Skyrim: First Impressions

A friend of mine bought the collector's edition for the Xbox 360 and we played a few hours. It's really a nice game and there are some things I really enjoy like the new options to customize the appearance of your character (including different body types) and the crafting system is a real treat. I also enjoyed the new finishing moves and the dual wielding option, it's incredibly cool.

The new skill tree and skill system is a welcome change after all the Oblivion nonsense and powergaming bull. Now you can simply play and enjoy the game without worrying about modifiers that don't make any sense or secondary skills.

The graphics are really nice but not incredible. Some textures looked a bit plain (on the console at least). It's not necessarily a bad thing as it means the game can run on older computers.

I don't know if I've been spolied by mods but I feel the game world a bit empty. It's not something that is unexpected in a Bethesda game but it's not very entertaining. The game world doesn't look that big either (but that may be misleading). Crossing the map doesn't take too much time once you've figured a route.

I don't know if it's the ghastly French translation and voice acting but I've found the dialogues and the quests rather underwhelming. It's better than Oblivion (no contest) but it's years behind Fallout New Vegas. The old mercenary types quests are ok but they lack originality. It almost felt as if we had already played the game.

My first impression is mixed. I enjoy the updated graphics (compared to Oblivion) and the new gameplay stuff but I don't care much for the story and the quests lines I've seen so far. I'm pretty sure that playing the game in English would work better for me but I can't help feeling that it is not the awe inspiring game that we've been waiting for. I can remember the effect Morrowind had on us as we played it for the first time and maybe we've been spoiled but playing Skyrim was nothing like this.

Is it just me or does anyone here feel that the tutorial sucked? I wonder why devs at Bethesda always feel like they have to force the

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right from the start down our throats? Seems like a very tacky and artificial way to get started... It felt rather heavy handed actually and made it difficult for me to relate to what was going on:

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Also regarding

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I kept thinking about how TON is going to be pissed when he will start playing this game.

I just got my copy of the game. A friend of mine got the Xbox version and I do know about the spoiler Brother Cara intended for me.

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Nontheless, I WILL keep playing the game. I have waiting for this one for long, even though Minecraft sort of killed the anticipation. Still, I hold my copy and I am damn glad to have it... overgrown lizards or not.

Saw how Skyrim looks on a decent computer and it is much better than on the Xbox 360. The French voices and translation still ruin it though. Bethesda shouldn't force the localized versions down our throats.

Localized versions? I am in a French-speaking place and got an English copy without needing to ask for one. You are stuck with a bastardized, translated version? Oh man, the pain.

I don't buy Bethesda games in French stores. I learned this the hard way and I hate Bethesda for that crap.

Seriously, I bought the Witcher and DAO in the store next door (which happens to be a pretty big store) and these games came with extra discs so they could be installed in whatever languages you may want. You can even switch between languages in the Witcher.

It's also the reason why I had to order Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas from the UK. At least this way I'm sure to be able to play the game in English.

Oh and the French translation in Skyrim is downright horrible. They used some technical words like "forgeage" which really doesn't work in a medieval setting, they didn't translate "fence" and it doesn't mean anything in French (should be "recel/receleur") and in the short time I've been playing and watching my friend play the game I've found numerous examples of really bad (almost nonsensical) translations. In the French version it says that the lighthouse is on fire, literally burning, ablaze, i.e. "incendie" which is simply beyond stupid as it's clear that what is meant is that it is the beacon and not the lighthouse itself...

And don't get me started on the voices. Very few French voice actors are good enough and the ones who are good still have to struggle with stupid translations.

It's not entirely the translators who are to blame though. Translating video games is usually an underpaid job and the time is always limited so translations are always rushed. Since most games are made in English it's usually better to play in the original language. Crap even French games are made in English most of the time so it's always better to get them in English.

Sometimes I'm glad everything gets translated into French since it means that the language won't disappear any time soon but at times it freaks me out especially when all you want is to be able to watch the bloody movie or play the game in the original language (be it English or any other language for that matter). I'm convinced the French would be more proficient in English if they didn't get everything translated and dubbed. Heck it's even hard to find programs with subtitles these days (unless you have a satellite dish).

Besides on the subject of Skyrim there is also the question of names that are systematically translated and most of the time they sound really weird. It's not that I don't like French, it's more a question of getting the language right and a matter of setting. A game set in medieval times could probably sound even better in French -provided the text wasn't badly translated from the English. Skyrim is just another example of some translator looking for synonyms or translating lines and lines of dialogue without any clue regarding what is meant to be happening in game.

I should stop ranting but seriously this whole situation sucks. In the old days I know many players in France would complain that some games weren't translated but it's gone too far. So nowadays if it doesn't list the different languages on the box it means I won't be buying the game from the store and that I'll have to order it.

How hard can it be to include other languages? Seriously, given the amount of information that can be stored on a DVD it shouldn't be a problem to include most spoken languages with any copy of a game.

Well, after playing it some more, it's a damned good game. Reminds me of Two Worlds, but it's unfair comparing. Skyrim is like Morrowind and Oblivion in a blender, the end result is awesome.
I have started a Dark Elf rogue. So much fun sneaking, sniping, and the thrill of stealing is a rush of adrenaline, too. Dig it!

I totally get what you're saying TON. Two Worlds was an incredibly fun game and the comparison holds. Skyrim doesn't throw millions of wolves your way though.

I've got the game (at last) and I've started a Nord. I wanted to make a smith/warrior but during the character creation process I ended up making a character with sideburns who reminded me of Wolverine so I decided to name him Logan which is rather fitting for a Nord hunter turned fighter.

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By the way the game looks incredibly better on the PC even at lower settings. I've tried Ultra but it caused my computer to lag so I reverted to medium high settings and it's a fair compromise between performance and eye candy.

The UI is crappy for a PC and don't get me started on the font they're using for the menus. I've already started using mods to fix this nonsense.

I love this game and the visual mods help a lot. I'm also fighting my restarter syndrome (the main reason being that I don't mind the choices I've made so far) and I'm taking my time, only level 10 but I've spent quite some time simply looking around and talking to people in Whiterun.

Here is another pic of my guy -I love smithing!

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my mother and i love this game. she says its as good as morrorwind. (misspelled) i feel this is how oblivion should have been. do not get me wrong oblivion was very good but it was just missing something and i have never played it without mods.

if i have time i will make a thread about my game. no spoilers. between the lets plays and being sick i have not been playing it much at all.

Get well and play the game, it's great!

I've never liked Oblivion that much. Morrowind was awesome but I've always felt Oblivion was too generic and the flaws ruined my fun (speech wheel for instance).

Skyrim has this whole north thing going on and I love it. Besides it's an Elder Scroll game that manages to take elements that are familiar to us and blend them with this Elder Scroll touch that harks back to Morrowind.

I've never cared much for Khajits and Argonians before (except maybe in Morrowind) but they fit well in Skyrim. Redguards are great as outsiders in the far North.

The setting itself reminds me of Icewind Dale (and that is a good thing) but it also reminds me of Conan (the movie with Schwarzenegger not the last one -in fact many Nords speak a bit like Schwarzenegger) and when I'm walking around Whiterun I keep thinking about Edoras and the Rohirrim -which makes sense since Beowulf was a major influence for Tolkien.

I really like the fact that it is not too generic like Oblivion. In fact I think Skyrim finds a perfect balance between the alien and exotic world of Morrowind and the more mundane fantasy setting of Oblivion.

I'm not sold on the main quest yet but there is no shortage of interesting things to do and I absolutely love the gameplay.

There is no more need for all the Oblivion powergamey bull and that is a relief. In Skyrim you don't have to worry too much about builds and stuff, you can relax and play your character as you wish, levelling up is natural and never contrived. You don't jump around or engage into meaningless activities simply to get a bonus in a stat. This kind of freedom makes it possible to actually roleplay the game without worrying about number crunching. Don't get me wrong, I like number crunching and devising builds when it makes sense to do so (like in NWN for instance) but the nonsensical powergaming that was required in Oblivion was simply appalling.

I should stop posting about the game and play it instead.

By the way, the spoilers in the two posts above yours are for pictures, they're not actual spoilers. In fact the only spoilers I've posted in this thread were about the tutorial. I haven't been far enough into the game to post any real spoiler.

I'm going to follow your lead and make a thread about the pictures I've taken and keep it as spoiler free as possible.

i am not too worried about spoilers myself. i mean other then the main story line the world is what you make of it. i just meant i would try to keep mine spoiler free. i made a video called "jezdamayel's 15 min of skyrim".. and kept it spoiler free but then a guard said something and h ad ti kill him XD

the spoiler tag is a good idea.. better then thumb vers of the pictures!

i am off to play some as well. i am sad however.. there seems to be no Kajiit ( spelling?) to marry. booo!!! on my youtube i also have info on how to get married(without losing the spouse). there is a glitch ... but i was told just waiting at the church.. they will come back sooner or later. why wait when you can do it right the first time XDDDDDDD

I'm not in the mood for my character to get hitched.

Never wanted that in real life either.

I could have posted links to the full size pictures instead of using spoiler tags it would be less confusing.

my mom does not want to get married as well. but i told her for the free money every day, good items for sale. and free food. even if i did not want to i would do it XD

My guy has a brand new armour so he doesn't care about all that. It's a question of priorities, first some good steel then the rest.

Carabas wrote:

don't get me started on the font they're using for the menus. I've already started using mods to fix this nonsense.

It's already been done mate

http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=95

The thing is that I actually like Futura as a font .... in its place. And that place is definitely not a low fantasy RPG. That's really not anything to do with being a console port, its Todd Howard's stated intention to make the UI feel like something Apple would have done.

Anyway, that mod fixes that little problem adequately, at least until DarnUI for Skyrim comes out

Thanks Paul, I totally share your opinion, Futura is fine in the right context. I'm already using the mod, in fact I've started to list some mods here:

https://bellesakurasaloon.frenchboard.com/t276-mods-for-skyrim#7128

I even made two retex of the Dwarven armour and weapons screenshot.

I'm enjoying Skyrim quite a bit. Like others here, I found Oblivion a disappointment. Not that it was bad, necessarily, just boring. Skyrim really feels worth exploring, and it's so packed with things to do. There have been moments where my quest journal was so full, I had trouble deciding what to do next. I go to finish one quest, and end up with three more added to my journal along the way.

Maybe I'll post some screencaps. I'm playing a Breton battlemage, wearing heavy armor, and specializing in one-handed weapons, conjuration, and restoration. It's also nice to throw the occasional fireball to soften up a group before wading in and engaging them up close.

I'm fighting the urge to start a new character. I'd like to play a stealth archer, but I want to at least finish the main quest with this character first, but there are so many other things I want to do, as well.

I've been fighting my chronic restarter syndrome and so far I've managed to stick to my first character. I've created two other characters and played a little with them and what I find interesting is that it's never exactly the same thing and that leads me to believe this game has great replay value.

The quest journal thing you've pointed out is definitely true but I love it! Complete freedom is so rare in videogames that it's worth enjoying.

I also think that getting rid of stats was a bold move and one that made sense given that races act as starting templates (not sure how well this would translate into Fallout, maybe with different backgrounds instead?) anyhow it means that the bean counting days are over and that we can focus on roleplaying a character who will become better at what he/she does -which is only logical.

I think there is room for improvement. I would have liked the skill progression to be dependant on a challenge rating which would prevent unchallenging tasks from increasing a skill level. That may be too complicated for a mod but I'll be sure to look into it. What I mean is that in real life you only get better when challenging yourself and once you've reached a certain level your progress slows down quite a bit. It should be the same in game.

I never liked Oblivion much and I was concerned that Skyrim would be too much like Oblivion and it's not. The UI could be better and some animations haven't been improved that much but it's a lot of fun. I wasn't that thrilled at first but the more I play the game and the more I like it.

I just completed the main quest with my battle mage. I'm very much a story-focused player, so the main quest can make or break a game for me. I would rate Skyrim's story well ahead of Oblivion's (which, to be honest, I thought was just abysmal), but lower than Morrowind's. I found Morrowind's story really fascinating, the way it was intertwined with the lore about the apotheosis of the Tribunal and the disappearance of the Dwarves. Skyrim's story is more straight forward than that, but still enjoyable.

One thing I do like about Skyrim is that they managed to make a much more morally grey world, in contrast to the very stark tones used in Oblivion. Even the Blades turn out to be kind of ruthless (I was actually tempted to kill them, but I was playing a character who never initiates force). I haven't played the civil war questline yet, because neither side seems particularly good and I can't decide which one to support. I am glad for this. Bethesda seems to be dabbling in subtlety, something we haven't seen from them in quite a while.

BTW, I agree that getting rid of attributes was a move in the right direction for this series. In truth, the attributes didn't do very much in Oblivion, anyway. The skill levels were always really the stats that mattered most, even going back to Daggerfall. And the classes... well, I pretty much always played custom classes, so I don't miss the class system at all.

I know a lot of the old fans are screaming that the game has been dumbed down, but I think the perk system is actually deeper than anything we had in previous ES games (which have never exactly been deep). It's just that now, instead of focusing on your character build at the start of the game, you do it as you play, when you have had a chance to figure out what the game expects of you. It reminds me of a post by Jeff Vogel, of Spiderweb Software, on his blog (and if you like RPGs, you should check out some of Spiderweb's games). You can find it here: http://jeff-vogel.blogspot.com/2011/08/dont-ask-questions-until-player-can.html

His rule is: "The number of decisions you have to make to build your character should be proportional to the amount of time you've spent playing the game. The more you play, the more you should decide." Skyrim seems to be a spectacular application of this rule, and it works very well.

Now, I'm tempted to start a new character to focus on stealth.

I agree with everything you've posted Kana. I'm also sick and tired of so called old fans who rant about the game being dumbed down when it's never been better.

Seriously reading what these so called fans have to say you would think Oblivion was the best game ever when IMO vanilla Oblivion is a steaming pile of brahmin poo (good looking poo back then but still poo). The levelling system was crappy as hell, the speech wheel didn't make any sense, the less said about dialogues and writing the better... And don't get me started on the main quest in Oblivion, "abysmal" is a kind word.

Classes never meant anything in these games; no matter what you could always find your way to being good at everything. Being a member of every guilds in Oblivion was always a possibility.

Skyrim makes it more sensible. You are what you play. As simple as this sounds this is exactly what a computer roleplaying game should be about.

I've always find it rather silly that in other games you could increase a skill that you've never actually used.

I think Skyrim benefited a lot from Fallout 3. It's ironic since Fallout 3 took a lot from Oblivion -including a seriously flawed DR system (Fallout 1 was much better) and the fact that your character in Fallout 3 can be the best at everything (something that the original Fallout games never allowed).

Moral ambiguity is another thing that Bethesda may have learned from working on the Fallout franchise and it's definitely a good thing. The way games are now you can't have clear cut sides any more and that is definitely a good thing. The Witcher 1 made racism a major issue and Dragon Age Origins built up on that. Skyrim is definitely a more mature game than Oblivion in the way it addresses the differences between races in a complex and often ambiguous manner. I won't elaborate on this since that would require posting some spoilers but that is one area in which the game feels more "real" than previous iterations.

Since I'm playing a Nord I will have to play a minority character to see how deep this goes.

I have blended my assassin with some Mage skills, now it's one backstab, and fire right in your face following if the backstab doesn't do the trick. Much fun, that is

Stealth is absolutely great. I'm not going this way with my guy but I will make a stealthy assassin in my next game.

I generally enjoy stealth, too. I didn't sneak even once with this character, though. I knew that some of the enemies (such as giants) were not hostile by default, so that gave me the idea for a character who would never initiate force, and would only attack people or creature that attacked her (or someone else). It ended up being quite fun. There were some quests I couldn't do, but I was surprised that more often than not, the game gave me a choice. I ended up sacrificing the opportunity to gain a several of the daedric artifacts for the sake of sparing someone's life, but that's role playing.

Indeed. I decided that my first guy should be rather decent too. I had to resist the urge to be really bad at times. Thinking about it I think the guy was genuinely trying to do the right thing which doesn't mean that he didn't make some mistakes along the way. Not that I'm done with him yet. There was a place in particular where things got out of hand... Let's just say that my character has a hefty bounty to pay.

I started the game on my desktop and was very impressed with the graphics. I raised to Ultra but didn't notice any difference from high. I am behind because I had to restart the game on this laptop. Spent several hours upgrding it which improved the graphics and sound a tad but not much. This is causing me a hard time. I find it hard to get around and miss things. I still haven't heard about my desktop. If it was the video card I should be alright but if it was the system disk I may have to start all over. I am saving games to a memory card so I should be able to transfer them when I get the desktop back. I don't think I will add any mods to the laptop. I am not concentrating on the Main Quest.

Bethesda fixed most of what I didn't like about Oblivion. The horses are much improved.

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People will complain no matter how good the game. I am enjoying the quests as they do give you choices and are quite different in my opinion from Oblivion's.

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