I personally think it's incredible the amount of stuff you can do. I've played for about 6-7 hours and I'm only up to the second city. I love to just walk around and explore every little corner I can find. I do every miscellaneous quest I get as long as it agrees with thief/sneaky/bow character persona. I've done two dungeons (Bleak Barrows Fall and Riverwatch) and killed the first dragon, and it just felt so amazing. I was taking a peek at the map from the pre-order and it looks amazing how vast the game world is.

I'm glad I dished out the $60 for this game, it's going to last me for a long time.

Yeah, and I love it!

I have not been overwhelmed since Morrowind.

I just keep it simple and humble enjoying what comes my way while giving myself the freedom to go off on a tangent to explore whatever wherever. Its real easy to get stuck just talking to npcs and walking around town due to how interesting everything is. First time i had to fight with myself to get out of town to check out some dungeons.

Oh yeah, VERY overwhelming and addicting, never been this immersed in an Elder Scrolls game before! I've explored most of the region around Whiterun and a bit around Ivarstead, I haven't gone up the mountain for the main quest yet though, my explorer sense grew once I reached Ivarstead so I just had to go dungeon searching. Was very profitable, found an armor that fit my character so perfectly. Dwarven Armor of Restoration! <3

I've reached level 14 and specced in Heavy Armor, Two-Handed, Restoration and Smithing at this moment. Seems to be working fairly well. =)

This game is SO worth the money, been having such a blast! <3

Yeah this game is the biggest game in terms of content that i've ever played and on ultra the scenery looks amazing to me.
At least we know Todd wasn't trolling when he said it's the biggest game they've ever made.

Oh god yes! I've beaten the main quest and done a little of most guilds and I still have around 20 quests littering my journal that I accidentally picked up. Even after taking it slow (no fast travelling expect by carriage/ eating and sleeping), I've decided to make a new character who will try and stick to one city/guild at a time as well as doing some exploring inbetween.

I played 6.5 hours so far. (Going back in soon.) It doesn't feel like I have touched a quarter of this game yet.

Played all the earlier TES games too.

This is why I love it. Owns.

very overwhelmed in a good way though. i've played quite a few hours and still feel like i've barely even begun to begin the game.

It's easy to get side tracked for sure, and even lost. Just focus on the main quest and don;t tarry from it, lest you risk losing your sanity.

I actually find Skyrim a bit more overwhelming.

And yes. Very, very, very overwhelmed. But in the best possible way.

i think a lot of that overwhelming feeling comes with people who try to do all the quests at the same time like u would in other mmo's/rpg's. skyrim is VERY different and not something ppl r used to.

honestly, just go with what feels right. usually, u will get to where u need to go. unless u blatantly disregard any sense of linear progression and disregard all forms of main quest action, u'll be fine. just talk to everyone and if a sidequest seems interesting enough, take a detour.

a lot of the problems with skyrim and that overwhelming feeling is from the game not distinguishing between side and main quests. we really dont know whats a main story quest and whats completely optional.

for me, i feel like the games moving a bit too fast in the beginning. in lvl 6 and already a thane, with a companion and a shout. i cant remember being this well off at lvl 6 in any other elder scrolls game at all. i also feel like i know nothing of whats going on. i avoided most of the story spoilers and wanted to see if the game explained the lore well enough and quite frankly, it doesnt. it feels like they're assuming i know/have an opinion on this whole war thing and i honestly have none. my decision to to stormcloak instead of imperial was based solely on the fact that the other guy tried to chop my head off.

i dont like having to read up on wiki's and forums to get a basic understanding of the story...