HELL..yeah. This is what I so hoping to hear, and if its that good out of the box on a console, well..wait till the Darns, Martigans and company get their crazed modding mitts on the PC version. Fallout 3 was the last PC game I really enjoyed – still haven’t gotten around to FO3 Vegas yet. Might have to beat on it while Skyrim gets further de-bugged Thx, Ed.

“Hap-py days are here a-gain..”

I tried Daggerfall and found it too big/empty. I tried Morrowind and had a similar experience. Oblivion was ok, but even it felt…just really big and also kind of empty.

I think, really, that the big issue I have with these games is that my avatar is just some silent, passive, lonely wanderer. That works decently in the Fallout games, but the Fallout games also frequently give you NPC party members so the game feels less “empty.”

I guess, for me, the sprawl is always a bit intimidating. It’s nice to hear that this game feels more focused, but I suspect I’ll probably grab this one when it goes on deep discount sale. Plus, with these games, I find it’s better to wait for the version that inevitably ends up including all of the DLC and patches and such.

Much better on PC!

That was the best review ive ever read. It gave me chills reading through it. I’m so excited to get this title tomorrow. Thank you.

Well..I just got some troubling news from a pal who works at..um, nvm. Let’s just say I got a quick capsule review of the PC version, and I didn’t like what I heard. For starters, Steam is all over this thing, and that means I may have to wait even longer to get it since I want the first couple patches out and Steam-free. Even more depressing, this is most certainly NOT a PC game in any way. Its a console port. How much of a port, you ask? On the menus there is hardly any mouse control. Its all keyboard – they haven’t even bothered to implement mouse navigation yet. Furthermore, its not just a lazy port in most respects..they used the Fallout Vegas menu system. That’s right: when you run it you don’t see Elder Scrolls fonts and menu styles, you get the Cold War style Fallout ones, which are universally associated solely with that franchise and nothing else. They also took out the incredible Oblivion character generator and replaced it with the very limited and uninteresting one from Fallout. He also says that the menus are extremely buggy. He also says the non-human races now look like aliens from Halo or something to that effect. My informant says he’s barely scratched the surface but everything so far is screaming “dumbed down lazy port” and “terrible changes that make no sense”. I hope somehow he’s either not getting the whole picture or the patches are already in the pipe. If Skyrim doesn’t offer at least the experience its predeccesor did I won’t bother with it, and Bethesda’s name will be mud with me.

I don’t like the way that sounds. RPS seemed to think everything was really cool though. Are you sure your friend isn’t playing some pre-release “unfinished” version? I guess we’ll find out in 4 minutes…

Launching it now!!!

@Raziel – Thanks for the kind words. Enjoy tomorrow and the next hundred or so days you sink into this beautiful beast.

@Alaric: I am praying to the Nine Divines that you’re right..that has happened once before (sort of), but it was a fluke. He’s never steered me wrong since. He also says that if they don’t push back Old Republic at least a month its going to be the biggest flop since FF 14, its so buggy.

Sounds like more reasons to wait for the “Game of the Year” edition.

Menus are terrible, designed by someone who didn’t know PCs existed. Although the mouse works just fine. Everything else is not too bad so far. I’m only 4 hours in though.

We are in DIRE need of a texture pack. DIRE!!! Also this “new” engine is the same old Gamebryo with minor tweaks.

I thought Alaric left?!?!?

Alaric left what?

I seem to recall tributes in your honor as you headed off into the sunset just a few short months ago. But you’re like that kid in high school who keeps coming back to see his old teachers years after graduation. Cut the cord and make us Half Life 3 already, would ya’?

I kid, of course. You’re always welcome here at Avault High.

I feel Alaric’s pain on the interface. When fighting, it’s not bad, but every dive into my pack for an item or spell turns into a engrossing game of menu hunt (on PC).

Still, I can’t say that it has not been worth the purchase. My beloved wife and I played it all day yesterday, and we are both satisfied with it.

I do wish my rig was better so that I could enjoy it at really high settings, but even at the mediocre ones I am using, it looks pretty good.

Remember – my review is based on the console version. I’m not a PC game player in any stretch of the word; the world I survey is from the couch. And from that vantage point, the game looks and plays great.

I know, Ed. We forgive you, for now.

We forgive you as one forgives a beloved grandfather who grew too ancient to remember that firing his shotgun at a TV is ill-advised. But it’s only a matter of time before we commit you to a home, so go get a good gaming PC, you old coot!

Alaric – ‘Git off my lawn.

Almost forgot, I’ll get a good gaming PC just as soon as Avault doubles my salary.

… oh wait a second?!?!?

EXACTLY! As of right now your Avault salary is doubled! Now go, make good on your promise! Wouldn’t want all these people to think that you are an oath-breaking weasel, now would we?

I just checked my bank account and you are correct, the amount they normally put in there has doubled. Or maybe it tripled? Or quadrupled? That zero is a tricky number.

Yes The Gamebryo engine is alas.. still being used. However the game that exists within its pathetic construct is definately improved.. graphically not so much but animations are much better.. the idle chat of npcs when your in thier vicinity seems a bit less retarded.. but the best part ?? Dude.. i killed a DRAGON !!! .. great fun and a challenge with the mechanics . I had a BLAST playing it . And once you get to that point in the story , well. the graphics just dont seem to matter near as much, Im just trying to figure out a way to hook up with the dark brotherhood again.
LONG LIVE SITHUS !!!!

BTW, Ed, how come you ended up reviewing it? I thought Michele really wanted it for herself.

You’ll have to ask Michelle that. I just do what I’m told or review what I’m sent; as my fine backlog of Hannah Montana reviews should attest.

Michele did, but it came down to getting the best man for the job.

And when he wasn’t available, they called me.

I want to see a PC Review , For myself though i can say this is GOTY material for the rpg Genre, I certainly hope there is reference to how beaware needs to pay attention to this game and learn something about RPG , and emergent storytelling.. as they have clearly forgotten.

@ Vapus: Ask and you shall receive. Jason P is on the case.

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