First introduced in Horizon Zero Dawn, the Watcher is one of the earliest machines that Aloy learns to kill, and their upgraded Redeye variants can be found dotted across the Forbidden West, too. With their bright red eyestalk which can blind and blast players from a distance, Redeye Watchers can prove more fearsome than the other small machines that roam the verdant ruins of California. Their constant presence throughout the games signals the growing danger of the rogue AI that created them, as well as the increasingly mortal threat to the human tribes that call the Forbidden West home.
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One creation also born by machine can be found on Reddit, where user HenryWong327 shows off their own 3D printed Watcher. In a video posted to the r/horizon subreddit, HenryWong327 gives fans a full 360-degree look at their design, which features a small vignette of an upright Watcher standing among some rocks and bushes. The video shows off a remarkable level of detail, akin to that found in-game, as the fine minutiae provide the Watcher with real depth and texture. The metal looks almost rusted in places, and the armor plating is an off-white, lending it a rugged, aged quality. Moreover, fans can make out all the joints and skeletal aspects of its spine-like neck and can even see the three individual dots in the eye from which light emits in-game.
In the replies, user Elusive-Donut compliments the exceptional detail by expressing the “strong urge to hit it with an arrow.” This refers to the most tactile way to take down a Watcher - by firing a powerful shot from Aloy’s bow directly into its glowing eye. Meanwhile, user iareprogrammer exclaims “So you’re basically HEPHESTUS,” comparing HenryWong327’s 3D printing skills to that of the antagonistic AI who uses much the same method to create Horizon’s machines in the Cauldron facilities.
This isn’t the first time that Horizon Forbidden West’s machines have inspired artworks from its fans, as others have gone on to create impressive sculptures of Clawstriders using only LEGO. HenryWong327, while acknowledging their beginner status, has a fairly prolific catalog of 3D printed works featuring a drone from Rainbow Six Siege and a survival knife from Subnautica, among many other handiworks. This Watcher is only the latest in a long line of projects and, as time goes on, fans can hope to see many more iconic builds from this up-and-coming creator.
Horizon Forbidden West is currently available for PS4 and PS5.
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