I'd say it's a bit of a slippery slope (and a damn big one at that) to say the failure to produce this minor introduction to the world makes the game shallow from that point; it simply doesn't inspire the awe that previous Bethesda titles have at the very beginning. I'd argue their true moment for introduction in Skyrim would be the first dragon fight, but it has a withered appeal unless you went directly for the main questline (which I'm sure most of us did not.)

Finer details don't make or break a game (unless there's a complete lack thereof.) they're just nice to see sprinkled into the world. This one simply lacked one we have grown accustomed to.

Like Some Welsh Guy said, "Because a lot of people find the whole "you're on your own, do whatever" concept scary and intimidating". But i like the concept of im on my own, its a bit like FO 3 even though theres a main back quest, basically your on your own, you can choose where you go and what you do, ive played it many times many different ways, freinds who played it first said did you go here, i said no i went there, they said how did you get that so early, because i went in a different direction.

But in this the only feeling im getting as i travel and meet people is i just dont care about them, alot of them really annoy me and honestly all i want to do is kill everyone take what i want and move on, and the other thing thats annoying me is the fact the guards keep going, "hey i know you" and want to arrest you even after you like saved 5 villages, 3 major towns, saved the jarls son in laws cousins budgie named roger, killed the evil swamp living bloodblatter beast of snorg, got a chest full of commendations, pardons, letters of free passage, been beatified, and all the guards still keep going "dont i know you your that criminal", you have heard that but havent heard that ive saved the kingdom and its economy, everyone thats alive owes their life to me.

And yes it lacks atmosphere the only atmosphere i feel during the game is the EM radiation eminating from my computer and monitor, yes i did like the whole exiting the sewer then going ive gotta run now where from here, this is more like youve been parachuted into a country with a book that supposed to contain your orders you open it and its blank, but you get a shovel so you can dig for clues. Then you begin to wonder why some idiot parachuted you in there in the first place.

Its also like the school of magic getting attacked by the dragon, i thought well there will be a flood of mages pouring out to let loose with a rain of death, nope one person popped there head out and went, suppose i should help, i killed the dragon, and then honestly should have went on to massacre the rest of the college.

It was good to me.

I havn't played Morrwind as I came into the series in Oblivion (well after Oblivion was released) but I know the moment you are speaking of in Oblivion, when you emerge from the sewers and at that moment are on your own, though you are just outside the Imperial City, you are kind of off the beaten path, with the task of delivering the amulet to a town a good days walk away.

Where as in Skyrim once you escape Helgen during the dragon attack (which I like, it definately made for a dramatic opening maybe more dramatic than Oblivion) Once you escape through the cave you are basically already on the road to Riverwood, with Hadvar or Rolif to lead you there. I think it would have been better had they been crtically wounded on the colapse of the tunnel, and then they give you a ring or necklace or some kind of keep sake to take to thier family in Riverwood, then have the cave exit higher in the mountains, well off the path. Then you get that your on your own feeling, with a task to take care of.

In Skyrim.ini under the [General] section, add either:

SStartingCell=DaintySload01 (For the Morrowind experience), or

SStartingCell=AbandonedPrison01 (For the Oblivion experience)

Then after the game starts, in the console type player.removeallitems


Then showracemenu to create your character.

Problem solved.

FWIW, I totally disagree with this thread.

I came out of Helgen at night, and Ralof said "we better split up, meet me in river wood to the east if you want" and I let him go. I wandered around by myself a bit, got attacked by wolves, ran into a bandit, etc. it was awesome and totally scary. it was a wow moment for sure.

Also I appreciate having a little tutorial to learn the controls. It's annoying and immersion breaking to be thrown immediately into combat and you have to pause the game to look at the controller diagram to figure out what the crouch button is. I'm supposed to be an advlt in the world and I haven't even learned how to sprint?

Flame and troll all you like, but this is my opinion.

Weird, for me, Morrowind had an incredible moment of awe, Oblivion less so, and to be honest, Skyrim is somewhere between Morrowind and Oblivion in the initial moments, but is every bit as good as Morrowind wandering around. There are so many times in Skyrim when I just stop and admire the scenery. That didn't happen nearly as much in Oblivion - but it did still happen.

Coming out of the sewer in Oblivion was pretty awesome. A sunny day, a great view, and Vilverin in the distance.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't he advise you to meet him in Riverwood, so he doesn't say 'if you want'. I can't totally remember, but in any case it totally destroys that feeling that the other games had, it's like someone holding your hand all the way through.

Atmosphere has to be Sykrims strongest attribute surely!. The sights and the sounds combined are goosebumpy good to me.

Favourite Skyrim wow moments so far (still ongoing):

*SPOILERS*

Taking down my first dragon outside Whiterun (and just the sound of dragons in general especially the way it echoes around the mountains)
That mysterious Orb when its sitting in the College of Winterhold and that wonderful eery powerful sound it makes . Just walking around it gave me chills. Kudos to the sound designer who created that Orb sound superb job.
That moment in Markarth when you investigate the strange house, get locked in and that [censored] scary huge stereo wide voice booms out over you in the dark, I gotta tell ya on my high end speakers it really freaked me out playing at night!
Inside the Azura Star, eek!

...and just generally walking around around 2pm soaking up the atmosphere, just getting on a hose and going for a ride for no reason.

The whole game is just one big atmospheric wow for me.

*deleted*

Is this the first ES you've played? (Not being horrible, just asking)

1st- Dragons are something that quickly become tiresome (kinda like Obliviongates) so in general it was a fail to create and sustain the atmosphere.

and most of the points you listed are way after the 'off the boat' moment which is what this thread is about. Sorry if I sound like a bit curt and blunt, I always do when I write xD

Oops sorry, didn't realise this thread was specifically about the initial opener of the game, thought it was about wow moments in general

FYI I've killed about 6 dragons so far, the last dragon fight was right inside Whiterun and was a lot of fun. Anything BUT tiresome imho. I also loved that moment underground when you pass through the gate and that skeleton dragon rises from the ground with the undeed everywhere Soo didn't see that coming, awesome

Black Reach is all i'm saying, And how was the beginning scene bad? it was one of the best iv'e ever seen.

p.s am i the only one who did not enjoy Morrowind at all? it was alright but it wasn't the best game created.