Level Design, WTF?

Chan_Archy · Jan 22, 2012

I've enjoyed playing Skyrim, but have a serious criticism of the "point A to point b" approach to level design. From what I can tell, there isn't a single cave or dungeon that contains a legitimate "maze" or "labyrinth". Every dungeon leads you down a single path until you reach the goal, throwing in a convenient "back-door" so you can exit quickly upon killing the whatever.

I mean, how boring really. Why do I even need a map? I just follow the hallway. The game could have been a lot more interesting.

xSuoiveDx · Jan 22, 2012

how long have you been playing it ?

drakkenfan · Jan 22, 2012

I've been in caves with several different intersecting paths. And not all of them had an exit at the back.

seanjohn2800 · Jan 22, 2012

Every know and then a twist will be thrown in, I recently had to do an epic waterfall jump to evade some guards and return to the city.

Chan_Archy · Jan 22, 2012

I've played quite a bit, but not along the main story-line. I guess I'm thinking favorably of Bethesda's work on Fallout 3. I remember being turned around in some of those buildings on a number of occasions. Level design feels weak in Skyrim by comparison.

Well, ya know, it's just one man's opinion.

Maybe I am a little biased in that I prefer the Fallout series to Elder Scrolls.

seanjohn2800 · Jan 22, 2012

Chan_Archy said:
I've played quite a bit, but not along the main story-line. I guess I'm thinking favorably of Bethesda's work on Fallout 3. I remember being turned around in some of those buildings on a number of occasions. Level design feels weak in Skyrim by comparison.

Well, ya know, it's just one man's opinion.

Maybe I am a little biased in that I prefer the Fallout series to Elder Scrolls.

All I can say is that I can't wait to see a Fallout game running on the same engine as Skyrim

Chan_Archy · Jan 22, 2012

I would like to see that as well. I have a feeling it will be awhile.

xSuoiveDx · Jan 22, 2012

Chan_Archy said:
I've played quite a bit, but not along the main story-line. I guess I'm thinking favorably of Bethesda's work on Fallout 3. I remember being turned around in some of those buildings on a number of occasions. Level design feels weak in Skyrim by comparison.

Well, ya know, it's just one man's opinion.

Maybe I am a little biased in that I prefer the Fallout series to Elder Scrolls.

Seriously, how many game hours have you logged to come up with your conclusion ?

seanjohn2800 · Jan 22, 2012

Chan_Archy said:
I would like to see that as well. I have a feeling it will be awhile.

PS4 or 720..if that's what it'll be called

Mikea · Jan 22, 2012

I've put 100 hours into skyrim, and I'm still not bored of the dungeons, but if you really can't stand them, just do something else.

Hulksmash · Jan 22, 2012

honestly I like that cause alot of oblivion maps u had to run all the way back

Ender · Jan 22, 2012

Go into the Dwarven Capital. That plops took me hours to work my way through and I still didnt find all of the doors that come up to the surface.

STiROCKET06 · Jan 22, 2012

Where is the Dwarven Capital? Is that Avenchanzel?

Jaeger · Jan 22, 2012

Mikea said:
I've put 100 hours into skyrim, and I'm still not bored of the dungeons, but if you really can't stand them, just do something else.

I think somebody stole the milkdrinker's sweetroll.

Mikea · Jan 22, 2012

Jaeger said:
I think somebody stole the milkdrinker's sweetroll.

ummm

Ironclad · Jan 22, 2012

Some dungeon exits being you right out the other side of a mountain though, I like that. Early game, when travelling on foot, it makes sense, to me.

ItsBenniBlack · Jan 22, 2012

thats pure bs lol ive been in numerous caves and spots that are literally mazes. each cave, tomb what ever is a different level and they are in random spots all over im in one right now that i actually had to pull out my collectors edition guide book to back track. ALSO try not to use the arrow guide turn it off and you will find it to be more challenging also i mean do you check everything? ive found books under food money in skeletons that are stuck in ruins hidden in non let corners that you would just think is scenery. i dislike when people half play a game such as this one and develop an opinion that has holes in it.

STiROCKET06 · Jan 22, 2012

Well said ItsBenniBlack. There is so much content stuffed in the dungeons, it's mind blowing.

Al'Amar · Jan 23, 2012

Personally, I like the exit's at the back. You can not reach the exits at first anyways.. ( they can not be an entrance). There is some quests, and some caves/ruins that I have experienced from wandering that make you go all the way back.

Chan_Archy · Jan 23, 2012

"i dislike when people half play a game such as this one and develop an opinion that has holes in it"

You're welcome dislike whatever you would like, but I've played a lot of Skyrim (and Oblivion, and even Morrowind). Bethesda will never make another game like Morrowind, by the way.

What I'm getting at here is the "dumbed-down" effect that the console platform has brought to video games. Skyrim has a lot of things going for it, no doubt.

Say what you will - I've probably logged about 100 hours or so and have traversed 90+ dungeons, every single one of them was a straight-line to the goal or what have you. Labytinthia gives the impression of being a labyrinth, but it's not really.

I think it is a credit to Bethesda that they have been able to give the impression of a "maze" in some dungeons without it actually being one.

Level Design, WTF?

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