[sub](Rejected thread title: Criticising Skyrim, because someone bloody well has to do it.)[/sub]
Yes, yes, I know, yet another Skyrim thread. I'm very sorry. But hey, at least they're basically all cheerful oh-I'm-having-so-much-fun-what-is-your-character's-favourite-food type threads. If you think this is bad, just wait till you see that big boiling clusterfuck that will erupt on these forums when ME3 hits.
...
Anyway, by way of foreword let me make it absolutely clear that I do not think Skyrim is a bad game. In fact, I think it's pretty damn good, occasionally even threatening to spill over into the realm of great. It has a big ol' map to explore, there's stuff to do and its looks range from pretty nice to downright awesome. I've played it for a few too many hours and I've had plenty of fun. So yeah... Skyrim: totally a good game.
Of course, I'm saying all this in a futile attempt to avoid certain people (you know who you are) jumping down my throat for all the distinctly less-than-flattering things I'm about to write.
First off, there's all the nitpick-y stuff. The way the combat never requires you to do anything more creative than mash the attack button and chug health potions. The way the 2004-era animation makes it look like the world is populated by finger puppets. The way they took the hint and hired a bunch more voice actors, but then had them all say the exact same lines. The way that the stealth system is utterly and hilariously broken.
However, those are relatively minor flaws. Irritating, but not enough to detract from the general enjoyment.
What very nearly kills it for me is the utter lack of focus. The huge amount of content means that the game has to spread itself out to a truly painful degree. None of the characters are the least bit fleshed out and the locations all flash by in minutes. Nothing has any depth or weight to it. In short, there's nothing to get invested in, with the possible exception of decorating your in-game house.
At the end of the day, what reason is there to keep playing? The story? I forced myself to follow it long enough to get the dragons to spawn, then the greybeards sent me on a bloody fetch quest and I completely lost interest. Levelling up and getting better gear? I don't know about the rest of you, but I lack the capacity to get excited about a list of numbers. The only thing keeping me going is the potential for exploration, and even that is getting monotonous. Once I'd finished clearing out Cave-o-Bandits #11 and Draugir Tunnel #16 I started to get the distinct impression I'd essentially seen everything the game had to offer.
So, um... thoughts? Does anyone share this sentiment? Indifference? Maybe sees the thin focus as a positive?
EDIT: Huh. People are being remarkably civil about this. I haven't had a single person get mad at me. A pleasant surprise.
Yes, yes, I know, yet another Skyrim thread. I'm very sorry. But hey, at least they're basically all cheerful oh-I'm-having-so-much-fun-what-is-your-character's-favourite-food type threads. If you think this is bad, just wait till you see that big boiling clusterfuck that will erupt on these forums when ME3 hits.
...
Anyway, by way of foreword let me make it absolutely clear that I do not think Skyrim is a bad game. In fact, I think it's pretty damn good, occasionally even threatening to spill over into the realm of great. It has a big ol' map to explore, there's stuff to do and its looks range from pretty nice to downright awesome. I've played it for a few too many hours and I've had plenty of fun. So yeah... Skyrim: totally a good game.
Of course, I'm saying all this in a futile attempt to avoid certain people (you know who you are) jumping down my throat for all the distinctly less-than-flattering things I'm about to write.
First off, there's all the nitpick-y stuff. The way the combat never requires you to do anything more creative than mash the attack button and chug health potions. The way the 2004-era animation makes it look like the world is populated by finger puppets. The way they took the hint and hired a bunch more voice actors, but then had them all say the exact same lines. The way that the stealth system is utterly and hilariously broken.
However, those are relatively minor flaws. Irritating, but not enough to detract from the general enjoyment.
What very nearly kills it for me is the utter lack of focus. The huge amount of content means that the game has to spread itself out to a truly painful degree. None of the characters are the least bit fleshed out and the locations all flash by in minutes. Nothing has any depth or weight to it. In short, there's nothing to get invested in, with the possible exception of decorating your in-game house.
At the end of the day, what reason is there to keep playing? The story? I forced myself to follow it long enough to get the dragons to spawn, then the greybeards sent me on a bloody fetch quest and I completely lost interest. Levelling up and getting better gear? I don't know about the rest of you, but I lack the capacity to get excited about a list of numbers. The only thing keeping me going is the potential for exploration, and even that is getting monotonous. Once I'd finished clearing out Cave-o-Bandits #11 and Draugir Tunnel #16 I started to get the distinct impression I'd essentially seen everything the game had to offer.
So, um... thoughts? Does anyone share this sentiment? Indifference? Maybe sees the thin focus as a positive?
EDIT: Huh. People are being remarkably civil about this. I haven't had a single person get mad at me. A pleasant surprise.
