So a few months back I made the judicial decree that Skyrim and Skyward Sword shared 2011's crown of highest quality in a gaming experience. Since then, I've been horsing around (tee-hee) and playing quite a bit of other video games. Returning to Skyrim recently has warmed my heart but also made quite a bit of errors about the game quite obvious.
To clarify:
the thread's focus is on flaws you find with the otherwise pretty-freaking-awesome epic RPG "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim". It's been heralded as the best console game this generation, but since then I think there's been a new player on the block, and the perfected diamond many claim Bethesda's latest game to be may actually be quite rough about the edges.
Most menial of all my qualms with Skyrim is the textures. The game looks amazing with its vibrant colors, differing environments, and massive landscapes. However the game's rocks and snow seem a bit more polygonal that those I've seen in recent memory. I know that graphics aren't a means of judging a game, but it is quite jaunting to see un-smoothed snow kinda jut into the ground without any form of overlying transitional texture or whatnot.
I would also like to complain about the story in that it's absolutely forgettable. I'd like to bring up my now-favorite game "Mass Effect 3" as a comparison. In Skyrim there are a multitude of tasks that, if written down, could probably have been written on all those in-game books you never read. The quests are fun and keep one well-entertained in the grand theater of the game, but few actually add to the over-arching Civil War or Dovakiin questlines.
Compare to Mass Effect 3, where every side-quest adds to the story, allowing the narrative to flow into every bit of gameplay. It builds this epic tale that pulls the player in and makes the various decisions all the harder to choose. There's nothing like learning someone you worked your butt off saving for three missions, then connecting to on a personal level, died in an explosion you could have prevented, via email. Skyrim's gameplay makes up for its forgettable story, but upon further inspection, it's just a pitiful attempt at compelling narrative.
I have more bits about this grand RPG but I'll save them for the obvious fanboys who will flock to the thread to tear down Your Friendly Neighborhood Satanist in the flames of hate.
Skyrim is a sandbox game, which means you can do literally whatever you want. The "main story" is just something to help you level up. There are literally tons of quests and stories in the game. You can craft your character however you want, and do whatever you want. There really isn't supposed to be a set storyline that skyrim follows, kind of like the GTA series.
I disagree. Morrowind had a great main story and main quest line, plus many other side-quests and a whole world to discover on your own. In Skyrim they simply didn't put so much focus on the main story, but it isn't supposed to be just a decoration.
The Stormcloaks were the ones who started the war. It was completely unnecessary, and seems a bit selfish.
I personally like the position of Lt. Rikke. Tullius has only disdain left for Nord traditions which is why I despise him. Ulfric is racist and eaten by revenge and ambition. Rikke however recognizes the importance of the Imperial/Nord coalition, yet still honors Nord traditions and even secretly reveres Talos.
Skyrim is a sandbox game, which means you can do literally whatever you want. The "main story" is just something to help you level up. There are literally tons of quests and stories in the game. You can craft your character however you want, and do whatever you want. There really isn't supposed to be a set storyline that skyrim follows, kind of like the GTA series.
And now we come to my biggest qualm with Skyrim.
I think it's been said before, but Skyrim falls right on its face with its quests. In its predecessor, Oblivion, there were was a "whodunit" quest, haunted houses, undercover missions, the absolutely superb Dark Brotherhood bonuses (felt like such a boss getting the bonus for the Valen Dreth mission), all around just varied and interesting questlines. The worst quests were the ones that required you to go into the Oblivion Gates, because they were samey and bland and just not interesting-looking when compared to the landscape of Cyrodiil.
Skyrim has a tendacy to want to keep you in its dungeons. Jarl's bounty quests, Companion initiations, various Civil War missions, even the MAGE'S GUILD gets dungeons! What's up with that?
You can have all the cool mechanics in the world, but if the game pushes the player into a boring place to use them most of the time, then they become all but null.
I'm very sorry to say, but there are no atheists in the Elder Scrolls universe. Imperials and Nords revere more or less the same deities, and the Thalmor only ban the worship of Talos, acknowledging the other Eight Divines (part of their own pantheon). Thalmor are best compared to the Inquisition and religious fanatics. Maybe you should check this.
Okay, maybe not full atheists but semi-atheists, since they respect the Thalmor, banning Talos to prevent another war. But if you can say that one side is better than the other, then you are wrong... If you complete the Imperial questline, and I'm pretty sure you did. *SPOILER BEGIN* the finishing speeches of Tullius will make you think "I should've go with the Stormcloaks", as he says to Ulfric "Time to go wherever your people..go when they die!" This phrase made me mad because Sovngarde actually exists and there's a proof by finishing the Dragonborn main quest, and yet he doesn't believe that Sovngarde exists...and Legate is the only Imperial I respect since she says "Talos Guide you", yet Imperials banned Talos worshiping.*SPOILER END*
And no, you're not forced to choose a side in the game.
Actually yes...if you want to complete the Civil War questline, there are some players who want to complete ALL the quests. That's the second main questline, the first being Dragonborn.
morrowind was bigger longer and better than any of TES they got lazier as the series progressed
Yes but sadly the graphics are outdated which gives no feeling that you are there. I know there are mods that drastically improve graphics but it is still not that good. Come on..we are 2012.
the absolutely superb Dark Brotherhood bonuses (felt like such a boss getting the bonus for the Valen Dreth mission),
Yeah, probably the only great thing in Oblivion was the Dark Brotherhood. Even the quests were great (my favourite being the Whodunit quest in Skingrad).
My impression is that with the last two games, bethesda each time was focussing too much on one point, making it great but loosing overall integrity. In Oblivion they concentrated too much on graphics and physics; in Skyrim it was the radiant system and more realistic NPCs.
Okay, maybe not full atheists but semi-atheists,
Sure, because semi-atheists regularly go pray at the temple for the favor of eight divinities (secretly nine). Uh-uh.
Imperials as well as Nords think Talos is a man-god, but since the Imperials lost a battle, they were forced to accept the ban.
and Legate is the only Imperial I respect since she says "Talos Guide you",
Exactly my point, Lt. Rikke is the msot reasonable person in the conflict, and second comes Jarl Balgruuf.
Actually yes...if you want to complete the Civil War questline, there are some players who want to complete ALL the quests. That's the second main questline, the first being Dragonborn.
You still don't have to do it. Of course if you want to do all quests you will have to choose a side, but noone forces you to do so. That's exactly the point in TES games: you do whatever you want.
Yes but sadly the graphics are outdated which gives no feeling that you are there. I know there are mods that drastically improve graphics but it is still not that good. Come on..we are 2012.
The graphics aren't great by today's standarts, but they were great at that time. Morrowind also has such a deep story that it is definitely possible to immerse in the game.
since they respect the Thalmor, banning Talos to prevent another war.
since they respect the Thalmor
respect
The Imperials most certainly do not respect the Thalmor. They fear another war, a war they may not win. I haven't heard a single Nord or Imperial praise the Thalmor. Why would anybody do that? Forget about the previous war, they're all stuck-up jerks.
skyrim is awesome on so many of its levels, its like the game was made for a person who always plays it. while mass effect 3 does appear high on my list of all time favorites, skyrim has got higher on me. i also like how skyrim has more to the free-realming consept then mass effect 3.
You can have all the cool mechanics in the world, but if the game pushes the player into a boring place to use them most of the time, then they become all but null
What exactly are you talking about when you say "game mechanics?"
The Imperials most certainly do not respect the Thalmor. They fear another war, a war they may not win. I haven't heard a single Nord or Imperial praise the Thalmor. Why would anybody do that? Forget about the previous war, they're all stuck-up jerks.
See this please
Civil War
Although not blatantly offering aid, the Thalmor supported the Imperial Legion in its battle against the Stormcloaks.
I think he still has a point. Games with good graphics are great as long as the graphics are actual, they loose interest when better games come out. Morrowind however is a game I still play today sometimes, because the setting, atmosphere and story are so good.
As such, Skyrim really is one of the games that are only good because of their technical features, not necessarily because of what is going on in the game.
See this please
Civil War
Although not blatantly offering aid, the Thalmor supported the Imperial Legion in its battle against the Stormcloaks.
If the Thalmor would have wanted the Stormcloaks to be beaten, they would have achieved so long ago. I remember reading in some in-game note* a Thalmor mentioning the need to keep the civil war at a stalemate. The Thalmor only want their own advantage; eventually their goal is to enforce Altmeri supremacy as they think humans are lesser races. Their 'help' to the Empire follows their own goals and there is no reason for the Empire to be grateful.
You really think the Empire likes being 'aided' by the Thalmor? As Lt. Rikke said, the Empire is the only force capable of holding off the Thalmor of Skyrim, but as long as the Empire is weakened by the civil war, they can do nothing. Which is the reason why the Thalmor want the civil war to keep on going.
*I'll post a link if I manage to find where I read that.
"Operational Notes: Direct contact remains a possibility (under extreme circumstances), but in general the asset should be considered dormant. As long as the civil war proceeds in its current indecisive fashion, we should remain hands-off. The incident at Helgen is an example where an exception had to be made - obviously Ulfric's death would have dramatically increased the chance of an Imperial victory and thus harmed our overall position in Skyrim. (NOTE: The coincidental intervention of the dragon at Helgen is still under scrutiny. The obvious conclusion is that whoever is behind the dragons also has an interest in the continuation of the war, but we should not assume therefore that their goals align with our own.) A Stormcloak victory is also to be avoided, however, so even indirect aid to the Stormcloaks must be carefully managed."
And a note on Tullius:
"Although Tullius is considerably dismissive of Nordic tradition, and has considerable hatred for Ulfric's followers, like most of the Empire he also despises the Thalmor, especially with Elenwen during the quest Season Unending." - Source
And HahiHa, you should play Skyrim more and do less here on AG Forums. I know all this from game experience. I PLAY the game, all you do is just read wikia-s...
