Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Preview – E3 2011
E3 11: We go hunting for dragons with the new installment of Elder Scrolls
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The Elder Scrolls series has always set the bar for what is possible in action RPGs. Taking that same formula and refining it through the years, publisher Bethesda has established an increasingly large fanbase of role playing fans that keep coming back for more. While other franchises often get simplified and give up on their RPG roots, TES has remained a strong pillar for the genre. As Skyrim approaches release, it looks to be yet another solid entry in the franchise.
A demo being presented to E3 media was hosted by the lead artist on the game. He commented that in general, the game will feature a brand new engine, and thus an updated GUI, animations, quest system, and tons more. The demo being shown was ran on Xbox 360 version of the game. As the demo loaded, the audience was treated to a vast mountain range, and immediately, the details were very visible. Thanks to a new engine, the game looks great, with everything from dynamic shadows to moving vegetation. Because it’s an Elder Scrolls game, the developer confirmed that players would be able to climb to the top of the few mountains that were visible in the distance.
Much like previous titles, Skyrim will be playable in either third person or first person view. Thanks to fan feedback, a lot of work has been done to improve the third person experience for players who prefer to use that view, from improved animations to a more polished swordplay. When controlling the character, players use both shoulder trigger buttons on the controller (left and right mouse on PC) for each hand. The game allows for endless dual wielding combinations – sword/sword, sword/spell, spell/spell, sword/shield, etc. Combining control schemes could bring bonus effects, for example having the same spell equipped in both hands would allow for a charged, more powerful attack.
As we advanced through the mountain forest, a few enemies appeared. They were quickly dealt with using a few sword thrusts on the wolves, and some arrows from our bow to dispatch the human bandits. When a single bandit remained, the player switched back to a sword and shield combat, and showed off the new kill cam in the game. As we continued further down the road, the details in the world were very subtle but impressive, such as fish trying to swim upstream, small animals scattering around the area.
To make things a little more organized and streamlined, the main menu has been narrowed down to just four major categories, from where further options could be accessed. For example, by going to the inventory screen, each item that you’ve found can be viewed in 3D and rotated in almost every direction, which is quite cool and gives you a chance to see the full design. Similarly, all books can be opened and read as if they were a real object in the world. Specific items such as weapons or spells can be assigned into a favorites category, which acts like that of a web browser – these items will be ready for quick access during the game.
By looking up into the sky, the character development screen appears in the heavens. It has all the various character progression traits and other stats available, presented in a very sleek way via star formations. Each skill has a further perk tree, represented by a single star in the cluster. When accessing the map, it is now a very high zoom above the real time terrain, letting the player view the world from the sky. Fast travel will once again be available to all locations that were previously discovered.
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.