Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Preview - E3 2011
E3 11: We go hunting for dragons with the new installment of Elder Scrolls
Upon arriving in a small village, the daily life of its inhabitants is very distinct. The player would be able to follow a weaponsmith as he takes on his daily craft, and chat with him. Thanks to the new engine, the conversation system has been revamped – no longer are players left staring at the other character’s face for the duration of the chat. Now, as the conversation takes place, the game doesn’t pause, and the player is free to look and move about as always. After chatting to folks in the village, we moved on higher up the mountain, in hopes of reaching an ancient Norn dungeon.
On our way, we met with more bandits. This time, the player used one of the many Shout powers available in the game. These shouts are only learned by the main character from an ancient dragon language that only he understands, thanks to the bloodline. These shouts range from push-back attacks to full-on fire breath. Each shout has three levels of upgrades, which correlate to learning three words of the ancient language to string together.
As we entered and explored the Norn dungeon, it looked very detailed, and is one of over 100 hand-crafted dungeons in the game. Inside we faced various enemies, from giant spiders, to rats, and skeleton warriors. Using shouts, magic, and melee, the enemies were dispatched with relative ease. During these intense moments of combat, it was noted how minimal the UI is, providing for an immersive experience. There was also a spell at our disposal, that allows you to see the path to the nearest quest objectives in case you get lost or sidetracked.
Upon exiting the dungeon, a vast valley unraveled before us. It was populated with various creatures, such as giants and mammoths, thought it as noted that these creatures aren’t immediately hostile to the player, allowing for free passage if desired. Moments later however, a dragon has appeared, and began attacking. The dragons in the game are completely unique, in a way that the AI isn’t scripted, thus allowing for completely randomized battles and strategies required to win. Their attacks can range from a fireball airstirke to strong wind blasts, and you never quite know what they will attempt to do. Knowing this to be a tough fight, the player rushed to a nearby guard tower, and the AI archers there joined the fight against the beast.
Unfortunately, the poor chaps didn’t stand much chance and most were burned fairly quickly. However, they provided valuable distraction as the player was able to inflict a number of arrows into the beast, as well as some successful fire shout attacks. When the dragon become badly damaged, it crash landed ,and had to continue the fight on the ground. Here, the player switched back to melee attacks and finished off the beast with a few strikes of the sword, as well as a kill cam finisher. Once dead, the player absorbed the soul of the dragon, and gained a new shout power.
From what was shown, it definitely looks like Skyrim will live up to expectation of both fans and critics as a stellar RPG experience. A new engine means a ton of improvements, new conversation system, revamped AI, and satisfying combat. The world of the game looks and feels more alive than ever before, from the detailed vegetation to hand crafted dungeons, it will be a wonder to explore. With the element of dragons and shout powers added to the mix, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is possibly the most exciting RPG to watch out for this fall. It offers plenty to be excited about, not just for series’ fans but all RPG players.
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Jun 11, 2011 23:57:56 (Jun 11, 2011 23:57)
