Oh dear lord yes. I loathed Oblivion, so I know what you're talking about, and let me say that with Skyrim Bethesda has managed to make an Elder Scrolls game that I actually enjoy. My only real complaint besides the bugs is that the NPCs still feel mannequin-like, but compared to Oblivion it's so much better. It's only really noticeable when NPCs interact with each other though, so it at least doesn't break immersion as frequently.
Now that it is out, is skyrim better than oblvion?
- Thread starter jackpackage200
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I only first played Oblivion about a month ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I didn't get that far. After playing maybe 10 hours of skyrim, I don't think I'll be going back to Cyrodiil. Ever. Period. End of story.
Skyrim is the game Oblivion should have been and oh so much more. And other than one bug preventing me from starting the Companions quest line, Everything is more enjoyable in Skyrim.
The voice acting is far improved, although I've gotten the feeling that everyone is either Swedish or Arnold Schwarzenegger. But hey, even that is an improvement over Oblivion.
Skyrim is the game Oblivion should have been and oh so much more. And other than one bug preventing me from starting the Companions quest line, Everything is more enjoyable in Skyrim.
The voice acting is far improved, although I've gotten the feeling that everyone is either Swedish or Arnold Schwarzenegger. But hey, even that is an improvement over Oblivion.
Well I also HATED Oblivion and thought it was utter sh*** but Skyrim is way more interesting.jackpackage200 said:
The combat feels better, and you start out in the open and it just feels more exciting and better realised.
Tbh though it feels more like fallout3 then oblivion to me.
I really can't think of a single way that it isn't better, to be quite honest with you. It's certainly more alive than Oblivion, and there's a hell of a lot more to do.
Although, I haven't played as a mage or a swordy swingy person, so I can't comment on the magic system or hack and slashy combat. That could be worse, for all I know, but archery is a lot more rewarding, as is stealth. I'm not sure if "realistic" is the right word, but they've certainly improved that aspect such that it requires more thought and skill.
Actually, I think the only things that might be worse than Oblivion is the menus and the user interface and the third person camera, but even in there there have been improvements. You can have as many quests active as you want, for example, so you don't end up having that stupid thing where you're like, "UGH! BUT I WAS JUST THERE! THAT GUY I NEEDED TO TALK TO WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!"
Although, I haven't played as a mage or a swordy swingy person, so I can't comment on the magic system or hack and slashy combat. That could be worse, for all I know, but archery is a lot more rewarding, as is stealth. I'm not sure if "realistic" is the right word, but they've certainly improved that aspect such that it requires more thought and skill.
Actually, I think the only things that might be worse than Oblivion is the menus and the user interface and the third person camera, but even in there there have been improvements. You can have as many quests active as you want, for example, so you don't end up having that stupid thing where you're like, "UGH! BUT I WAS JUST THERE! THAT GUY I NEEDED TO TALK TO WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!"
I haven't ranted on Skyrim yet so here I go.
Skyrim's combat is way better than Morrowind or Oblivion, unfortunately it's still pretty damn atrocious. The same problems persists, namely you never know how far away your weapon will actually hit.
Unfortunately the menus, while streamlined and pretty looking, are horribly ineffective. There is no easy way to sort inventory items or arrange favorites by category (armor, weapon, spell(maybe even school), potion, etc); and the perk system while interesting offers no benefit over the previous perk by skill level system (it could probably be fixed by adding a couple extra points per level).
Also a landmark annoyance (armor & weapon deterioration) that I was introduced to in Morrowind and found to detest in Fallout, is finally gone but the game is less fun for it's absence; I wonder who actually though it was a good idea to remove it (just because I hated it didn't mean I didn't like it). To a lesser extent I feel the same way about the Medium Armor category going away.
As a huge fan and lover of Morrowind's, perhaps over convoluted, armor system (pauldrons? really?) I feel the current trend is not good for character customization. For the first time in a Bethesda RPG I don't feel the need, or desire, to search collect and display on mannequins every armor in the game. Or even display weapons.
Armor is just helm, armor, boots, gloves, necklace, 1 RING. Not saying we need Morrowind's every piece but it was a fun challenge to find it all, and it left the player free to do what they wanted.
AND WEAPONS...
Remember when Daedric weapons were:
(arrow, battle axe, claymore, club, dai-katana, dart, katana, bow, longsword, mace, shortsword, spear, staff, tanto, wakizashi, war axe, warhammer)?
now its:
(arrow, dagger, 1h sword, 2h sword, mace, hammer, 1h axe, 2h axe, bow)
Basically for all the impressiveness and size of the game there is less in it overall, at least as far as items and equipment are concerned.
The retooled Enchant system is different, not necessarily better or worse, but definitely easier to understand for a newb to it.
Alchemy is vastly improved with the godsend that is the recipe system but it really calls in to absence the ability to sort. (it can also be amusingly exploited in combo with enchantments to make god armor that allows you to single bare knuckle punch a dragon into submission.)
On my list of TES games it goes Morrowind > Skyrim > Oblivion. I love the game and have already clocked over 40+ hours but for all the advances to the story and graphics it just feels like less. To think of an analogy, it's like filling an order for 1/2lb of extra crunchy peanut butter by piling on 2lbs of barely crunchy peanut butter.
Wow do I feel better having gotten that out... time to go kill another dragon.
Skyrim's combat is way better than Morrowind or Oblivion, unfortunately it's still pretty damn atrocious. The same problems persists, namely you never know how far away your weapon will actually hit.
Unfortunately the menus, while streamlined and pretty looking, are horribly ineffective. There is no easy way to sort inventory items or arrange favorites by category (armor, weapon, spell(maybe even school), potion, etc); and the perk system while interesting offers no benefit over the previous perk by skill level system (it could probably be fixed by adding a couple extra points per level).
Also a landmark annoyance (armor & weapon deterioration) that I was introduced to in Morrowind and found to detest in Fallout, is finally gone but the game is less fun for it's absence; I wonder who actually though it was a good idea to remove it (just because I hated it didn't mean I didn't like it). To a lesser extent I feel the same way about the Medium Armor category going away.
As a huge fan and lover of Morrowind's, perhaps over convoluted, armor system (pauldrons? really?) I feel the current trend is not good for character customization. For the first time in a Bethesda RPG I don't feel the need, or desire, to search collect and display on mannequins every armor in the game. Or even display weapons.
Armor is just helm, armor, boots, gloves, necklace, 1 RING. Not saying we need Morrowind's every piece but it was a fun challenge to find it all, and it left the player free to do what they wanted.
AND WEAPONS...
Remember when Daedric weapons were:
(arrow, battle axe, claymore, club, dai-katana, dart, katana, bow, longsword, mace, shortsword, spear, staff, tanto, wakizashi, war axe, warhammer)?
now its:
(arrow, dagger, 1h sword, 2h sword, mace, hammer, 1h axe, 2h axe, bow)
Basically for all the impressiveness and size of the game there is less in it overall, at least as far as items and equipment are concerned.
The retooled Enchant system is different, not necessarily better or worse, but definitely easier to understand for a newb to it.
Alchemy is vastly improved with the godsend that is the recipe system but it really calls in to absence the ability to sort. (it can also be amusingly exploited in combo with enchantments to make god armor that allows you to single bare knuckle punch a dragon into submission.)
On my list of TES games it goes Morrowind > Skyrim > Oblivion. I love the game and have already clocked over 40+ hours but for all the advances to the story and graphics it just feels like less. To think of an analogy, it's like filling an order for 1/2lb of extra crunchy peanut butter by piling on 2lbs of barely crunchy peanut butter.
Wow do I feel better having gotten that out... time to go kill another dragon.
Oblivion was the worst TES game in my opinion. It's the only one I never finished. Heck it's the only one I actually completely bailed on with less than 10 hours gameplay as it was just so awful.
Skyrim is so much better despite it's faults.
Edit: It's no Morrowind though.
Skyrim is so much better despite it's faults.
Edit: It's no Morrowind though.
In my honest opinion, Skyrim is a superior game. As some mentioned some little quirks like repairing Armour has gone but quite frankly the managing weight, merchant trading and prioritizing quests is enough tedious management for me. The popular use of Torches and Hammers have dwindled which allows you to spend more time doing what your suppose to do. Being questing, killing, looting, leveling with less interruptions.
Plenty of thought and effort was put into this game. You can literally act quite unorthodox and conflict your quests in ways but the developers, they expected it and made unique dialogue and events to correct them. Characters are more interesting and better at acting, with a little more emotion (lacking a little in animation but doesn't bother me). Kill moves are a nice added touch but not overused. The fight system, better. I hated Oblivions combat but Skyrim is not great either. Nonetheless the best combat system any of TES offered. The world is alive too, with rabbits running about and wolves hunting them. Fighting dragons is amazing fun and creatures like giants and mammoths truly add to the fantasy of the world. In addition, more unique dungeon environments. The world is bigger, more active, lots of hidden features and reactions appear based on your actions (finally a game that actually does it right), for example you rob a tavern and run but later on get attacked by some mercenaries. Kill them and read a note, it says they were contracted to kill you by that very tavern keeper.
Skyrim had big shoes to fill. And it handled it well, by simply identifying what exactly made Oblivion dull and flawed. The bad acting, glitches, poor animation, bad combat, repetition of dungeons, poor story and poorly balanced leveling etc appears to be addressed and dealt with. Kudos Bethseda, you did well.
What I don't quite like is the odd few crashes, mammoths occasionally fling into the air if they are clustered, a particular item (A token regarding an oracle, but don't want to spoil) should of been a quest item so I couldn't of mistakenly sold it and lose the opportunity to ever complete a certain quest, which refuses to consider itself "failed" as well. The odd broken animation too, and finally the Hub is a bit too console friendly. Besides from that, I love it!
Plenty of thought and effort was put into this game. You can literally act quite unorthodox and conflict your quests in ways but the developers, they expected it and made unique dialogue and events to correct them. Characters are more interesting and better at acting, with a little more emotion (lacking a little in animation but doesn't bother me). Kill moves are a nice added touch but not overused. The fight system, better. I hated Oblivions combat but Skyrim is not great either. Nonetheless the best combat system any of TES offered. The world is alive too, with rabbits running about and wolves hunting them. Fighting dragons is amazing fun and creatures like giants and mammoths truly add to the fantasy of the world. In addition, more unique dungeon environments. The world is bigger, more active, lots of hidden features and reactions appear based on your actions (finally a game that actually does it right), for example you rob a tavern and run but later on get attacked by some mercenaries. Kill them and read a note, it says they were contracted to kill you by that very tavern keeper.
Skyrim had big shoes to fill. And it handled it well, by simply identifying what exactly made Oblivion dull and flawed. The bad acting, glitches, poor animation, bad combat, repetition of dungeons, poor story and poorly balanced leveling etc appears to be addressed and dealt with. Kudos Bethseda, you did well.
What I don't quite like is the odd few crashes, mammoths occasionally fling into the air if they are clustered, a particular item (A token regarding an oracle, but don't want to spoil) should of been a quest item so I couldn't of mistakenly sold it and lose the opportunity to ever complete a certain quest, which refuses to consider itself "failed" as well. The odd broken animation too, and finally the Hub is a bit too console friendly. Besides from that, I love it!
I thought Oblivion was a flaming piece of poop. I'm loving Skyrim.jackpackage200 said:
The combat flows better. It's still the same basic concept, but it just works smoother now, the finishing moves are nice and the shouts give an alternative to weapons and magic.
The interface is superior. It's console oriented, but much easier to use even on the PC. It's simple, efficient and you can control it with one hand on the PC. There are a few issues I take with it, but it's mostly minor stuff.
Leveling is better. The ass-backwards attribute increases are gone, leaving only skills, and Perks have been added. Overall, a well functioning system that really feels like your character is growing organically out of your actions.
Game world is more interesting. Oblivion was utterly dull and bland. Skyrim has a distinct flavor and atmosphere, making me want to find out what's in the next cave or ruin or barrow.
Haven't delved very far into the story, but the writing seems improved over Oblivion's (not that it's hard to outmatch Oblivion there).
The various new features are welcome, like the crafting or the Shouts.
Overall, Skyrim is great. Nothing more to be said.
I belive that the lower an enemy's health, the greater the chance of a finishing move happening. And when it does happen, it's always an instant kill. So I'm guessing that your slaughtering a half health dragon was a VERY lucky shot. Overall, I've rarely seen finishing moves do more than double my power attack damage. Above that, they don't seem to happen for me. But I've had them do more damage than I could with a single hit.Satsuki666 said:
Oh god is skyrim so much better then oblivion in every single way.
Someone mentioned earlier oblivion has more stuff overall inside it, but the thing is everything in oblivion felt lifeless! (Said this before
) Voice acting was dull, animations were lazy(er), and everything literally felt the same.
I'm 30+ hours in skyrim and it's been absolutely amazing. The environments vary (I have yet to go into a copy and pasted dungeon!) The combat has improved, an actual working level up system (may be more simple but at least it's functioning, easy to use, and makes you really start feeling strong), better story, more interesting quests, and i'll stop there because literally every single thing is better!
Now for the controversial part. I like skyrim better then morrowind! Played morrowind years ago too right after it came out. Oh and i'm not a graphics whore either!!!
Now morrowind had some crazy interesting quest, npcs, and environments, that i cannot deny. Yet i just didn't get the epic feel i get from skyrim. Morrowind was easy to just mindlessly wander and do quest, however i felt a lack of direction killed it a bit. Maybe it was because i was young but i don't even remember a single moment of the main questline.
Now skyrim may not feel as big, but lets face it with graphics nowadays it'd be near impossible to make games as deep as morrowind or the first deus ex (got that from yahtzee)
Short version Skyrim>Morrowind>Oblivion :3
Someone mentioned earlier oblivion has more stuff overall inside it, but the thing is everything in oblivion felt lifeless! (Said this before
) Voice acting was dull, animations were lazy(er), and everything literally felt the same. I'm 30+ hours in skyrim and it's been absolutely amazing. The environments vary (I have yet to go into a copy and pasted dungeon!) The combat has improved, an actual working level up system (may be more simple but at least it's functioning, easy to use, and makes you really start feeling strong), better story, more interesting quests, and i'll stop there because literally every single thing is better!
Now for the controversial part. I like skyrim better then morrowind! Played morrowind years ago too right after it came out. Oh and i'm not a graphics whore either!!!
Now morrowind had some crazy interesting quest, npcs, and environments, that i cannot deny. Yet i just didn't get the epic feel i get from skyrim. Morrowind was easy to just mindlessly wander and do quest, however i felt a lack of direction killed it a bit. Maybe it was because i was young but i don't even remember a single moment of the main questline.
Now skyrim may not feel as big, but lets face it with graphics nowadays it'd be near impossible to make games as deep as morrowind or the first deus ex (got that from yahtzee
)Short version Skyrim>Morrowind>Oblivion :3
yeah, the only reason i and most people here like morrowind better is because skyrim has been dumbed down in relation with the other elder scrolls, and because the interface for the PC sucks ass.SergeantAnt said:Oh god is skyrim so much better then oblivion in every single way.
Someone mentioned earlier oblivion has more stuff overall inside it, but the thing is everything in oblivion felt lifeless! (Said this before
I'm 30+ hours in skyrim and it's been absolutely amazing. The environments vary (I have yet to go into a copy and pasted dungeon!) The combat has improved, an actual working level up system (may be more simple but at least it's functioning, easy to use, and makes you really start feeling strong), better story, more interesting quests, and i'll stop there because literally every single thing is better!
Now for the controversial part. I like skyrim better then morrowind! Played morrowind years ago too right after it came out. Oh and i'm not a graphics whore either!!!
Now morrowind had some crazy interesting quest, npcs, and environments, that i cannot deny. Yet i just didn't get the epic feel i get from skyrim. Morrowind was easy to just mindlessly wander and do quest, however i felt a lack of direction killed it a bit. Maybe it was because i was young but i don't even remember a single moment of the main questline.
Now skyrim may not feel as big, but lets face it with graphics nowadays it'd be near impossible to make games as deep as morrowind or the first deus ex (got that from yahtzee
Short version Skyrim>Morrowind>Oblivion :3
The combat and the interface have improved, but they're still the weakest parts of the game (except on the consoles, where I'm told the UI is great to use). Hitting people still results in very little feedback and a lot of fights tend to boil down to hours of watching the health bar shrink and downing health potions every 20 seconds.jackpackage200 said: