Skyrim: Yeah, it's good, but...

[Exius Xavarus]

I am so upset that there is literally no reason for Waterbreathing. Argonians are most useless because, while the inherent waterbreathing is nice, there's no actual need to even have it. So I feel like the entire point of being an Argonian is totally null.

Actually, their racial power Histskin is great as it serves to make you near invincible in combat once a day.

If I wanted invincibility during combat, I would be a heavy armored sword and board Orc. Berserker Rage not only halves the damage you take, but also gives you double the damage output. Combine that with some heavy armor and a shield, and you're a walking fortress for 60 seconds. Even without a shield, my Two-Handed Orc could facetank dragons, and swing my sword about 5 times for a dead lizard. And then I still fail to realize any reason to actually be an Argonian, because from my own personal opinion, they're kind of ugly.

I'm not saying that being an Argonian totally wastes the character, I just personally see no reason to be one. :/

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

I am so upset that there is literally no reason for Waterbreathing. Argonians are most useless because, while the inherent waterbreathing is nice, there's no actual need to even have it. So I feel like the entire point of being an Argonian is totally null.

Actually, their racial power Histskin is great as it serves to make you near invincible in combat once a day.

If I wanted invincibility during combat, I would be a heavy armored sword and board Orc. Berserker Rage not only halves the damage you take, but also gives you double the damage output. Combine that with some heavy armor and a shield, and you're a walking fortress for 60 seconds. Even without a shield, my Two-Handed Orc could facetank dragons, and swing my sword about 5 times for a dead lizard. And then I still fail to realize any reason to actually be an Argonian, because from my own personal opinion, they're kind of ugly.

I'm not saying that being an Argonian totally wastes the character, I just personally see no reason to be one. :/

Honestly? I couldn't care less about the racial bonuses. I just wanted to play a talking lizard. [sub][sub]Don't judge me.[/sub][/sub]

 

[Evil Top Hat]

The way the combat never requires you to do anything more creative than mash the attack button and chug health potions.

I would hardly call that a justified claim to make. Playing as a spell sword with light armour, I find that I find focusing on timing my attacks and power attacks, as well as actively dodging enemy attacks (especially from the big lads with two handers) to be an absolute necessity. I suppose the same would go for any light armour class, or people using a sword and board. If you're running into combat with heavy armour on though, this claim is more understandable.

Try turning up the difficulty setting up, the game can be severly challenging, if you make it harder you'll force yourself into needing to think about positioning. Hell, if you only use ranged weapons and spells you practically NEED to know how to kite your enemies or they'll carve you a new one before you can say "By Azura!".

 

[similar.squirrel]

Frost magic seems to be extremely overpowered. Do the Dunmer have some kind of susceptibility to cold that I don't know about? Because I routinely get decimated by Ice Spike, whilst other spells don't do much damage.

Also, I find it a bit strange that dragons are piss-easy to kill in comparison to, say, guards.
Still an awesome game, though.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

Frost magic seems to be extremely overpowered. Do the Dunmer have some kind of susceptibility to cold that I don't know about? Because I routinely get decimated by Ice Spike, whilst other spells don't do much damage.

Also, I find it a bit strange that dragons are piss-easy to kill in comparison to, say, guards.
Still an awesome game, though.

I know exactly what you mean. I actually had fire resistance enchanted gear on my dunmer, as well as the fire res racial. It created this incredibly awkward situation in which a dragon rouring flames into my light armour wearing, shieldless face did a pathetic amount of damage but one ice mage could down me in about 2 shots.

 

[Zhukov]

The way the combat never requires you to do anything more creative than mash the attack button and chug health potions.

I would hardly call that a justified claim to make. Playing as a spell sword, with light armour, I find that I nneed to focus on timing my attacks and powerattacks, as well as actively dodging enemy attacks (especially from the big lads with two handers) to be an absolute necessity. I suppose the same would go for any light armour class, or people using a sword and board. If you're running into combat with heavy armour on though, this claim is more understandable.

Try turning up the difficulty setting up, the game can be severly challenging, if you make it harder you'll force yourself into needing to think about positioning. Hell, if you only use ranged weapons and spells you practically NEED to know how to kite your enemies or they'll carve you a new one before you can say "By Azura!".

I beg to differ.

What happens if you let one of those big two-hander lads hit your frail magic arse? Your health goes down by a good chunk. Then you can just open your time-stopping inventory and instantly medicate the pain away. Timing, dodging or blocking is not required.

I play a light armour guy with a bow and duel daggers. No shields, no heavy armour, no spells.

I predominantly use sneak attacks, but mostly just for the style points. I am yet to encounter anything that I couldn't beat by just running up to it and, well... mashing attack while chugging potions. Giants, dragons, spriggans, mages, vampires... whatever. Granted, killing a giant like that requires a lot of health potions, but the game hands them out like confetti and I could always just brew my own.

I tried turning the difficulty up. The only difference I noticed was enemies having more health. (And maybe doing more damage? Dunno, didn't check.) It didn't make the combat harder, just longer.

 

[spartan231490]

Disagree with every one of your points, especially the hint that skyrim isn't a great game, because it is. It's the greatest game of the console generation, if not the decade.

That's what i like to call having an opinion as i would like to disagree that Skyrim is not the greatest game of the console generation or the decade and i believe he can hint all he wants that Skyrim isn't a great game because everyone is allowed an opinion and mine happens to reside with his.

Never said he couldn't have an opinion. I said that mine was different than his, way to read. Don't get all mad when someone posts an opinion that opposes yours on a thread that has absolutely nothing but opinions in it. In other important news: I dislike lobster, prefer dogs to cats, and will buy cool ranch Doritos over nacho cheese every time. Any other pointless opinions people want to share?

 

[Stu35]

My biggest, most irritating problem with Skyrim, is the lack of reward for actually exploring. "We're making it harder to fast-travel so you'll see the world!"

This.

I love Skyrim, great game. However, I do have quite a few gripes - most of those gripes are petty little ones which are more a "this is what I would have wanted in this situation" than anything else.

However, My biggest gripe, is the fact that I had to spend the first 10-15 hours of gameplay slogging about the Skyrim countryside, getting stuck up mountains because I hadn't taken the lone path to the top that the developers wanted me to.

I liked the Oblivion Fast travel system - I could go to the main settlements, but had to discover the rest, this would have worked just as well in Skyrim without forcing me to walk all the way to Winterhold or out to Riften as well.

I'm sure many players will disagree, however I would argue that including that fast travel system would let players like me use it, whilst others could continue to take shank's pony everywhere they go.

It seems minor, and now that I've discovered a lot of places all over the world it's not a drama because I can fast travel to a nearby location before walking to the nearby dungeon I've been sent to go collect/kill something, but it really, really irritated me when I wanted to go join the Stormcloaks and found myself, first slogging from Whiterun to Windhelm, then from Windhelm to the frozen islands not TOO far from Winterhold...

I find wandering through the countryside in games boring, the occasional bandit or dragon does not make up for forcing me to do it excessively.


...Wow, long rant, but ultimately I have to end on the following: I can get over this (and many other) minor problems, but that doesn't mean there's not room for constructive criticism. Also, and at the risk of sounding like a Hypocrite, I've seen quite a few people complaining in this thread about things, which many, if not most, other players would actually find to be a positive.

Finally, on Combat - I ask those who have complained about it and not offered how they would improve it - How would you improve it? Because, aside from a lack of feedback from my hits, and the occasional immersion-breaking Dark Elf bandit telling me to prepare to die after seeing all 4 of his comrades get their heads taken off by my Twin-Axe wielding Dragonborn Nord, instead of fleeing in terror as one would expect from a fragile elf when faced with (for all intents and purposes at this point in the game), Talos reborn, in angry, Elf-hating form. I actually quite enjoy the combat.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

I am so upset that there is literally no reason for Waterbreathing. Argonians are most useless because, while the inherent waterbreathing is nice, there's no actual need to even have it. So I feel like the entire point of being an Argonian is totally null.

Actually, their racial power Histskin is great as it serves to make you near invincible in combat once a day.

If I wanted invincibility during combat, I would be a heavy armored sword and board Orc. Berserker Rage not only halves the damage you take, but also gives you double the damage output. Combine that with some heavy armor and a shield, and you're a walking fortress for 60 seconds. Even without a shield, my Two-Handed Orc could facetank dragons, and swing my sword about 5 times for a dead lizard. And then I still fail to realize any reason to actually be an Argonian, because from my own personal opinion, they're kind of ugly.

I'm not saying that being an Argonian totally wastes the character, I just personally see no reason to be one. :/

Honestly? I couldn't care less about the racial bonuses. I just wanted to play a talking lizard. [sub][sub]Don't judge me.[/sub][/sub]

Oh, I'm not. xD Argonian was my second character. First was Dark Elf. Then I decided I wanted to be a fullblown mage and chose High Elf, and I love it.

Addendum to things I dislike about Skyrim: Werewolves.

Why is it that when you see a werewolf, you have to be stupid careful or it'll fuck you up, HOWEVER when YOU are the werewolf, a common bandit goes "Lol...a werewolf..." and kills you in 2 seconds? I'm having a really difficult time loving Beast Form for the fact that, even as a werewolf, you're still WAY too fragile, with no conventional means of recovery, while my own attacks barely scratch their belt buckle. That really, really ruined Lycanthropy for my in Skyrim. They talked about how fuckin' strong and durable and stupid fast you are, when absolutely none of this except speed is the case. You're still fragile, and your damage output, even when you alt-swipe with both of your claws, is so weak that a novice with Flames could kill something faster than you could.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I beg to differ.

What happens if you let one of those big two-hander lads hit your frail magic arse? Your health goes down by a good chunk. Then you can just open your time-stopping inventory and instantly medicate the pain away. Timing, dodging or blocking is not required.

I play a light armour guy with a bow and duel daggers. No shields, no heavy armour, no spells.

I predominantly use sneak attacks, but mostly just for the style points. I am yet to encounter anything that I couldn't beat by just running up to it and, well... mashing attack while chugging potions. Giants, dragons, spriggans, mages, vampires... whatever. Granted, killing a giant like that requires a lot of health potions, but the game hands them out like confetti and I could always just brew my own.

I tried turning the difficulty up. The only difference I noticed was enemies having more health. (And maybe doing more damage? Dunno, didn't check.) It didn't make the combat harder, just longer.

This is a slight exaggeration. Playing on Expert, and having thoroughly explored over 50 ruins and pack-ratted everything out of there that I could carry, and NEVER selling Healing Potions, I have a small stack of potions available for emergencies, but certainly not an infinite supply. Earlier in the game, before I learned how to time my blocks correctly and actually perked up some defensive skills, any moderately difficult foe could easily be a 10-15 potion fight, obliterating my potion stocks, and some hit me hard enough to just wipe out my entire health bar before I even had time to go for a potion. This is as a light armor wearing, sneak attacking, archery/sword and board character.

I imagine an extremely prolific Alchemist could create an infinite potions scenario, but the game does not "hand them out like confetti". They're not super rare, but you're not drowning in them either.

Enemies do significantly more damage on Expert. I've had level scaled Bandits come close to one-shotting me (and have BEEN one-shotted by level scaled Briar-Heart, as a level 42). Had I blocked that power attack, though, I would have taken no damage whatsoever.

I do agree that there should be a cooldown on potions, however. There was a similar issue with stimpacks in FO3 (one I modded away). Either a cooldown, or the health should come back gradually.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I liked the Oblivion Fast travel system - I could go to the main settlements, but had to discover the rest, this would have worked just as well in Skyrim without forcing me to walk all the way to Winterhold or out to Riften as well.

This system already exists in Skyrim. Take a horse cart. They go to all the major cities for a pittance of a fee.

 

[Ascarus]

The issues you're mentioning are the same issues that people without the inborn gift to appreciate Bethesda games are often found saying.

lolwut? inborn gift? are you serious?

skyrim is a great game, but it's lack of focus and urgency is a "problem". i can live with it having expected bethesda to follow the same pattern they used in morrowind and oblivion, but the fact that i can wander all over skyrim and ignore the main story line without penalty does detract from any sense of "wow, my actions are really having an effect of this world".

but i have killed dozens of bandits. and bears. and i swear the next person who talks to me that sounds like arnold schwarzenegger is going to get an axe to the face.

 

[Ascarus]

... Riften as well.

Riften can blow me. i started heading there two days ago. and by two days, i mean IN REAL TIME. i keep getting distracted.

maybe it's my lack of focus that is the problem. hmmm ...

 

[MrLumber]

I've been toting the same sentiments for a while now, I'm glad to see that not every one is mindlessly praising the game. I've been trying an RP focused run, and admittedly its a lot more fun than a more by the books approach, but it still doesn't let you escape from the dull as dirt combat and insanely repetitive dungeons and enemies.

Overall I sorta knew what I was getting into though, and mainly play it between releases and multi-player sessions with buds, and for that its a good game.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

I beg to differ.

What happens if you let one of those big two-hander lads hit your frail magic arse? Your health goes down by a good chunk. Then you can just open your time-stopping inventory and instantly medicate the pain away. Timing, dodging or blocking is not required.

I play a light armour guy with a bow and duel daggers. No shields, no heavy armour, no spells.

I predominantly use sneak attacks, but mostly just for the style points. I am yet to encounter anything that I couldn't beat by just running up to it and, well... mashing attack while chugging potions. Giants, dragons, spriggans, mages, vampires... whatever. Granted, killing a giant like that requires a lot of health potions, but the game hands them out like confetti and I could always just brew my own.

I tried turning the difficulty up. The only difference I noticed was enemies having more health. (And maybe doing more damage? Dunno, didn't check.) It didn't make the combat harder, just longer.

You must be consuming huge amounts of health potion to survive some of the battles in the game, if all you do is slug and chug. I suppose if that tactic works, then you are right, it is a legitimate problem with the game. However, the only health potions I never make health potions on my character, just pick up what I find, and very very rarely do I ever drink one in combat. I think I have about 50 minor health potions, and a bunch more stronger health potions stacked up because by dodging, timing and keeping inflicted damage to a minimum I never really need them.

I don't think it's so much of a problem with the game's difficulty, and more to do with the fact that health potions are just too abundant. If they made it so you'd be lucky to have about 6 decent health potions on you at one time, you simply would not be able to finish a high level dungeon by just charging to each fight like a meat shield.

 

[Hakazaba]

Another thing is the lack of deep water and things to find while swimming around. Finally I miss being able to see my character while equipping him with stuff. I wear an execution hood (But I an somehow still see) and lots of other random mismatched armor and have no idea if I look publicly indecent.

Move the camera around to in front of your character, open inventory, bingo! You can now see everything you equip. You're welcome. ^_^

I love you...
Skyrim is pretty much perfect now.

I.... enjoy your loving of me, I guess? lol

Also (because it took me a while to figure out), you can zoom the camera as well, so you can get the full body shot in there. Now, if only someone would make a mod that let you move the camera while having an attack readied...

Try holding f. You're welcome.

 

[everythingbeeps]

So I didn't really read all this...clearly this is TC first Bethesda game?

 

[AlternatePFG]

While I was really enthusiastic about Skyrim at first, about a week of playing it whenever I could fit it in has started to get me annoyed by some of the game's flaws. Mostly about how little the choices you make during quests actually effect the game. Sure, one incidental comment from an NPC here or there, but even after beating the main quest, all that changes is that random NPC's have an extra line or two, that's it. Not even that, but some major events are still referred to even after the point in which they were relevant. (For example, them referring to you as the new member of the Mages and the Companions when you are actually their leaders.)

Even instances where you would think Bethesda would just throw in a little bit of extra dialogue in there.

Spoiler: Spoilers for Companions Questline

You think in the quest "Ill Met By Moonlight" there would be at least some mention about you being a werewolf if you already were one from the Companions quest, considering that's the only other quest in the game that's about Werewolves.

Or how about when you become the leader of the Thieves Guild and some of the major quest giver NPC's still treat you like the new guy. (Even referring to you as such.)

Really, I know a ton of people complained about it in New Vegas and Fallout 3 (Pre-Broken Steel) but I wish Bethesda just would have ended the game at the end of the main quest. Maybe have like a warning beforehand like New Vegas did it. Mostly because, the ending to the main quest was actually rather cool and climactic, but everything after that feels like an anti-climax and there is absolutely no change to the game world at all. Dragons are just, if not more, common than they were before and most NPC's don't even mention the difference. There just needs to be an end, otherwise there is no closure.

Same thing happened with Broken Steel in Fallout 3, in my opinion. You defeat the Enclave again, and all you're treated to is a scene of Elder Lyons telling you how much a cool person you are. Then you're kicked out into the game world again. No epilogue, no credits, nothing. Sure, I'm glad they got rid of Fallout 3's shitty original ending, but that wasn't much better.

I really like this game but some of this stuff is just really getting on my nerves. Bethesda did a really good job crafting the world in this game, but it just doesn't feel believable once the player gets involved.

 

[Yvl9921]

The issues you're mentioning are the same issues that people without the inborn gift to appreciate Bethesda games are often found saying.

lolwut? inborn gift? are you serious?

skyrim is a great game, but it's lack of focus and urgency is a "problem". i can live with it having expected bethesda to follow the same pattern they used in morrowind and oblivion, but the fact that i can wander all over skyrim and ignore the main story line without penalty does detract from any sense of "wow, my actions are really having an effect of this world".

but i have killed dozens of bandits. and bears. and i swear the next person who talks to me that sounds like arnold schwarzenegger is going to get an axe to the face.

You may find it shocking to find that people enjoy things that you do not, and that many gaming opinions are, in fact, subjective.

 

[CAPTCHA]

Without going into to much detail.

THE GOOD
The sense of atmosphere you get from walking around the wilderness.
The size and scope of the game world and its changing scenery.
The dungeons and other random locations to be explored have a good narrative to them.
The magic system, while lacking spells, is fun to use.
The dragons act like dragons and not just another monster.
The music, though mostly ripped from previous games, is awesome.

THE BAD
Lack luster combat, with the exception of the aformentioned magic.
Broken or totally worthless skill trees.
Thanks to the skill trees every character feels the same.
Poor story and undeveloped NPCs.
Being the Dragonborn doesn't feel special.
You actions have no consequence, especially in regard to the big world changing ones.
A difficulty level that fluctuates between being so easy you sink into a coma and so difficult that you have to exploit the AI in order to win.
Dragons are a little too common and a little too easy to kill.
The menu sucks and conventions from the pervious games have vanished for no good reason (such as how items are sold, the quest log, etc,).

I don't understand the universal high ratings the game has got. It seems to me that they put an exorbitant amout of effort into creating content (which is great) but then skimped when it came to developing the mechanics needed to experience their creation. It doesn't really bring anythign new to the table and many of it's elements (at least individually) are suppased by other games.

7/10