» Thu Aug 30, 2012 5:21 pm Originally, TES series were made for PC, which wasn't an option, but a need, since consoles would not handle any big and heavy games when the first TES came out, so our journey begun, I mean, for most, but not for me, I've never touched any TES game before Morrowind, but still, from what I've read and heard, people felt a huge jump from Daggerfall to Morrowind, tech wise and gameplay wise. I've tired my eyes on reading so many good things about TES 3, that I was easily convinced to play the game much after it's release, when I had already played Oblivion, and so my judgement over the series begun, but nothing that I would think was strong enough for me to go out and say something about the game, but after stepping into Skyrim, well, I felt an urge to scream out loud and kill the Game Designer, but I didn't, I rather got to know every inch of the game before judging it, since I had that with Oblivion and Morrowind. And so I did, for almost a year, and, with the help of tons of mods, I have actually tested every single thing in Skyrim, dungeon, quests, skills, gameplay, evolutional curve, every single thing is, at this very moment, known to me, and pretty well.
I'll be dividing this review into topics, but not game-wise, I'm going for a more in depth review using reference from older TES games, so I'll basically divide into those...
UI
So let's start, first and most important, TES V is a console game ported into PC, and there's nothing anyone can say that will convince me otherwise, because it is the TRUTH, TES V was never planned for PC, except for releasing it on the platform, the game it self was planned to attend a ridiculous XBOX Joystick. What difference this makes? Well, you all know it, the damned HUD and UI, is a nightmare for any experienced PC player, you actualy still have to pause the game (a flaw that came over from older TES games, but nothing we would feel into our bones), and you can't open more then one menu at a time, like I used to do on Oblivion, I can't look at character sheet and mess up with inventory, if any major changes are made into my character stats, well, I have to go through over nine thousand menu screens before reaching it, and THAT is the main issue with UI. In second in my podium for worse UI design, well, the menu system it self, with all those BIG texts all around, divided in a way it hurts the eyes to use, specially on PC where we could have something millions of years ahead of that Stone Age we were given. And for third place goes the FAV menu system, well, a big step from Oblivion in a way, and a gigantic step back from most short-cut systems we have in games since Diablo 2, or even Diablo for the sake of fairness.
Conclusion: Use mods, don't even bother with the vanilla system
TES V is the worst UI system ever seen by TES PC fans, but some have fixed that crap, there are mods for us to use over it, but it's still bad, it's still clumsy and annoying, even with the improvement from the mods, and so we stick into the game, because that isn't the most important thing on games anymore (the downfall from the last 5 years on the big title releases created this black hole, which I'm not sure if we are ever going to rid ourselves from again)
Kick-off and Freedom
As of what made most of TES series famous, the starting and freedom for your character determine the hardest and most bitter thing you have to swallow from Skyrim. You kick-off as a prisioner, but unlike other TES games, you are already forced into an rush feeling that you HAVE TO DO THE MAIN QUEST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, this was the hardest hit I've taken from Bethesda on this game, and it won't be fixed, ever, because they made sure it would be necessary for you to advance 50% of the side quests, so even with mods to get alternative starts, the game forces you into it in a way you cannot escape, causing glitches and sort if you don't rush into it, at least, up to the point that the main quest will mandatorily make your "role-play" turn it into a matter of most importance, more important than anything else in the game, because all the side quests feel like "oh, I can prostpone this, no urgency on it".
But it doesn't end here, you are pushed into the main quest, with a damned Dragon already showing up and destroying everything, I used to think that Kvatch was a bad decision, but Skyrim made me think otherwise, Helgen kick-off is the most depressing thing in all TES games together, anyway, not only u are forced into the main quest like a kid taking a beating, but you also are forced to create empathy with the Stormcloaks, once u are about to enter the tutorial area, well, if you have any role-play sense into your head, you won't go with Hadvar, you WILL follow Ralof, who, the devs made sure, recruits you on the spot for the Stormcloaks, no matter your race, gender or playstyle. They also made sure to make you hate the empire right from the start, and limited your background (which has always being imaginative) into something that would make you "CROSS THE BOARDER".
The most hard thing to swallow in the long run isn't even those things, but the lack of a Class system, this limits you into sticking with one playstyle for the rest of the game, but wait, depending on how you go through the tutorial, you won't even reach level 2, which means, you are as useless as the game can make you, you cannot start alchemy there, you cannot start enchanting (which was made almost necessary in skyrim), you can't start a merchant, and most and foremost, you can't start an archer up until u are already out of the cave. Also, you have a strong lack of perks, perks were existent on Oblivion, yes, but in a different system, you would gain them by reaching an specific level with each skill, so at 25 on any skill you would receive a boost to it, making it easier to direct the character, but in Skyrim you must LEVEL to get any perks, basically you are but a simpleton at the kick off, also forcing more limits into the character background.
So, Bruce Nesmith, in all your wisdom and brilliance, do oyu care to explain us what the hell are we supposed to do with this "more free system"? Better, what the f*** "freedom" means to you? You clearly need some classes about the subject...
Much further in the main quest, you'll also be forced into the Mages College guild, and will be almost forced into the Thieves guild, no matter what you do, and Paarthurnax
Conclusion: Even with the best kick-off mods, you will feel inclined not to play the game, simply because there's only one way to go. As Bethesda made it clear but never said it, you are to be a NORD STORMCLOAK, who has no class, you do a BIT of EVERYTHING when it comes to SKILLS, but also, you are MEANT to be a THIEF and a MAGE, not just a member, but the LEADER of BOTH GUILDS, by the main quest directing, so, there's no escape, to deepen it even further, you also are meant to be a [censored] puppeteered by the Blades, who are the most annoying guys in the whole game when it comes to limiting your choices. And, if we add the Shouts to the list, well, you will be forced into all Guilds except for the dark brotherhood, in which you'll either join or eliminate.
Side-Quests
Well, Oblivion has it, and, Oblivion has it too, what about Skyrim? New game? Time to add right? WRONG, Skyrim has a really dumbed down version of side-quests because of the addictive use of Radiant system for most of it, not only making the side-quests almost completely generic, but also turning it into a repetitive wheel of boredom. Most of the things I get from the Side-quests, I don't use, most of the side quests, bugs me because there are actualy no choices involved, and once u hear about the possibility of that quest, well, u are now stuck with it forever, no alternative way to finish it on most cases, and you will face Radiant glitches, yup, I think they should be renamed for RADIANT GLITCHES... Anyway, most of them have a really incredible lore, an awesome potential, but they lack playability, they don't fit an Elder Scrolls game, at least, not after Oblivion, if you want to reintroduce something into a series, make sure you keep the good side from prequels instead of dumbing down the sequel, note that Beth... I really love most of them, since I keep playing this game, but they are that, nothing more than an Addicting and Immersive system, they aren't worth specific mentioning, so I'm doing a Radiant Review here...
Conclusion: Only way to endure those is using the Unnoficial Skyrim Patch, and, even tho, you will be forced to swallow some game changes you never wanted by those who made it
Daedric Quests
Awesome, most of them are exactly what I would've expected, except for Sheogorath, but hey, that doesn't matter, one bad daedric quest won't make me rage, but the rewards, well, most of the daedric artifacts are useless, unless you are really low level, which is impossible when u are forced to chose a stone that makes u lvl up to 15 in about 1 and a half hour of game, but hey, no problem, I am actually talking about the quests. Those have a unique feel, which should be used on all side-quests, but the lazyness from bethesda was so ultimate, that they decided to use Radiant thinking, Radiant developing and then we are stuck with a Radiant Game. Anyway, except for Sheogorath's quest, all other daedric quests feel awesome, unfortunately, the only side-quests which are really fun to play. As for the artifacts, there are only 2 notable, one is necessary if you are playing dawnguard and want to go as a Werewolf, which is the ring of hircine, good ring, badly applied(before dawnguard it was useless, just as the Beast Form was so ridiculous that you could die for mudcrabs if u had but only a few HUMAN corpses around), and the other is, tatarara: The Black Star, whoaaa! THE BLACK STAR!?!?!? Yes, it is, in fact, the best of the artifacts, right after the Skeleton key, which you are unable to keep due to stupid design decisions(whoa, that surprised me), and just because it is glitched, doesn't make it THAT better, you will actually face so many people in skyrim that the Black Star will become almost a MUST HAVE, and it is extremely usefull at any point.
Conclusion: GO FOR IT, BUT DON'T MIND THE REWARD, YOU WILL AT LEAST HAVE FUN ON THE PATH INSTEAD OF THE CONCLUSION
Magicka:
Well, if not the bad thing about Skyrim by many, for me, it's just another prove that the Lead Designer is a [censored]. But, what can I do? Well, mods, the only way to make the magic system in skyrim worth something is by using mods, or, rather specific perk tree spending to even use them, and here is the biggest dillema for me when it comes to play a wizard, it is possible, but you will lack a lot of things, if you chose to be a mage, you shall not have Illusion tree fully open, you shall not have Conjuration tree fully open, you will have Destruction tree fully opened with Restoration and Alteration, and that, my friends, forces you to leave any utility perk trees behind, but hey, don't worry, it's just another way to destroy any freedom you used to have in TES, that's the way of the future, that's the way of Bruce Nesmith, ALL HAIL BRUCE...
Conclusion: Many less spells, extremely narrowed gameplay. You must use Magic Mods, Midas is a good start, but there are many to make it feel more Vanilla like, DON'T EVEN BOTHER PLAYING A MAGE WITHOUT MODS, YOU WILL GET PISSED!
Evolutional Curve:
HOHOHO! The major flaw on most TES games, is back, a little better, but it IS DEFINATELY BACK! AWWW YEAH! Just don't worry, it isn't game breaking, but, you will find yourself really limited, and, unable to play peaceful characters, why? Well, the perk system, it's good in a side, but the way it is implemented made it a nightmare! You need perks to use things, basic thinking, you won't be able to kill even a mudcrab with a one-handed weapon if you are lvl 20 and has not purchased at least the first perk on the tree, no matter the level of the skill, it will be useless without perks, same goes for most things, but that isn't GAME BREAKING, just fun breaking, so they approved it (insert the positive thumb Fallout image here) Anyway, maximizing all skills to reach level 81 is almost suicidal, without mods or difficult changes. or even cheating your level back to 1, anyway, the game is annoying to play once u have reached lvl 100 on all your major skills, why? because you are now stuck, you either suffer your way up to 81, or, you just quit the game(finish all quests first). Despite this talk about perks, I also would like to give some attention to a few glitchy dungeons like Dustman's Cairn, well, if you reach lvl 9 or 10, don't do it, you will have to face not one, not two, BUT EIGHT Draugr Deathlords with EBONY WEAPONS, when you badly handle one, well, that's the game, THAT'S THE BEST, THAT'S Bruce Nesmith people, please, let's applaud him!
Conclusion: I strongly recommend mods to change it, please, go for more perks mods, go for fixes for buggy dungeons. Don't bother with the vanilla if you intend to play this game for more then one playthrough, even so, don't expect a great experience each time, the game is bad
Ending:
The ending of Skyrim is, mediocre, well, when I say mediocre I mean, we all knew there were going to be DLCs, we all knew the game, in a sense, was meant to be played after the main quest, but when it is over, you feel like, TILDE QQQ -> START -> SEARCH -> SKYRIM -> UNINSTALL. The game feels like an generic adventure game more then RPG, you sure immerse into it's universe, but you don't immerse into playing it anymore, you are done, zip zap, nothing else to do, no more things to have fun with, except if you haven't gathered all shouts, to at least use a full version of each, before quiting... You have seen sovngarde, you are the f****ing Dragonborn, THE ULTIMATE HERO, IN TWO HUNDRED YEARS, but yet, you are not recognized by your effort, there's not even an armor for your TRIUMPH (Oblivion made me laugh with that, y in hell's would I need an armor at that point lol). Anyway, I don't feel heroic at all, not even powerful, when the main quest is done, sure, I can call a dragon and three versions of spirits to fight for me, but what's the point? I thought, on the first playthrough, that I would actually unlock an AWESOME shout over that Wall in sovngard, silly me, Bruce Nesmith had made it clear, this game isn't meant to be played, it's meant to be BOUGHT! AWWW YEAAH!!!! So, if you've ended the main quest, ended the major side quests, you can quit, don't bother with minor ones, they are all the same, and have no fun, you also are stuck with that limited playstyle, Perks on you boy!
Conclusion: Wanna keep playing? MOD YOUR ASS LIKE CRAZY, go for quest mods, like, Ornarol's Fate, and such, they are good, they give you nice buffs, they do what Beth should've done, they rock, beth svcks
Dawnguard:
Ooooo, good vampire, come here, I have a blood crack for ya! Ladies and Gentlemen, Dawnfall, Dawnguard srry. Well, showed real promise, but it is so gitched, that you can't even see what it was meant to be, also, the vampire lord is a joke, it's either TOO OP(on normal) or too stupid(on Master), the gameplay is awful, again, made for consoles, just as horse riding and werewolves having no 1st person, you are stuck with this stupidity, because someone loves our good'ol Gears of War playstyle, right Mr. Nesmith? Anyway, it is bad, it adds content and hours for more distracting time from the vanilla flaws, overwhelming you with DLC Flaws, I see what you did there Beth! d-.ob I see it! Well, I don't really have much to say except that it IS EPIC to use Bloodencrusted arrows on the sun or elven blessed arrows, and, that the items introduced are the most badass I've seeing on Skyrim, but, reminding me what a crap game I had just played each time I've found some awesomeness in the game itself, also, this isn't really Dawnguard business but, again we were let down by Beth, with that Knetic shouting, if you never tried THUUMIC or the KINETIC, don't you will get addicted to it, and THUUMIC doesn't support dawnguard yet, and none of your shout mods, so, you will be frustrated, and, won't use the new Dawnguard shouts, EVER, if you already addicted yourself into voice shouting... Anyway, no matter what you do in Dawnguard you'll only have HALF the Content, meaning, if you side with the Good Doers, you will have crossbows (2 with enchanced versions of each), and three new unique items, one that doesn't make any sense(the shield is light armor, what?), and new spells, restoration spells with destructive EFFECTS ON UNDEAD, BEST SPELLS on ALL SKYRIM, damned bethesda... Anyway, and, if you go badass, you will be a vampire lord, and, that's it, u get artifacts to enchance your transformation, but forget aobut leveling, you will be forever playing as one once you reach it's high end play, once u are a fully grown vamp playboy, who lives in a castle, that can never be reformed (stupid), anyway, you won't be getting any of these awesome vamp spells without transforming, which makes the DLC even less attractive imo, and I don't think it's that good, altho, lore-wise and immersion-wise, it is DAMN AWESOME...
Conclusion: Do it, but don't expect it to fix the flaw that Skyrim was, it is just as flawed itself, but it is new, and will sweeten the game at least for a while
Downsides
Skyrim is the worst TES game ever, with the best graphics, best technology and best immersion, as an RPG, it is crap, completely worthless and it isn't worth your time, if that's what you want, if you can break that barrier tho, you can and will have fun, but not for as long as you had with Oblivion or Morrowind, mods can't fix it because most of the crapy choices is hardcoded.
Upsides
We have Nexus, is the first upside, other than that, High immersion, great graphics, and awesome dialogues.
Neutral-sides
Main quest story might please you or repulse you, so, try not to judge the whole game just for that, it is really big you know?!?!?!
AND THE SCORE IS:
Bruce Nesmith
Intepretate it as you will, I refuse to give a numerical score for a game that has being, apparently, an Egocentric project from a Lead Designer, too many changes, most don't make sense, so that is that...
I still love Skyrim, but not as close as I love Morrowind and Oblivion, and "DAMN THOSE CONSOLE PLAYERS TO OBLIVION. THEY WANNA BACK THE BRUCE NESMITH'S, THEY'LL GET WHAT'S COMIN' TO 'EM."
PS: I had to get it out of my system, don't interpretate my sarcasm as a personal appeal, I don't care about personal attacks nor I support them, but the fault of a bad game falls down to lead designer's shoulders, so that is that....
