AlthoughDune: Awakeningmay have just hit store shelves, some players might be wondering just what comes next for Arrakis. As of now, Funcom has not revealed much about its post-launch content plans outside of brief descriptions of its season pass content. While it remains to be seen if said DLC is worth the wait, there is one feature thatDune: Awakeningshould really consider adding at some point: sandworm riding.
The sandworms that litterDune: Awakening’sopen worldfeel like a fantastic addition to the formula, as they are both super-immersive and terrifying. There is just something special about desperately running between rock outcroppings as the ground shakes and large roars fill the air, especially as players start to get into the higher-level areas. However, it kind of feels like Funcom may be missing out on the perfect feature by not including sandworm riding into the mix. Not only could that be a great challenge for risk-takers, but it could also add to the immersive nature considerably.
Dune: Awakening Could Do Wonders With Sandworm Riding
Dune Characters Ride the Sandworms All the Time
Just like inDune: Awakening,theDunefilms have featured sandwormsas a major threat throughout Arrakis. If people are not careful, sandworms can destroy everything they have built and swallow people whole. This means that the citizens of Arrakis are constantly on alert, with many Fremen mastering the art of traversing the dunes without being heard. If that was not enough, some Fremen have even figured out how to actually ride sandworms across the desert, with some even using them to unleash devastation on their enemies. Fremen typically summon a sandworm with a device known as a thumper.
Packaging aThumper asDune: AwakeningDLConly makes sense. This Thumper will send shakes through the desert that attract a sandworm to its location, something players are already familiar with encountering. The Fremen will then use a hook to pry open a scale on the worm’s body, forcing the worm to stay above the surface. Then, they will attach their hooks to its mouth and actually control it as it cruises across the desert. This lets them traverse large distances at great speed, and they can also use them to take people out as they go, which makes for some fantastic scenes in the films. A Thumper kit could fit intoDune: Awakening’s gameplay easily, letting them take to the sands with abandon too.
Players Should Be Given That Same Chance During Their Arrakis Journey
As of now,Dune: Awakeningdoes not let players do this. When and if it is added, it should be no easy feat to accomplish becauseDune’s sandworms are massiveand dangerous. In fact, only the highest level of players and those willing to risk it all should be able to ride them across the desert. If they slip for even a second, they should be buried within the sands or swallowed whole. But, if they are actually able to get their hooks into the worm, then they could speed across the map and take out others across Arrakis in glorious fashion.
Not only could they be great additions to PvP and traversal, but Funcom could go the extra mile and even make sandworm riding intoa funDune: Awakeningside activity. Players could race each other on top of them, there could be raids or dungeons that require the use of a worm, or some could even claim them as pets somehow. While they should definitely remain terrifying, adding these features could expand the worms in exciting new ways. It feels like a matter of time before it’s added to the game because it fits so easily into theDunefantasy, something the game already excels at.
As of now, no one but Funcom knows if sandworm riding will ever be a thing. SinceDune: Awakeningis trying to deliver an extremely authenticDuneexperience, it would be a major missed opportunity if it did not include any aspect of sandworm riding in the future.
