I would just like to point out that I utterly disagree with almost all of these opinions, including those of the article’s author. Not the thing about online play. I couldn’t care less about that. But the setting! You might say it was “dumbed down” to attract a bigger audience. Maybe it was even that Bethesda’s plan for TES. But, let’s look at it another angle. Morrowind is ulgy as sin (it was pretty in the old days, granted, but we are not in the old days any longer). There’s little to no voice acting (and I do love good voice acting. Can’t say that it is great in later games, but it improved. A lot. A real lot). The fact that Morrowind is based in an “alien” and original setting doesn’t make it better. Or maybe it does, but just for those who have already spent thousands of hours playing typical fantasy games and are eager for something new. I don’t spend thousands of hours playing games, much less fantasy. I wasn’t thirsting for something new. I find chitinous creatures and giant mushrooms deeply displeasing, and the “alien” atmosphere doesn’t appeal to my sense of aesthetics. It is ugly, even with improved graphic mods. About the narrative, the same thing applies. I don’t want to have to decipher, decode or whatever. This is supposed to be a role playing game, not a puzzle adventure. Do Oblivon and Skyrim lack in mature themes? Yes they do. Are they “dumbed down” because their puzzles and combat are easier? No, they are not. Role playing games is about exploring, interacting with NPCs and the environment, interpreting a character (in the way you can “interpret a character” in a computer game, of course). So, about the lore. It was more complex and weird and it was made simpler in Oblivion and Skyrim? It’s not a great move, because it destroys coherence, but on the other hand, most people don’t really memorize all the lore, so most are (probably) unconsciously thankful for Skyrim having a simpler and less weird lore. When I want weird and complex I watch a David Lynch movie, read Kafka, I don’t play a role playing game. The same applies to the less verbose dialogues and narrative. I would rather have shorter dialogues, but voice acted (they aren’t less profound because of that), and I don’t like spending an entire afternoon reading an in-game book about whatever theme it is. If I wish to read a book, I can do it in real like, in games book/note/diary entries should be short and meaningful, not long and boring. People who write computer game stories aren’t writers, neither they are supposed to be. They are paid to write compelling, immersive interactive stories, and not literature. All this said, I would love to love Morrowind, as it must have a lot of hidden treasures, precious secrets and wonderful side stories. But for me it will always be an ugly game, with characters who move with limps, with ugly backgrounds, almost no voice acting, not much music either, and where, once, I tried to play a Nord barbarian, born under the sign of the Warrior, strong and bold, and was beaten to a pulp in hand-to-hand combat by and elderly wood elf store owner (why did I try to beat her up? Just to test how stupid it would be If I lost. And I did).
Resist Common Disease 100%
Resist Fire 100%
Resist Frost 50%
Resist Magicka 50%
Resist Normal Weapons 100%
Resist Paralysis 100%
Resist Poison 100%
Resist Shock 50%
Restore Health 1-5pts
not sure whether to check it out as such...
...for the most part.
:declining:
