Skyrim Retrospective: An RPG Classic?

Skyrim, an undeniably important game, has never really grabbed me. But why not? It's time for a retrospective to find out.

[ZeekQuattro]

I get lost in this game whenever I play it. I just dont want to stop playing. I need resources to build my mansions after all. Lmao

[anast]

I've got to admit 2011 was a great time for sandbox games both Minecraft and Skyrim came out around that time.

[enkiduxiv]

Dark Souls and Witcher 2 both released in 2011. Classic or not, Skyrim was the third best rpg to release that year.

[TheGreatGazoo30]

Dark Souls isn't the same type of game at all. It's only a RPG in the sense that you level up, which most games do now. Witcher 2 was great, but not truly an open world game. Witcher 3 is my favorite game all-time, but I preferred Skyrim back in 2011 for the scope, depth, and all you could do. Witcher 2 was a better story for sure.

[CaptainHenry916]

Both of those game's was more fun to me though. I would find myself getting bored in Elder Scrolls even though I beat it. But it took Mr months to go back where as the Witcher always kept me playing it. I just like the fun factor more. It's hard for me to get into FPS RPGs. Fallout is the same way. Funny thing is when I mod Elder Scrolls it's a better experience

[enkiduxiv]

I agree that Dark Souls is a very different type of RPG, but there is more to it than level up mechanics. Your actions or lack there of determine the fate of several npcs and you get to choose between two drastically different endings that change the game world in significant ways. That's more of a role playing experience than Skyrim.

[OhReginald]

Jesus chri... here we go again. The souls games are 100% RPGs. You pick a class, you do quests, you talk to npcs for side quests and buy items like any other rpg has, you can grind to your hearts content, your actions effect the story in minor and major ways and all of the games provide multiple endings based on your decisions made throughout the game. Oh and it's a JRPG as well. It's a rpg made in Japan with Manga/ anime influences such as berserk.

I can understand zelda or monster hunter not not being a rpgs. But the souls games are 10000% rpgs.

[CaptainHenry916]

I'm more of a fan of third person RPGS like Witcher, Dark Soul's, and Bloodborne because I feel like you can do more in third person. Elder Scrolls was great but I always felt like they were to easy for me and really not a fan of first person RPGS. Witcher 3 is still my favorite RPG and the souls games gives me more of a challenge. Can't wait for Elden Ring in 3rd person

[BrainSyphoned]

Only game I own on 6 different platforms so I guess it's my favorite?

[NecrumOddBoy]

Are you including Alexa?

[GameZenith]

Consumerism at its finest

[ApocalypseShadow]

If you play it for the first time in VR, I'd say, "yes indeed." Definitely a classic.

[Inverno]

I still like Oblivion more. Probably the only game I've ever started from the beginning like a dozen times.

[isarai]

Same, Skyrim is very good fun, with so much to do, i've easly sunken several hundreds of hours into it over the years. But it was very gutted and bland compared to Oblivion IMO, nowhere near as expansive in terms of player building, and was oversimplified. Still, nothing else like the series unfortunately

[The7Reaper]

Game is an undeniable classic and left a huge mark on gaming as a whole and will be played and loved for years to come.

With that said, I personally couldn't get into it, I've tried on like 8 different occasions over these 10 years to try and it just doesn't click for me sadly, I mostly just don't like the way Bethesda games feel and play, glad others can enjoy everything about it though.

[anast]

I hear you. I am more of a Dragon's Dogma fan.

[phoenixwing]

Ive played skyrim more but if I had to choose one to keep it would be dd

[MadLad]

Eh.
I have to heavily mod in more mechanics for it to keep my interest for long.

I find Enderal, a full blown game/mod for Skyrim to be a lot more interesting, and a much better RPG.

[DOMination-]

I knew when I saw the headline that there would be many people saying its bad because its not an RPG anymore or is too simple etc..

And whilst it is simplified from ES3&4, its not like those games were massively deep in the first place. The way I saw it was Bethesda trying to remove the janky and goofy mechanics. Some decisions worked, some didn't.

Not many games can give you the feeling of true freedom though. Say all you want about bugs but how many other games allow you to pick from 10 different races and go anywhere and talk to anyone from the off - and whilst the story doesn't branch is crazy ways, all of the extra flags and lines of dialogue from one random action on the other side of the map or because you decided to be a certain character.. its hard to pull all of that together.

And like with all BGS titles, it looked amazing for its time of release, considering the scope.

I'm not super into the series like millions are, but I can certainly appreciate its importance and how, despite what people say or think.. under the hood it really is a technical marvel.

[MadLad]

ES3 was far deeper, and I consider it a pretty damn deep RPG in general.

A lot of varied guilds. Warring factions trying to change the land via their own politics. A deep alchemy and enchanting system that allows you to basically break the game if you wanted, literally becoming a God among men; which I find a lot more interesting than just scaling everything to your level as they do anymore.

Instead of map markers and fast travel, you need to actually follow directions and tips to find missions and locations.

ES is little more than an action lootfest anymore, and the combat isn't even all that good without a lot of modding.

[CaptainHenry916]

I agree with you. The only thing I don't like about ED3 is that it's in first person view. Third person RPGS is my preference. That's one of the reasons why I got angry when I found out Cyberpunk was gping to be in fp view but that was a shitty game anyway. You do have to do a lot of modding in ES to have a better experience

[TargusX]

Casual, dumbed down gamers should not decide.

[CantThinkOfAUsername]

Skyrim is an action-adventure open world game with RPG elements. It simplified every single mechanic of its predecessors to hit mainstream, and it worked.

It's the game that makes it impossible for the player to fail. None of the player's choices matters. The world stays the same from beginning to end.

[CaptainHenry916]

Moment of silence for the people that will die before the next Elder Scrolls comes out 😏