Morrowind: The Secondary World

Magus · 10-13-2011, 11:03 PM

Like seriously this game seems damned gigantic the first time you play it. I was convinced it was going to take me years to play the thing. I've since gotten a better grip on its size in the probably something like 20 hours I've played it so far (having only scratched the surface of the game yet) and while it's still pretty damn massive it's slightly more contained than I realized (only slightly because this seriously is a massive, massive world).

And really if I attempted to read every single book in the game, complete all the sidequests, discover all the items and alchemical solutions and spells and the epic, intricate, detailed backstory of the universe, it probably would literally take years (maybe only two, but definitely plural).

Like I think there really was this desperate struggle back at this time to really create a fully realized digital secondary world that lives and breathes with detail and legends and warring religions and beliefs and offers total freedom of choice, to really create the ultimate realistic fantasy sandbox. Morrowind was that world.

I'm sure it's been surpassed by other RPGs since then, its sequel Oblivion undoubtedly, but I still seems like this game has to be one of the greatest works of art of all time. Just the amount of loving detail put into it is amazing, like every single house looks lived in, the paths you follow look like real paths, mountains look real, everything is so damned real seeming.

Like just look at some of the places and the amount of effort put into making them seem incredibly intricate and detailed. How can a person be satisfied with the linear quests of Final Fantasy X or XIII after playing this game?! I assume some of you have managed to go back and enjoy games with a more contained world, but I don't know if I can...

Also the first person perspective, while it doesn't allow for the level of strategy inherent in isometric games like Fallout or Arcanum, does make the game world feel darn immersive. I can seriously get lost in it for hours at a time.

Obviously this game has flaws but I have little interest in recounting them. The massive achievement of this game is way more important to fawn about.

10-13-2011, 11:03 PM	#1
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	Morrowind: The Secondary World Like seriously this game seems damned gigantic the first time you play it. I was convinced it was going to take me years to play the thing. I've since gotten a better grip on its size in the probably something like 20 hours I've played it so far (having only scratched the surface of the game yet) and while it's still pretty damn massive it's slightly more contained than I realized (only slightly because this seriously is a massive, massive world). And really if I attempted to read every single book in the game, complete all the sidequests, discover all the items and alchemical solutions and spells and the epic, intricate, detailed backstory of the universe, it probably would literally take years (maybe only two, but definitely plural). Like I think there really was this desperate struggle back at this time to really create a fully realized digital secondary world that lives and breathes with detail and legends and warring religions and beliefs and offers total freedom of choice, to really create the ultimate realistic fantasy sandbox. Morrowind was that world. I'm sure it's been surpassed by other RPGs since then, its sequel Oblivion undoubtedly, but I still seems like this game has to be one of the greatest works of art of all time. Just the amount of loving detail put into it is amazing, like every single house looks lived in, the paths you follow look like real paths, mountains look real, everything is so damned real seeming. Like just look at some of the places and the amount of effort put into making them seem incredibly intricate and detailed. How can a person be satisfied with the linear quests of Final Fantasy X or XIII after playing this game?! I assume some of you have managed to go back and enjoy games with a more contained world, but I don't know if I can... Also the first person perspective, while it doesn't allow for the level of strategy inherent in isometric games like Fallout or Arcanum, does make the game world feel darn immersive. I can seriously get lost in it for hours at a time. Obviously this game has flaws but I have little interest in recounting them. The massive achievement of this game is way more important to fawn about. __________________ The Valiant Review Last edited by Magus; 10-13-2011 at 11:08 PM.