Elden Ring was as anticipated as a game can possibly get, and it wouldn't be an overstatement to say that it has largely surpassed expectations. The game seems to be the culmination of all FromSoftware's successful titles, combining the creative boss design of Dark Souls, the standout environments of Bloodborne, and some of the stealth mechanics of Sekiro.
While most players and pundits focus on the larger than life boss fights in Elden Ring, and the over the top difficulty usually associated with Miyazaki's work, there is one aspect of Elden Ring that could be expanded upon. It's not uncommon for action role-playing games to have a mount sidekick to travel faster around the map and enlarge the player's inventory. However, as far as Elden Ring is concerned, it's somewhat lacking in the mount department, something that could be improved in an eventual sequel.
Torrent, The Spirit Steed
Watching the Elden Ring trailer back in Summer Fest, one could be forgiven for getting excited about flying mounts in Elden Ring, such as dragons or wyverns. In the end, only a single mount, Torrent the Spirit Steed, is available in the game. That said, the Spirit Steed is a very good mount who doesn't require food, care, or armor. In fact, Torrent can be summoned at a moment's notice with the Spectral Steed Whistle, except during PvP or Co-op, and will help the rider traverse otherwise impassable land as well.
Of course, mounts also mean mounted combat, and Elden Ring is no exception. Riding Torrent allows the player to perform unique mounted attacks. However, there are still risks associated with mounted combat in Elden Ring because being thrown of Torrent by an enemy leaves the player in a very vulnerable position. Regardless of how great Torrent might be, though, by being the only mount in the game the Spirit Steed has no other points of reference.
Respecting The Mythology Behind Elden Ring
Elden Ring is heavily inspired from various mythology, so there is definitely room to work with there as far as mounts are concerned. There is obviously a clear inspiration from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings European mythology, both its Pagan and Christian elements. For example, the Night's Cavalry or Black Knight are reminiscent of the Nazgul who are also called Black Riders. Elden Ring also draws some inspiration from Norse mythology similar to Elder Scrolls, with elements such as runes being featured prominently. In either case, there are a lot of mounts that could be included, ranging from dark steed, to powerful elks to giant wolves.
Beyond the variety of mounts themselves, an Elden Ring sequel could also add a customization option for mounts. Whenever there is customization in a game, no matter how little tactical advantage they may offer, entire communities of artists sprawl to showcase their hours of fruitful work. This is already the case for Elden Ring's character creation, so doing it for mounts in a sequel wouldn't be too much of a stretch.
No Dragon Mounts?
Speaking of flying mounts, there are several reasons why an Elden Ring sequel could use a dragon mount. Firstly, it would expand combat options by allowing aerial attacks with dragon breath or claw attacks. Secondly, it would allow the player to travel three-dimensionally and access areas otherwise inaccessible. Lastly, riding a dragon is extremely satisfying. If FromSoftware really insists on sticking to its high difficulty standards by not allowing any opportunities to kite enemies with an overpowered dragon, it could simply limit the area where dragons can be used. Perhaps a dragon elevator is in order, just like how Sekiro had the rope giant give a lift to Fountainhead Palace. That way, at least players can enjoy the view.
Another common theme with dragons that could be explored is the concept of taming. A tamer mechanic doesn't necessarily need to be elaborate; players who picked up Elden Ring aren't expecting to play Monster Hunter, after all. That said, pummeling Agheel into submission and forcing the creature into obedience would be in line with the game's brutal themes. This could also add a layer of difficulty in requiring the player to avoid killing an enemy in order to tame it, similar to how Pokemon behooves the player to reduce enough HP to capture a Pokemon but not outright defeat it.
Learning From The Competition
FromSoftware's crowning achievement has gotten more adoration than its competition, and deservedly so. Since its launch, many large content creators have now spent entire streams playing the game. After all, Elden Ring is undoubtedly one of the greatest games of this generation, but no game is perfect. As such, it could definitely pick up a few pointers from the likes of Horizon Zero Dawn or Elder Scrolls in the mount department.
In any case, new mounts will only figure into an Elden RIng sequel. Considering how long it takes for games of this caliber to be made, it's unlikely such a sequel would be released for at least another few years. Moreover, there are still open-ended questions about Bloodborne and Sekiro sequels that may not even be in the oven yet.
That said, gamers have always done the best with that they've had. If Elden Ring players really want to diversify their methods of transportation across the Realm of Lands while waiting for a sequel, it's fortunately possible to try hitching a ride on one of the wagons pulled by the Hauling Giants.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
