HADES Profile and Backstory

This character profile is all about HADES, one of the main characters in Horizon Forbidden West. Read on to learn about HADES' backstory and his interactions with other characters in the Horizon series.

Warning: This page contains spoilers for the story of Horizon Zero Dawn

HADES Basic Information

HADES
Voice Actor	John Gonzalez
Appearances	・Horizon Zero Dawn (2017) ・Horizon Forbidden West (2022)
Relationships	・ GAIA (parent program) ・ Aloy (enemy) ・ Sylens (enemy)

HADES Profile and Backstory

Personality

As expected of an AI, HADES is cold and calculating. Its original purpose to exterminate life on Earth may also be the source of its malevolent personality. HADES tends to view humans as nothing more than tools useful only for serving a specific purpose.

Horizon Zero Dawn

HADES was created to be used as a function for GAIA, which was part of the Zero Dawn Project. GAIA was tasked with terraforming Earth and reseeding humanity. If the terraforming process was deemed unsuitable for sustaining life, however, HADES was tasked with reverting Earth to its original state so that GAIA could try again. The Signal caused HADES and other sub-functions GAIA to become AI as well.

After The Signal changed HADES from a program to an AI, it sought to take over GAIA. Although GAIA attempted to self-destruct to override this, HADES managed to escape the facility it was housed in and found refuge in a computer core in Meridian. Unable to move on its own, HADES sent out a signal searching for aid, which ended up attracting Sylens.

Sylens' fascination with ancient technology fostered his desire to help HADES and provided him with information about the current world. With Sylens' assistance, HADES had several Focuses repaired slowly gained control of the surrounding areas. This, along with amassing a large army of machines, gave HADES the necessary tools to try to take control of the Spire near Meridian.

By taking control of the Spire, HADES would be able to reactivate old robots, which in turn would destroy all life and return Earth to its original form. His plans were stopped however by Aloy, who was able to deactivate it using a spear created by Sylens.

Horizon Forbidden West

Although HADES was Defeated, it was not destroyed. It is currently under the possession of Sylens, who has begun interrogating it.

Skills and Abilities

High Intelligence

HADES has extensive knowledge of Mathematics and Science. As an AI, HADES' cognitive ability is indistinguishable from humans.

Control of Machines

Although limited, HADES possesses the ability to control a variety of machines. It can also reboot machines that have laid dormant for many years.

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