» Wed May 11, 2011 12:22 am
Great thread!
Don't get me wrong, I love the open-ended play in 2 of my favourite games, Morrowind and Oblivion - I've been playing both regularly since release to the present day! (not the same game though, I get bored after I've done everything and start a new character). The MQ end of those games resolved a crisis but did not make significant (and varied, dependent upon outcome) changes to the game world. There has to be a sacrifice in order to achieve this, and the thing that is sacrificed is player choice and taking sides in the MQ, you're the hero in a classic fantasy good vs evil battle, the MQ has to pan out in a certain way.
FONV is not so black and white, it's a story with many sides to choose from and decisions that have different results which significantly impact on the game world. So the sacrifice is that the game has an end.
This is not a problem and I wonder why some view it as such. Most games have an end, novels and films have an end. Maybe in these days of neverending film sequels and huge 10 installment book series, people can't cope with the fact that some of the best stories really do sometimes end with the hero riding into the sunset, never to be heard from again.