Now, I could be wrong here fellows. Isn't the point of an RPG to create your own story? I sunk hours into both games but ever finishing the main quest nor paying attention to them I usually ignore the story all together.
I disagree, but I'll qualify my earlier statement. To be clear, I'm not mad that Skyrim doesnt have more story choices or RPG stuff, I'm mad that the characters feel flatter than cardboard, the main conflict feels completely divorced from the game's major locations, and the worldbuilding makes no sense at all. Delphine, Arngeir, and Jarl Baalgruuf are all leaders of important factions in the story and they're all soooo boring. I've heard Fallout 4: Far Harbor and Morrowind had some good questlines. I even think Skyrim's intro has some nice worldbuilding moments you might not catch on a first playthrough (It's only later on that you realize getting invested was a waste of time). But the first act of Skyrim's questline is pretty boring for me and I don't feel any differently about playing Fallout 3. I think Bethesda is capable of writing good stories, but their quality of writing is inconsistent. I understand that Dev studios have limited budgets, but I think the bad quality of their writing might have less to do with their reseources and more to do with how the members of the Studio handle major writing decisions. There are gameplay hooks outside of the story that draw people to Bethesda games. I'm pretty bored following the first act of Skyrim's questline so far and it's hampered my enjoyment of the game rather than added to it, but I like accidentally stumbling on new places in the world and clearing them out for items (like I do with all Bethesda games except for Fallout: New Vegas, which is ironic given that it has the most quality writing out of any of them I've played.) But even if you dislike Shamus Young (and the above post isn't even written by him), you have to admit that the points brought up in the blog I linked to are valid. And it isn't just him either. Joseph Anderson has also done some pretty good videos about the shoddy writing in Fallout 4.
For those of you on here who enjoyed the writing in Skyrim's main plot, what did you enjoy most about it? Also, does the game have any actual themes? I'm not being sarcastic or condescending here. Edit: Apologies the double post, was trying to edit my earlier post and ended up making a new one on accident.
See? That's what happens when you make cuts toward quality. Characters and themes fall flat. One major complain from the playerbase was that the fighting between jarls and the Imperials is non-existant. There isn't really even any battle fields to visit. They could've fleshed out those characters more, animated them more, and made them more meaningful to the player and the in-game story but that would mean they would have to do it for EVERY other important NPC or else the juxtaposition would be too apparent. Then that means more areas would be cut so more specific areas could be designed better until you get a smaller but tighter and better experience. But that would appeal to less gamers. And Open World genre was on a rather huge wave back when it released in... 2016? *Googles* 2011?! Jesus F'! How do they keep re-releasing this game? TES fans will have to wait for the 7th game longer than KH fans did for KH3 >.> Man, the Open World genre was a long time ago.. feels like just a few years like 4. Depends. You can either roleplay as the character given to you or you can make your own. Depends on what the game offers. I never actually beat Alduin. I generally instal mods (my mod folder was 3x bigger than base skyrim + xpacs) Character create for about 30m Play until climbing Mt. Hrothgar Then quit or get side tracked for 30+ hours before dropping the save file and never actually getting further into the story.
I know there are a lot of shiny and new games out there right now (or so I assume) but is there anybody out there playing some more classic titles? I'm currently doing a replay of The Legend of Dragoon (I really want to get those 50 Stardust and fight the secret bosses that I missed way back when I first played it) but two others that are new to me that I'm playing now are The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (A turn-based RPG, one of my favorite types) and Radiata Stories (I just love the art style and the combat system is engaging but still easy to grasp). After I finish one of those, I have Dragon Quest VIII waiting for me (it'll be my first DQ game). I don't have a lot of time for video games anymore so I tend to keep it pretty simple. The newest titles that I'm playing are the Pokemon games on my 3DS (I really like those games that I can put down and pick up without being completely lost when I come back to them).
Its okay. Well have Skyrim for Alexa to tide us over while we wait. As for my argument that Bethesda's problem is mismanagement of available resources and writing staff, take the case of Delphine. So many of her lines are fluff that re-explains concepts the player can have explained somewhere else. Why didn't they use the voice actor's valuable time and energy to instead act out lines that characterize her a bit more? By the time I got to Alduin's Wall, I knew who the Thalmor were. Even if I hadn't, there are a bunch of other NPCs who explain what the Thalmor are. I even got to meet the their ambassador Elenwen. So why was there an option to ask her who they are still in her dialogue options by the time I got to Sky Haven Temple? Another example: the Journey of 1000 steps to High Hrothgar. Why did they place both high-level enemies and pilgrims searching for the Greybeards on the same road? On a mechanical level, those enemies are supposed to keep the player from reaching that point in the quest until they reach a certain level, and that's fine. But there are also pilgrims walking up the steps and offerings in the shrines that mark the path upward. How did those pilgrims get past the Ice Wolves and Frost Trolls? If so many people journey to see the Greybeards each year, why hasn't someone called in a group like the Companions to get rid of these incredibly dangerous creatures? Bethesda could have just not bothered to place those offerings or create those NPCs and make the Greybeards a truly forgotten part of Skyrim's history. It would have involved creating less content and made the story more logical at the same time.
Oh, the Monster Boy games were/are on sale on steam. I played them back in the 90s on my TGFX-16 quite a few times as it's only a few hours but quite fun and challenging. Currently playing Monster Boy: Dragon's Curse (My nostalgia game)
Didn't enjoy most of it, but the Dark Brotherhood quest-line was okay, even though I saw the "twist" coming a mile away. The way I play Skyrim is purely with mods to enhance, well, everything. Like the Dark Souls combat overhaul and a few large mods with terrible voice acting. Also, spear mods. S.P.E.A.R.S. ------- OT: I'm always amazed at how quickly The Legend of Zelda series sparks my inner child. Thanks to the flu, I'm bedridden, so I'm playing through my old collection. Finished Majora's mask for the 3Ds (That Zora Moon dungeon, holy Master Sword) and now I'm starting Wind Waker. OOT will be after.
Bannerlord is coming out next year!!! https://store.steampowered.com/app/261550/Mount__Blade_II_Bannerlord/
Forgot how easy Majora's Wrath is with the fierce deity mask. Was lol worthy. Was also reminded of how my original Wind Waker, for the Game cube, was stolen from me by my cousin who I never talk to. Hmph, Moon remembers. I hear Breath of the wild is a mixed bag for Zelda fans, so I might try it before jumping into Wind Waker.
I have a nephew who made my original Smash Brothers disc for the GameCube disappear. Because his brother and I were playing it too much. I managed to get a second copy, but it was used, where my original was new. I'm still pretty salty about that to all these years later. He also stole my Pokemon GBA games oh, well I got those back Edit: I had managed to get a copy of Wind Waker during a clearance sale for GameCube games at GameStop
Ah, finally! I must admit I'd given up checking for news on that one, I'd almost resigned myself to it never actually materialising
My first playthrough I didn`t even do the main storyline. I got to the city and started the Companions questline. Then ended up doing the Thieves Guild, then the Dark Brotherhood, and then building a house and a family and settling down with that mage from Riften and my two orphan daughters. I enjoy the romp and adventure that Elder Scrolls games are along with the story as far as the lore and world-building goes with like the books but yeah a lot of certain things do kinda seem more like backdrop compared to things like Bioware RPG`s. Two different styles of RPG though, there`s benefits of both. Edit: Also the best storyline is the Companions one.
Breath of the wild is fun. Beautiful game as well. My only gripe is having Link walk around like a Hylian armory. What with all the damn swords, clubs, axes, bows etc he picks up. Things break too easily. The Master Sword better be unbreakable. It.Better.Be. .... ..... It's not, is it?
Phew. It wouldn't be a Zelda game without my favorite fictional sword ever. An aside: I want to be silly and fight Ganon right now, even though I'm 99% sure I'd die rather quickly. Maybe. Four hearts seems like it's good to survive one hit...
I was super cranky about this, too, when I first started playing, but on my second play through I used mods to remove weapon durability and I found the game to be not nearly as much fun. When you get into it, the weapon management gets to be a pretty fundamental mechanic.
After playing for some time, I can see that. If only things didn't break so easily... Different topic: I didn't know I wanted this game, Graphics are horrible, but as a brat, I always wanted to drive trains.
You imagine, we live in a world now what are you can have almost all if not all the old classics in the palm of your hand. Thanks to my Nintendo online account, I have Nintendo and Super Nintendo games. I have the Konami and Capcom collections including the Mega Mans. SNK collection, Sega collection, even arcade archives. I've gained such as Frogger and moon Patrol now. I'm hoping, they're released choplifter in the future! And I intend to get the Atari collection at some point. But imagine, all those games in one place. Isn't the future fantastic
I'm currently addicted to Gwent. I finished Witcher 3 many years ago. Gwent I just can't stop playing.
Ashen (just released on Steam) is an amazing tight souls-like experience. Can't recommend enough. Perfect for co-op/
Brought a jump scare/run away Korean game on the PSN end of the year sale for 6 dollars. It's got poor graphics (Unity engine), 50/50 voice acting, clunky controls....but I like it. The atmosphere is well done, takes place in a haunted school at night with crazy (most likely possessed) janitors who kill the MC should they find and catch him. It's called WhiteDay: A labyrinth named school. Annnnnnd I caved, brought the Dragon Age Inquisition DLC since it's on sale, too. Might as well wrap up that game up, seeing how I like the lore. Game-play was annoying, but eh, it's getting colder out which means more inside time for me.
