Horse

Altaïr fighting on horseback against a Templar.

Horses are a means of travel in Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. They are a necessity when passing through large areas, such as the Kingdom, San Gimignano or the Antico district of Rome.

Appearance

In Assassin's Creed, horses waiting just outside Masyaf are always either grey, black or chestnut, however those within the Kingdom vary greatly in color. Purebred city horses all keep the same color when passing through different regions, however, the non-purebred horses (those outside cities) abruptly change color upon passing from one region to another.

In Assassin's Creed II, horses' colors are randomized, though the horses will keep their colors when passing between regions.

Unlike the other games, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood includes different types of horse, which vary in appearance as well as color. The common horse or "Rouncey," heavily laden with saddle bags, can usually be found in the Antico and Campagna districts, with the guards riding them (possibly messengers) always pushing them into a quick gallop. The standard horse or "Jennet" is mostly found in the Centro and Vaticano districts, and is usually ridden by civilians. The rarest type, the armored warhorse or "Destrier," can be found in any of Rome's districts still occupied by the Borgia, or at Stables after all have been renovated. Despite being the slowest type of horse, warhorses are able to withstand more damage from enemy attacks without tripping.

Controls

Assassin's Creed

Upon starting his first real assassination quest, the assassination of Tamir, Altaïr receives the option to travel across the Kingdom by horseback. Three horses wait outside the gates of Masyaf, and the player can choose to ride whichever horse they prefer.

To control a horse, walk up to it and Altaïr should mount it automatically; if not, press the feet button ( on PS3 and A on Xbox360). Use the feet button to blend when on a horse. While blending, only Templars will attack you, and Altaïr can pass regular guards without attracting attention.

Moving forward will make the horse trot, holding the high profile button (R1 on PS3 and RT on Xbox360) and forward will make the horse canter. Holding forward, and the high profile and feet buttons makes the horse speed up into a gallop. Pressing the weapon hand button ( on PS3 and X on Xbox360) while standing still causes the horse to rear, startling nearby civilians. Pressing it while in high profile draws Altaïr's sword, after which he can attempt to fight guards while on horseback. Pressing the weapon hand or feet button in low profile sheathes the sword.

To jump, simply trot, canter or gallop up to an appropriate object and the horse will jump; there is no need to press the feet button.

Assassin's Creed II

Horse gameplay stays exactly the same as in Assassin's Creed, aside from the fact that the "blend" feature is removed. Instead, a new "walk" feature is enabled, allowing Ezio to pass through crowds without knocking over any civilians. Horses are only used by guards during one mission, "Romagna Holiday", wherein they attack Ezio's and Leonardo's carriage.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

File:E3-2010-assassins-creed-ii-brotherhood-preview-20100613080117910.jpg

Ezio on horseback riding in Rome.

For the first time in the Assassin's Creed series, horses may be used inside the city, and Ezio is able to perform assassinations from horseback. Horseback combat mechanics have also been improved, and Ezio will face mounted opponents.

Ezio can obtain a horse by either calling one with the head button (File:PlayStationTriangle.svg on PS3 or Y on Xbox360), visiting a Stable, or by stealing one after assassinating or knocking off the people riding them.

Horses can also be used directly before or after free-running sequences. Ezio may stand on the saddle at any time, and jump from horseback onto a wall or beam (the latter of which is necessary for a guild challenge). Additionally, it is now possible to jump directly onto horseback from above, by pressing the high-profile and empty hand buttons (R1 + on PS3 or RT + B on Xbox360).

Despite the wide variety of horses, riding mechanics and speeds generally remain the same. Unlike previous games, horses within Rome are unable to gallop, and are bound only to walking or cantering. Horses may only gallop in areas outside of Rome, such as in Viana.

Unlike the other games, while on horseback, Ezio is able to use most of his weapons, both long and short-ranged; however this excludes any heavy or two-handed weapon.

Movement

Below are possible moves that may be used to obtain a horse, or may be executed from horseback.

• Jumping or parachuting from a ledge or roof, directly onto a horse
• Hijacking a horse by pulling a guard or civilian off their horse
• Pulling a guard off his horse and assassinating him on the ground
• Leaping from one horse to another, and assassinating the second horse's rider
• Jumping forward off a horse into a haystack or into a free running sequence
• Jumping from a horse to swing from a wooden beam
• Doing a 180 degree turn while rearing
• Jumping off a horse to tackle or assassinate someone on the ground

After dismounting it in battle, a horse may potentially run away, forcing the player to find it again or mount another one. In Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed II, only the sword and Eagle Vision can be used while on a horse.

A horse will sometimes follow you if you dismount and are not fighting. Also, if you jump off a horse and fight a group of guards nearby, the horse will rear and kick the enemies, causing them to stumble; though this isn't a fully reliable way to defeat any opponent. In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the horse will instead flee from the area immediately.

Trivia

• So far throughout the Assassin's Creed series, there has only been two times where a ridable horse has died, once during the Siege of Monteriggioni, where the player was only able to control the left and right directions, and the second was in the Siege of Viana, when the horse was hit by a cannon ball. Never once in full, physical gameplay so far can a ridable die, only ever merely trip and cause the player to fall off. This can particularly be seen during the memory Outgunned, as when you are being followed by horsemen, the horses will not die if shot, they will just fall and then get up again, however the riders will die.
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is the first game where the citizenry are shown on horseback; the player can even hijack their horses as they ride. This leads to a minor anachronism: female citizenry are depicted as straddling their horse rather than side-saddle. Seeing a woman's legs spread apart was a most vulgar and insulting sight during the Renaissance.
• Although there are many updates and new features on the horse, in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the gallop button was removed, making the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood horse the slowest in the series. However, there are various types of horses, from the slow but strong war horses, to the fast regular horses (although they aren't faster than the horses of the previous installments).

Gallery

• Altaïr on a horse rearing outside Masyaf.
  Altaïr on a horse rearing outside Masyaf.
• Ezio on a horse jumping in Tuscany
  Ezio on a horse jumping in Tuscany
• Ezio on a horse running from soldiers on the Passetto di Borgo.
  Ezio on a horse running from soldiers on the Passetto di Borgo.
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  Ezio jumping from his horse to air assassinate a Borgia soldier.
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  A horseback battle between Ezio and a Borgia soldier.
• Ezio throwing a spear at a mounted guard.
  Ezio throwing a spear at a mounted guard.
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  Ezio and his Apprentices on horseback.
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  Ezio fighting on a horseback.