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The combat really is the key. Where mounts in "that other MMO" are primarily used to get you from A to B quicker than it takes to walk, Funcom has designed its mount system from the ground up to add a dimension to battles. Mounts are the perfect weapon for driving back attacks and breaking up groups. Every mount has its own set of specific abilities, which are all physics based, ensuring that careful positioning is just as important as knowing your way around a blade. Their powerful, sweeping strikes send enemies flying and knock opposing players off their feet. It's then up to your on-foot mates to mop up the now broken group.
That's not to say that you won't be able to deal any decent damage while on horse back. Player characters can wield weapons while on horses (but not other mounts, more on that later), using the direction-based combat system players will have mastered during their on-foot adventures. The keys 1, 2 and 3 are your overhead forward attacks, Q and E your left and right uppercuts. Things can get pretty complex, and fast, especially when faced with multiple enemies and other human players who are also mounted up. Clicking hot-keyed mount attacks with the mouse cursor with one hand while keeping the other hammering away with player attacks is no small feat, but it can be extremely rewarding. After about 10 minutes of play we were able to use the horse's charge attack, which causes the mount to speed towards a single enemy and knock it down, trigger front and rear kicks on surrounding enemies then deal some serious damage with Thrud's twin blades. Sweet.
One of the most impressive aspects of the mounted combat in Age of Conan is how realistic the animals move and look. They have all been motion captured, even the Mammoth (using an elephant). Movement is impressively lifelike, animations are fluid the beast/avatar interaction is superb. Take, for example, the fact that your character will crane his or her neck to look backwards when you reverse. Or the blood stains on mount fur. Or the battle cries, triggered by pressing the space bar, which combine player and beast animations. All these little things add up. We're not claiming it's as good as Walking with Dinosaurs, but it's a valiant effort on Funcom's part.

Killing countless low-level computer-controlled enemies while on horse back is fun, but, as with most MMOs, the true fun is to be found in player versus player combat. When players step onto a mount they automatically share a health pool with it. It acts, in a way, like a super-powerful buff. The amount of hit points will differ depending on the mount, but, rest assured, you can be knocked off. Indeed many NPCs will specialise in knocking you off your high horse. When attacked by opposing players and enemy mobs, both you and your mount, take damage.
Mounted combat seems like such an obvious gameplay mechanic, but it's completely underused in MMOs. Storming into an enemy group, dispersing bad guys with devastating mount attacks and coordinating all of that with the six-way player combat is a breath of fresh air. It's Funcom's way of sticking two fingers up at those who say MMO's don't require any skill to play.
While the Armoured Buckskin was the only horse we had access to during our play test, Funcom tells us there will be plenty of other horses available for purchase once players hit level 40 (this may change during the beta). There will be what are described as "plain" horses, with no armour or special abilities, as well as those which specialise in speed and those which come with tons of armour and play the role of a super tank.
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Scabby Sid wrote at 14:55 on 17 April 2008
*ahem* meh. it looks... ok. experimental at best. the combat system doesn't sound amazing. mouse-mashing fury tbh, mounted combat sounds like it would be fun, but it would be very hard to make it work, and from what i have heardd from some beta players, it's not perfect to say the least.
oh please wrote at 17:36 on 17 April 2008
This "preview" is some sort of marketing ploy to get people excited. Nothing critical or in-depth. Just a deal: we let you preview it, you will grovel over it so your readers will shell out the bucks. Seriously, this is embarrassing.
VoiceofReason wrote at 20:52 on 17 April 2008
It sounds intriguing. I'm glad someone is finally trying something novel. I applaud them for doing something "experimental" as the above poster said. I'm bored to tears with games like WoW and LOTRO. I guess we'll finally get to see firsthand this weekend.
Scabby, I've been wondering the same thing. I hope the combat isn't too twitch-oriented and repetitive. And "Oh please", your comment has no substance; you seem to simply have a paranoid disdain for people saying positive things. There is no evidence for anything you've said.
Tester wrote at 20:57 on 17 April 2008
Tons of fix has been applied to the game, the game is not what it was 2-3 weeks ago. they have done an amazing job at fixing this game. dont beleive people that you know ''Could of been in the beta'' tell you that this game stinks. Its pretty good actually, not perfect, of course like all MMO`s but its pretty damn good, the sound in the game is top notch and so are the graphics. the rest well try it and you`ll see for yourself. I love it and got it pre-ordered right now.
Wolven wrote at 12:24 on 18 April 2008
Oh yes because everyone knows that a game in beta should be "perfect " right ? I can see that we have some real genius here * rolls eyes* If you dont want to play what promises to be the best MMO ever then DONT . Those of us that WILL be playing AoC want you that wont to stay where you belong in WoW with the rest of the kinder.
CoolJ wrote at 12:25 on 18 April 2008
I like turtles!
LEgoklas wrote at 12:45 on 18 April 2008
Ive Pre Orderd the game.
Love these idoots here "It will suck" "It wont be fun" *Cry* *Cry*
FFS, keep your damn WoW if you want to, if you like grinding, stacking combat and cartoon graphics then just say it!
Stay with WoW and BC we dont care.
Nubby wrote at 13:12 on 18 April 2008
well I think everyone who justr talks negativly from just looking at some crap interview need to be shot
watch some of the beta vids and gameplay vids and then you can come in and say \"oh, the combat look sweak\" since this interview covers a whole 1% of the experience
Romas wrote at 13:13 on 18 April 2008
this game looks like it will be incredible, people who say 'oh itll suck' well maybe it will but why moan about it? seriously noone cares if u dont want to play the game its your own loss
AoC > WoW wrote at 13:22 on 18 April 2008
kthnbye. i ve got 141 days played on my main wow char and i ve also got a 2nd 70, and hell, i can tell u that wow is dying. it IS dying, whether u twats want to accept it or not; wow has been the king of mmo's for 4 years, but its time to let go, life is all about moving on.
as for those of u that said 'aoc is gonna suck' well gtfo, u got no idea wtf ur talking about and u should diaf. get real, aoc IS the best mmorpg of our time, now if u dont want to get rid of them auto-hitting cartoons, thats ur problem, and its prolly in ur head, since u obviously got no brain :(
elektrik wrote at 13:27 on 18 April 2008
i already stopped payment on wow, i need something less childish and more exciting.
see ya guys in hyboria.
Anonymous wrote at 14:07 on 18 April 2008
Ok lets be honest, the only people that don't like this game are the ones that don't have a PC system that can run a game like AoC, kids that can't afford to get a real PC, many adults like myself that works and can afford a real PC that can run more than WoW will appreciate what AoC as to offer.
I've been playing WoW since 2months after release and WoW is dying, majority of the players are kids and farmers and Blizzard is pretty much giving away free epics.
Mephibosheth wrote at 14:28 on 18 April 2008
I cant wait to leave behind "World of icantmoveCraft" I'm sick of its pvp and conan looks like it will be refreshing after pvping in wow for the last couple years
Bartlebe wrote at 15:18 on 18 April 2008
I feature this article on my gaming blog. Just wanted to let you know.
www.bartlebe.wordpress.com
Lobos wrote at 15:19 on 18 April 2008
PvE cities, PvP battle keeps, collesion detection, real time combat (no click and go), spell weaving, DX10 graphics, original music. I'm sorry, what sucks again?
Anonymous wrote at 15:38 on 18 April 2008
Think this look good... and I look forward to the new combat system. Seems like it will take some more talent to be good... and not like WoW where gear does 90% of the fight..... and hopefully the combat system and the "Architecture" profession will keep the "kids from WoW" away.
Klever wrote at 15:44 on 18 April 2008
Why Hate? Its something new.. I'll try it out I have the collectors edition on order. If I don't like it i'll go back to wow if I do well i'll move over.. I have recently bought and played LOTRO, Hellgate London, Tabula Rasa. All were good games but they couldn't get me locked in.. Conan has some features that I can see being really cool. Kinda reminds me of the old SWG days..
sageio wrote at 16:22 on 18 April 2008
Iam a grt fan of online games and played almost all in last 4 years and Aoc will become the new wow u will see.
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