The Tallneck, known as the Observer to the Zero Dawn system, is a machine in Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West and Horizon Call of the Mountain.
History[]
Tallnecks were designed by Zero Dawn's governing artificial intelligence GAIA to enable long range communications between machines, with almost all areas of the known world serviced by at least one Tallneck (one exception being the Burning Shores). Unlike other machines, Tallnecks walk in a set route and won't stop for any obstacle, human or otherwise, only changing direction or behavior under the command of GAIA. The only known Cauldron that produces Tallnecks is Cauldron IOTA.[1]
During the reign of Sun-King Marzid, a great work known as Passion of the Tallneck Among the Dunes was made in Sunfall.
At some point, GAIA sent a Tallneck to investigate a supercell storm in Banuk territory (later called the Cut), however, it was stuck by lightning three times within a single second, damaging it to the point of becoming non-functional.[2]
When the Derangement began, the Tallnecks were the only known Zero Dawn machine to have not changed behavior at all.
As she grew up, Rost told Aloy stories about Tallnecks.
Horizon Zero Dawn[]
Aloy overriding a Tallneck.
Upon gaining access to the PSI overrides by looting a Corruptor for its override module, Aloy became able to override Tallneck and use them to learn about the local area, including machine sites, Cauldrons and settlements.[3] She took advantage of this ability several times.
Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds[]
A Tallneck trapped in ice.
In order to gain respect among the Banuk,[4] Aloy repaired the Tallneck in the Cut enough for it to become functional again.[5]
Horizon Call of the Mountain[]
Asera overrode three Tallnecks and covered them with lures in order to attract machines to Meridian to destroy it. One Tallneck was freed by Ryas, while Asera left piloting one with the other following. Ryas was able to get on top of the unmanned Tallneck and remove the lures from it when Asera crashed her Tallneck into his in an attempt to kill him. This ultimately ended up disabling her Tallneck and foiled her plan against Meridian.
Horizon Forbidden West[]
Aloy looking at a Tallneck in Horizon Forbidden West.
Aloy continued overriding Tallnecks to learn about the local area.
An incomplete Tallneck in Cauldron IOTA.
Aloy found a headless Tallneck in Cauldron IOTA mid-construction, but it had been interrupted by debris in the machinery preventing the head from being added. Freeing the head, Aloy was able to allow the Tallneck to finish being constructed and be released from the Cauldron.[1][6]
Appearance[]
The Tallneck resembles a giraffe in both silhouette and gait. They have no visible optical sensors, and their heads are broad discs, with a data node on the top center that can be used as an access point for overriding. Their chassis is covered by heavy armor plating and an energy shield.
Several long antennae-like platforms project from the back of the neck, and four tail-like structures are mounted in pairs on the posterior. Their feet have ten toes in the front and three in the back. On their backs are two power converters.
Behavior[]
Tallnecks are completely solitary, walking in a predefined loop within its particular region, functioning as a communications center for other machines. The signal emitted by Tallnecks can be detected by a Focus, which can be used to locate them.
Tallnecks are completely oblivious to their surroundings. They will make no effort to avoid obstacles, even if that means trampling over a human or if there's weights attached to it.[7] While a Tallneck itself isn't hostile, other hostile machines will frequently be in the area around the Tallneck's path.
Abilities[]
Aloy looking at the information within a Tallneck.
A Tallneck releasing an electrical pulse after being overridden.
Tallnecks send information on everything they observe along their paths to other machines in their areas. Overriding one will reveal that portion of the map, along with settlements, campfires, and machine sites. They also monitor the weather.[8] An overridden Tallneck will also release a one-time electrical pulse, damaging, stunning, and/or destroying any enemies within range.
Tallnecks have unmatched durability: they are impervious to any damage from Aloy and are still capable of functioning after decades of dormancy. On the off chance that a Tallneck is damaged, other machines will come to its defense, as seen with an Oseram crew that attempted to kill one with ballistae.[7] Tallnecks can also be repaired by being rebooted and overridden, as the Tallneck in the Stillsands had several energy shield breaches in its chassis that were corrected by Aloy.[7]
Known Tallnecks[]
- Cinnabar Sands[9]
- Copper Deeps[10]
- Devil's Thirst[11]
- Frostfigures[5]
- Landfall[12]
- Rustwash[13]
- Salt Bite[14]
- Spearshafts[15]
- Stand of the Sentinels[16]
- Stillsands[7]
- Sun-Steps[17]
Six Tallnecks can also be found inactive: two in the ruins of Cauldron XI, one in the Eclipse camp, two outside Stone Yield completely rusted, and one inside Cauldron EPSILON in the process of being melted down for material.
Although multiple Tallnecks are shown in the Embrace during the opening scene of Horizon Zero Dawn, given their otherwise-solitary nature and that there is no other evidence of them traveling together, it seems likely that their appearance in this scene is non-canon, and only intended to showcase the prominent machines of the game.
Components[]
| Component: | Image: | Information: | Weakness: | Strength: |
| Body | 
|
Hard outer casing to protect synthetic muscle and operational systems. | None | All |
| Climb Hold | 
|
Information antennas. Could be used as climbing holds when scaling. | None | None |
| Radar | 
|
Information storage hub. Override to access local area information. | None | None |
Trivia[]
- Tallnecks were one of the first machines revealed to the public, seen as early as the conceptual stages of the game's design, and unlike the Thunderjaw, they saw very little change.
- During the game's development, Tallnecks were referred to as "Comm giraffes."[18]
- The Tallneck's walking pattern of lifting both its fore and hind legs on the same side at the same time is based on the giraffe's gait.
- Given the Tallneck's size, such a gait is physically impossible in real life.
Concept art of Aloy joining tribespeople in taking down a Tallneck.
- Tallnecks were originally designed to be killable. However, Guerrilla Games decided against this, feeling that it would be against Aloy's character to kill a peaceful machine.
- In addition, Aloy is noticeably kind to Tallnecks, frequently referring to the machines as "Buddy" or "Big Guy". She also apologizes if it appears distressed when injured or being overridden.
- To be active, a Tallneck needs two power converters- An energy source capable of powering up a large machine.[12] It also requires a stabilizer, array, and actuator.[5]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cauldron IOTA
- ↑ OBSERVER LOG US-W-10
- ↑ The Womb of the Mountain
- ↑ For the Werak
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Tallneck: Frostfigures
- ↑ Tallneck: Salt Bite
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Tallneck: The Stillsands
- ↑ OBSERVER LOG US-W-10
- ↑ Tallneck: Cinnabar Sands
- ↑ Tallneck: Copper Deeps
- ↑ Tallneck: Devil's Thirst
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Tallneck: Landfall
- ↑ Tallneck: Rustwash
- ↑ Tallneck: Salt Bite
- ↑ Tallneck: Spearshafts
- ↑ Tallneck: The Stand of the Sentinels
- ↑ Tallneck: Sun-Steps
- ↑ GDC 2017 presentation by Guerrilla Games, "Creating a Tools Pipeline for Horizon Zero Dawn"