Why are people so quick to judge when they haven't even played it yet. None of the videos seen have been of the final build bc the game went gold yesterday. Also the combat looks smooth & very responsive. Yeah there isn't a full blown extremely noticeable animation every single time you hit an enemy BUT would you want more resources spent on over doing combat that is only a fraction of the game or more content?!?! I think the game looks completely redefined from top to bottom giving us the best of both worlds. Also considering we get 3rd & 1st person, I would say the combat is very fine tuned visually. I'm pumped for the game & think it looks amazing if you don't like the combat then make a mod to fix it after release!

Well, if someone doesn't like the combat, they can always try diplomacy.

The people who complain about the combat, do so because they've played Witcher or similar visceral games where combat is the main focus. They don't understand that Skyrim contains such a massive amount of non-melee-combat content that they see only that one bad thing and then start whining about it.

What people don't understand is that if you have more of A, then you get less of B. If you want B, then you need to let A go. If you want both, then you need twice the amount of development.

Sorry, what does the game being "primarily first person" have to do with anything? Why do stats suddenly go out the window because you're in first person? AFAIK TES has always been an endeavor in bringing first person to stats-based RPGs, so the first person perspective is actually secondary to the stats-based gameplay.

Dark souls had a similar right triggers do right hand/left triggers do left hand configuration, and the combat was dynamic, strategic and really fun.

I really hope Skyrim's combat will be more fun and strategic than it looks.

Ditto.

Combat looks just fine to me, better than fine actually. To me with a game like Skyrim as long as the combat is decent its all you need, cause there is so much more to the game then melee combat. Plus the games people are comparing it to are third person action titles not First Person RPGs like Skyrim is mainly supposed to be played as.

I liked oblivion’s combat and I think besides the finishing moves Skyrim’s will be great too. As for people saying that enemies don’t react to hits, what the hell do you want? A stagger every time you land a hit? Don’t you realise how easy it would be to kill someone so long as you land the first hit. And it’s not as if enemies don’t react at all to hits at all, from gameplay perspective it makes more sense the way it is. It honestly never bothered me I don’t see why anyone would have such a big problem with it.

It's dull and un-satisfying.

I have to agree, I had been hearing how great the combat in Dark Souls is, but that looked a little weak. Dark Souls is supposed to be really difficult, as in you die A LOT, but that does not mean it is good. I am not trying to bash DS, as I have not played it, but just based on watching it and comparing it to TESV, well, there is no comparison. TESV looks (emphasis on looks) much better as far as combat animations. True, I don't think you are going to have the moves like DS showed where the character tuck and rolled in TESV, but a few extra movesets does not make it better either, IMO.

Actually many games work just fine and remain challenging (even more so) with the fact you can either score a blow and stagger your enemy, or get blocked. There's no grey area where you land a hit and there is no visual feedback, except the hp bar moving. It adds strategy to combat, knowing you can only lower your defences to make a quick strike or counterstrike. I was under the impression Skyrim would adopt this kind of melee gameplay, with active blocking as an important survival strategy.

I like the "maybe next time" mentality of the OP. It makes me totally not regret buying Skyrim with its alleged bad combat.

Compared to Morrowind and Oblivion the combat looks to be greatly improved. I do not see anything wrong with the way combat looks it looks alot deeper and much more engaging. The combat looks to be more visceral in this game and that is a plus.

People playing it right now, right now who are not paid to say nice things no matter what are giving you honest impressions, and you -still- think they are complaining to complain

oh lawdy

one things for sure, Skyrims combat is NOTHING llike Dark Messiah, NOT one bit.

How Morrowind is compared to Oblivion is Moot, both games run on two differen't Era's and Game mechanics, Skyrim Runs on Fallout 3's advancements

Take your pick.

Skyrim's combat is way too clunky, broken and not connecting. Loose animation and what not. U guys know what i saw :'(

Not fair with us warriors man... I mean its the retail version that i am seeing. and you keep hitting the guy and he doesnt give a [censored].. its v v v bad. although i'll still buy the game.. :/

It's getting better all the time. There's a limit of what kind of combat you can add to a first-person game.

I'd rather have Monster Hunter combat than Dark Souls combat

Sadly, I think I'm the only MH fan that doesn't live in Japan

Seeing the dragons made me think of Rathalos, though I doubt they'll be anywhere near as fun :[

it's impossible to make GOOD combat from a FPS perspective. I mean .. what would OP want ? In TES games you flail a large metal thing untill the things in front of you stop moving. it's not exacly rocket science.

They do have some stumbling back animations and such. We saw that in a demo in the dungeon fighting a Redguard. Though I'm guessing you mean with every hit, not just big hits.

If we could have the combat from Dark Messiah in this game i would die happy!

*boots Orc in face* o.O

The best way to protest what you think is awful combat design is to vote with your dollars and not purchase Skyrim.

VV I'm not doubting your opinion of the combat but my point stands. If you think it's really that bad, don't buy the game.

Check out the leaked footage i posted on elder council facebook and play the video 11 min onward and see for yourself the CLUNKIEST combat i have ever seen in a video game. go check now!!!

Never played it but after seeing this I wish I had. Wow, that's the way to do medieval combat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caB1jodPQPQ

Yes, I mean from most hits. I'm not talking based on the official demos.

However, apart from the lack of visual refinement and counter-attacks, it still looks fun! Finishers do make it exciting enough, even if they add zero strategy.

Well, Dark Messiah's combat system is top-notch. I haven't seen any 1st/3rd person fantasy/medieval action-rpg game make a game with a better system. It is really good, and to think it's 5 years old already...