It's not just the vast Lands Between that makes Elden Ring revolutionary as both an open-world game and a Soulsborne game, it's also Torrent. Because a horse that can double jump opens up many avenues of exploration. A lot of avenues lead to destinations called death but it's a Souls game so that's to be expected. It's not Torrent's fault. Usually.
But even when it is, players have no choice but to keep harmony. Because the other alternative is to have a tantrum and walk. Thankfully, staying friends with Torrent is easy in Elden Ring. Because in true Soulsborne fashion, he also has quite the personality even if he doesn't speak and only eats berries. This has led to some cultured meme moments among the players.
8 Except That Horse Is A G.O.A.T.
Remember when the biggest horse meme in gaming history was Skyrim's clunky mountain climbing horses? Well, Elden Ring one-upped that and made an actual horse that does climb mountains. Torrent not only bears the players but also the weight of open-world expectations.
That spiky hill up a distance? Piece of cake for Torrent. Those castle walls? Find a gap and have Torrent jump it. That 50-foot fall? Okay, let's not take Torrent that far. The point is, Torrent is easily the best companion an open-world player can have. No other horse has had this much personality since Agro in Shadow of the Colossus.
7 Torrent Chose Me Before It Was Cool
Need more proof that Torrent has a personality and actually cares about the players? Then maybe don't skip the intro cinematics. Because Torrent is the one who chose the players for some reason. Probably because the Tarnished smells like rotten berries.
Melina herself acknowledges this and the discount Finger Maiden is even adamant in doubting the Tarnished. She probably went in with low expectations and will get even angrier when the players picked the Frenzied Flame ending. Not Torrent. Torrent doesn't judge. He only charges into battle with the Tarnished and tanks hits with berries.
6 I'm More Of A Civic Fan, Buy I'll Accept That Accord
Elden Ring's plot seems too complex and needs many roadmaps but really, it can be summarized rather easily. Melina, who may or may not be up to no good offers to be the player's girlfriend and she immediately gifts the players with a used vehicle and an empty bank account.
But if players want to keep the vehicle and Melina's affection, they need to get their life together and become rich and influential. That's one heck of a motivation. But in all seriousness, this art from @Patata-tan was bound to happen. The Honda Accord is one of the most popular sedans in existence so will surely get reactions once Melina started offering an Accord like a Honda sales rep.
5 Try Jumping
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Torrent is as much of a horse as Melina is a legitimate Finger Maiden. The difference is, Torrent can't hide it with hair dye and a fancy dress. Those goat horns stick out like the Two Fingers. Except he's also probably not a goat.
Torrent is, well, he's Torrent. He's probably some kind of a hairy bicorn donkey hybrid. Because he sure doesn't look like a Yakul, those red elks are too majestic. However, it's not our place to judge Torrent's race or classification in the animal kingdom. He doesn't judge the players for being zombies who wear cheap clothing.
4 "You Died"
FromSoftware did well for their first open-world Soulsborne games. But that doesn't mean every design and mechanic had spotless logic. Because ironically, they're somehow too concerned with players accidentally wasting their healing Flask trying to resummon Torrent, hence that prompt above that became a meme.
Funny enough, the game doesn't care if players accidentally press the healing Flask button in any other circumstance, particularly when HP is still full. But no, when it comes to bringing Torrent back to life, there has to be a prompt so players can conserve Flasks. That specific moment needs to be meticulously handled for some reason.
3 To Cure Your Horse's Scoliosis, Become Elden Lord First
Thanks to u/IdiotoftheEast, players finally have a rough idea of how General Radahn's emaciated horse, Leonard, manages to carry him around. These two are not unlike Torrent and the player, by the way. It's just that Leonard didn't expect his master to enter a growth spurt.
But Radahn, being the sentimental warmonger he is, refused to replace Leonard. So he took it upon himself to learn some unique gravity magic and reduce his weight so Leonard's scoliosis doesn't devolve into a herniated spine. It also wouldn't be surprising if Radahn's motivation for becoming Elden Lord is to give Leonard a height increase surgery.
2 Hi, I'm General Radahn, Welcome To Jacka—
Radahn and Leonard's friendship is a special and tender thing in Elden Ring which is surprising considering he's a bloodthirsty warlord. Turns out he does value something dear to him and it's his horse of all things, not family. It's worth noting that Radahn protected Leonard from Malenia's Scarlet Rot explosion which is an impressive feat in itself.
Apart from that, Radahn also managed to restrain himself from feasting on Leonard in his Scarlet Rot zombie state even as he gorged on everything else that was alive. If only he protected his family the same way he protected his horse. On a side note, Leonard must have uncontrollably emptied his bladder and bowels after his master suddenly flies up to space and crashes down like a meteor.
1 Half Of The Elden Ring Community, Based On The Message System:
One can't deny it, griefing is as much a part of the Souls community as helping others. It's pretty much summed up with that tweet above where players are clueless and are wondering whether they should keep dying to that golden horseman near Varre or if it gives a substantial reward.
And for any new player here trying to convince themselves if they should play Elden Ring, no, that golden horseman at the tutorial level doesn't give a horse as a reward. It only gives three to four hours of consistent suffering if fought immediately at a low level.