They say that as long as time immemorial, gamers far and wide dream of vast, open worlds where they and their friends could roam, battle, and conquer. As technology advanced from primitive wooden tools (like dice and pencils) into an age of massively multiplayer online play, those gamers continued to march forth in those grand, epic settings, footsore and tired. Thankfully, they needn’t walk the earth to deliver ten bearskins to some random man hanging out between the bar and the resurrection shrine at the starting area. There was another way.
The developers took pity on those brave players climbing level to level on aching soles and offered them beasts on which to ride. Or so the legend goes. Since then, mounted travel has become a staple of MMORPG gameplay. Mounts have always been more than a way to close a gap. They have been status symbols,outward expressions of personality, and gameplay loops all in themselves. Many titles have taken a variety of approaches to implementing steeds. With the maturing of the genre, the weak boiled away, and only a few titles truly stand mounted above the rest.
The most interesting aspect of mounts inBDOis their integration into the rest of the game’s mechanics. Rather than being an object shaped like an animal to get around on, mounts feel like a part of the ecosphere. Like players, mounts have their own skills (for maneuverability and combat) and level, which determines health, speed, and carry weight. Mounts can be bought, traded, or found throughout the world through taming, so long asthe player has a sufficiently high Training level. There aren’t a ton of different mounts to choose from, but those that are available are incredibly well-polished.
Horses and donkeys are good ways to get around faster than hoofing on foot, but desert areas require elephants or camels to traverse. Mount ownership is very grounded inBlack Desert Online, which may be a selling point to some and a drawback to others, but a universal downside to mount mechanics inBDOis the amount of grind expected of players to train effective steeds. Grind aside, the depth of complexity still makes taming, owning, trading, and even breeding them ever engaging.
For anyone living under a bloodstone for the last decade,Guild Wars 2is known for being the best of the best for its implementation of mounts. While the creators of the series went on record as being against putting rideable creatures in their game for the longest time, the work they put into making each creature type feel distinct, weighty, and fun to take out for a spin betweensmashing end-of-the-world-level threats directly in the face. There are only nine varieties of steeds inGW2, but each comes with a different feel and freshness.
The high-jumping springer blasts off into impossible heights while the skimmer ripples in the air and over bodies of water like a dream. The griffon offers break-neck, high-flying aerial action, and the roller beetle turns the whole map into a Tokyo-drift-like tangle of circuits. WhileGuild Wars 2’s mounts are the crown jewel in the crown of mount MMOs, the only tarnish in the sparkle is the fact that the collectible skins that can be seen on the rides of other playersare exclusively obtained in the cash shop. Although a gold-to-premium currency is available, even some of the most ardent fans have argued that omitting mount skins as achievement rewards is a missed opportunity.
Colorful, diverse, and fun,Albion Online’s mount roster list might be able to rival that of any other MMORPG’s monster encounter set. From big cats to battle boars and basilisks to bunnies, there’s a lot of draw to be had from these rideable pets alone. There are also tiers to each and unique abilities (active and passive) that can only be used while the mount is equipped, meaning that each type has a different feel and functionality.
On top of getting them around a little faster, mounts are functional in helping players avoid damage, resist crowd control or magical effects, and carry more loot. Players can handily spawn mounts from just about anywhere and even breed new animals to ride, improving their stable of rides in the process. Taking damage while riding or going too far away from them will cause them to disappear until summoned again. If the huge number of different mounts wasn’t enough,for those players with mountains of silver to spend, each comes with a whole bunch of unique “vanity” skins.
ForFinal Fantasyfans,14’s stable of mounts is a dream come true.FF14mines the series' rich history and has created a huge assortment of creatures and constructs to ride around on, over 150 in the base game. From the classic and iconic Chocobo to the more obscure names, such as the floating paint blob, Demi-Ozma, there’s something for everyone. Lore and references aside, they might just be the best-looking mounts in the business. Best of all, they feel like an active member of the party.
While their animations areglorious and their skins wondrous to behold, a noteworthy point against the mounts of Eorzea is that there is nothing to distinguish one type from another. Each moves at the exact same speed (although speed increases are available), and each eventually gains the ability to fly. This isn’t necessarily bad, as it means that every mount (and player preference for each mount) is equally viable and levels the playing field (literally), and it probably makes balance much easier for the balance team. However, it does leave the player with less of a “tactile flavor” while on the move.
It’s hard to imagine a more influential name in the MMO scene, and that also goes for mount design.WoWMounts are more than speed increases; they’re potent status symbols for those who have them and big motivators for those who want them. Ground-based or winged, there’s no better milestone to mark progress in Azeroth than unlocking a new animal or mechanized ride. Some mounts even have vendors on them that players can interact with.
Some of the most interesting and unique mounts can only be unlocked by certain classes, and there are a handful of WoW’s mounts that are Alliance or Horde exclusive. Since the game has been such a mainstay for MMORPG gamers, it’s perhaps unsurprising that there are over nine hundred mounts (including those found in the cash shop) withsome truly elusively rare rideable monsters, as well as wild designs, including a cryptic and creepy giant hand, a mech-punk walker, and what can only be described as a fancy floating leaf.
