DAILY MANIFESTO

PAX Prime 2011: An Hour With Skyrim

Posted on Thursday, September 8 @ 20:33:20 Eastern by Daniel Bischoff

What's wrong with me? Why haven't I ever played an Elder Scrolls game? Did I lose all gamer-cred when I revealed that fact? Let's be honest, Oblivion was an ugly game, despite the leap it made to next-generation platforms. It wasn't until Fallout 3's post-apocalyptic setting did I jump into the Bethesda RPG.

Having been converted by radiation fire in the nation's capitol and New Vegas, I was excited to try my hand at the already fantastic looking Skyrim. Bethesda offered journalists an hour long hands-on at PAX Prime and I jumped at the early impressions of 2011's biggest RPG. So what's the verdict? Am I ready to be dragonborn again?

With a resounding yes, I'll confirm that Skyrim appears to be every bit as good as you'd hope and dream, but it's a good idea to temper your excitement with the reality of it all. As visceral as the combat is now, as detailed as the environments are, and as open-ended as the world is, it's still a Bethesda game. The section I played had been polished and polished again, but don't expect an experience without glitches, at least at first.

The demo started players off in character creation, letting us check out each race and every derivation there of. I quickly selected the Argonians and set out. The trail leading from the cave took me past a river, over a bridge, and into a settlement where I could take up jobs and watch the townspeople set about their work. These NPCs didn't just sit around either. Most of them interacted at great length with the environment. I'm sure I could have found a quest or two, but I decided my time would be better spent exploring.

I promptly got lost and fell off the edge of a cliff.

This brought me back to my cave. While revisiting the river path, I noticed fish jumping upstream. I couldn't help but jump in and swim after them. Quickly caught in the current, my character struggled to find the shore again.

Focusing on an icon on my HUD's compass brought me to a dungeon filled with enemies. I dispatched the first two with stealth attacks, each resulting in some pretty fancy animations. Without a full list of spells to play with, I stuck to a flame spell in one hand for attacking enemies at a distance and a war-axe in the other for anyone who got too close.

Players will control each hand with the trigger buttons and run with the left bumper. Holding an attack trigger will trigger a stronger attack. Weapons and spells are selected with the direction buttons while a more detailed menu can be accessed with the B button. Players will level up their skill trees via constellations and explore the map in a grand sweep up and away from the player.

As much as I'd like to tell you more, I really can't. Looting is quick and easy. Combat is brutish and fluid. Exploring the environment is just as good as it's always been. Despite an entire hour with the game, I felt like I had only scratched the surface. Everyone with previous experience in the Elder Scrolls universe would confirm that for me throughout PAX Prime.

Be sure to pick up Skyrim when it lands on store shelves for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC this November 11th, 2011.

Related Games: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Tags: Elder Scrolls, PAX, Bethesda, hands-on

Comments

Bras
Joined: Jul 2008

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
I've never played an Elder Scrolls before too, and I got overwhelmed by Fallout 3 (really who's got the time to play AND work AND socialize in the same life? Left my 5 different save files after a while)
But Skyrim looks great, and I want that dragon breath spell to kiss innocent girls with it

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themixedarts
Joined: Sep 2011

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Oblivion was ugly? A world filled with lush green is ugly compared to a dull wasteland?

Fail.

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213EDD
Joined: Sep 2007

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Yeah. Oblivion was a fail

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themixedarts
Joined: Sep 2011

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
And since Oblivion is better than fallout, that makes fallout a piece of ****.

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213EDD
Joined: Sep 2007

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Ohh I didn't even notice the first comment yeah fallout sucks major ass. Why? a post apocalyptic world that feels like a disney World of Tomorrow.

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warmaster670
Joined: Jun 2007

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 1:39 am
Fallout>Oblivion.

At least the people in Fallout dont all look like hideous !@#$ing CHUDs, and is actually playable without a fan made patch.

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danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 12:39 am
I should clarify. Fallout 3 looked like ass too.
Ugliest character models ever in Oblivion and Fallout 3/New Vegas.

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Caduceus
Joined: Sep 2011

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Wow. Epic fail on all counts. An hour hands-on and that's all you can come up with for a preview. Add to that you make a link for looting that is actual looting? Cheesy and lazy.

Then you have the gall to say Oblivion was an "ugly" game! Oblivion may have had some issues, but it was far from an ugly game. Having not played it yourself, how do you justify this?

I had to register to make this comment and not only did your e-mail go to my spam, your link to confirm was not even a link and I had to copy/paste to get back here. Like I said, Epic fail. How do people like you even get a hands-on AND a place to spread your drivel.

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NickKmet
Joined: Jan 2007

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
yeah dude, pretty unnecessary to take it that far.

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danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 12:41 am
Thumbbbbssss dowwwwnnnnnn :( I hope you never return troll.

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Caduceus
Joined: Sep 2011

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Wow. Epic fail on all counts. An hour hands-on and that's all you can come up with for a preview. Add to that you make a link for looting that is actual looting? Cheesy and lazy.

Then you have the gall to say Oblivion was an "ugly" game! Oblivion may have had some issues, but it was far from an ugly game. Having not played it yourself, how do you justify this?

I had to register to make this comment and not only did your e-mail go to my spam, your link to confirm was not even a link and I had to copy/paste to get back here. Like I said, Epic fail. How do people like you even get a hands-on AND a place to spread your drivel.

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Comment hidden due to low quality. Show Comment.

Caduceus
Joined: Sep 2011

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Damn, hit refresh instead of my back button, now I have a double post. Fail for me...

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213EDD
Joined: Sep 2007

Posted: Sep 8th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
thats what you get for trying to read the post again you bastard

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De-Ting
Joined: Nov 2006

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 12:35 am
Oblivion WAS an ugly game, but not as ugly as Caduceus. Still, just look at everyone's faces and animations...eeeeuuuuuggggh. I've played that game for over 700 hours, so believe me when I say it's ugly.

Also, this was a great preview, for only getting to play it for an hour including character creation. I never would have thought that they would add currents to the water.

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danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 12:43 am
Thanks for the back up Ting. I knew I wasn't crazy. I didn't even gain or complete a quest. :( sorry if I disappointed people.

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De-Ting
Joined: Nov 2006

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 12:49 am
You apparently appreciate the smaller things in virtual life, and that's good enough for me. : )

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tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 3:54 am
I second De-Ting’s comment.

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PunkOiOi
Joined: Sep 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 1:02 am
If I had an hour to play that game you better believe that I would have at least 5 paragraphs detailing the every second spent in Skyrim. I totally agree with Caduceus that the author of this article has some nerve to call Oblivion an ugly game. That's ridiculous! Oblivion is surrounded with so much beauty and so much detail that it blows my mind that anyone would even think of the word "UGLY" as an adjective to describe Oblivion. When Oblivion came out it changed the game and showed what the future gaming consoles were capable of. I hope that no one from Bethesda reads this article. But at the end of the day I agree that Skyrim is going to be an epic rpg

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PunkOiOi
Joined: Sep 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 1:03 am
If I had an hour to play that game you better believe that I would have at least 5 paragraphs detailing the every second spent in Skyrim. I totally agree with Caduceus that the author of this article has some nerve to call Oblivion an ugly game. That's ridiculous! Oblivion is surrounded with so much beauty and so much detail that it blows my mind that anyone would even think of the word "UGLY" as an adjective to describe Oblivion. When Oblivion came out it changed the game and showed what the future gaming consoles were capable of. I hope that no one from Bethesda reads this article. But at the end of the day I agree that Skyrim is going to be an epic rpg

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PunkOiOi
Joined: Sep 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 1:03 am
If I had an hour to play that game you better believe that I would have at least 5 paragraphs detailing the every second spent in Skyrim. I totally agree with Caduceus that the author of this article has some nerve to call Oblivion an ugly game. That's ridiculous! Oblivion is surrounded with so much beauty and so much detail that it blows my mind that anyone would even think of the word "UGLY" as an adjective to describe Oblivion. When Oblivion came out it changed the game and showed what the future gaming consoles were capable of. I hope that no one from Bethesda reads this article. But at the end of the day I agree that Skyrim is going to be an epic rpg

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Mcers
Joined: Mar 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 1:23 am
Yeah i played a good chunk of oblivion and the player/enemy models were pretty rough and ugly player creation pretty much consisted of which block of a head do you want on who... the world itself was nice and all but i have to agree oblivion was rough and I'm psyched for skyrim after reading this...

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Merlin
Joined: Oct 2005

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 2:13 am
For the trolls in this post, the Hulkster has a few words just for you.

People so close as you and games man. LIKE BLOOD BROTHERS. I can’t believe you sold out for nothing. You sold me out over jealously. But when I look around… I see a few confused people. Some of your people man. The ones that aren’t Hulkamaniacs. Well for those people let me lay it out straight for yea. Some straight talk. God created the heaven, he created the earth. He created all the Hulkamaniacs then he created a set of 24 inch python’s brother. And the reason for it is… To straighten up people like you Mr. Troll. People who don’t have their priorities in order. Who don’t realize who the boss is man. Well for you Mr. Troll. Your time is here tonight brother. And when I think about it yea know the old Mr. Troll is back, like you got a new paint job or something.

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Merlin
Joined: Oct 2005

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 2:17 am
BIG DEAL. I’m the old battered down, broken down Hulkster. That keeps running better than ever man. Loyalty is what it’s all about, ultimate trust. The bond between me and my Hulkamaniacs. And oh Mr. Troll I’m going to smoke right by you. But just remember one thing dude. You’re an old dog who can’t even wag his own tail. There is no way you’re going to beat me. This shall be written, the Hulkster said it shall be done. Your time is now Mr. Troll.

youtube.com/watch?v=sw_YQq4_3yw

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Merlin
Joined: Oct 2005

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 2:14 am
BIG DEAL. I’m the old battered down, broken down Hulkster. That keeps running better than ever man. Loyalty is what it’s all about, ultimate trust. The bond between me and my Hulkamaniacs. And oh Mr. Troll I’m going to smoke right by you. But just remember one thing dude. You’re an old dog who can’t even wag his own tail. There is no way you’re going to beat me. This shall be written, the Hulkster said it shall be done. Your time is now Mr. Troll.

youtube.com/watch?v=sw_YQq4_3yw

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Merlin
Joined: Oct 2005

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 2:19 am
sometimes i hate this refreshing glitch i posted it all wrong If a Gr staffer see's this remove the one that this is replying to. And I hope Danie gets a laugh :)

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drathbone
Joined: May 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 2:40 am
Ok so Oblivion is 5 years old. Fallout 3 came out 2 years later and still had the ugly models. I'd say by Moore's law alone Fallout 3 should be considered the uglier of the two, plus it had a boring old wasteland.

I guess personally though, I was too engulfed in the game and never let the crappy models get in the way. I still played the **** out of it. In fact, I'm going to go roll a new crappy modeled toon to play again!

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danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 7:19 am
I guess I should clarify again, Fallout 3 was ugly just like Oblivion was ugly. Moreso due to the lack of color. The science fiction setting (versus the fantasy setting) is what finally set me down in the game though.

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tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Thank you for getting an Avatar, drathbone.

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tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 3:49 am
Man what a sh*t storm! I thought I stumbled into IGN there for a moment. Anyway imo Oblivion is a great game and I have high hopes for Skyrim. At first Oblivion reminded me of a shareware game called Catacomb Abyss I played way back in 1991, I think that’s why I never thought of Oblivion as looking ugly but as looking outdated. Well, I did think some of the hairstyles were fugly, the elves’ ridgeback I think was the worst. "Looting is quick and easy." I thought that was funny, not ROFL funny, but a chuckle funny. Daniel you did good, don't let the trolls get you down.

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usaglory
Joined: Mar 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 6:21 am
So after being set loose in a huge world filled with countless places to explore, treasures to find and people to talk to, the first thing Dan manages to do is fall off a cliff?? Dude! LMFAO!

Disclaimer: hope Dan is a good sport about this post, just trying to ease off the tension.

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danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 7:17 am
No I laughed as it happened too. :)

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t1pz0r
Joined: May 2008

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 11:14 am
All trolling aside I am very excited for Skyrim! I logged 600+ hours on Oblivion (which yes the character models were terrible but the environment itself was pretty impressive for the time), and about the same amount of time on Fallout 3. Very much looking forward to doing the same thing as Daniel where I get out there to explore and quickly plummet to my doom. Then probably drown. Then get killed by guards for heckling townies. Gonna be good times!

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tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Murder! Someone’s been M-U-R-D-E-R-E-D! Welcome to the Dark Brotherhood.

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astrowabbit
Joined: Nov 2009

Posted: Sep 9th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
Considering Oblivion came out early in the Xbox 360's life cycle I don't see how can harshly criticize it.
It was certainly not ugly. Sure it wasn't finely polished but both Fallout games have been glitchy and troublesome and I could not rate them higher than Oblivion based on that.

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