Elder Scrolls Online: Proof That Good Game Mechanics Do Not A Good Game Make

Elder Scrolls online has gotten a fair amount of press over the past several months, and I have to say I am not impressed. I mean, congrats to ZeniMax for even managing to make a recognizable TES game as an MMO. That kind of cross genre game dev isn't easy. And love it or hate it, Elder Scrolls online clearly is a TES game. But that doesn't mean it's good game.

The problems I have with the game aren't the kind of thing you are going to see watching YouTube videos of how the gameplay works or reading articles about what ZeniMax put into the game. This isn't the kind of thing were you need a walk-through or detailed Elder Scrolls online leveling guide to get you past the first level because it's just that badly done. Actually,for the most part it isn't done badly at all.

But well designed game mechanics don't make a good game either. See, Elder Scrolls online is largely playable, aside from the annoying glitches that, face it, every new MMO has. No the real problem is that the devs spent too much time making sure the game was well designed, and as much as actually building the game.

Beginning Quests Matter

I mean, new types of gameplay are neat and all, but don't mean much when the stories are bland an uninteresting. Who cares if the combat system is new and inspired if you spend the first five levels never seeing combat because you are too busy running around the city and carrying messages--often carrying messages to people right in front of the quest giver. The quest giver could just call the message across the square and save me the trouble of searching the entire city for some guys I don't know who were right there all along.

So Does 'Acting'

Then there is the NPCs. TES has never had the best NPC acting, but Elder Scrolls online takes it to a whole new level of disappointment. Look, I'm not expecting Lord of the Rings style CGI here, but is it too much to ask that an NPC who has lost her kids seems like she is actually upset? Apparently it is. So not only am I running around a city doing nothing more interesting than carrying messages that don't need to be carried in the first place, I'm doing all this stuff for NPCs who are more annoying than engaging, and make me wonder why I would want to help them in the first place.

I may pick up an Elder Scrolls online leveling guide just to get me to the higher levels where (hopefully) there is more interesting stuff. Of I may just stop playing entirely and renew my WoW subscription. I haven't decided yet.

What do you think? Is Elder Scrolls online as good as you expected? Why or why not?