Hello, Escapists! Starting today, I am going to be reviewing games that are close to my heart for one reason or another. The review itself, however, will probably be the most brief part. Mainly, I'd like to discuss small moments in games that elicited an actual emotional reaction in me. These moments are what I consider the most important, and the closest to perfection that we've managed. Isn't that the goal of every artist, to bring about a reaction in the consumer? Be aware that there are likely to be spoilers, since this isn't a typical review. So with that said, let's begin with a game that just about everyone is familiar with: Skyrim.
Skyrim Review
The World
Skyrim is a fantasy game of huge proportions (sort of). The map, which you are free to explore or ignore in any way you choose, is massive. Hundreds of caves, dungeons, forts, and camps litter the world, all full to bursting with gold an loot. It is a land bursting with life, most of it hostile. Rabbits and foxes dart about, startled by your approach. Butterflies flit around your head, and come to rest on nearby flowers. And bears...well, bears see you coming from a mile off and will not hesitate to rip the flesh from your frail body. The graphics, while not the best, are good enough that all of this is very pleasant to watch.
There are Several large towns, and many small settlements to explore. You'll meet lots of people on your journey, though I doubt you'll remember many of them. The towns themselves, citizens aside, are unique and memorable. There's Whiterun, the simple small town that prides itself on the local group of Companions, and on their master blacksmith. There's Solitude, the impressive city on a cliff that is home to the greatest bards and wizards in Skyrim. And of course, there's Markarth, where the poor are treated like dirt, and outsiders aren't trusted. I hated that town. That town was evil. But that town had probably the most personality. I still remember the sight of a man being murdered right in the street, and my surprise when a guard threatened the outsider (me). Yes, there's a lot to see in Skyrim, and a lot to experience. Now comes the not as good part.
The Story
When I said this was a "sort of" huge game, this is what I was referring to. The main questline is short, just a few hours long. I can sum up the entire plot for you in a few sentences: There's a bad dragon. You go to fight him. You travel back in time to fight him. You go to heaven to fight him. He dies. The end. There was even a bit where it tries to make you consider your decisions, and either be fair with two groups of people or give one the advantage, but that failed because I found myself not caring about the characters.
There are enough side quests to entertain you for a while, and if all else fails, exploring is fun as hell. I got about 80 hours out of it, so I'm sure you'll find plenty to do.
The Gameplay
The game mechanics work just fine. It reacts to the buttons you press. As you use certain skills more, you get better at those skills, i.e. you use a bow a lot, so you can draw back your bow faster. This is a very pleasant way to go about leveling up. But here's something I found that I'm not sure I like: the game gets far too easy. I played through as a stealth archer, on normal difficulty. At the beginning, the game was moderately difficult. I could pick off weak things from afar, then get ravaged by sabre cats and bears and dragons and re-load my saves, amused and frustrated at the same time. After several hours, though, nothing poses a threat. Well, maybe bears. Bears are truly vicious creatures. Perhaps setting it to a higher difficulty provides a better experience, but I'm limited by my only playing on normal, so I can't say.
As a side note, I found that I had so much money I had no use for it. I bought a new house in Solitude (I recommend it, it's lovely) and fully furnished it, using all of my funds, just for the sake of having it. After another two hours, I was back up to 30,000 gold.
The Verdict
Skyrim is an extremely addictive game. Using skills to level them up is fun, exploring is fun, quests are fun. If you can look past the not-amazing graphics and the lackluster story, this game is a very entertaining way to whittle away the hours.
Emotional Reaction
Skyrim is not an emotionally involving game. It is not a game that makes you think. It is not a game with deep plot or characters. However, while playing it, something happened. I developed a personality for my character. At first he was a blank slate, just a sneaky archer with no morals who stole what he wanted and murder who he wanted. After a while, though, I started to give him more. I gave him opinions on people and events. Eventually he grew tired of murder. Sure, he still killed people, but it had lost its luster. He didn't know why he did it anymore. At first it was for fun, then for money, then...then it was just what he grew used to.
With this in mind, I'd like to talk about companions. Companions are people or creatures that will follow you around and help you in battle. Lydia is generally your first companion, and I hated her. I never once traveled with her. Every time I entered my Whiterun home to store something, she was waiting with a comment. She treated me like an intruder in my own home, and I often contemplated murdering her. But I kept her around as someone to hate. Then I met my first true companion. I was walking around the wilderness one day when I came upon a stray dog, fighting off a couple of wolves that were attacking it. I killed the wolves, and the dog grew ecstatic and started following me. It was pleasant. Sure, the dog ran into fights while I was trying to be sneaky, but I loved him. He tried to fight off a dragon once, and I thought I'd lost him, but he survived. He was a tough one.
One day the dog disappeared. I never saw him again. I won't say I was heartbroken, but I kind of missed him. That was when my character became more like a bitter man than a cruel child.
Now we arrive at the important part. Meeko. Exploring a shack one day, I discovered him. A lone dog, sitting next to his dead master. Meeko was the dog's name, and once I found him he started following me. I wasn't fine with it, this new dog wasn't my dog, but I kept him around. He didn't like me either, but it was better to be lonely together than to be alone. So I kept him. And I resented him, but still he was mine. When this one ran into battles, I got frustrated with it. When it barked, I wanted it to quiet down. And one day, it left. A message popped up on the screen: "Meeko has returned home," and then I realized what I'd done. I'd been a child. I'd driven him away. And that was the moment I realized I'd developed an emotional attachment to this game, and I applauded Bethesda for making it possible. I think one day I may go back to Meeko's shack. Maybe he'll forgive me. Maybe.
Skyrim Review
The World
Skyrim is a fantasy game of huge proportions (sort of). The map, which you are free to explore or ignore in any way you choose, is massive. Hundreds of caves, dungeons, forts, and camps litter the world, all full to bursting with gold an loot. It is a land bursting with life, most of it hostile. Rabbits and foxes dart about, startled by your approach. Butterflies flit around your head, and come to rest on nearby flowers. And bears...well, bears see you coming from a mile off and will not hesitate to rip the flesh from your frail body. The graphics, while not the best, are good enough that all of this is very pleasant to watch.
There are Several large towns, and many small settlements to explore. You'll meet lots of people on your journey, though I doubt you'll remember many of them. The towns themselves, citizens aside, are unique and memorable. There's Whiterun, the simple small town that prides itself on the local group of Companions, and on their master blacksmith. There's Solitude, the impressive city on a cliff that is home to the greatest bards and wizards in Skyrim. And of course, there's Markarth, where the poor are treated like dirt, and outsiders aren't trusted. I hated that town. That town was evil. But that town had probably the most personality. I still remember the sight of a man being murdered right in the street, and my surprise when a guard threatened the outsider (me). Yes, there's a lot to see in Skyrim, and a lot to experience. Now comes the not as good part.
The Story
When I said this was a "sort of" huge game, this is what I was referring to. The main questline is short, just a few hours long. I can sum up the entire plot for you in a few sentences: There's a bad dragon. You go to fight him. You travel back in time to fight him. You go to heaven to fight him. He dies. The end. There was even a bit where it tries to make you consider your decisions, and either be fair with two groups of people or give one the advantage, but that failed because I found myself not caring about the characters.
There are enough side quests to entertain you for a while, and if all else fails, exploring is fun as hell. I got about 80 hours out of it, so I'm sure you'll find plenty to do.
The Gameplay
The game mechanics work just fine. It reacts to the buttons you press. As you use certain skills more, you get better at those skills, i.e. you use a bow a lot, so you can draw back your bow faster. This is a very pleasant way to go about leveling up. But here's something I found that I'm not sure I like: the game gets far too easy. I played through as a stealth archer, on normal difficulty. At the beginning, the game was moderately difficult. I could pick off weak things from afar, then get ravaged by sabre cats and bears and dragons and re-load my saves, amused and frustrated at the same time. After several hours, though, nothing poses a threat. Well, maybe bears. Bears are truly vicious creatures. Perhaps setting it to a higher difficulty provides a better experience, but I'm limited by my only playing on normal, so I can't say.
As a side note, I found that I had so much money I had no use for it. I bought a new house in Solitude (I recommend it, it's lovely) and fully furnished it, using all of my funds, just for the sake of having it. After another two hours, I was back up to 30,000 gold.
The Verdict
Skyrim is an extremely addictive game. Using skills to level them up is fun, exploring is fun, quests are fun. If you can look past the not-amazing graphics and the lackluster story, this game is a very entertaining way to whittle away the hours.
Emotional Reaction
Skyrim is not an emotionally involving game. It is not a game that makes you think. It is not a game with deep plot or characters. However, while playing it, something happened. I developed a personality for my character. At first he was a blank slate, just a sneaky archer with no morals who stole what he wanted and murder who he wanted. After a while, though, I started to give him more. I gave him opinions on people and events. Eventually he grew tired of murder. Sure, he still killed people, but it had lost its luster. He didn't know why he did it anymore. At first it was for fun, then for money, then...then it was just what he grew used to.
With this in mind, I'd like to talk about companions. Companions are people or creatures that will follow you around and help you in battle. Lydia is generally your first companion, and I hated her. I never once traveled with her. Every time I entered my Whiterun home to store something, she was waiting with a comment. She treated me like an intruder in my own home, and I often contemplated murdering her. But I kept her around as someone to hate. Then I met my first true companion. I was walking around the wilderness one day when I came upon a stray dog, fighting off a couple of wolves that were attacking it. I killed the wolves, and the dog grew ecstatic and started following me. It was pleasant. Sure, the dog ran into fights while I was trying to be sneaky, but I loved him. He tried to fight off a dragon once, and I thought I'd lost him, but he survived. He was a tough one.
One day the dog disappeared. I never saw him again. I won't say I was heartbroken, but I kind of missed him. That was when my character became more like a bitter man than a cruel child.
Now we arrive at the important part. Meeko. Exploring a shack one day, I discovered him. A lone dog, sitting next to his dead master. Meeko was the dog's name, and once I found him he started following me. I wasn't fine with it, this new dog wasn't my dog, but I kept him around. He didn't like me either, but it was better to be lonely together than to be alone. So I kept him. And I resented him, but still he was mine. When this one ran into battles, I got frustrated with it. When it barked, I wanted it to quiet down. And one day, it left. A message popped up on the screen: "Meeko has returned home," and then I realized what I'd done. I'd been a child. I'd driven him away. And that was the moment I realized I'd developed an emotional attachment to this game, and I applauded Bethesda for making it possible. I think one day I may go back to Meeko's shack. Maybe he'll forgive me. Maybe.