Is Skyrim an RPG? : V

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:22 pm

Hi all! I wanted to know if this game would be a good Birthday present for my son. He has a really nice computer and enjoys playing video games. His favorite category is RPG, and I wanted to know if this would be considered one. He talks a lot about games being simplified, and usually doesn't like the newer stuff. I do see him play Fallout Las Vegas alot though. He likes Dragon Age 1 too. He mostly plays Balders Gate, and another one called Plain Escape or something. Knowing that he likes these games, would he also like Skyrim?

BTW, it has to be an RPG or he might not enjoy it. Thanks!

» Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:49 am

Yes, it is an RPG. Most would call it more of an action game or an action-RPG but those are just complainers.

So yes! If he like Fallout: New Vegas and Dragon Age, he will love Skyrim!

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:27 pm

Yes.

Skyrim has sacrificed a few RPG elements; however this is due to that the games have been a blend of RPG/Action-adventure, and elements that were removed were in most cases for the sake of avoiding awkwardness and increasing fluidity of the blend between the genres.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:56 am

BTW, it has to be an RPG or he might not enjoy it. Thanks!

Then you'll have to define RPG as seen by him.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:46 pm

If he liked Fallout NV and enjoys medieval-fantasy games, Skyrim will fit like a glove! :biggrin:

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:50 pm

No, it's a FDR.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:40 am

No. The heavy emphasis on customization, free roaming, large number of sidequests, focus on story and lore, ability to choose what kind of gear you use, optional dungeon crawls littering the map, skill and perk based leveling system, freedom of choice as to how you play and non-combat activities just don't count, because it's not Oblivion or Morrowind. It's like, an FPS, but without guns. And with third person. But still like an FPS. Because I didn't like it.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 12:34 pm

What is a FDR?

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:58 am

Well I consider Skyrim a RPG but a lot of its critics complain about it being "dumbed down" from previous games in the series. Sounds like your son might feel the same way.

» Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:33 am

its a hybrid type game, rpg/action/adventure...bethesda games are pretty much hybrid type games, they are rpgs, but they also have other key elements, exploration and combat are always hi lighted in bethesda games and their games aren't really story driven, which is good, they have a story and side stories etc, but thats not what drives their games, its clearly exploration, adventure, character development and combat.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:38 am

What is a FDR?

It's what happens when I post too quick and want to make a lame Fus Ro Dah joke.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 12:23 pm

What is a FDR?

A Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Never heard of it? It's when a game feels like it's crippled with polio.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:14 pm

Yes it's an RPG, and the best damn one I've ever played.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:31 pm

I got him Dragon Age 2 for Christmas, and he was rather disappointed with it. He said something along the lines of "It has a bad story, little customization, and no real choices." Does Skyrim do well in these areas? It seems he places emphasis on those things, so I want to make sure his birthday video game succeeds where his Christmas present apparently failed. He is a bit picky with video games, so I want to get this right.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:54 pm

I don't think your son would like it. I think the game is a great RPG but hearing the games that are your son's taste, he probably won't care for it, He seems to be one that pines for the Black Isles days and Skyrim is a different style and likely won't scratch his itch. I might suggest looking at Spiderweb Software, an Indie RPG company that makes the Avernum and Geneforge series, they make old school style games that sound more his style.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:31 pm

I got him Dragon Age 2 for Christmas, and he was rather disappointed with it. He said something along the lines of "It has a bad story, little customization, and no real choices." Does Skyrim do well in these areas? It seems he places emphasis on those things, so I want to make sure his birthday video game succeeds where his Christmas present apparently failed. He is a bit picky with video games, so I want to get this right.

Skyrim does well in all those areas (although your choices don't appear to affect the world), Dragon Age 2, for many of us, was a disappointment. Not just RPG fanatics.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 1:49 pm

I got him Dragon Age 2 for Christmas, and he was rather disappointed with it. He said something along the lines of "It has a bad story, little customization, and no real choices." Does Skyrim do well in these areas? It seems he places emphasis on those things, so I want to make sure his birthday video game succeeds where his Christmas present apparently failed. He is a bit picky with video games, so I want to get this right.

Your kid has good tastes! :yes:

Skyrim will be exactly what he's looking for.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 1:59 pm

It's an RPG without enough different factions for each role. For example, you can be a necromancer, but no one will give a sh*t about it and there are no friendly necromancers. (same is true for quite a lot of the possibilities in the game)

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:11 pm

It is mostly an RPG. There are some Action Elements to it, but that is the part and parcel of gaming now a days. Genres are blurred. For example, we have shooters now that play like RPGs (Borderlands for example). However, this is about as RPG as you are going to get in a modern game.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:03 pm

However, this is about as RPG as you are going to get in a modern game.

Ninja'd!

Took the words right out of my ~~fingers~~ mouth.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:35 pm

No, it is a codfish.

I smell trolling.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:52 pm

The Witcher 2 is very good, Gothic 3 is a older game but more hardcoe. Skyrim if you like endless wondering the world finding new things.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:26 pm

If he plays Fallout NV I really doubt whether he is an old-school isometric RPG absolutist of the type that think Skyrim is "dumbed down". I played RPGs since the days of Ultima, and I think Skyrim is a classic RPG that will make all the gaming magazine top RPG lists in future years. IMO it would be a shame to miss it if he is an RPG enthusiast.

Also the OP probably means Planescape, what is up with that? Seems weird not to get the actual title but w/e.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:41 pm

No, it is a codfish.

I smell trolling.

You might be right.

» Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:47 pm

I got him Dragon Age 2 for Christmas, and he was rather disappointed with it. He said something along the lines of "It has a bad story, little customization, and no real choices." Does Skyrim do well in these areas? It seems he places emphasis on those things, so I want to make sure his birthday video game succeeds where his Christmas present apparently failed. He is a bit picky with video games, so I want to get this right.

Yes.

Elder Scrolls games are the epitome of customization when it comes to your characters, and Skyrim is no different (and may even be better than ever in those regards).