Review Kage Review Skyrim

[KaGe_RaNCiD]

Hey Everyone, I thought my first post should be about what I thought of Skyrim. (spoiler I'm not a HUGE fan) I played (only) story missions for my initial playthrough and finished in about 39 hours. (I rushed through and ignored a lot of stuff) But as far as gameplay goes the game left me wanting more. The weapons looked cool but (especially in bladed weapons) that's really the only thing about them that I cared about. I found that the cooler looking weapons actually did the most damage as well, instead of the more practical looking ones. The animations in a few area's were dodgy and the voice acting for 75% of the characters was bland. (not taking regular citizens into account) The AI for almost every NPC, whether it be friend or foe was almost laughably dumb and the animations (while an improvement over the constipation walk of oblivion) was still stiff and actually broke a few times, I had one incident where a girl I was following went to swing at an enemy and her arm flew off and got stuck into the ceiling leaving her (thank god invincible) body to be attacked over and over by a wolf.

The combat itself was as smooth as first person sword play could be, by that I mean first person sword play doesn't really work with any game, but Elder Scrolls has it as right as it can be, and when the enemies weren't clipping into the ground or just standing there while i pummeled them with spells and swords the fights were actually enjoyable. But I did have times where I'd swing the sword at an enemy, point blank, and the hit wouldn't detect and i'd end up wildly swinging my sword until a hit would finally connect and it'd stop chewing on my face.

Main Character NPCs for the most part were dumb as bricks, having an escort mission where i had to lead someone out of a tunnel and through traps, and the we got stuck at one part where there was a button on the ground and it was EXTREMELY noticeable that it was a trap, but the person i was escorting was badly pathed and he kepted stepping onto the button and getting a wall of spikes smacked into his face.

The story, if you were WAY too into it was good, but i enjoyed Oblivion's story better... we get it Medieval nerds, you like dragons. BUT, when you fight 50 of them the "awesome" of it wears thin and it becomes just another enemy, instead of a force to be reckoned with. If it were me, there would be only a few dragons all getting more difficult in difficulty as you progress in the story. Or they'd be in different areas as like rulers of their own little domain. Instead you could randomly be attacked by 2-3 dragons a day, and since in the beginning you're a little pansy when it comes to dealing out damage you are still like, "OH pl*** A DRAGON, F*** WHAT AM I GONNA FIGHT IT WITH?" by the time you're level 30 you're shooting them down with enchanted arrows not giving a F***, because there's more difficulty in fighting a group of ice trolls at that point.

The almost limitless side missions don't equal something good, if you have 5000 cheeto's you're eventually gonna get two or more that look pretty freaking similar, and by the 100th one they all kind of blend together into just one more thing to do instead of, "OH WOW LOOK AT ALL THIS NEW STUFF I CAN STILL DO!!"

The graphics are par, but thats it. Bethseda's game engine is to blame for that though and I don't hold it against the game, because i still enjoy mario kart 64 over double dash, even though double dash looks better doesn't mean it plays better. If there's one thing I have to say about Skyrim is that there is TOO MUCH stuff put into it that it detracts from what could have been if they made a smaller game. Instead of hiring 50 scripters for limitless quests, why not hire 50 extra voice actors, and maybe a few of them can do more than one voice. All i know was I was in the room with that B***** orphanage lady and I killed her (to the children's joy) and I heard a little boy with the exact same voice and line as a little girl that was in the same orphanage. which granted only happens because there are quite a few more people than voice actors in the game, but geez... it comes back to too much in the game.

And in the end I didn't feel the need to play it anymore, i finished the good stuff of the game so why play what NPC's who have even less character than the Main story characters did.

I liked the game, but i'm not blindly in love with it or the series itself but I did enjoy myself several times, mostly at the dumb glitches or laughable character AI or movement pathing.

6/10.. and i'm being generous because I do like dragons...

OH and i never used the voice things, never had to.. my swords were almost always better.

and forgive any typos, its 3am...

 

[wrighty]

I can agree with some things but I don't understand why you have joined a forum to talk about a game which you don't really like. Skyrim has it's faults but the elder scrolls has always been dependent on what you make of the game.
How do you play? Are you constantly Exploiting, maxing your skills as fast as possible and fast travelling? Or do you take your time, roleplay and increase the immersion.

 

[Shadow King]

I can agree on alot of what u said and I will give u rep for ure post because alot of what u say is true, except mainly this 6/10 rating wtf have u been on the Skooma, Its game of the year, f.u.c.k its game of the decade(in my oppinion). the game lost probably got a 6/10 rating and that was pish, I know its ure view bro im only saying these things to help change that view and make u appreciate the game for what it is, the thing is u have rushed the game (abused it) I do the same though, when a new dlc comes out I run threw it then play again and take it all in, have u tried going out hunting etc? have u tried to roleplay a character? u should interact with the world more, go check the weather and animals out, go see the the sights of Skyrim.

Welcome to the forums and great first post.

 

[KaGe_RaNCiD]

I can agree with some things but I don't understand why you have joined a forum to talk about a game which you don't really like. Skyrim has it's faults but the elder scrolls has always been dependent on what you make of the game.
How do you play? Are you constantly Exploiting, maxing your skills as fast as possible and fast travelling? Or do you take your time, roleplay and increase the immersion.

first, I did quite enjoy the game, but to me it was quite over hyped. I was a brawler mostly, ignoring the smaller quests and worked to max out my strength so I could beat down enemies faster. I really just worked with swords and bows.

And I don't think I should have to roleplay to get the best immersion, the game is supposed to suck you in and create the thought that you are this character going around and doing the things you're doing. VERY FEW GAMES DO THIS well mind you, I think the one game that immerses the player perfectly is Amnesia The Dark Descent. If I have to create the immersion playing Skyrim would be like playing DnD.

And I only fast traveled if I was tired or i really didn't want to walk or ride a horse all the way across the map.

 

[KaGe_RaNCiD]

I can agree on alot of what u said and I will give u rep for ure post because alot of what u say is true, except mainly this 6/10 rating wtf have u been on the Skooma, Its game of the year, f.u.c.k its game of the decade(in my oppinion). the game lost probably got a 6/10 rating and that was pish, I know its ure view bro im only saying these things to help change that view and make u appreciate the game for what it is, the thing is u have rushed the game (abused it) I do the same though, when a new dlc comes out I run threw it then play again and take it all in, have u tried going out hunting etc? have u tried to roleplay a character? u should interact with the world more, go check the weather and animals out, go see the the sights of Skyrim.

Welcome to the forums and great first post.

My rating was based on the game alone, not the story, not the characters or anything pretty about the game. I broke it down in my mind and tore it apart piece by piece through my experience. I gave it a +2 for awesome(yet sometimes repetitive) open world, +2 for smooth fighting (as smooth as it gets with FPS swordplay) and the rest went on my enjoyment. remember 6/10 is above average so its not a bad rating just lower than most people who over hyped it would give.

I'd give all CoD's a 2/10 for how bad they are if it weren't for the fact that the multiplayer was so damn entertaining. And at 8 years old i was more immersed in Halo 1 than anything i have been in since (except for maybe amnesia).

My opinion on Skyrim is that its pretty, but thats where it really ends with how good it is. There may be tons of stuff to do in it, but the variety of stuff you can do is way less than how much of it you have to do for 100% completion and frankly i have too much of a life to complete that game 100%.

But the fact of the matter is i enjoyed Skyrim, but it really is just a copy paste story of really any dragon story out there. Except for maybe the whole dragonborn thing, that was pretty original (but i'm sure something out there has done something like it) and i give it points on that.

I LIKED THE GAME (remember that) and i'm not talking bad about it. Just reviewing it ^_^

 

[Moris]

So you powerlevelled your character, concentrated on killing mobs, and rushed through some major quests? And you then criticize the narrative?

How many books did you read? How many NPC's did you listen to before you clicked on them and started talking? And when you did click, did you follow all of the dialogue options? How many conversations did you overhear?

This is where TES is strongest in narrative. But you have to put some effort into it.

 

[KaGe_RaNCiD]

Why should I, or anyone for that matter, have to go around and find the story out through things like that? The fact of the matter is there is WAY too much stuff to do in that game for people who never really played an Elder Scrolls game before to care enough to do little things just to find out more about the story.

Again I will say this. THE GAME IS GOOD, I ENJOYED PLAYING IT SO MUCH THAT I FINISHED IT. I WAS ALMOST NEVER BORED WITH THE GAME. I LIKED THE GAMEPLAY (when it wasn't glitching out and even then it was entertaining) don't try and crucify me because I didn't have the same experience coming out of the game as you did. This is a review, take it how you like. Its just my opinions on how the game worked, and it worked fine, but note 9.5/10 fine. (AGAIN IN MY OPINION) Its a game i'd rather play for 36 hours and not have to touch a CoD in that amount of time.

I don't play MMORPG's for this reason. If I have to sink hours upon hours of time into a game just to enjoy it to its fullest then its not a good game. And at least in MMORPG's i'm interacting with someone in some kind of way. Skyrim lacks that person to person interaction, and there's WAY too much stuff to do in it to be sitting alone in your room for hours on end. Talking only to scripted characters and fighting dragons.

AGAIN, I LIKED THE GAME, IT WAS FUN, I WAS NEVER BORED PLAYING IT, AND TO ME IN MY MIND I THOUGHT THERE A LITTLE LESS. THAT'S IT.

 

[kyleekay]

And I don't think I should have to roleplay to get the best immersion

It's an RPG. By definition, it's a role playing game. Technically you're role-playing no matter what, but the replay value and stories become more interesting (IMHO) once you start to set "rules" for yourself. Even something as simple as a back-story can help you approach the game with fresh eyes, and you will start to notice things (or appreciate things) that you never did before.

Why should I, or anyone for that matter, have to go around and find the story out through things like that? The fact of the matter is there is WAY too much stuff to do in that game for people who never really played an Elder Scrolls game before to care enough to do little things just to find out more about the story.

There is a ton of content, yes. It can be overwhelming at first. But, the point of all that content is for replay value. Skyrim wouldn't be as good as it is if you could do absolutely everything in one run-through. The fact that you did try to do everything/powerlevelled, etc, is more than likely what detracted from your enjoyment of the game.

Again I will say this. THE GAME IS GOOD, I ENJOYED PLAYING IT SO MUCH THAT I FINISHED IT. I WAS ALMOST NEVER BORED WITH THE GAME. I LIKED THE GAMEPLAY (when it wasn't glitching out and even then it was entertaining) don't try and crucify me because I didn't have the same experience coming out of the game as you did. This is a review, take it how you like. Its just my opinions on how the game worked, and it worked fine, but note 9.5/10 fine. (AGAIN IN MY OPINION) Its a game i'd rather play for 36 hours and not have to touch a CoD in that amount of time.

The point of Skyrim (IMO) is not to "finish it". It was meant to be savored slowly, for you to take your time with it. Also, no one is crucifying you. But as someone else stated, you are on a forum dedicated to Skyrim. Of course we're likely to disagree with some of the things you say. Especially when you say "The game was good" in one breath, and then completely attack it in the next.

I don't play MMORPG's for this reason. If I have to sink hours upon hours of time into a game just to enjoy it to its fullest then its not a good game. And at least in MMORPG's i'm interacting with someone in some kind of way. Skyrim lacks that person to person interaction, and there's WAY too much stuff to do in it to be sitting alone in your room for hours on end. Talking only to scripted characters and fighting dragons.

AGAIN, I LIKED THE GAME, IT WAS FUN, I WAS NEVER BORED PLAYING IT, AND TO ME IN MY MIND I THOUGHT THERE A LITTLE LESS. THAT'S IT.

You know what I think your MAIN issue is? You're not suited for RPG games. Plain and simple. You are better suited for faster-paced games that do not have a variety of depths to explore: and that's fine. Just don't expect to waltz into this forum with your review and be greeted with loving gazes and exclamations of "OMG you are so right!".

Also... don't use caps lock so much. It translates to screaming, and it's a pain to read. Cheers.

 

[Moris]

Why should I, or anyone for that matter, have to go around and find the story out through things like that? The fact of the matter is there is WAY too much stuff to do in that game for people who never really played an Elder Scrolls game before to care enough to do little things just to find out more about the story.

Why should you have to do it?

Well, why should you have to click some buttons in order to kill some mobs? Why should you have to level? Why should you have to think about picking skills? Why is Skyrim not just a movie you can sit and watch while snogging your gf or stuffing your face with beer and pizza?

Seriously. To get the story, you have to do those things because those things are part of the game. The game isn't going to hold your hand and drag you through the narrative. If it did it would be the same for everyone and that would be immensely boring.

If you don't like doing these things, then this series probably isn't for you.

 

[wrighty]

I can see where your coming from, but Skyrim is the sort of game that is there for people to put a lot of time into, it's a game that many of us will play for years, whilst you seem to be more like a person that buys a new game each month or 2.
If you want a game where you can just come home, switch it on, and play for an hour without too much thinking then you want call of duty.
Elder scrolls is a game that is there to be played through with multiple different characters and designed for roleplaying. 1 character does the dark brotherhhod, 1 does the companions etc.
It's amazing if you can slow down and put a bit of thought into your character, make up reasons for why they are how they are, perhaps a legionnare murdered your parents so you side with the stormcloaks, or perhaps you killed in self defence and developed a liking to murder. The point being your character can be anything you want and the more in depth you think about it the more enjoyment you will get from the game.
Skyrim is not a game you can play and complete because there are lot's of ways to do things with all different styles of play.

 

[Malignanttoe]

Clearly not a professional game reviewer, but hey, you're entitled to your opinions.
What I get from the OP is that this isn't her/his kind of game. All games have their pros and cons, and they aim for a certain audience.
I can't say that you don't have any valid points, but overall, I disagree more than agree on your critical analysis.

And you will never enjoy a large, indepth game if you rush through the whole thing.

Edit- and just to be clear, there is a very large difference between 'review' and 'opinion.' What you have here is your opinion of the game.

 

[DrunkenMage]

Just seems like you're trying to say, you rushed through the game at top speed without listening to anyone then dislike most of the game because it has too much in it and not enough in it. As to why you should play the game like that or anyone for that by listening to NPC's and reading the little books in skyrim, well I suppose because this game was under creation for years. This game isn't one supposed to be rushed through at top speed, of course the story would seem rather crap if you rushed through it.

Elder scrolls games aren't something that are meant to be played at rushing speed of hacking and killing, not listening to anyone or anything then dislike parts of it because of the fact you rushed through it. Not the games fault you choose to rush. The game was under creation for years, it isn't a Call of Duty that gets spat out yearly with the focus solely on being rushed through to get all the good stuff. Skyrim isn't a perfect game, no game is truly perfect. It does have a few bugs here and there. Though I wouldn't judge a game because it didn't suit a play style that isn't right for this type of game.

 

[Shadow King]

This is how I explain how good skyrim is compared to other games, because Skyrim is massive,beautiful, its a game that can be considered a way of life (virtual life at that)

£40 Epic mikey
£40 Skyrim
£40 Hitman Absolution

If u are speaking of what u get from a game, what its worth in terms of gameplay/immersion/detail/enjoyment, how the fcuk can those 3 games be valued the same, this is the worth of the games in my eyes.

£10 epic mikey
£750 skyrim (at least)
£40 Hitman absolution

I am just talking about what Skyrim offers compared to other games and how much enjoyment u get from the game. I am trying to say how amazing this game is but each to there own, but my small mind just cant comprehend why people would prefer something like cod over this magical beautiful immersive world, I hope someone understands wtf im talking about btw lol, plops I cant rate myself off topic lol.

I know I worded it really really badly

 

[OckhamsFolly]

Don't take the backlash too personally, Kage. The folks here are actually quite nice. It's just that, well, your critique of Skyrim ignores what the game was made for. TES games are specifically designed to be explored beyond the bounds of the main quest. It's about options and discovery, about unfolding a story, both your own and Bethesda's. You say you're judging just on the game, but the story is an integral part of a game; in TES, it's the game's raison d'être.

If you play the way you did, you will never understand why people rave about these games. It's that application of a standard that's entirely alien to how the game was designed that bothers folk here.

 

[MrDSL]

I gotta say coming from WOW this game really does have some good NPC interaction..

Listening to some of the things that go on in the background is pretty funny..

 

[Shadow King]

I gotta say coming from WOW this game really does have some good NPC interaction..

Listening to some of the things that go on in the background is pretty funny..

Totally agree, have u ever heard the blacksmith and his wife in Riverwood speak, I heard a coversation were they both blamed each other for spoiling there daughter, the convo was priceless.

 

[doc108]

I

Just seems like you're trying to say, you rushed through the game at top speed without listening to anyone then dislike most of the game because it has too much in it and not enough in it. As to why you should play the game like that or anyone for that by listening to NPC's and reading the little books in skyrim, well I suppose because this game was under creation for years. This game isn't one supposed to be rushed through at top speed, of course the story would seem rather crap if you rushed through it.

Elder scrolls games aren't something that are meant to be played at rushing speed of hacking and killing, not listening to anyone or anything then dislike parts of it because of the fact you rushed through it. Not the games fault you choose to rush. The game was under creation for years, it isn't a Call of Duty that gets spat out yearly with the focus solely on being rushed through to get all the good stuff. Skyrim isn't a perfect game, no game is truly perfect. It does have a few bugs here and there. Though I wouldn't judge a game because it didn't suit a play style that isn't right for this type of game.[/quote
I do not want to turn this into a COD vs TES thread but zCOD has its own charm. Interaction with other players and a more fast paced game being two. They both have their own charms. No reason to rag on the other.

 

[doc108]

Dang my earlier post is messed up. Just read the bottom paragraph of the quote it somehow got incorporated into the post.

 

[MrDSL]

Totally agree, have u ever heard the blacksmith and his wife in Riverwood speak, I heard a coversation were they both blamed each other for spoiling there daughter, the convo was priceless.

Unfortunately I lost him a long time ago to a vampire attack I believe...I lost a couple outside blacksmiths due to that..

Thinking about it WOW is definitely geared toward rushing through and power leveling..at least in my experience.