Poll: Anyone else hate the Skyrim animal races?

[psicat]

I like the animal races, don't understand why you have such a problem with them. I always play a Khaajit at least once in each TES game. Though thanks to the way you worded the poll question the exact opposite of the thread title question I accidentally voted no.

 

[RJ 17]

In exploring Skyrim this last week, I discovered something. I really, really hate the animal races, or anthropomorphs or whatever you want to call them. Conceptually and aesthetically. First of all, they make little sense as a race. I mean really, people who are EXACTLY like regular people but with animal hides and fur? REALLY? What is the evolutionary advantage to that? Why are the changes in physiology restricted to the head and skin? Why aren't their joints reversed like animals legs? Why aren't they more muscular, or more svelt, or taller or shorter or hunchback? It makes absolutely no sense. It's like they just said "Hurr derp, let's stick some random animal heads on our people and call it a day!"

Then they're just ugly and wreak of laziness in design. Because once you think about it, the reason their physiology is the same as regular people is obvious. If their bodies are the same, the same animations and scripts can be used to make them move can be the same as well. And then I just feel awkward looking at them. They're like a furry's wet dream come alive.

So please, somebody tell me I'm not the only one who really can't stand these things?

Wow, quite the rant there. I've got nothing that'll likely disuade your distate for the anthros, but I will simply remind you that the world of Tamriel is set in High Fantasy. To ask why there's beast people is to ask why there's dwarves, orcs, elves, pixies, fairies, gnomes, and any other humanoid race. By your logic everyone started out as human then the ones that lived in the woods evolved into elves, the ones in the mountains into dwarves, the ones in the badlands into mutated green-skinned orcs, etc.

I'll give you that indeed, their legs aren't equipped with reverse-jointed knees, but there are physiological differences. Argonians, for instance, are immune to poison and can breath under water while the Khajiit are more sneaky (as would be expected from a bunch of cats), fight with their claws (hence the unarmed combat bonus), and have nightvision.

Now this is just a wild guess, but I'm betting you HATE Frosted Flakes.

 

[Scabadus]

I've never really liked the Kahjiit (long-standing grudge from Morrowind where they wouldn't let me wear the Boots of the Apostle - yes I do still remember the exact item) but I normally play as an Argonian in Oblivion and Skyrim because of their waterbreathing ability, which is a lot of fun. 'Course that was messed up too in Morrowind, now I think about it. I think it was a 2 minute greater power so you could only use the race's natural ability to breath underwater for 2 minutes a day. Wierd.

But even on a pure lore level they never bothered me; it's a fantasy world, if something was wierd then magic did it. If somethign was realy wierd then gods did it (that's how the Orcs got to be so ugl- Orchish by the way: their god was eaten by... something. Possibly a Daedric prince. Most of the races do have backstories surrounded by gods and the like, I just can't list every one off the top of my head).

 

[omega 616]

I think until we live in a world where the "holo deck" is real thing, gamers are going to be the most whiny bunch of people in the known universe! Even then people will complain you don't have a controller or something.

Sweet jesus, just look at skyrim, the world is huge (not to mention the other realms hidden below it) and is quite the good looking game. Got all kinds of crazy awesome stuff going on both behind the scenes and in front of you. Could you even imagine a game like this 15 years ago?

Yet all people can do is say "well this minor flaw is annoying me", you have this seriously impressive game in front of you and you complain about something so insignificant as that.

Sure the game isn't perfect but what game is? This is still one hell of a great game and puts 90% of every other AAA game to shame!

More on topic. You are complaining about these things but all the elves look identical, except there skin colour and special abilities.

 

[loc978]

Sounds to me like the OP just isn't fond of Elder Scrolls lore...
That makes 2 of us at a minimum. I've always felt it was more shoehorned in as an excuse for game mechanics and design than written for the sake of narrative and internal consistency.

 

[Your Fearless Captain]

I don't mind them to to much in Skyrim as they add some variety, I absolutely hate them (especially the Khajiit) in Oblivion.

 

[BabyRaptor]

The cat people are alright. They talk weird.

I could totally lose the Argonians and not blink.

 

[DkLnBr]

Because sticking pointy ears on someone and calling them a separate race is any different? I like it though, its nice to play as something other than a human, human, human, or hey look! another human. sure all it is, is just a different head and some fur (or scales) but being a lizardman is pretty bad-ass.
Side note: Its already been said, but you are NEVER the only one. there are just different degrees of agree...ment...ness.... wordsmithing isnt my strong suit...

 

[xPixelatedx]

It's like they just said "Hurr derp, let's stick some random animal heads on our people and call it a day!"

I like them because they are the most convincing non-human races in Oblivion.... which isn't saying much unfortunately. I also agree with everything you just said to, so I am kind of on the fence here. You are right, it doesn't make any sense to make them so primate-like (human-like IS primate-like). I would have liked additional effort put into these species by this point.

They're like a furry's wet dream come alive."

Yeah pretty much, which is why I don't like them aesthetically. Typically furrys are very superficial, using cartoon logic in their most prominent designs. That is fine, but I expect MUCH more from a mainstream video game that is trying so hard to be aesthetically realistic in every other area. And before anyone says, "Hurrr how else could they look duuur" I want to say Khajiits should be more blended between 'lions standing upright' and 'people' rather then just fuzzy people with animal heads. Argonian bodies should look like.. well, like the dragon bodies, only smaller, upright and without wings. Very lizard like. I mean, for Christ's sake it doesn't make any sense for either of these species to have a primate shape as their final stage of evolution. That's some 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' logic you have going there. Don't even get me started on Argonian breasts. The very fact that they exist is some epic 'Michael Bay' level pandering.

On the bright side here is a much smaller game that is doing slightly better with their animal races.
I really like the wolves, and while the rabbits look a bit more human then I would like, they make up for it with very rabbit-ish behavior and maneuverability.

 

[Zeema]

Yes, i like them very much. they bring variations to Games.

what if Mass Effect was only full of Humans? it would be boring.

 

[Random Fella]

In exploring Skyrim this last week, I discovered something. I really, really hate the animal races, or anthropomorphs or whatever you want to call them. Conceptually and aesthetically. First of all, they make little sense as a race. I mean really, people who are EXACTLY like regular people but with animal hides and fur? REALLY? What is the evolutionary advantage to that? Why are the changes in physiology restricted to the head and skin? Why aren't their joints reversed like animals legs? Why aren't they more muscular, or more svelt, or taller or shorter or hunchback? It makes absolutely no sense. It's like they just said "Hurr derp, let's stick some random animal heads on our people and call it a day!"

Then they're just ugly and wreak of laziness in design. Because once you think about it, the reason their physiology is the same as regular people is obvious. If their bodies are the same, the same animations and scripts can be used to make them move can be the same as well. And then I just feel awkward looking at them. They're like a furry's wet dream come alive.

So please, somebody tell me I'm not the only one who really can't stand these things?

Well, what is the advantage of the giraffes voice box being attached to it's brain by passing all the way down it's neck?
Evolution isn't perfect design, that's creation, which is why I believe in evolution of course
But on the note of importance: Perhaps they needed to run faster to live in an area with fast predators?
For fur, maybe they needed it to coat themselves during cold winters?
And honestly hating on a game because of scientific matters is just ridiculous, it's a game.
I like the Argonian and Khajiit race in the Elder Scrolls (Which you really should have said instead of the general Skyrim)
I like them because they are diverse, they look different, I personally like the effect they give to the world.

 

[Kreett]

I've got nothing against Argonians... But those backstabbing, thieving, murdering, drugsmuggling Kahjiit on the other hand.

 

[Noxman]

The orcs were literally created by Malacath. While such justification isn't given for
the beast races, its hardly a stretch of imagination that they were simply 'made' by
the gods.

Also evolutionarily speaking the general 'human' form may be the most efficient for
intelligent activity therefore a slowly evolving cat or lizard species may take a very
similar path to that of regular humans when becoming a proper sentient race.

 

[Knight Templar]

Elder scrolls is not my area of expertise when it comes to video game settings, but let me try my hand at this.

In exploring Skyrim this last week, I discovered something. I really, really hate the animal races, or anthropomorphs or whatever you want to call them.

I call them beast races.

Conceptually and aesthetically. First of all, they make little sense as a race. I mean really, people who are EXACTLY like regular people but with animal hides and fur?

They are not like regular people. Regular people are not connected to the Hist (and old plant type of life that predates the continents) and they do not have their shape and form influenced by the moon. Just for examples.

REALLY?

Really really.

What is the evolutionary advantage to that?

Well the hist saw the oblivion crisis coming and helped the Argonians organise and led such a strong counter-attack the oblivion gates were willingly shut.
But they did not evolve, its magical, just as with men and mer. I think the Argonians were tree lizard untill the hist sap got to them. But they are idealy suited to life in Black Marsh, which is a hell for anybody else.

Why are the changes in physiology restricted to the head and skin? Why aren't their joints reversed like animals legs? Why aren't they more muscular, or more svelt, or taller or shorter or hunchback? It makes absolutely no sense. It's like they just said "Hurr derp, let's stick some random animal heads on our people and call it a day!" Then they're just ugly and wreak of laziness in design. Because once you think about it, the reason their physiology is the same as regular people is obvious. If their bodies are the same, the same animations and scripts can be used to make them move can be the same as well. And then I just feel awkward looking at them. They're like a furry's wet dream come alive.

Harsh but correct. From my understanding they were limited by what they could do and had to change some things.

So please, somebody tell me I'm not the only one who really can't stand these things?

I can't stand the voices, Argonians are the worst.

EDIT:

Also evolutionarily speaking the general 'human' form may be the most efficient for
intelligent activity therefore a slowly evolving cat or lizard species may take a very
similar path to that of regular humans when becoming a proper sentient race.

True, it's a very generic shape, not too specific that you're unable to function outside your enviroment.

 

[uhddh]

I don't hate them. But I prefer to play as either a Nord or Bosmer. Simply because Kajhiit aren't aesthetically pleasing and when ever I play a sneak character I need as much archery as possible ASAP. The animal races also aren't "designed" for the hack and slash approach like a Nord (or Orc).


Edit: Argonians also don't look that great.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Eh, I don't care. I never play as them.

 

[silver wolf009]

I've got nothing against Argonians... But those backstabbing, thieving, murdering, drugsmuggling Kahjiit on the other hand.

The Kahjiit... The biggest hypocrites in the world.

"Everyone thinks we're thieves and skooma dealers, but we're really just honest folk."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Can I buy something?"

"Sure."

*They have skooma in their inventory.*

All I'm saying is, mixing the signal a bit here guys.

OT: No, I love the beast races. The thing I do like though is that I kinda miss the hiss Argonians had when they spoke. I don't know why, but that felt like something defining about them, and I liked it.

 

[BaronUberstein]

Eh, on close inspection they get annoying (from what I can tell they 'forgot' to put pads on Kahjiit hands...how are they gripping anything well with fuzzy palms?!), don't even get me started on how freaking weird Argonian necks look when you're sneaking.

But meh, gives me the option to not play as an elf or human, so I'll take it. That, and it makes it funny when they let me into their cities and buy a house.

It would be neat if they were slightly less human, though I can understand why the developers kept it simple...

 

[Amarok]

If you feel awkward looking at something because someone somewhere might find it sexy you might want to just not look at anything else ever for the rest of your life.

Personally I like the beast races, besides in a game where there are dragons and giants and magic and huge celestial bodies breathing down Nirn's neck with no consequences in the way of gravity, it seems a bit arbitrary to point out the anthropomorphic beast races as being the unlikely element.

 

[Darth_Dude]

Note to self: Do not run a google image search for "argonian" with safesearch turned off. Yeesh.

Oh God, I just did that with Safe-search on Moderate and...

0.o