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 Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 2:59 pm
I know a lot of people who really hate the horse in SotC. The two main complaints I've heard are that he's frustrating to steer and slow to react; Agro has been accused of clunky mechanics. I'm here to set the record straight.
When you walk around, direction is camera-relative (forward is away, back is toward you, left and right move you left and right across the screen), and input leads immediately to action. When you jump into the saddle, however, direction becomes relative to the horse, and there is a noticeble delay between input and action. Left and right become the horse's left and right, back means slow down, and to move forward you have to tap x (and hope you start moving). Why on earth is it so hard to control the horse? Simple:
You do not control the horse.
When riding the horse, you are still in control, only, of your avatar. Look closely the next time you ride your steed (use R2 to zoom). The moment you press left or right (or even back) on the analogue stick, your character will pull the reigns in that direction. The percieved delay then becomes apparent as the horse's own reaction time. Notice also that whenever you ride onto a narrow bridge or down a canyon, Agro does most of the steering for you. Just give him the general idea of where you need to go, and Agro will usually get you there in good time.
Bottom line, what initially strikes most gamers as clunky controls or poor programming is actually a very subtle but clever artistic decision: the horse is you partner, with whom you must communicate. This concept ultimately makes for not only a deeper story, but also for better riding. The next time you ride, try to wrap your mind around the idea that when you move the left stick, you aren't so much steering as making a request. Notice also that agro can be very perceptive when you are in dire need. With a colossus bearing down on you, you can jump onto agro's back (hold R1 to ensure you get on the first time), quickly pull back the left stick and press x, and before you're even in the saddle, Agro will carry you out of harm's way.
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:00 am
I haven't actually played SotC to the extent that I can have an opinion about how the horse's handling feels, per se. But I can say this: the way the mechanics of the horse operate in relation to its animation is very intuitive. I enjoy the way the horse moves a lot more than I do in any other game I've seen. computer or console, that involves horseback transport.
Haagrvo (that's the way I spell it, so sue me) is very responsive to what Wanderer does, often shows emotion, and actually shies away from precipices, where most horses smiply come when called and stop short at walls or drop off cliffs. Also, where most horses do not show behavioral patterns, I'm refreshed to see that Haagrvo has a relationship with Wanderer and will often bolt to his side when he's struck down by a colossus.
The horse appears to have his own AI in some respects, and that's very refreshing. More games need to incorporate this sort of thing!
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hfhserhhjrdrftu Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:15 pm
Fumito tried horseback riding to get a feel of how a horse will respond to a rider. Apparently he had a pretty rough time - it encouraged him to give Agro a pretty unpredictable AI. Hoorah for Realism.
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:02 pm
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