Breath of the Wild spawned horses throughout the wilds for players to tame and ride, but Nintendo heavily underutilized these creatures and could do more in Breath of the Wild 2. Most open-world games have some mount system to help players navigate the world, notably Red Dead Redemption 2, Assassin’s Creed, and Shadow of Colossus. Despite Breath of the Wild’s success, BOTW 2 can improve many of its predecessor’s features. Enhancing transportation methods for players across the map could be the first step in creating a personal, immersive feeling of exploration and combat.
Nintendo has released little information about Breath of the Wild 2, except teaser trailers and artwork unveiled months ago. However, the Nintendo website and video descriptions offer more information on Link’s next chapter in Hyrule could explore. Breath of the Wild 2 takes place two years after BOTW, eliminating the Age of Calamity timeline as a possible retcon. Link appears to be in the same Hyrule, but floating islands and broken landmasses suggest Link’s duty may shift towards reuniting his homeland. If this is true, horses and other mounts could come in handy.
Taming horses in Breath of the Wild provided players with a fun pastime and challenge for little reward. Collecting fast or strong horses could help players complete self-made challenges and simplify travel across the map. There is even a horse Easter egg in Breath of the Wild that references Ganondorf’s steed, allowing Link to tame and ride the massive beast. Unfortunately, while Nintendo could have turned this creature into a gameplay opportunity, BOTW failed to properly utilize horses and riding mechanics and left Ganondorf’s horse to become a trophy. Thankfully, Breath of the Wild 2 can create new ways for Link to interact with wildlife and explore Hyrule.
BOTW 2 Should Have More Animals To Ride
Breath of the Wild understandably limited mounts to horses, as travel is usually restricted to climbing, gliding, or traveling along the ground. However, Breath of the Wild 2’s floating islands introduce a unique opportunity to include more mounts. In a clip for Breath of the Wild 2’s teaser trailer, Link appears to be diving through the sky without assistance. Introducing a Pegasus or dragon mount for Link to tame and unlock could simplify traveling between these islands. Breath of the Wild 2 could feature puzzles with jumping or climbing, creating an opportunity for Nintendo to introduce creatures meant for climbing mountains or bridging small gaps, like mountain goats or big cats. Though Breath of the Wild’s horses should remain as ground transportation, more animals can fill BOTW 2’s world and create an enjoyable, repeatable activity.
Though Link is a legendary warrior with physical and mental prowess greater than most inhabitants of Hyrule, his abilities surpass what most Hyrulians should be capable of. By encouraging players to depend on tamed (or wild) animals to assist in puzzles and traversals, Link can better connect with Hyrule. Horses have played an essential role in Legend of Zelda, but their limitations are glaring. Combining Link’s abilities with other creatures can expand Hyrule’s wildlife and open-world. While Breath of the Wild’s open-world was impressive, it could swiftly become repetitive for players who wanted activities outside of side quests.
BOTW 2 Needs More Mounted Enemies & Boss Fights
By implementing more mounts in Breath of the Wild 2, Nintendo also has the opportunity to include more enemies and boss fights. Mounted combat is presented as a choice in BOTW, allowing gifted players to shoot Bokoblins off their horses or outrun them. Creating more enemies to ride horses, dragons, goats, lizards, wolves, or big cats could introduce exciting combat mechanics. As a sequel to Breath of the Wild, it’s likely Link still has his Master Sword and Shield of Hyrule, but these weapons can be questionable in mounted combat. Flying through the air on a Pegasus and outmaneuvering soaring enemies has the opportunity to create new, memorable experiences for Breath of the Wild 2 to be known for.
Improved mounted combat also encourages Breath of the Wild 2 to create bosses that aren’t the Divine Beasts. Breath of the Wild used the Divine Beasts and various elementals of Calamity Ganon to create fierce boss fights. Other side bosses remain scattered throughout the world, including Lynel, Talos, Hinox, Molduga, and more. While the Lynel are centaur-like beings that players can battle on horses, no boss fight requires players to fight exclusively on horseback. Implementing mounted boss fights with unique weapons and combat mechanics encourages players to become creative with their combat strategies and mount choices.
BOTW 2’s Horses Should Have More Stats (& Breeds)
Breath of the Wild’s horses featured Strength, Speed, Stamina, and Temperament stats that determined each creature’s behavior. As players increase their bonds with the animal, the horse challenges Link’s directions less. However, Breath of the Wild 2 can make these personal statistics matter more in combat and exploration. For example, the Strength stat for horses currently only dictates how much health each creature has and not how much damage it deals to enemies. This could be adjusted in BOTW 2 to better suit horses for combat or introduce an armor mechanic to make horses stronger, faster, and kinder. Additionally, breeding mechanics could help players create the perfect steed for their adventures and goals.
If Breath of the Wild doesn’t introduce other creatures to ride, Nintendo might instead consider creating different breeds of horses suited for various tasks. Different environments and biomes could provide mounts better suited to native obstacles and enemies, encouraging players to tame a horse of each type. Catching the appropriate horse for each territory also ensures players explore independently, preventing Breath of the Wild 2 from becoming a horseback riding simulator.
BOTW 2 has the opportunity to improve and expand on features from Breath of the Wild, but expanding on horses and mounts can vastly enhance the open world. Unfortunately, Nintendo has kept quiet about the nature of BOTW 2, leaving fans speculating about the game’s plot, mechanics, features, and more. Breath of the Wild 2 is scheduled to release in 2022 but currently has no set release date.