Originally posted by MisterZebub Open world should mean freedom and opportunities for the players to play the game as they want. Not just the choice to be bored in large or small bite sized chunks. And yes a good game story should count for something, but if its an inflexible narrative that I can't personally contribute to, I might as well just go read a book.
I like your whole post, but this part I wanted to address specifically.
100% in agreement here. Very few RPGs these days have my character feeling like he is actually doing anything. Rarely does the world react, which is what single player can do that MMOs can not.
Take Skyrim as an example. After the "massacre at the Thalmor Embassy", never does a Thalmor "patrol" attack me when I meet them on the road. Why? I just slaughtered nearly EVERYONE in their Embassy? If I choose a side in the Civil War, it matters not, except for which Jarl sits in what throne. Nothing in the world changes to show what I have done.
It would be nice if RPGs actually gave us choices. What if I don't want to save the world and side with the "Big Bad Enenmy?" I can't. It is impossible, except by ignoring the main quest, which in turn makes no difference. The world never ends or is taken over by "Bid Bad Enemy." The "choices" we are given are "Do" or "Do Not/Ignore." That is not a choice in my book.
Factions are another "lost feature" that RPGs have nearly forgotten all about. Instead, every character can do everything. A player needs only one playthrough in order to get everything done. There are no choices and consequences anymore.
Sorry about the rambling
You're right about newest Bethesda games. Both Skyrim and Fallout 3 are like these. When they're vanilla - they lack a lot. Some I believe for cost reasons, but many things because of purpseful design choices. Take Skyrim vs Morrowind. Sure Skyrim has few thing better than Morrowind - like combat in example, but in many other areas it got simplified or even primitivized.
tl;dr
If you want to play and enjoy Skyrim or/and Fallout 3 as great immersive RPG experience then you need PC version and intelligently choosen mods. No way around that.
I would not touch Skyrim or Fallout 3 if not mods. I've almost puked with Vanilla F3, had to shut it down and HEAVILY mod it.
Originally posted by MisterZebub Open world should mean freedom and opportunities for the players to play the game as they want. Not just the choice to be bored in large or small bite sized chunks. And yes a good game story should count for something, but if its an inflexible narrative that I can't personally contribute to, I might as well just go read a book.
Take Skyrim as an example. After the "massacre at the Thalmor Embassy", never does a Thalmor "patrol" attack me when I meet them on the road. Why? I just slaughtered nearly EVERYONE in their Embassy? If I
While it's true that the "side" of the civil war seems inconsequential, you will get Thalmor groups attacking all throughout the game.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Open world RPGs do sort of bore me too, I do enjoy Skyrim and Divinity II (to an extent). My main problem with Dragon Age Inquisition is that it feels like 70% cutscene, 30% gameplay, and the gameplay is basically single-player WoW. I do however immensely enjoy open-world action games. Just Cause 2, Saints Row, Far Cry, Watch Dogs...I dunno what to make of that, heh.
Comments
You're right about newest Bethesda games. Both Skyrim and Fallout 3 are like these. When they're vanilla - they lack a lot. Some I believe for cost reasons, but many things because of purpseful design choices. Take Skyrim vs Morrowind. Sure Skyrim has few thing better than Morrowind - like combat in example, but in many other areas it got simplified or even primitivized.
tl;dr
If you want to play and enjoy Skyrim or/and Fallout 3 as great immersive RPG experience then you need PC version and intelligently choosen mods. No way around that.
I would not touch Skyrim or Fallout 3 if not mods. I've almost puked with Vanilla F3, had to shut it down and HEAVILY mod it.
While it's true that the "side" of the civil war seems inconsequential, you will get Thalmor groups attacking all throughout the game.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
may bom nuoc