the rogue A.I. HADES. Together, the two manipulated the Shadow Carja into believing HADES was a deity and created the Eclipse cult to serve the A.I. After creating a Focus network for the Eclipse, HADES betrayed Sylens and ordered the cult to eliminate him.
ThroughoutHorizon Zero Dawn,Sylens helps Aloy from afar in taking down HADESand the Eclipse, though primarily to aid in his own endeavors. At the end ofZero Dawn, Sylens used the lance he gave Aloy to override HADES to instead transmit the rogue A.I. to him, where he would later torture the intelligence for info on GAIA and an entity known as Nemesis which corrupted HADES and other A.I.s. After nearly destroying HADES, Sylens went about manipulating another faction to do his bidding, this time in the form of Regalla’s Rebels to attack the Far Zenith.
Sylens in Horizon Forbidden West and Beyond
InHorizon Forbidden West, Sylens played a more intimate role in the game’s events. Here, he assisted Aloy with discovering how to construct a copy of GAIA, built a device to lower Far Zenith’s shields, joined Aloy and her companions in the assault on the Far Zeniths’ base, and chose to stay with Aloy to help prepare for their inevitable fight against Nemesis. Shortly later in the Burning Shores DLC,Sylens aided Aloy in taking down the Far Zenith Walter Londraand suggested they venture east through the inland United States to look for 21st century weapons that could help take down the Nemesis.
The Recasting of Sylens After Lance Reddick’s Passing
About a month before the Burning Shores DLC was released in April 2023, Sylens’ voice actor, motion capture actor, and face modelLance Reddick passed away suddenlyfrom coronary artery disease and atherosclerotic heart disease. Reddick was 60 years old. His family, friends, colleagues, and fans alike all mourned his passing, but with Sylens playing such a pivotal role in theHorizonseries, many fans were left concerned how Guerrilla Games would address Reddick’s absence inHorizon 3and other titles. In a recent interview with IGN, Guerrilla’s World Art Supervisor Lucas Bolt announced that Sylens will be played by a new actor in the upcomingLEGO Horizon Adventures.
Bolt did not announce who would be replacing Reddick forLEGO Horizon Adventuresnor did he confirm if this sameactor would play Sylens in the anticipatedHorizon 3. However, given how most actors fromHorizon Zero Dawnare reprising their roles forLEGO Horizon Adventuresand have done so before forForbidden West, it could be surmised that this new actor may reprise Sylens forHorizon 3. If so, this recasting could be a way for Sylens to still play a vital role in futureHorizongames despite Reddick’s passing, or at least ensure Sylens gets the proper sendoff both he and Reddick deserve inHorizon 3.
Following Lance Reddick’s passing, Guerrilla Games placed a memorial for the Sylens actor in theHorizon Forbidden West’s Burning Shores DLC, which could be found on an island south of Heaven’s Rest.
LEGO Horizon Adventures
WHERE TO PLAY
In a far future, where giant mechanized beasts roam a landscape reclaimed by nature and humans live in primitive tribes, an ancient evil seeks to destroy the world…Join hunter Aloy as she leads a colourful crew of heroes on a quest to save the meadows, forests, and mountains of Earth from a man called Helis, who leads a gang of sunworshippers that follow an Ancient Evil shrouded in mystery.Dive into a thrilling adventure alone, or with friends with couch co-op or online play, customize your home in true LEGO style, and uncover stunning secrets from Aloy’s mysterious past along the way.
