What's so amazing about Skyrim?

Skyrim is a good game. But It's far from being a great game, I just dont understand these dick riders...

chilly-chill

It's an mind-boggling, beautiful open world.
And it only gets more impressive the further you explore it, and the further you go with the story.
It's $60 well spent.

[QUOTE="chilly-chill"]

Skyrim is a good game. But It's far from being a great game, I just dont understand these dick riders...

KeredsBlaze

[QUOTE="KeredsBlaze"][QUOTE="chilly-chill"]

Skyrim is a good game. But It's far from being a great game, I just dont understand these dick riders...

ArchonOver

By those standards I know of only few worthy RPGs. But of course, anybody with a functioning brain would know that Skyrim isn't an RPG.

[QUOTE="ArchonOver"][QUOTE="KeredsBlaze"] I can't understand these haters who can't recognize a great game when they see oneSocijalisticka

By those standards I know of only few worthy RPGs. But of course, anybody with a functioning brain would know that Skyrim isn't an RPG.

You need to stop embarrassing yourself. Skyrim isn't an RPG? That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard anyone say in a long time.
Clearly, you are the one without a fuctioning brain. I don't know what else to say. You're obviously a little messed up in the head.

[QUOTE="chilly-chill"]

Skyrim is a good game. But It's far from being a great game, I just dont understand these dick riders...

KeredsBlaze

After installing 1.4 and finally having a chance to clock some hours in, I will say it's pretty good even with the lackluster combat, with tons of things to do. I've never played the prequels but Skyrim is like watching a season of your favorite show on dvd or blue ray. It's doubtful, you'll go through a whole season in one day but it's something you can always come back to and pick up where you left off vs games with 15 - 20 hour campaigns with litlle to no replay value. Is it the holy grail of gaming? Hell no but it's a nice escape from reality.

no idea... highly repetitive contents, lackluster roleplaying elements and even lousier combat make me wonder why it's winning GOTYs left and right. but at least in one aspect it's amazing - the game world is indeed huge and beautiful.

[QUOTE="KeredsBlaze"][QUOTE="chilly-chill"]

Skyrim is a good game. But It's far from being a great game, I just dont understand these dick riders...

Randolph

[QUOTE="Archangel3371"]I love the being able to pretty much go anywhere and do anything in the game. I really enjoy the sword and sorcery aspect as well as dragons. The game looks very impressive graphically given it's scale and has an excellent ochestral soundtrack. I also love how 'alive' the game feels with how everyone and everything behaves in the game world.Ilovegames1992

What, extremely glitchy and unrealistic?

The game is soooo Bethesda :lol:

[QUOTE="Socijalisticka"]

[QUOTE="ArchonOver"] It can't be a great game because of the subpar writing. In an RPG, story, writing, and dialogue are just as important as the gameplay.Conjuration

By those standards I know of only few worthy RPGs. But of course, anybody with a functioning brain would know that Skyrim isn't an RPG.

You need to stop embarrassing yourself. Skyrim isn't an RPG? That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard anyone say in a long time.
Clearly, you are the one without a fuctioning brain. I don't know what else to say. You're obviously a little messed up in the head.

It has swords and is liek fantasy, so it must be an RPG right? How about actual restrictions on character development, forcing one to make meaningful decisions based on the role they choose? This is fundamental to all role-playing games. Truly exceptional RPGs (RPGs at their purest) implement meaningful choice, not only in terms of role but also on worldy-interactions (ex. Vampire Bloodlines, Fallout 1/2).

So tell me, what exactly validates Skyrim's status as an RPG? It surely isn't character developement.

I hear so many people babbling about it,what makes it so awesome?

GreekGameManiac

The open world nature of it, can do pretty much anything you want. And it proves that you dont need Online Pass crap, multiplayer, or avalanches of DLC to make the game feel whole and complete. You can easily play for 50 hours and still barely scratch of the surface of the possibilities.

Yes the game has its bugs, most of them being fixed now, and DLC is in the works, but it is nice to have a game come along that is so rich in content and without relying on tacked-on multiplayer. Dont get me wrong I love multiplayer; in games it is the major focus for.

Instead of trying to punish used buyers, Devs should be making games that people want to keep, like this one.

It has swords and is liek fantasy, so it must be an RPG right? How about actual restrictions on character development, forcing one to make meaningful decisions based on the role they choose? This is fundamental to all role-playing games. Truly exceptional RPGs (RPGs at their purest) implement meaningful choice, not only in terms of role but also on worldy-interactions (ex. Vampire Bloodlines, Fallout 1/2).

So tell me, what exactly validates Skyrim's status as an RPG? It surely isn't character developement.

Socijalisticka

I think you should stop since your arguments aren't getting any better.

[QUOTE="Socijalisticka"]

It has swords and is liek fantasy, so it must be an RPG right? How about actual restrictions on character development, forcing one to make meaningful decisions based on the role they choose? This is fundamental to all role-playing games. Truly exceptional RPGs (RPGs at their purest) implement meaningful choice, not only in terms of role but also on worldy-interactions (ex. Vampire Bloodlines, Fallout 1/2).

So tell me, what exactly validates Skyrim's status as an RPG? It surely isn't character developement.

Pedro

I think you should stop since your arguments aren't getting any better.

How about actually refute my statements instead of babbling like a boorish fellow?

Being truly open world with lots of choices. It's the fantasy version of GTA but with a more serious approach.

Being truly open world with lots of choices. It's the fantasy version of GTA but with a more serious approach.

cyborg100000

It has swords and is liek fantasy, so it must be an RPG right? How about actual restrictions on character development, forcing one to make meaningful decisions based on the role they choose? This is fundamental to all role-playing games. Truly exceptional RPGs (RPGs at their purest) implement meaningful choice, not only in terms of role but also on worldy-interactions (ex. Vampire Bloodlines, Fallout 1/2).

So tell me, what exactly validates Skyrim's status as an RPG? It surely isn't character developement.

Socijalisticka

I'm not sure I get your point 100%. But I think I kind of understand what your saying.

My response would be:

I can make my character into anything I want. I can be a tank, knight, thief, archer /or a wide variety of different types of magician. I can even be a werewolf or vampire. There's a lot of options and detail in what you want your character to be. This level of character customisation is unheard of in console RPGs.

It has a vast open world to explore filled with quest-giving NPC's and something like 100 dungeons to dive into and explore. Secrets hidden all over the place. It really feels like a living/breathing world. You can choose which side of the war to join and capture different enemy cities depending on your alliance. You can be a criminal or a "good guy" each having their own consequences in different holds.
I'm talking to, and recieving quests from, towering (and awesome looking) dragons, demons, and ghouls.
My character isn't voiced so I'm free to imagine my own voice as I read the text options, and not feel like I'm playing through an interactive movie.

IDK guy. This sounds alot like an RPG to me.

If I'm still not getting what your're saying, let me know. Still feels like we're maybe not talking about the same thing here.

I can make my character into anything I want. I can be a tank, knight, thief, archer /or a wide variety of different types of magician. I can even be a werewolf or vampire. There's a lot of options and detail in what you want your character to be. Conjuration

This is precisely my objection to the idea of Skyrim as an RPG. Customization is not limited to only RPGs, this trait is prevelent in any genre; what sets aside an RPG from other genres is character restriction. The concept of role-playing cannot exist any other way, as meaningful choices come into play (due to the limitations placed upon your character). The ability to be occupy any role you please defeats the purpose of role-playing.

It has a vast open world to explore filled with quest-giving NPC's and something like 100 dungeons to dive into and explore. Secrets hidden all over the place. It really feels like a living/breathing world. You can choose which side of the war to join and capture different enemy cities depending on your alliance. You can be a criminal or a "good guy" each having their own consequences in different holds.Conjuration

The concept of open-world is not limited to RPGs. The only consequence of choosing a side in the civil war is loot gain, the rest are purely aesthetic.

I'm talking to, and recieving quests from, towering (and awesome looking) dragons, demons, and ghouls.
My character isn't voiced so I'm free to imagine my own voice as I read the text options, and not feel like I'm playing through an interactive movie.

Conjuration

Again superficial aspects not limited to RPGs.

"What's so amazing about Skyrim?"

Everything to be frank....

EvilSelf

[QUOTE="Conjuration"]

This is precisely my objection to the idea of Skyrim as an RPG. Customization is not limited to only RPGs, this trait is prevelent in any genre; what sets aside an RPG from other genres is character restriction. The concept of role-playing cannot exist any other way, as meaningful choices come into play (due to the limitations placed upon your character). The ability to be occupy any role you please defeats the purpose of role-playing.

[QUOTE="Conjuration"]It has a vast open world to explore filled with quest-giving NPC's and something like 100 dungeons to dive into and explore. Secrets hidden all over the place. It really feels like a living/breathing world. You can choose which side of the war to join and capture different enemy cities depending on your alliance. You can be a criminal or a "good guy" each having their own consequences in different holds.Socijalisticka

The concept of open-world is not limited to RPGs. The only consequence of choosing a side in the civil war is loot gain, the rest are purely aesthetic.

I'm talking to, and recieving quests from, towering (and awesome looking) dragons, demons, and ghouls.
My character isn't voiced so I'm free to imagine my own voice as I read the text options, and not feel like I'm playing through an interactive movie.

Conjuration

Again superficial aspects not limited to RPGs.

I agree. When the customization pushes itself too far, it may give too much freedom for the player, such that it actually ends up hurting the writing of the game. Where would we be with Planescape: Torment if it had that same level of building your own character? There are always some sacrifices that have to be made when deciding whether or not to give the player the ability to create his/her own character. And, just, in general, the story is just not compelling enough. Most of the NPCs you meet, you never see again, making it that much less of a personal experience, which, in turn, hurts the character development.

But, I guess that game critics like to just overlook this problem and call its story good, just for the sake of having hundreds of random quests and other things to do in its world. Well, if that's a "good" story, then just about any lengthy, complex, nonlinear game (if at the same scale of the ES series) would automatically be able to receive praise for its story.

In other words, Skyrim, like its predecessors, emphasizes gameplay over story. RPGs are usually more about story than gameplay, so this may turn off some hardcore RPG fans. Then again, a lot of nonlinear, western RPGs usually tend to have weaker stories than their more linear counterparts.

Also, I like how the GameSpot review of KOAR has generic story and characters,generic world, andgeneric quests listed as its flaws, even though Skyrim can be seen in a very similar way with both its story and gameplay. Eventually, all open world games feel repetitive. Duh. What did Kevin Vanord expect to come across?

But, I guess that game critics like to just overlook this problem and call its story good, just for the sake of having hundreds of random quests and other things to do in its world. Well, if that's a "good" story, then just about any lengthy, complex, nonlinear game (if at the same scale of the ES series) would automatically be able to receive praise for its story.Mawy_Golomb

What I grew to appreciate was the more subtle storytelling. I laughed out loud when, after finding the corpse of a crazy man's sister for him, he rewarded me with a HUMAN HEART. Just the fact that he was in possession of a human heart is a story in itself, and as soons as I saw it, my imagination immediately filled in a lot of gaps in that man's life (and I ended up killing him later for a different mission and felt a little bad about it).

And in another "random cave," I discovered a man who was stealing females on their way to a certain city, which I had heard about from another, somewhat unrelated source. As I got deeper into the cave, I came gradually came across more evidence of what this guy was doing, and (without spoiling the punchline), laughed out loud after I killed him and went into his personal chamber to discover the depth of his fetish.

And then there was the incredibly entertaining story that ensues after a simple drinking contest, which I won't even get into.

My point is that people who like the narrative(s) in Skyrim aren't just blowing smoke out their ass because they're impressed by how many quests there are. Some of the stories are awesome and unique and make every new quest that much more compelling at the start. Admittedly, not all of them are great, but the vast majority of them are at least decent, with only a small minority being downright bad.

Yeah, well, those "moments" you seem to speak of make Skyrim seem more plot-driven than character-driven, something that we have more than enough of in most games' stories. Sure, maybe some of the quests are different from what you find in a typical RPG, but if the characters feel lacking, then some people are going to find it hard to care about or be motivated to play through the entire game. If games are to mature as a medium, then they'll need to take greater risks with their stories, and it seems like the ES franchise has a low risk in going down that route.

I've yet to find a game that is anywhere near as top notch in its writing as Planescape: Torment. Every NPC has a lot of dialogue that accompanies both the nature of the quest you might find yourself undertaking, as well as the personality and life that that NPC has going. In addition, the plot isn't another save-the-world one, which is a great break from a really cliché take on the RPG genre. The Witcher, from the looks of it, after playing it for a few hours, seems to have some at least more than decent writing and character development, but if it will top Planescape is something that I can't really tell at this point.

Yeah, well, those "moments" you seem to speak of make Skyrim seem more plot-driven than character-driven, something that we have more than enough of in most games' stories. Sure, maybe some of the quests are different from what you find in a typical RPG, but if the characters feel lacking, then some people are going to find it hard to care about or be motivated to play through the entire game. If games are to mature as a medium, then they'll need to take greater risks with their stories, and it seems like the ES franchise has a low risk in going down that route.

Mawy_Golomb

There's a place for that kind of story-telling, just like there's a place for a more traditional, character-focused story where you get to deeply know a handful of primary characters. I appreciate that kind of game, too, but Skyrim isn't necessarily worse because it's doing something different. It's kind of like the difference between a collection of short stories and a novel.

Sometimes I feel like the decision to craft a game around fully customizable characters is what greatly hampers narrative. It seems like a better idea to just craft two characters to choose from (like in the Mass Effect games) and make them as real as possible. Then, if time permits, release DLC that offers a nice, complex character builder feature. That way, that one design decision doesn't hurt the whole gaming experience, but rather compliments it. And if players want to grab that character editor feature, they can always purchase it. And both gamers who love story and those who are more primarily all about gameplay get what they want. No big compromises.

Sometimes I feel like the decision to craft a game around fully customizable characters is what greatly hampers narrative. It seems like a better idea to just craft two characters to choose from (like in the Mass Effect games) and make them as real as possible. Then, if time permits, release DLC that offers a nice, complex character builder feature. That way, that one design decision doesn't hurt the whole gaming experience, but rather compliments it. And if players want to grab that character editor feature, they can always purchase it. And both gamers who love story and those who are more primarily all about gameplay get what they want. No big compromises.

Mawy_Golomb

But the dissonance between being a random traveler who continually discovers people's stories and being the fated savior of the world is really jarring, I admit. If there's any flaw that you really need to ignore in Skyrim's narrative technique, it's this. But it doesn't diminish the quality of each individual story. I still enjoyed the game way more than I thought I would despite this dissonance.

[QUOTE="cyborg100000"]

Being truly open world with lots of choices. It's the fantasy version of GTA but with a more serious approach.

chilly-chill

It's open world, you can go where you please, it has a serious plot/s.

Vast open worlds don't mean anything when your gameplay is boring.

[QUOTE="chilly-chill"][QUOTE="cyborg100000"]

Being truly open world with lots of choices. It's the fantasy version of GTA but with a more serious approach.

cyborg100000

It's open world, you can go where you please, it has a serious plot/s.

Its openess while the new car smell hasn't worn out. Most quests are pretty boring like go fetch my father sword, go fetch a stone, go fetch a scroll, go fetch a crown, go fetch xxxx item, along with go kill x go kill y go kill xxxx.

[QUOTE="Socijalisticka"]

It has swords and is liek fantasy, so it must be an RPG right? How about actual restrictions on character development, forcing one to make meaningful decisions based on the role they choose? This is fundamental to all role-playing games. Truly exceptional RPGs (RPGs at their purest) implement meaningful choice, not only in terms of role but also on worldy-interactions (ex. Vampire Bloodlines, Fallout 1/2).

So tell me, what exactly validates Skyrim's status as an RPG? It surely isn't character developement.

Pedro

I think you should stop since your arguments aren't getting any better.

I don't like Skyrim but I'm voting for Pedro's comment...

Skyrim, for me at least (who didn't particularly like it), was great for the first 5-10 hours, but then slowly started to drag. Everything about it was just 'ok', but I guess that it's the best RPG in the non-japanese medieval fantasy genre (unless you like WoW), so it's given more praise than it deserves overall. Basically, if you're looking for something in the aforementioned genre, Skyrim's the place to go.

don't understand either.

Game is dull, and nowhere remotely as good as bethesda's previous work

[QUOTE="Pedro"]

[QUOTE="Socijalisticka"]

It has swords and is liek fantasy, so it must be an RPG right? How about actual restrictions on character development, forcing one to make meaningful decisions based on the role they choose? This is fundamental to all role-playing games. Truly exceptional RPGs (RPGs at their purest) implement meaningful choice, not only in terms of role but also on worldy-interactions (ex. Vampire Bloodlines, Fallout 1/2).

So tell me, what exactly validates Skyrim's status as an RPG? It surely isn't character developement.

DARKNESSxEAGLE

I think you should stop since your arguments aren't getting any better.

I don't like Skyrim but I'm voting for Pedro's comment...

Skyrim, for me at least (who didn't particularly like it), was great for the first 5-10 hours, but then slowly started to drag. Everything about it was just 'ok', but I guess that it's the best RPG in the non-japanese medieval fantasy genre (unless you like WoW), so it's given more praise than it deserves overall. Basically, if you're looking for something in the aforementioned genre, Skyrim's the place to go.

I'd actually recommend playing a good RPG, ex. Fallout 1/2, Vampire Bloodlines, before you talk (seeing as you know little to nothing about the genre).

In other words, Skyrim, like its predecessors, emphasizes gameplay over story. RPGs are usually more about story than gameplay, so this may turn off some hardcore RPG fans. Then again, a lot of nonlinear, western RPGs usually tend to have weaker stories than their more linear counterparts.

Mawy_Golomb

I don't believe plot is an essential element of a good RPG, that is not to say it can't dramatically enhance a game.

[QUOTE="cyborg100000"]

[QUOTE="chilly-chill"] surely you cant be serious..chilly-chill

It's open world, you can go where you please, it has a serious plot/s.

I'd actually recommend playing a good RPG, ex. Fallout 1/2, Vampire Bloodlines, before you talk (seeing as you know little to nothing about the genre).

Socijalisticka

It's funny because I've probably played more good RPGs than you have games.

And that's how easy it is to make that type of comment.

[QUOTE="chilly-chill"][QUOTE="cyborg100000"]

It's open world, you can go where you please, it has a serious plot/s.

AdjacentLives

I don't understand what the big deal is with Bethesda games. If it wasn't for the fact that all of them are filled with annoying glitches and bugs that render the games almost unplayable I would actually like the games. I admit I love the idea of having a free open world to explore, but I get sick of things like important NPCs disappearing or the game freezing and forcing me to have to restart. It's not so bad if you have the games for PC and can fix the problems yourself, but I don't think that gamers should have to fix the games for the companies. It should be their job to make sure the games are playable before they release them to the public.

If you have played any of the previous Bethesda games like Fallout 3, it is a huge open world role playing game similar to those games except its fantasy. Haters can overexaggerate the bugs all they want but at the end of the day, its hard to argue against its world design. The game is shockingly immersive with so many things to do, it can become overwhelming.

Pros: Very detailed overworld with no loading times (except when entering buildings) and good draw distance, an incredible amount of quests and lore, allows very flexible play style and leveling up, good music, outstanding dungeon design, ability to fight dragons, dual wield, and shout are great additions

Cons: combat isn't that impressive compared to other RPGs, bugs (not as troublesome as people make it out to be), weak animation

Watch some videos or reviews but the best thing you can do is play the game at a neutral mindset and judge the game by your own experience

The game should have been multiplayer.

How can anyone put Skyrim in the same class as GTA.

That's almost offensive.

Skyrim is one of the few games that has become popular solely on hype and previous titles in the series in my opinion.