I'd say this is completely wrong. TES's main focus may not be combat, but if it's not it's very definitely the second-biggest focus. Yes, 'exploration' (AKA 'hiking') is what TES games are truly about, but Combat is the only way to finish almost every single quest in previous TES games. That doesn't appear to have changed in Skyrim.

Since every single part of the game is dedicated to killing enemies and taking their stuff, I'd say TES is very definitely 'about combat'.

TES certainly isn't about the story, interesting characters, or interesting quests - all of those things are extremely sub-standard in past Bethesda titles, compared with other RPGs.

But yes, Skyrim's combat looks like crap. Enemies don't need to stagger in order to show that they've been hit. Further, you shouldn't need to hit them fifty times to kill them; HP soaking enemies are a stupid idea in general. Allow enemies to parry, dodge, or block your blows. Have the stabs and slashes you do to them actually show up on their models. Create animations where they actually react to your blows realistically. It would be different, sure, but it'd also be better - and it's not impossible, either.

Also, the finishing blows look rather bad. The Witcher 2 did them much better, mainly through having vastly better animations.

I'm still going to get Skyrim - I like the TES games for the modding potential and the open-world nature of them, but that doesn't mean Skyrim couldn't be better than it is, just like most games could be better in some ways.

They compared the effect your hits had on an enemy to the way it works in Skyrim. Not how the combat system generally worked. The combat in Dead Island was visceral and it felt like there was power behind your blows. Unlike Oblivion (and seemingly Skyrim), where it feels like you paint someone with your sword and once his hp are at zero he ragdolls to death.

I absolutely agree that Dead Island is a bad game overall, no question. The point is that despite the simple combat system it was fun to fight enemies, even if that was all you really did. Oblivion's (and again most likely Skyrim's) combat system is just as flawed and simple as Dead Island's, but it is certainly not as much fun. Both combat systems don't require a lot of thinking or tactics, but Dead Island is fun while Oblivion gets boring after a very short while (especially if the fights last as long as they often did in Oblivion when you played on a decent difficulty).

The article compared Skyrim with Witcher 2 also. And even in Witcher 2 I can nitpick about how the finishing moves looked like a "prepared cutscenes" instead of actual battle.

Maybe I'm just dumb, but I think the combat looks really good o.o

And call me crazy but I liked Oblivions combat haha

yeah, everybody that has played the game said it is just like Oblivion and Morrowind but better. I am going with the general consensuses rather than some random article that could full of crap

not to mention that they guy playing the game really svcked and would make any game look bad

well you could allways spam your attack in TES games so if enemy wwould allways make a hit animation you would Stun lock the enemies all the time.... and that would make the very easy wouldn't it ( AND yes i know TES games are easy as it is )

never was never will be

Always has, always will be.

Seriously, what do any of us do in TES games? Almost EVERYTHING in the games revolves around, or attributes to, combat and combat related mechanics. That is fact, and it wont go away just because some people dont like to "focus" on this aspect of the game. Remove everything combat related, and what are you left with? A poor as piss excuse for a dragon safari, and an inn simulator. Just in case sleeping in real life wasn't exciting enough for you.

I don't fight a lot in TES? Why is this such a big deal?

i loved Oblivion combat so i am happy.

Not really surprising.

Because people who dont fight in TES are the extreme minority.

Even the majority of the majority are mostly relaxed with the current improved combat.

It's not like it hasn't been improved at all. The article's a rubbish. The points, arguments, and comparison are hardly competent. Being grateful is relaxing.
Though I can totaly understand some them who never liked TES at all to begin with.

I could ask for gatling gun for the same reason.

To me in TES combat is like the mini games that are supposed to give a slight diversion to keep the main focus of the game interesting. Given there frequency they are somewhat important. But unlike the main focus, they really only have to hit an okay does not bore me level of quality. Considering how fast fights are in most TES games even though they are frequent, I doubt it will take up more than 10% of most peoples play time.

I also disagree with your opinion that TES isn't about story, interesting characters, or interesting quests because they are sub-standard. I don't find them to be sub-standard at all. Sure some of the one off quests are lame, but plenty of those are lame in every RPG. But most of the quests chains, most of the characters meant to be interacted with and most of the story is interesting IMO.

As for the combat it does not look much improved, but I don't think it looks like crap.

So much fail in this thread. I get it... some of you don't care about the combat system. You don't care about if it's bad or boring or repetetive. You enjoy the game as a whole and don't really notice that the combat system is lacking. But how the hell can you say the comabt is not important? Just observe it from a neutral position. I also like TES although i think the combat is one of the weakest points of the series. I mean, come on, you actually fight stuff most of the time. Whether it is for quests, while exploring, to level up or just for the lulz.

Serously, if you are more or less unaware of the combat and "just do it", stop pretending it is not important, because it IS a huge part of the game.

This...

This is a combat lover alright.
Oblivion was already adequate. Plus It's already improved now. I watched it, and actually quite happy about that.
The problem is people seem to expect it to be more like other games, say demon soul, whose fans also nitpicking about the difficulties.
Well the grass next door always seem greener, apparently.

Like...ALL the videos given as examples of "better, modern combat" look...bad. The Two Worlds II example brought the lolz especially.

Hardly a surprise.

I see no problem with the combat system, it could be better like most things in this world, but from what I've seen it's already better than Oblivion. That is what you set out to do when you create a sequel, you try to best the predecessors that came before. If you can accomplish that on any level, you've been successful with your next installment. (Plus, I enjoyed Oblivion's combat, so I know I'll be having a great time 11/11/11).

Exactly. The other comparison games are hardly perfect in term of combat to begin with. Two Worlds II allows you to equip shield but you can't block with it.

Well how good do you expect it to be with no locational damage? However, I really don't care about it, it looks better than Oblivion how can you say its not when we can mix and match weapons for dual welding, dual weld spells etc.? Its still not perfect but most open world RPG's have terrible combat anyways.

Yep. I think it is good enough.

TES is mainly a first person game comparing it to third person games combat is really stupid and unfair.

I dont think the combat is at all disappointing.The guy playing the leaked footage,couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag .It was plain god awful to watch a call duty player, playing a TES
game.There was so much the player overlooked and would just rush into combat with out a thought.So i would not base any opinion on the leaked footage.

I think they should've taken some pointers (not copy, mind you, although I wouldn't have minded it) from the melee combat of Risen. There enemies blocked, dodged and used counterblows so often one actually had to pay attention to the happenings -- hits and counterblows caused staggering quite often, as well as hitting someones parry. The combat was often deadly if you lost focus, and overall it felt quite dynamic and responsive - you couldn't just clickety click through.