Skyrim: What turned out to be bullshit?

[Gorilla Gunk]

We all know that Oblivion when it was coming out it's "Radiant AI" feature was really hyped up. Then when it came out we found out that it was just a lot of bullshit.

So Skyrim when it was coming out had a lot of too good to be true sounding features like it's "Radiant Story." Any of that turn out to be bullshit as well?

 

[everythingbeeps]

I think the degree of graphical improvement was overstated.

It's a great looking game, but it's kind of amazing how quickly it started to feel like "another Bethesda game". The difference between this and Oblivion is huge.

The difference between this and say, New Vegas....not so much.

 

[ZeroMachine]

The "dynamic snow".

So far, it's rare that I see snow that isn't on a mountain, and it's rare that I go on a mountain and it isn't snowing.

Not very dynamic.

 

[Black Arrow Officer]

Unkillable NPC's. It's no fun assassinating someone when he just bends over on the ground and then gets up again. I don't care about some little sidequest with him, I just want him dead! If they're that important to the story, they should at least respawn or something.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

I have the distinct impression that casting a combined fireball does less damage than dual casting. Dunno, something about the magic damage system seems off to me for some reason.

And the snow. Yes, it's pretty, but having it snow 24/7 is bad for visibility, and it's generally detrimental to the atmosphere. I want some damn sunshine every now and then.

 

[DasDestroyer]

Unkillable NPC's. It's no fun assassinating someone when he just bends over on the ground and then gets up again. I don't care about some little sidequest with him, I just want him dead! If they're that important to the story, they should at least respawn or something.

While we're on the subject, companions that die at the snap of a finger. I shoot a fireball at an enemy who is in melee with her, she dies, enemy attacks me. I'm so tired of having to loot her, ~, resurrect, give her her inventory back and restart the game.

The epicness of battles against Dragons. They are certainly well-made, but it's not fun when I can fireball it a couple of times, use healing while it breathes fire and not take any damage, then fireball it a few more times and it's dead. Not to mention that I've now gotten

Spoiler: Plot spoilers inside!

DragonRend and I won't even have to try to hit the dragon while it's flying.

 

[DustyDrB]

Unkillable NPC's. It's no fun assassinating someone when he just bends over on the ground and then gets up again. I don't care about some little sidequest with him, I just want him dead! If they're that important to the story, they should at least respawn or something.

I agree with this.

Spoiler: Butcher Quest spoilers

There's a quest in Windhelm that has you trying to track down a serial killer. I found a ton of evidence, but neglected to try to explore my suspicion of a particular man until it was too late. I sent the wrong man to prison, but then afterwards went exploring in the other man's (the one I suspected) house. I then found his journal in a chest, detailing his motive and with his name signed at the end.

There was no option to clear the first man's name and expose the true killer, so I entered the killer's house and put a sneak crit (and poisoned) arrow in his head. But he just kneeled over for a bit.

I hope the fact that he's marked as unkillable means this quest isn't truly done (I did get the "quest completed" notification when I turned in the wrong man) and that I'll be able to bring the right man to justice. If this is the case, no one tell me. I want to it to catch me off guard.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

Actually having a useable interface

that and a new engine when it's obviously just modded gamebryo. The animations are still just as awful.

 

[Frost27]

No buyback on merchants, no ability to respec your perks (they could at least put in a quest line to redo them). Companion pathing, I am not about to take that three mile long road down goat infested switchbacks to get to the bottom of a mountain when I can hop straight down protrusions on the cliffside and be there in less than a minute. Problem is, I then have to wait 10 minutes for my lazy Housecarl to take the long way down.

Also, giants being the baddest asses of badassdom over dragons.

 

[gellert1984]

Finally, the kids. Why must there be kids in this game? I didn't miss them in Oblivion, and now they range from "slightly annoying" to "downright fucking despicable".

There must be kids in the is game 'cos there must be a Babette in this game. Go join the dark brotherhood. Best. Character. Ever.

The dragons really need more power. Hell everything seems to need more power, I'm a ninja with a bow, everything seems to die before they realise I'm there. Even in close quarters against multiple opponents they just wander over to the first dead guy just in time to get arrow or 3 in the back of the head.

The graphics are a little iffy upclose, there is a mod that loads uncompressed textures though so I might try that. The voice doesnt seem quite as powerful as the trailers implied.

Other than that, I'm probably overlooking any real faults 'cos I'm enjoying the game to damn much.

 

[killer12480]

The "dynamic snow".

So far, it's rare that I see snow that isn't on a mountain, and it's rare that I go on a mountain and it isn't snowing.

Not very dynamic.

Well, you can't blame them for trying to liven up the already boring home of the nords. It's supposed to be like the North Pole. Always cold and snowing. Only in Skyrim, there are areas free of snow. But I saw some of the snow and it looks a little odd. They'll probably make mods to change it very soon.

 

[castlewise]

Man. I love skyrim so much. But I'll play along. The interface may be more usable than oblivion's, but its clearly designed for consoles. It doesn't play well with the mouse sometimes.

 

[ZeroMachine]

The "dynamic snow".

So far, it's rare that I see snow that isn't on a mountain, and it's rare that I go on a mountain and it isn't snowing.

Not very dynamic.

Well, you can't blame them for trying to liven up the already boring home of the nords. It's supposed to be like the North Pole. Always cold and snowing. Only in Skyrim, there are areas free of snow. But I saw some of the snow and it looks a little odd. They'll probably make mods to change it very soon.

Very true.

Mods <3

 

[killer12480]

One thing that worries me.....

I am getting it for Christmas, along with a new computer, and people are saying that the menu system is just awful. When I actually played it at my bf's house, he just let me run around, then laughed at me when I greatly overestimated his character's health and died after a 20 foot drop. LOL

Still, apart from dying, it still looked amazing. I can't wait to play it.

 

[Kopikatsu]

I have the distinct impression that casting a combined fireball does less damage than dual casting. Dunno, something about the magic damage system seems off to me for some reason.

And the snow. Yes, it's pretty, but having it snow 24/7 is bad for visibility, and it's generally detrimental to the atmosphere. I want some damn sunshine every now and then.

There is a Shout that clears up the weather.

The AI's pathfinding is still kind of wonky. Don't get me wrong, it's much better than it was in Oblivion, but it's still a bit weird.

The graphics are good-not-great. I do like them and the aesthetics are particularly interesting, but they don't blow me away. The demo made it look like they would.

Magic is awesome. However, I wish I could find a better flamethrower spell. The starting one is good for a little while, but goes to shit soon after. And I don't mean a firebolt, either, I mean a full on flamethrower with greater range and much more power. The same for Frostbite, Sparks, and Healing - I would like to find better versions of each. Note that I've barely scratched the games' surface at only six hours in, so I probably will come across something better.

The interface is gorgeous and works great, but why the hell can't I organize things by weight, power, etc.?

Finally, the kids. Why must there be kids in this game? I didn't miss them in Oblivion, and now they range from "slightly annoying" to "downright fucking despicable".

Only six hours? Well...you're probably not even close. The spell you want is called 'Wall of Flame'. It's an Expert-level spell, which means you need 75 Destruction skill in order to get it.

One thing that worries me.....

I am getting it for Christmas, along with a new computer, and people are saying that the menu system is just awful. When I actually played it at my bf's house, he just let me run around, then laughed at me when I greatly overestimated his character's health and died after a 20 foot drop. LOL

Still, apart from dying, it still looked amazing. I can't wait to play it.

Go into settings and turn off the 360 Gamepad thing. It's on by default for reason, but the FPS will increase dramatically and the UI will improve.

 

[Hop-along Nussbaum]

The question to ask is "Are any of these issues so bad that it would be better if they had not made Skyrim at all?"

If the answer is "no", then the rest can be fixed or dealt with. Personally, I think it's a fantastic game that I will play for months and months and months and months....