» Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:08 pm
Okay, so they can do whatever they want with the Dawnguard expansion, I'm just glad that there's going to be even more to do in this world. I haven't even finished playing all of Skyrim yet as far as side quests are concerned. What I really want to see though, is Bethesda go back to where it basically took video games, and turned it into art. The game that stole my heart, and 22 of the 24 hours of my day for multiple days in a row for years at a time. Morrowind, people...Morrowind. I don't know how many of you have played The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, but that is still one of the greatest Elder Scrolls game to date. Skyrim is tied with it because you can dual wield weapons, and Skyrim has the best animation and most balanced game play and the greatest way of leveling up I've ever seen. But, Morrowind has some of the greatest environments ever, some of the richest characters who have useful and fun dialogue. AND, Morrowinds story is to this very day the greatest story line in a video game that I've played ever. It's an old fashion story, and it's been done before, for sure. But it's fun to play, it's long and challenging, and upon completing it there's such a thrill of satisfaction that's never been duplicated since. Beating Oblivion, and watching the statue of Akatosh form where Martin once stood didn't supply the same amount of satisfaction. Looking out at the sky (though beautiful) whilst Alduin was finally conquered didn't supply the same amount of satisfaction. Nothing has been as satisfying as Morrowinds game ending. Finally uniting all the house factions, and all the tribes to attack one foe. revealing the truth about the temple, and how twisted politics and religious radicals going on a power trip have shaped the history of the island of Vvardenfell for so many years. Then exploring the blighted base of Red Mountain in search for the artifacts necessary to defeat the main boss, Dagoth Ur. THEN, actually beating the main boss, Dagoth Ur, and watching as the giant machine he's been building for the past years crumbles and falls into the lake of lava at the base of the volcano, and being visited by the daedric goddess, Azura, to claim your prize as the Nerevarine, hero of Vvardenfell!
And now, here sits Bethesda, with the opportunity to make Elder Scrolls veterans squeal with joy. How many years have passed since the story of Morrowinds main quest occurred? Since Morrowind took place in 3E 427-3E 432, then in 3E 433 is when the Oblivion story line begins. Skyrims story line happens in 4E 201. So, since Morrowind (3E 427) to the end of Skyrim (4E 201), assuming that every Era goes 1000 years and assuming I understand the way the Tamriel calendar works, there has been a 774 year passing period of changes on Vvardenfell. That provides so much room for creativity with what they do. I'm not talking about doing a prequal to Skyrim, but something that takes place after the events of Skyrim, on the island of Vvardenfell with all the changes that nearly 1000 years provides. It's known that the city of Vivec has sunk, the Nerevarine has left Tamriel to go to Akivir, and that the house wars still rage on. With those three things, all you need is a villian with a motive, and you've got your main quest, and multiple side quests.
Maybe you can try and join together the Mages Guild and the Telvanni wizards to rebuild the city of Vivec, bring it out of the water and rebuild it. Or pit the houses against each other in political warfare on who owns what land and products. There’s the good old Fighters Guild quests, the Dark Brotherhood, the Mages Guild quests, and Thieves Guild Quests. Then, being on the island of Vvardenfell opens up the quest lines for the Morag Tong, the Commona Tong, and quite a few more. Ashland tribes probably still exists, maybe they’ve evolved! What if the Ashland tribes, rather than being in tents, traveled by stilt striders. Imagine, giant bug like creatures walking about large ashlands with tribal darkelves shooting arrows at you as you ride on the back of a Guar with however you attack people (be it arrow, sword, magic, spear, knife, ect.). I think that Bethesda returning to Vvardenfell opens so much for a game/DLC, it’s not even funny. And with the power that we have now with the new engines Bethesda use and the running capabilities of the next generation of console there’s absolutely nothing stopping them from creating the entire country of Morrowind available to the player, Vvardenfell, Solstheim, and the main land too.
I think that returning to Morrowind for a game, or if anything, one wicked massive DLC, is probably one of the greatest things Bethesda could do for its players. How many of us have spent countless hours playing Morrowind? And how awesome would it be to revisit that land with all the changes that time has done to it?