Skyrim is now in my top five of all time

primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' BoopinDetroit, MI Icrontian
edited December 2011 in Gaming
So I've got over 100 hours in, and even though I haven't really gotten into the main questline yet (I've only visited High Hrothgar, and haven't done anything after that), I'm ready to put Skyrim in my top five of all time.

There are tons of bugs. The AI is frustrating and stupid. The UI sucks. The voice actors are redundant. There are badly broken quests. The dragons glitch sometimes. The combat is really not that challenging.

Despite all that, this game has captivated me like nothing else. The story is triumphant and staggeringly deep. High political intrigue that pulls no punches, ambiguous morals, and powerful issues all weave into a tapestry that few games could hope to approach in scope. The story of Skyrim is worthy of literature.

The fact is, I'm intimately familiar with the setting, the characters, and almost everything the game has to offer, and here I am still watching the trailer for Skyrim, getting shivers. The epic tale of the Dragonborn and the Thu'um is one for the ages.

The only downside of this game, for me, is that Bethesda has shipped a terribly buggy game... and the sad fact is I don't care (and apparently neither does anybody else, as the game has received serious critical and gamer accolades across the globe). I don't necessarily like the precedent that this sets, but the game is just so goddamned good.

Thank you, Bethesda, for making this, and I cannot imagine what you have in store for Elder Scrolls VI.
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Comments

  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    turn up the difficulty level

    I'd put it top 10-15, but I can easily think of 7-8 games I've played that were better

    my biggest beef with Skyrim, is it is a console port with eyecandy, and I'm not the biggest fan of console games
  • UPSLynxUPSLynx :KAPPA: Redwood City, CA Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    I'm only like 30 hours in, but I'd agree with your sentiments. Not sure where it sits in my all time favorites yet, but it's definitely high on my list so far. The game is totally engrossing. Everything about it is awesome and feels to have purpose. Above all, I'm having a ton of fun with every minute I spend with this game.

    I love how unique everyone's experience is with this game. No two play throughs will ever be unique. You are who you play, and you do what you want. That by itself is extremely difficult in game design, but to make it that open and still tell a complex and engaging story is quite the achievement.

    Skyrim frigging owns.
  • SnarkasmSnarkasm Madison, WI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    It's just baffling to me that I've played for 70 hours and I haven't even gone to High Hrothgar.

    So. Much. Content.
  • JokkeJokke Bergen, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    I must stay away from this game. At least until after new year. Alright, I'd be the hero of Skyrim and whatnot, but I'd fail my exams. So sad.
  • CrazyJoeCrazyJoe Winter Springs, FL Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Snarkasm wrote:
    It's just baffling to me that I've played for 70 hours and I haven't even gone to High Hrothgar.

    So. Much. Content.

    I'm the same way. I'm around Level 20 or so and haven't even made it to High Hrothgar either... I'm just wandering around clearing out caves, I cleared out the ruins of the Dwarven City beneath Markath and made some sweet Dwarven Armor, and then made my way to the Orc Encampment in the Northwest corner of the map where they taught me how to make orcish armor...
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited December 2011
    I'm level 39 40+hrs I did make it to High Hrothgar, but that's as far as I've gone on that quest. I've done a couple quests for the companions, followed a few other clues for side story lines that I've wondered across. But most of the time it's just random follow my nose exploring.
  • SnarkasmSnarkasm Madison, WI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    It's funny. I'm 70 hours in and only level 30. My sneaking wastes a lot of time, apparently.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    I'm doing all the faction quests. I really like the fact that even after you "complete" the quests for the factions, you can still do more. The Thieves Guild in particular
    Even after you become the leader, you can keep doing jobs for Vex and Delvin, and eventually you'll get "Special jobs" which, when complete, cause a new shop to be opened up inside the Ragged Flagon, and also cleans the place up and makes it look even cooler. There are spots for four shops down there
  • TushonTushon I'm scared, Coach Alexandria, VA Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    I'm doing all the faction quests. I really like the fact that even after you "complete" the quests for the factions, you can still do more. The Thieves Guild in particular
    Even after you become the leader, you can keep doing jobs for Vex and Delvin, and eventually you'll get "Special jobs" which, when complete, cause a new shop to be opened up inside the Ragged Flagon, and also cleans the place up and makes it look even cooler. There are spots for four shops down there

    Damn you, prime. Damn you for telling me this. I now see many hours of doing Thieves guild quests in my future.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Yeah trust me, I almost wish I didn't know. I'm so sick of doing numbers jobs and heists. But I want to restore the Thieves Guild to her former glory!

    This tells me that this might work for the other factions too. If I keep hunting down bandits and criminals, will something cool happen at Jorvaskrr too? I aims ta find out.
  • SnarkasmSnarkasm Madison, WI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Interesting. To restore the Dark Brotherhood's digs, you just buy stuff from Delvin. Makes me wonder what might happen if you keep doing their post-storyline quests.

    I'm going to spend a lot of goddamn time on this game.
  • NiGHTSNiGHTS San Diego Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    I continually get confused as to what the main questline is, due to how engrossing some of the side/faction quests get. I blame that on my lack of progress there - there's just so many weird interesting things to do.

    It's a complete 180 from my experience with Oblivion, but I can't figure out why.
  • ColgereColgere Cincinnati, OH Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Found this article about Skyrim, seems like it might be relevant to some of the thoughts here (as well as bit humorous). :)
    http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-personality-flaws-skyrim-forces-you-to-deal-with/
  • I-need-a-better-nameI-need-a-better-name Austin Member
    edited December 2011
    I've played three different characters, done most of the main faction quests (Black Hand, Thieves, Companion, Mage, Main) and now I'm derping around with my warrior with the difficulty notched up to Expert wondering what to do next. My problem is that most quest lines get completed so fast. Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood didn't have the sense of urgency but dang, the main quest, the civil war and the mage's guild are all "DO THIS ALL RIGHT NOW!!!" and I can't resist that. I wish there was more "We'll have more work for you but you need to go out and experience things" type stuff. I feel bad going into a bunch of Dwemer Ruins (my warrior is a Dwemer enthusiast) then over to the forge to make a few hundred iron daggers and enchanting them all while a civil war is raging, dragons are attacking and the world is generally going to shit. Those ruins aren't going anywhere, right? But then again, after the war ends, the dragons are vanquished and everything is peaceful again, what am I questing for?

    Maybe I'll reunite Skyrim and clear it of anybody who would weaken the country or something. Go become thane of every hold and kill all the bandits or something. Just doesn't seem quite as epic as the quest lines...
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    The urgency of the main and civil war quests doesn't bother me at all. I've been sitting on "regain the pale for the empire" quest for days now, and the main quest; I STILL haven't started it, and I'm STILL on my first character.

    I find the faction quests to be awesome; especially the Thieves Guild "keep improving the Flagon" questline. After doing like six mundane Vex/Delvin jobs, you suddenly get "special" jobs where you have to restore the Thieves' Guild influence in some hold city. Long after I thought the "main" Thieves Guild questline was finished, last night I had to put down an upstart new guild in Windhelm, and also had to help Tovilia re-establish trade with the Khajjit. It just keeps going and going... and there are tangible rewards as shops keep opening in the Ragged Flagon. Every time I complete a new special job, the guild looks better and better; shelves are stocked with food and items, things are cleaned up, the cobwebs are gone, the mood of the NPCs is better... Hell, there was a new recruit in the guild last night with a whole backstory. It's awesome.
  • I-need-a-better-nameI-need-a-better-name Austin Member
    edited December 2011
    Hell, there was a new recruit in the guild last night with a whole backstory. It's awesome.
    "Oh, you're Brynjolf's new protege? Don't look like much to me."
    "Cause any trouble and there'll be trouble."

    I wonder if I can murder them without repercussions... Would the guard give a shit?
    Also, why aren't any of the other thieves doing any real work? Lazy asses. They just sit around all day hoping something will get done rather than actually sneaking into places. Vex is supposedly the ace infiltrator and all she's done lately is infiltrate a bunch of bread while sitting in the Ragged Flagon. The whole lot are fired as far as I'm concerned.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Yeah for all his big talk, Delvin just sits there drinking all day. What a dick!
  • TushonTushon I'm scared, Coach Alexandria, VA Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Updated
    Patch 1.3 Notes:

    General stability improvements
    Optimize performance for Core 2 Duo CPUs
    Fixed Radiant Story incorrectly filling certain roles
    Fixed magic resistances not calculating properly
    Fixed issue with placing books on bookshelves inside player purchased homes
    Fixed dragon animation issues with saving and loading
    Fixed Y-look input to scale correctly with framerate


    Perhaps this will make a little less "silent crash to desktop" action.
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Good fixes.

    1.3 added a bug for me, unless this is supposed to happen.

    Everytime I fast travel OR take the carriage to a major town, there is a dragon flying above. and even in some towns, landing on the town buildings lighting the town on fire. I upped my dragon kill big time tonight ;)
  • TushonTushon I'm scared, Coach Alexandria, VA Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    I did not experience this, but only fast traveled between a few major cities in tonight's playing.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Dragon count has not changed for me
  • I-need-a-better-nameI-need-a-better-name Austin Member
    edited December 2011
    Ditto. I did fight two and a giant at the same time yesterday but it seemed pretty typical.
  • SnarkasmSnarkasm Madison, WI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Yay, they fixed the bookcase bug.

    Fatcat, I've had that happen a ton without patching. I will quite often arrive at a town and have the guards go berserk in a minute when a dragon shows up. I figured it was just because the game had to make up for the fact that I always fast travel :p
  • JokkeJokke Bergen, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Patch ruined it for me. Used to be able to play with one or two crashes in 5-6 hours, now it's more like one every 15 minutes. Both pre and post 4gb mod.
  • TushonTushon I'm scared, Coach Alexandria, VA Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    Welcome to my life.
  • MiracleManSMiracleManS Chambersburg, PA Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    After upgrading to a 4890 from a 9800GT and the patch providing better C2D support (e7200) I'm playing on High with absolutely no problems. I played a good 3 hours last night without so much as a stutter in the graphics.
  • I-need-a-better-nameI-need-a-better-name Austin Member
    edited December 2011
    The game surpassed Oblivion last night when I crafted and improved my own Daedric armor at level 30 with ebony I mined myself and Daedra hearts from Daedra I killed myself. I didn't have to get so high level that I found it on a marauder on the side of the road. I focused, learned smithing from Dwemer and Orcs and I unlocked hidden knowledge long since forgotten.
    I truly feel like a bad as now. My character is now thinking about the possibility of crafting armor out if dragon bones and scales to see if it's even possible. Skyrim makes crafting enjoyable and a valid build path. Oblivion could never come close.

    OK, crafting spells was fun but only because it was so broken.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    I think we've all made a mega death spell in Oblivion :D
  • I-need-a-better-nameI-need-a-better-name Austin Member
    edited December 2011
    I think we've all made a mega death spell in Oblivion :D

    Charm for one second, fortify mercantile for one second. I always made that first.
  • MiracleManSMiracleManS Chambersburg, PA Icrontian
    edited December 2011
    I never made mega death spells in Oblivion or Morrowind. I did make mega fortify acrobatics spells. Nothing like leaping over a mountain. Just be ready to need slow fall.
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