Question about Skyrim's Story

[cdstephens]

I have a question about Skyrim to those who have played it; how emotionally compelling would you say the game is, in terms of immersing the player within its world and the characters that interact with you?

I'm the type of player who won't give a rat's ass about a game unless I can feel immersed in it in one way or another; otherwise it feels like a waste of time to me most of the time. It's part of the reason why I've been leery about sandbox games; being able to do anything I want doesn't immerse as much as the atmosphere and the characters do.

I'm mainly asking this because I'm playing Oblivion at the moment and it doesn't really compel me to play more. I don't particularly care about the Amulet of Kings and the kingdom and whatnot, and I don't particularly care about most of the individual people I have met.

I'd rather not spend 60 dollars to find out that I won't like this game is all.

And before someone points out, yes, I do like Bioware games, but not all of them; got extremely bored with Dragon Age, have no intention to pick it up again; choices in Mass Effect are too linear and don't seem well thought out except for the big ones at the end of a character's quest or at the end of a planet. KOTOR is my favorite mainly because I've always been a fan of Star Wars, so I inherently forgive some of its gameplay flaws and storyline cliches.

 

[ultrachicken]

Skyrim's story feels like more of an afterthought to the richly detailed world they created. The setting takes priority and the story is meant to inhabit it. Individual characters are not usually going to seem all that compelling or deep, and you probably won't care all that much about the plight of the Nords. That said, some of the guild quests do a good job of making interesting characters, but they're also rather short.

Basically, if a great setting isn't enough to make you feel immersed, then this isn't the game for you.

 

[ZeZZZZevy]

Well I actually completed the main quest, which is something I can not say about Oblivion. It's at least more engaging and interesting than Oblivion's story, although that isn't saying much.

 

[Muphin_Mann]

Its more immersive and involving than oblivions. And makes you feel more important. In general the world feels more alive. My character was cutting wood in a town for money and some people from a rebel faction spawned and wandered into town...AFTER i had convinced the local ruler to add more guards. So a fight broke out and the lady who runs the mill that basicly founded the town (i was working for her husband) was killed in the scuffle. He got very moody and didnt want to talk to me, saying he needed to be alone.

One of my characters bodyguards died defending him form trolls and he was forced to run. When he was about 20 levels stronger he came back ignored a DRAGON attacking him to hunt down the trolls in the area one at a time and kill them with his flamethrower hands.

Oblivion...never gave me moments like that.

 

[JesterRaiin]

I have a question about Skyrim to those who have played it; how emotionally compelling would you say the game is, in terms of immersing the player within its world and the characters that interact with you?

Very. It's much more better than Oblivion's main story, however it's still no FFVII.
Best fantasy scenario i saw since... let's think... yea, Baldur's Gate Trilogy.

 

[jthwilliams]

I would have to say that the large story is eh. But the little stories all over are more compelling. You might not care about the stormcloaks vs. the imperials, but the little story about the woman has moved from Crydil but whose sister is driving her cazy. Or the little boy who is scared by the little girl who keeps beating him up because she has a crush on him. It give the whole story flavor. I am really into game story and I am very much enjoying skyrim, But taking as objectively as I could, I wish they had done a little more plot development in areas.

 

[darth.pixie]

It's pretty boring, actually. The main story starts alright but then it's over and you start looking around asking "That's it?"

They're trying to build this whole tense situation that seriously doesn't work with RPGs since the damn dragons will still be there after I finish tinkering with these here rings or steal all the cheese rolls from everyone's house.

http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/4413 this is one of the most accurate reviews I've read. Well accurate to my experience.

 

[Muphin_Mann]

It's pretty boring, actually. The main story starts alright but then it's over and you start looking around asking "That's it?"

They're trying to build this whole tense situation that seriously doesn't work with RPGs since the damn dragons will still be there after I finish tinkering with these here rings or steal all the cheese rolls from everyone's house.

http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/4413 this is one of the most accurate reviews I've read. Well accurate to my experience.

To add another perspective, i think that review is absolute crap.

Lets see...i disagree with his complaints about the music. Go listen to a trailor. Is that bad music? While your at it apreciate the depth of areas that pop up. He complains the world is just gray and snow when it is...snow...tundra...temperate forests...hotsprings (like yellowstone)...moors...temperate mountains...ice fields...and in a few cases very wierd things like other realms made of crystal or a forest in a cave. Plus is has breathtaking auroras. So that bit is just a flat out lie.

He claims it has 3 voice actors. Honostly i have never played a game with MORE voice actors than Skyrim. I really dont know if i believe any of the numbers thrown around but im guessing at least 50.

Not to mention that, in the 360 version at least, the game has a favorties menue he seems ot have missed, and two "quick" slots that dont pause the game...what an idiot complaining about the lack of those.

Will note that combat is rather potion-heavy and not balanced for mages.

Also his comments on the ending where utterly incomprehensable to me.

 

[JesterRaiin]

I have a question about Skyrim to those who have played it; how emotionally compelling would you say the game is, in terms of immersing the player within its world and the characters that interact with you?

Main story ? Cliche, but acceptable.
Quests (both main and sub-) ? Actually nice. It's been a while since i reloaded some save more than 20 times just to see how different apporach affects outcome.
NPCs ? Since there are only a few dialogue lines for every character, it's rather hard to treat them as more than mannequines...

 

[razor343]

You might not feel emotionally attached to any of the main characters until some time before the end of the story when you meet a...very special character. Everyone who finished the game HAS to know who I'm talking about.

 

[Dudeio]

He claims it has 3 voice actors. Honostly i have never played a game with MORE voice actors than Skyrim. I really dont know if i believe any of the numbers thrown around but im guessing at least 50.

Even better, it has over 70 if I remember correctly, I think 90. Atleast over 70, thats what Todd Howard... Excuse me, thats what Master and Lord Howard said himself. x3

 

[gigastrike]

The main story isn't anything special. You may want to stick to guild quests.

 

[Saladfork]

You might not feel emotionally attached to any of the main characters until some time before the end of the story when you meet a...very special character. Everyone who finished the game HAS to know who I'm talking about.

...

Paarthurnax?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I have a question about Skyrim to those who have played it; how emotionally compelling would you say the game is, in terms of immersing the player within its world and the characters that interact with you?

Solid but unspectacular. The primary "Dovahkiin" storyline is pretty mundane, but the Civil War has some nice political subtext.

At the end of the day, though, you need to remember that the Elder Scrolls games do sacrifice a certain degree of narrative momentum and cohesion in exchange for unprecedented freedom of action. Compared to a more traditional/linear RPG experience like Dragon Age or Mass Effect, Skyrim is going to seem lacking in the story department, and compared to games that actually take storytelling seriously (Planescape, To the Moon) it's risible.

 

[faspxina]

I used to think Oblivion was great, until I took an arrow to the knee.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

It's pretty boring, actually. The main story starts alright but then it's over and you start looking around asking "That's it?"

They're trying to build this whole tense situation that seriously doesn't work with RPGs since the damn dragons will still be there after I finish tinkering with these here rings or steal all the cheese rolls from everyone's house.

http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/4413 this is one of the most accurate reviews I've read. Well accurate to my experience.

To add another perspective, i think that review is absolute crap.

Lets see...i disagree with his complaints about the music. Go listen to a trailor. Is that bad music? While your at it apreciate the depth of areas that pop up. He complains the world is just gray and snow when it is...snow...tundra...temperate forests...hotsprings (like yellowstone)...moors...temperate mountains...ice fields...and in a few cases very wierd things like other realms made of crystal or a forest in a cave. Plus is has breathtaking auroras. So that bit is just a flat out lie.

He claims it has 3 voice actors. Honostly i have never played a game with MORE voice actors than Skyrim. I really dont know if i believe any of the numbers thrown around but im guessing at least 50.

Not to mention that, in the 360 version at least, the game has a favorties menue he seems ot have missed, and two "quick" slots that dont pause the game...what an idiot complaining about the lack of those.

Will note that combat is rather potion-heavy and not balanced for mages.

Also his comments on the ending where utterly incomprehensable to me.

Just about every game has more voice actors than Skyrim. Uncharted, Dark Souls, Demon's Souls, Assassin's Creed, Sonic, Dragon Age, Sly Cooper. Skyrim uses the same 5-6 male and 4-5 female voice actors for just about everyone. And the PS3 version has favorites, too.

And I have to ask about something on your note. What do you mean "not balanced for mages?" I hope that means, "balanced so mages are actually vulnerable to something." My Mage doesn't even use potions. Like, ever. Not even Magicka potions, because I never run out. The only way they could balance combat out for mages is make it so they can actually die. My Altmer pure mage is only ever in any actual danger when an archer shows up and I can't immediately find it. Used to be when a necromancer showed up, too, but I got Frost Resist boots and now Lolmancers are pathetically easy. But anything that gets up close and personal dies before it comes 10 feet of me. I can even fight dragons with little to no resistance, and manage to kill them before I run out of magicka. So basically, it's not combat that isn't balanced out for mages, it's mages that aren't balanced out for the combat. :/

 

[Rhaff]

For those claiming that skyrim has few voice actors: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Voice_Actors

 

[Rhaff]

Edit: oops doublepost

 

[Valthonis666]

I have a question about Skyrim to those who have played it; how emotionally compelling would you say the game is, in terms of immersing the player within its world and the characters that interact with you?

Solid but unspectacular. The primary "Dovahkiin" storyline is pretty mundane, but the Civil War has some nice political subtext.

At the end of the day, though, you need to remember that the Elder Scrolls games do sacrifice a certain degree of narrative momentum and cohesion in exchange for unprecedented freedom of action. Compared to a more traditional/linear RPG experience like Dragon Age or Mass Effect, Skyrim is going to seem lacking in the story department, and compared to games that actually take storytelling seriously (Planescape, To the Moon) it's risible.

That is really a truly unfair comparison..... M.E. and D.A. are built around the Story. EVERY Aspect of the game has something to do with the Story.... even the damnable guns are Story Bonuses. I mean, shit, are you serious? You're going to compare Skyrim to 2 games created by [pretty much] psychotically obsessed novel-writers, who love their book so much that they make it so long it can fit like 50 novels and a few children's books, and then turn it into a game.....

I love Skyrim to death. Its by far my favorite game EVER. But you are comparing the games with supposedly the most Story on the market, SINGLE GAMES [not fanchises, or trilogies, or WORLDS, just that singular title alone.]...... Thats like comparing a newborn kitten to a full grown, slightly starved female mountain lion with starving cubs.....

 

[BloatedGuppy]

That is really a truly unfair comparison..... M.E. and D.A. are built around the Story. EVERY Aspect of the game has something to do with the Story.... even the damnable guns are Story Bonuses. I mean, shit, are you serious? You're going to compare Skyrim to 2 games created by [pretty much] psychotically obsessed novel-writers, who love their book so much that they make it so long it can fit like 50 novels and a few children's books, and then turn it into a game.....

I love Skyrim to death. Its by far my favorite game EVER. But you are comparing the games with supposedly the most Story on the market, SINGLE GAMES [not fanchises, or trilogies, or WORLDS, just that singular title alone.]...... Thats like comparing a newborn kitten to a full grown, slightly starved female mountain lion with starving cubs.....

Whoa, buddy...keep your pants on. I didn't say Skyrim was a bad game, or needed an amazing story. The guy asked how the story was. If he asked how the open world was in Dragon Age, I'd compare it unfavorably to Elder Scrolls.

I mean, I even say RIGHT IN MY POST YOU QUOTED that the lack of a strong linear narrative is part of the trade off for the freedom you're given. Did you just leave your switch set on "attack" or something?