Summary
Whiledriving mechanics allow for quick traversalin an open world setting, mounts have a level of personality and utility beyond this. They can be integrated as part of the world’s theme and aesthetic, or in some cases, act as a loyal companion to take players through dangerous quests and perilous missions.
Even among games that do offer mounts, different options often fall into various niches. Some mounts might be good for traversal, but even with, say,specialized mount armor, they remain unsuited for combat. Other open-world games manage to integrate mounts into their repertoire of combat mechanics. Among them, there are a few games that stand out for stellar mounted combat. Here are the best titles in which players can ride to battle.
Shadow of War’s fluid,Arkham-inspired combat has been the basis for two iconic titles from Monolith studios. The branding in this game was expanded from the predecessor. Players can mostly see this in the variety of orcs able to be recruited, but also in the creatures that can be branded.
Carragors, graugs, and drakes all handle differently once branded, through either story beats or acquiring abilities in the skill tree. Mass destruction seems to be the main goal of these mounts, though. Most of them sacrifice precision for raw damage output and AOE attacks to maximize the amount of orc grunts falling to Talion. Crushing enemies under gruags, or savaging them with carragors, is a brutal mechanic that falls well in line with the rest of the game.
Horses are an essential component ofMount and Blade: Bannerlordin terms of combat, transport, and even status.When hiring mercenaries, players would be remiss not to have a contingent saddle up on some war breeds. If nothing else, this can help to ensure the upper hand in battles to come. Combat on horseback is fluid and gratifying, and cleaving through foot soldiers is a cathartic way of gaining experience as a knight or mercenary.
The horses ofBannerlordwere not created equally. Some mounts are built for combat, such as the charger; however, others are better suited to traversal. It’s important to note when selecting a mount that many are bred for travel speed or carrying capacity rather than combat, so players must be sure to choose the right mount for the given situation.
Torrent is a marvel for making one’s way around the Lands Between. This mount is a loyal companion that remains by the Tarnished’s side no matter which of the various endings they are shooting for, and how this affects the loyalties of other characters. While Torrent’s first purpose may simply appear to be navigation, there is a lot more that this steed can do for players.
Running through enemies with Torrent in the more open and spacious parts of the game is incredibly effective and satisfying. This strategy can give the Tarnished the speed they need to close in, deal large amounts of damage, and draw themselves out again. In certain boss fights, especially the final boss fight (which Torrent is now able to enter, thanks to a recent patch), the player’s noble steed is an effective means of closing the gap quickly and allowing the Tarnished to deal large amounts of damage.
The robotic creatures inHorizon: Forbidden Westare some of the most fearsome and challenging foes found in gaming today. Their ruthlessness is a challenge for players to overcome through Aloy’s skills as they accrue experience throughout the game.
The mounts available to the player inForbidden Westare greatly expanded from the original title. Any gamer will find that they arean incredible boonwhen it comes to combat with these formidable foes, whether it’s the override for the fearsome Charger or Clawstrider, or taking to the skies with the Sunwing. These mounts can greatly expand Aloy’s combat utility and her ability to defeat other monstrous enemies. Each mount moves with a level of energy and vitality that practically thrums through the player, and taking down enemies with them is a satisfyingly brutal process.
Red Dead Redemption 2is a game with an incredible level of depth and design in almost every detail of its expansive open-world. One area in particular where this is noticeable is theincredible variety of horsesthat the game boasts. Each one is unique, with its own strengths and weaknesses.
As players might expect from a game so immersed in the world of lawlessness and gunmen, the mounted combat on horseback is incredibly intuitive, and syncs up incredibly well with the fluid, satisfying gunplay. Each bullet gives the player a noticeable, tangible impact. Aiming on horseback is easier through Dead Eye Targeting, and adds to the “cinematic western” feel that pervades through every aspect of the game.
