HORRIBLE combat system !


That's what upset me more about this game. It want to do action, instead of more strategical battle as for exemple in Morrowind, but fails miserably. The fights are repetitive to the extreme,look retarded and unspectacular thanks to almost absent animations/effects (depending if you're into sword or magic), your character has slow reactions, and the human opponents often sounds like a bunch of old people tying to have a collective orgasm. Worst part, until high level you can only perform ONE special attack with any weapon, that makes TWO attacks when counting the basic one. In real life, picking up a sword for the first time I will still be able to execute (even ineffective) thrusts and shlashes ! Result = dumb click-party, no bit of brain needed, at least until high levels (didn't go that far) but that's already the sign of a badly designed game ; agood gameplay has to motivate you from start to finish.

Possibly the worst combat system ever seen in RPGs.A great one, in comparison, can be observed in Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, published the same year as TESIV.

Anyone agree or disagree ?

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I loved the game, but I absolutely hated the combat system. For instance, fighting in a crowd, accidentily hitting an ally and having everyone turn against you. I was forced to invoke the cheat mode in order to play.

In the kingdom of the blind, you're the village idiot.

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I heard Skyrim was doing much better, with blood, real effects, and somehow tactical combat for ex a need to block at the right moment.

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You do realize this game was made around 2006...

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So what ?!
Many games released in that period or prior (RPG or others) had a better combat. Morrowind, for ex. Oh, and didn't you ever play Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, released 2006 ? It had freaking awesome close-range fight mechanics SIMILAR to TESIV, only 10 times cooler and more dynamic.


"I don't care what you believe in, just believe in something ! No matter what..."

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I don't have that much of a problem with the combat system. Sure, it could be better, but once you get a feel for your enemy's attack patterns, it's not so hard. Sneak up behind someone, Sneak attack, stop sneaking as soon as they notice you, block, brief flurry of light forward hits, block (and wait for their attack), standing power attack, backward tumble, wait a second while they march forward, charging power attack, left or right power attack while they're staggered and be ready to grab their weapon if they drop it....

Did I mention that I'm playing an Orc Thief with high Blunt, high Block, high Acrobatics and several Restore Fatigue potions on her person at all times? Best. Fights. Ever. Now, my Nord Barbarian...she had some pretty boring fights. So obviously, the best solution to the simplistic combat system is to play a stealth character. It really encourages you to get into the dynamics and think on your feet, you know? Blindly marching forward and spamming attacks won't hack it if you're a Thief.

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Yeah, I kinda get what you are saying, but I still think the combat looks and feel (and sounds !) retarded. It tries to mix action (à la Dark Messiah) and rpg but takes the worst from each system. For exemple, you have to be level 100 in blade/blunt to unlock all four power attacks, which are actually basic moves !! Until you reach something like level 50, you can't even swing your sword left or right... how stupid is that, honestly ?
You know I restarted Morrowind some time ago on pc (with a few mods to make it shine), and the combat is actually so much better imo in this game : it's really rpg-ish, with stats being calculated and everything. More satisfying. Actually, anything in this game is better than in the sequel. Morrowind still feels unique, deeply complex and fascinating, whereas Oblivion just feels like a dumbed-down role-playing game : sure you can do a lot of things, but it ain't very fun because too many gameplay elements and mechanics suck (the spell system is another example : most of them cost way too much mana and money for a non-mage to use, even if he starts with the proper skills).


"I don't care what you believe in, just believe in something ! No matter what..."

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