Why Breath of the Wild's Horses Work - Game Mechanics Explained
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IMO the only thing Breath of the Wild did wrong was only giving us 5 stable slots! (Being able to add other animals to the stable would also be acceptable.
Date: 2023-12-10
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Comments and reviews: 28
-joyjump9880
I didn't spend much time on my horse in BoTW, which I think is indicative of the many problems with how they are implemented in the game. That being said, I absolutely adored catching and taming that horse! Speaking as someone who used to train horses, it made me soooo happy to have horses in a game with mechanics and animations that are actually horse-like (instead of being glorified cars that just do what they're told. I can see why it would frustrate some players, but things like the horse tossing its head, drifting off the track you want, refusing to move off your leg into a faster gait, and giving you the dirtiest look when you go to get on their back are all things horses do during the training process. Plus, the cycle of waiting for the horse to do what you want and then rewarding it at just the right moment is basically horse training in a nutshell. I especially appreciated that bringing your horse to a halt from a canter or gallop and hitting soothe was pretty much always a successful training/bonding moment, and that is literally one of the most common training exercises for horses learning to listen and respond to their rider. It makes me smile every time!
I've mostly seen negative things about horses in BoTW, so I'm really glad there are people out there who like them too! I could keep ranting about this forever, there are so many little details to appreciate for someone who knows how they behave in the real world. Other people can keep their fancy motorcycles, I'm gonna stick with my darling nag.
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I didn't spend much time on my horse in BoTW, which I think is indicative of the many problems with how they are implemented in the game. That being said, I absolutely adored catching and taming that horse! Speaking as someone who used to train horses, it made me soooo happy to have horses in a game with mechanics and animations that are actually horse-like (instead of being glorified cars that just do what they're told. I can see why it would frustrate some players, but things like the horse tossing its head, drifting off the track you want, refusing to move off your leg into a faster gait, and giving you the dirtiest look when you go to get on their back are all things horses do during the training process. Plus, the cycle of waiting for the horse to do what you want and then rewarding it at just the right moment is basically horse training in a nutshell. I especially appreciated that bringing your horse to a halt from a canter or gallop and hitting soothe was pretty much always a successful training/bonding moment, and that is literally one of the most common training exercises for horses learning to listen and respond to their rider. It makes me smile every time!
I've mostly seen negative things about horses in BoTW, so I'm really glad there are people out there who like them too! I could keep ranting about this forever, there are so many little details to appreciate for someone who knows how they behave in the real world. Other people can keep their fancy motorcycles, I'm gonna stick with my darling nag.
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-andrewbarnick8750
This is a really interesting analysis, but it diverges a lot from my experience playing Breath of the Wild. I rarely rode horses in Breath of the Wild unless it was required of me for a quest or subquest. My apprehension about doing so came from a combination of a fear of responsibility (-What if I accidentally lead my horse to its own death? -, wonder at the game's lush environments brimming with secrets (-I can't go that fast or I might miss a hidden treasure! -, and lack of skill at mounted combat (-I can barely line up a shot when I'm standing still, let alone on horseback-. I feel like unlocking the motorbike from the DLC opened up a new world to me-finally, a faster mode of transport that couldn't die, long after I'd filled in most of the uncharted spaces on my map and had unlocked enough armor and weapons to shrug off all but the toughest enemies.
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This is a really interesting analysis, but it diverges a lot from my experience playing Breath of the Wild. I rarely rode horses in Breath of the Wild unless it was required of me for a quest or subquest. My apprehension about doing so came from a combination of a fear of responsibility (-What if I accidentally lead my horse to its own death? -, wonder at the game's lush environments brimming with secrets (-I can't go that fast or I might miss a hidden treasure! -, and lack of skill at mounted combat (-I can barely line up a shot when I'm standing still, let alone on horseback-. I feel like unlocking the motorbike from the DLC opened up a new world to me-finally, a faster mode of transport that couldn't die, long after I'd filled in most of the uncharted spaces on my map and had unlocked enough armor and weapons to shrug off all but the toughest enemies.
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polygon
I was never obsessed with horses as a kid. But I did grow up riding them (i grew up and still live on a ranch). And breath of the wild and twilight princess are two of the few games that not only get the emotional feel of riding a horse correct. But the appearance and feel of riding them. They're two of the few games where it feels like I could actually ride those horses, and they would feel like how real horses do.
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I was never obsessed with horses as a kid. But I did grow up riding them (i grew up and still live on a ranch). And breath of the wild and twilight princess are two of the few games that not only get the emotional feel of riding a horse correct. But the appearance and feel of riding them. They're two of the few games where it feels like I could actually ride those horses, and they would feel like how real horses do.
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-safe-keeper1042
The fact that horses in BOTW have agency is what sets them apart from most other games with horses, where they're just these mindless robots that obey your every command. Riding a horse is teamwork, and also requires you to be assertive and confident. Part of the challenge of riding is simply this communication and building of trust with your horse.
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The fact that horses in BOTW have agency is what sets them apart from most other games with horses, where they're just these mindless robots that obey your every command. Riding a horse is teamwork, and also requires you to be assertive and confident. Part of the challenge of riding is simply this communication and building of trust with your horse.
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-ninjafruitchilled
I was once riding along a cliffside in the rain, and suddenly the path came to an end. I unfortunately jumped off too hastily, and my horse kept running a few more paces. He stopped when he hit the edge, but it was rocky and slippery due to the rain, and he slipped and fell off into a ravine, never to be seen again. It was a tragic moment.
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I was once riding along a cliffside in the rain, and suddenly the path came to an end. I unfortunately jumped off too hastily, and my horse kept running a few more paces. He stopped when he hit the edge, but it was rocky and slippery due to the rain, and he slipped and fell off into a ravine, never to be seen again. It was a tragic moment.
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-rexdoom3848
man this video would be really cool if not for the fact that horses suck in this game. they're rendered obsolete by the DLC motorcycle, and are really inconvenient if you want to climb or explore areas with changes in elevation. also you can't ride them to 2 of the four divine beasts. : /
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man this video would be really cool if not for the fact that horses suck in this game. they're rendered obsolete by the DLC motorcycle, and are really inconvenient if you want to climb or explore areas with changes in elevation. also you can't ride them to 2 of the four divine beasts. : /
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polygon
I only wish you could breed the horses.
And brush their manes.
And hug the ponies.
Also you put the appeal of the horse quite well. (Oh, also I wanted there to be stables in every town)
I would give up the runes to turn the L button into a dedicated pet things button.
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I only wish you could breed the horses.
And brush their manes.
And hug the ponies.
Also you put the appeal of the horse quite well. (Oh, also I wanted there to be stables in every town)
I would give up the runes to turn the L button into a dedicated pet things button.
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-Ristro44
Hm. What Peggy Orenstein said about girls liking horses etc because they're about power and such makes me wonder why that doesn't translate into things like motorcycles and cars. Is it because of how machines are viewed as emotionless and cold or something else?
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Hm. What Peggy Orenstein said about girls liking horses etc because they're about power and such makes me wonder why that doesn't translate into things like motorcycles and cars. Is it because of how machines are viewed as emotionless and cold or something else?
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-TheSwayzeTrain
These horses aint got sh-t on Geralts horse Roach. They lack any of his endearing flaws like running straight into a fence or a wall when you call him. These Zelda horses are weak sauce in comparison they just run in straight lines into open spaces.
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These horses aint got sh-t on Geralts horse Roach. They lack any of his endearing flaws like running straight into a fence or a wall when you call him. These Zelda horses are weak sauce in comparison they just run in straight lines into open spaces.
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-Jeevesie1988
Gonna be getting a Switch in July or August, and BotW is almost certainly gonna be the game I get with it to start. Can't wait to meet and bond with some good good horses, only to be too terrified of losing them to ever use them in combat.
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Gonna be getting a Switch in July or August, and BotW is almost certainly gonna be the game I get with it to start. Can't wait to meet and bond with some good good horses, only to be too terrified of losing them to ever use them in combat.
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-Jamstaro1
. I was listening to this and thought to myself. I never once snuck up on a horse. My first horse was an accident by getting knocked off a cliff and happened to paraglide onto it and it was just chill. Never knew ya had to sneak up.
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. I was listening to this and thought to myself. I never once snuck up on a horse. My first horse was an accident by getting knocked off a cliff and happened to paraglide onto it and it was just chill. Never knew ya had to sneak up.
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-highlylucid7621
I liked the vid, but so much of it was about just how -powerful- it made her feel and that she was a -horse girl. - I don-t know what that that-s supposed to mean, I came to watch a video about BOTWs horses being awesome.
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I liked the vid, but so much of it was about just how -powerful- it made her feel and that she was a -horse girl. - I don-t know what that that-s supposed to mean, I came to watch a video about BOTWs horses being awesome.
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-Merlin_Price
Needs more variety in the horse department(like almost all departments. I mean, no talking horse? No being able to fertilise things with horses? No speedy tortoise horse? I need more horse in my horse adventure.
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Needs more variety in the horse department(like almost all departments. I mean, no talking horse? No being able to fertilise things with horses? No speedy tortoise horse? I need more horse in my horse adventure.
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-rachelmae8794
My first horse in botw immediately ran straight off a cliff with me still on it and it would-ve been a quick death for both of us except I had a fairy so I just was left watching my poor horse-s death animation
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My first horse in botw immediately ran straight off a cliff with me still on it and it would-ve been a quick death for both of us except I had a fairy so I just was left watching my poor horse-s death animation
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-DeathnoteBB
It being about independence and power makes a lot of sense. I wasn-t a horse girl but I was really into other animals (wolves and cats) for those exact reasons. I-m also agender, for whatever that means.
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It being about independence and power makes a lot of sense. I wasn-t a horse girl but I was really into other animals (wolves and cats) for those exact reasons. I-m also agender, for whatever that means.
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-Mr. Smiley_J
After i spent an hour catching a stalfos horse and riding it to the nearest stable, only to be turned away because they said it was a monster, i swore off horses forever. I want my skelly horse, dammit!
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After i spent an hour catching a stalfos horse and riding it to the nearest stable, only to be turned away because they said it was a monster, i swore off horses forever. I want my skelly horse, dammit!
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-Mr. Smiley_J
After catching a flesh and blood, non-skeletal horse, i realized that i don't like riding horses because i get where i'm going too fast. i wanna explore and be ready to catch bugs and stuff.
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After catching a flesh and blood, non-skeletal horse, i realized that i don't like riding horses because i get where i'm going too fast. i wanna explore and be ready to catch bugs and stuff.
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-blitheringape5321
it's too bad that horses are super redundant given the wealth of other movement and transportation options in the game and the fact that they can't be taken to several areas.
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it's too bad that horses are super redundant given the wealth of other movement and transportation options in the game and the fact that they can't be taken to several areas.
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-LewysC
I'm 70 hours in and I've only ridden a horse once or twice -
Just seems more convenient to walk and climb about the place really and the horses are pretty difficult to control as well
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I'm 70 hours in and I've only ridden a horse once or twice -
Just seems more convenient to walk and climb about the place really and the horses are pretty difficult to control as well
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-ElectronicSiliviy
I am not afraid to admit I named the first horse I caught in BOTW -Misty- after Misty of Chincoteague, because I was most definitely a horse girl back in the day too.
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I am not afraid to admit I named the first horse I caught in BOTW -Misty- after Misty of Chincoteague, because I was most definitely a horse girl back in the day too.
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-krisherrick4261
This made me super emotional and was exactly perfect. I haven't even finished botw yet because I literally just hang out with horses for hours and enjoy the scenery.
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This made me super emotional and was exactly perfect. I haven't even finished botw yet because I literally just hang out with horses for hours and enjoy the scenery.
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-mastermarkus5307
I was never a big fan of horses being considered something -girly-. For one thing, I don't get WHY that happened, and another: horses are for everyone.
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I was never a big fan of horses being considered something -girly-. For one thing, I don't get WHY that happened, and another: horses are for everyone.
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-Mirrorfaced
I know simone wasn't lying when she said she was a horse girl because she played kt tunstall's -big black horse and a cherry tree- over part of the video
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I know simone wasn't lying when she said she was a horse girl because she played kt tunstall's -big black horse and a cherry tree- over part of the video
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-Solanuma
That's the same reason why i was (and am lol) so into Dragons and still wait for a game that portrays it as well as botw does it with horses in this a case
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That's the same reason why i was (and am lol) so into Dragons and still wait for a game that portrays it as well as botw does it with horses in this a case
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-megmoore8681
Taming my first horse was amazing, even if I had no rupees at the time, I returned to the stable later and my beloved Dandelion had waited for me: 0
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Taming my first horse was amazing, even if I had no rupees at the time, I returned to the stable later and my beloved Dandelion had waited for me: 0
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-miiiwu1999
I was a horse girl too lmao, I used to wish I would turn into a wild mustang and spirit stallion of the cimmarron was my favorite movie of all time
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I was a horse girl too lmao, I used to wish I would turn into a wild mustang and spirit stallion of the cimmarron was my favorite movie of all time
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polygon
I don't know. I really wish horses could jump off small ledges with ease. It's so annoying when they won't just jump down. Totally kills my momentum
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I don't know. I really wish horses could jump off small ledges with ease. It's so annoying when they won't just jump down. Totally kills my momentum
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-stellaferro2476
When u dodge in the witcher 3 using ciri and she kinda teleports around but it feels very tactile still it's awesome
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When u dodge in the witcher 3 using ciri and she kinda teleports around but it feels very tactile still it's awesome
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