Facing the new Elder Scrolls game for the first time, Dragonborn-strength double espresso in hand, I was in a quandary. There have been gazillions of Skyrim previews over the past few months, but most begin from the same place: a chilly Cavern of Character Creation located high on the slopes above entry-level village Riverwood, snow whisking merrily on the breeze, the distant upturned ribcage of the Barrow Hills Temple visible across the valley.
Here are Part 2 and Part 3 of our Elder Scrolls 5 hands-on series. Stop over here for an interview with lead artist Matt Carofano.
How to make my own hands-on stand out? Simple. Firstly, I would wantonly abuse the game's fast-travel systems. Secondly, I would be a complete bastard. Counting on the fact that the average games journalist is, once you get a few drinks in him/her, a likeable sort and not overly disposed to incinerate passing badgers, I would become the ethical equivalent of a coach toilet - a consummate testicle, a filthy disgrace, the sort of character you'd tar and feather on sight - and hopefully, discover something nobody else had discovered in the process.
Skyrim's ending begins
As it transpired, this was disturbingly easy. Seeking to strike terror into the hearts of Riverwood's pinkish bipeds, who've had quite enough bother from oversized lizards already, I made my Skyrim character an Argonian with swept-back horns, gruesome drippy eyepaint, snake's eyes and low, spiky brows. Think Rango meets Slipknot. I'd have liked fire breath, fangs that extend below my chin and the Omega symbol in one pupil, but Bethesda has no truck with such Fable-esque touches. Ah well. My actions would have to make up for it.
Not far down it I met a hunter and his dog. The man approached, raising his hand in greeting, so I set him on fire. The dog didn't take this too well, so I set him on fire too. Destruction magic, I had decided, would be my calling card in the realm of the Nords. That and a dirty great battleaxe. On the way to Riverwood I discovered a beehive in a tree, which I ate, and a herd of deer, which I fired arrows at till their mournful cries reverberated from distant peaks. Time for a drawn-out muhahahaha? Soon, my precious. Soon.
16 comments so far...
Skipstream on 17 Oct '11 said:
Very entertaining writing - thank you!
However, the only thing that does concern me a little is that you mentioned there was no dismemberment. Now, OK, I can see why not for gore reasons/BBFC/PEGI whatever. But, having just played through Rage I really enjoyed their "impact" physics so to speak - you know - hit them in the leg and they stagger - hit them in the shoulder they stumble - hit them in the neck with a sharp, slicey thing and their bloody head gets chopped off.
I was kind of hoping that Skyrim might have had some type of Rage-esque realism to hitting people with blunt, or sharp, objects!
STE MO on 17 Oct '11 said:
Ed I have to ask this, just how good is this game, cos I've read the article in the mag and most of the website columns that seem to be filled with superlatives about how great this game is. But in you honest opinion, is it as good as what its being described? I'll still be buying it on day 1, but my marriage could well be over if it is that good!
OXM ETboy on 18 Oct '11 said:
It's very, very good. Did you play Oblivion? Because it's that with a reorganised, stripped-down character development system that leaves more time for exploration and combat (i.e. stuff that actually happens /in/ the world, rather than in menus). And Skyrim itself is a marvel. Much more characterful than Cyrodiil, thanks to all the different elevations and weather effects.
@Skipstream
My pleasure
I suspect dismemberment might have bumped up the age rating, and pretensions to evildom aside, I'm not sure it would do much for the solemnity of Elder Scrolls. Limb removal in games tends to look a bit goofy.
Decent_Jam on 18 Oct '11 said:
Sounds like we are heading towards our next OXM 10/10 then.
Still not tempted, which is a shame.
Grummy on 18 Oct '11 said:
Truly a shame DJ, but that's the way it goes sometimes mate, no matter how good a game is, it's never going to appeal to everyone.
As for the dismemberment, I'm pretty sure I remember seeing/reading that higher level perks for some weapons unlock the ability to decapitate your enemies.
Edit: Yep. just checked, I was right, from the 2 handed weapon perks "Standing power attacks do 25% bonus damage, chance to decapitate"
Skipstream on 18 Oct '11 said:
Hi, I wasn't actually asking for dismemberment as such - I know it's not really appropriate for a cert 15 Oblivion game.
What I was wanting/hoping for was a more realistic physics engine, like Rage, where enemies body's react to the damage they receive appropriately. So, hit them in the leg and they collapse appropriately. Hit them in the head with an arrow and their head is snatched backwards and they fall backwards. Hit them in the stomach with a hammer and they double-up/fold over.
When playing Rage for example and an enemy is racing towards you and you take them out they often keep staggering a few feet before collapsing - it's really cool to be honest and one of the best things about their game engine.
That was what I was hoping but all vid footage so far doesn't really show anything like that - enemies seem to react physically in the same way as they did 5 years ago in Oblivion - which is a shame.
Still getting day 1 though, like Deus Ex, I hope it's not more hype over substance and stands the test of 20+ hours of gameplay without the niggles that Deus had.
Fingers crossed anyway! Really looking forward to this one, just slightly concerned over a couple of things.
Grummy on 18 Oct '11 said:
If this can't stand the test of a pitiful 20 hours of gameplay, Bethesda should just shut up shop now and never make a game again. This is an Elder Scrolls game son, they're designed to stand the test of 200+ hours of gameplay. As for realistic reaction, it would be very cool, but I doubt it as they use a hit point system.
ex-boxer on 18 Oct '11 said:
Im probably gonna get an ass f**king for this but would this be any good for someone whos never played any elder scrolls games before, or would i not have a clue whats going? Should i just go n get that new sesame street game instead!!!
SidTheSloth on 18 Oct '11 said:
Yup. Just finished Oblivion for the first time with 131 hours on the clock (not to mention the 40-odd from my first attempted play through all those years ago) and i still have around 30 quests in the 'to-do' list. Oh, then there's shivering isles too!
@ex-boxer: Yeah you'll be fine with it, no prior knowledge needed, it caters for people new to the series definitely (mentioned in a lot of the interviews etc.).
@Jam: What's going on? All I'm reading today is all the games you don't want to play?! First Saints Row 3 & now this - there's two fingers to the mainstream certainly! Is it the open world thing thats not your bag - not judging, just interested!
Lastly, Ed, obviously i don't know you, but from reading your stuff on the site i'm having trouble accepting you taking on the 'bastard' role? Is this some deep rooted 'inner you' trying to get out?
Skipstream on 18 Oct '11 said:
I know there is more than 20 hours of gameplay. My point is that there were gameplay niggles in Deus Ex that once I got Past 15/20 hours became so annoying I am not inclined to return and finish the game
My only other concern is the bloody game is sounding so huge that I'll never fInish it. 2 kids, a business and a wife that likes to see me dictate <1 hr of xbox per day usually.
caelandrake on 19 Oct '11 said:
The writer is a literary genus! Never laughed so hard
OXM ETboy on 20 Oct '11 said:
Yep, it's the real me. When I interviewed for this job, the first thing I did was axe Jonty in the face. Using a rolled-up newspaper.
SidTheSloth on 20 Oct '11 said:
Wow, and he still hired you! Wonder if he'd have still said yes if it had been a rolled up oxm instead of a newspaper, oh and i have to ask, was it the telegraph - or did you page 3 him to death!?
There you have it folks, gaming news, movie reviews and now solid techniques for getting through interviews in these difficult economic times!
Ha, good feature Ed, it's made me think again about how i approach my playthrough, i was far too 'good' on the first playthrough, this has convinced me that a sneaky, thieving dark mage is the way to go. Called Geoff. Then maybe he can bore any dragons to death if he can't actually kill them!
Rob606 on 20 Oct '11 said:
"What, the curtains?"
and
"You ate 20 whole wheels of cheese? I'm not even mad, I'm impressed!"
Sounding good. Shame limbs can't be removed like Fallout though..
mistergrimshaw on 31 Oct '11 said:
11 days left till we get our hands on this bad boy!
I'm literally as giddy as epileptic school kid on a roundabout.
Every day I scour the web for anything new to do with Skyrim in order to get my fix, its so so sad but after loving Oblivion so much I just cant help myself. I'm hoping that some of the rumours, such as Werewolf-ism returning are true, cant wait to set about tearing out peasants hearts come the full moon if this one is true!
Skipstream on 31 Oct '11 said:
OMG - so it is!! Arghhh - done first hour of GOW3, done first hour of Batman, done first hour of BF3 SP (now on MP) and got MW3 and Skyrim pre-ordered too.
Maybe I shouldn't have pre-ordered so many.
Damn wife and kids - no time!!