Out of all the players' possible companions in CD Projekt Red's The Witcher games, none is more loyal than Roach. The name Geralt of Rivia gives to all of his horses, Roach is always there to transport the witcher from place to place along with his belongings. Though it is unclear if the Roach in each of The Witcher games is the same horse, Geralt can always count on his mount to be there when the going gets tough.
Unfortunately, a horse's loyalty doesn't equal its usefulness. Roach's behavior has always been something of a meme for The Witcher fans as they can often be found fumbling on the game's terrain and acting against their master's wishes. But seeing as Polish studio Fool's Theory and CD Projekt Red is planning to remake the first The Witcher game, now would be as good a time as any to make some improvements to Roach. One place for the studios to get inspiration is Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption 2, the game with arguably the best horses in the industry.
Red Dead Redemption 2's Horses Feel Less Game-y Than The Witcher 3's Roach
When comparing Red Dead Redemption 2 to CD Projekt Red's last full-fledged release for The Witcher series, the former's horses feel more realistic than the ones found in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Player mounts don't randomly spawn off-screen as often as Roach does. Horses follow players' calls and can easily navigate the open world without spawning on top of roofs of houses, something Geralt's horse was well-known for doing in the past. What's more, Red Dead Redemption 2's horses can only respond to whistles up to a certain point before failing to respond, thus requiring players to get within whistling range of their trusty four-legged companions.
Things are just as different once players get on a horse in Red Dead Redemption 2. Each horse feels like a tangible animal that has weight and takes up space. Horses can't make tight turns or high jumps without building up some running momentum, and they can even push through people in crowded areas like cities and towns. While Roach can do all of these things, Geralt's horse seems to execute its actions without much effort. Roach can jump fences and low walls on command and though he collides with citizens and the game's geography, there is very little in the way of physics or animations that makes the horse feel like it world.
Red Dead Redemption 2's Horses Become Players' Closest Companions
Horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 are more than just a Western counterpart to the Grand Theft Auto series' cars; they become an integral part of players' adventures. Aside from carrying the player character's weapons, items, and gear, players have to take care of their horses to keep them in tip-top shape. They have to brush the dust off their mounts, feed them, communicate with them like any sane pet-owning person would, and even pet them as the need arises. This doesn't even include the multiple breeds, saddles, and customization options that players can choose from, not to mention the option to personally name each horse as they see fit.
Because of all the money and time players spend on their horses, they eventually form a strong bond with their mounts without the game's direct involvement. Most players will realize this during the Red Dead Redemption 2 mission "Red Dead Redemption," where their mounts give it their all to ensure the progression of the story. Though players can own multiple horses, the ones they use the most frequently end up being the mounts with whom they form the strongest bonds.
The Witcher Remake Could Use Some Horse Love
While it is highly unlikely that The Witcher remake will let players rename Roach, the game could take some of the horse interactions of Red Dead Redemption 2 and incorporate them into the retelling of Geralt's first adventure. The first and most important thing would be to make Roach feel less clunky, both when it comes to summoning and controlling him. Improving the horse A.I. will do wonders for Roach's reputation and will make players want to use them more when it comes to traversing the game's open world. Fool's Theory could even let Roach swim - something the horse could never do but can easily be done by Red Dead Redemption 2's mounts.
The next thing would be to add more customization options for horses. Though Geralt can outfit Roach with different saddles, horse blinders, saddlebags, and trophies in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, he cannot really change Roach's physical appearance. Adding options to change Roach's color and hairstyle may seem like little things, but they go a long way when it comes to player expression and forging a connection with the horse.
Last and most importantly, Fool's Theory and CD Projekt Red shouldn't lift everything from Red Dead Redemption 2's horse gameplay. As good as Rockstar Games' horses are, not all the systems might work within the context of The Witcher remake. Hitting pedestrians in Red Dead Redemption 2 would cause them to become hostile to players and not everyone wants to take time off from monster hunting to look after their horse.
Even though The Witcher is meant to be an RPG title, there comes a point where too much micromanagement becomes less fun and more of a chore. Finding a nice balance between Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's horse gameplay seems to be the studios' best bet so that Roach can feel more immersive without being too cumbersome. Improving Roach's navigation and giving him more customization options is fine but when it comes to managing the rest of the horse's life, Fool's Theory and CD Projekt Red should know when to leave Roach to their own devices.
The Witcher Remake is in development.
