Dear Readers,
It’s no secret that I am a western RPG junkie. More than anything, I’m an Elder Scrolls junkie. This year is going to be an amazing year for anyone who shares a similar love for swords, spells, and exploring the digital countrysides like I do. We’ve already had Two Words 2 grace our consoles and PCs. And while it wasn’t the greatest RPG of all time, it was enough to scratch the itch for a little bit longer.
Later this year, The Witcher 2 is going to arrive and tempt me from work and wife. After playing through the original more times than I care to admit, I’m absolutely ready for the sequel. If you haven’t had the opportunity to partake in Geralt of Rivia’s first video game adventure, I recommend you pick it up. It’s easily one of my favorite RPG adventures of the past 15 years.
At the very end of the year, we will have Skyrim.
A lot of you know that I make my own video reviews for the site. I play through the game. I capture my own footage. I write my own script. I record my own audio, etc. But what many don’t know about me is that I abstain from previews and demos before I put my hands on the actual game. I do my absolute best to not have a preconceived notion of what a game will be like before I review it. I partially do that because I hate to have the experience spoiled for me, but moreso, I do it because I feel it makes the review feel more “pure” or “genuine.”
This is my “Skyrim Vow” to you, dear readers. I am going to abstain from all previews, screenshots, interviews, or anything else that might ruin my review for you once I get my hands on the final build of Skyrim. It will be a difficult task, especially on days when Elder-Geek will be displaying Skyrim news. It’ll be even harder if Bethesda Softworks has Skyrim on display at PAX East. However, I’m certain I can hold my own.
I can’t think of another site that can make the same promise. I know it might not sound like much, but we truly pride ourselves on our video reviews here at EG. Since the Elder-Scrolls series is special to me, I want the video review to be special for you as well. If anyone else would like to join me on my “information fast,” you’re more than welcome to do so!
Here’s to a long nine months to go!
Randy
I appreciate the honesty… this is something that is very important to get the full experience out of a game. Too bad a lot of Reviews ruined some awesome experiences in Dead Space 2 for me (especially the beginning sequence, about the main character from Ignition).
As for Skyrim, I’m not really a big WRPG fan, especially in the classical sense. I am the exact opposite of Randy, where he likes to create his own character and story, I want mine given to me. Although, I did spend a good 50 hours in Oblivion and Fallout 3.
As far as RPGs go, I am holding out for Dark Souls and Catherine.
Likewise. I’ll make a similar vow concerning Dark Souls, which I will import the moment it releases in Japan so that I may review it and suffer just as I did for Demon’s Souls.
I will continue to devour every bit of information pertaining to Skyrim, up to the inevitable announcement of its delayed release (Q1 2012, I guarantee).
I hope it’s not that late! I’d really like to play it for our charity marathon this year!
I’m actually doing more or less the same thing for Crysis 2. I’ve only seen one gameplay trailer, decided I wanted this game badly, and told myself to abstain from all further Crysis 2 media.
Not sure I could get myself to do the same for Skyrim though… don’t think I’d want to go into too many story trailers or anything, but I probably won’t be able to resist checking out the dev diaries. Can’t wait to find out what sort of new mechanics they’ll be introducing to make the world feel more alive
What’s an information fast?
I respect the idea behind reviewing this way but choosing not to follow news, info, press releases, etc. hurts your ability to assess how well executed the experience is in comparison to what the player’s been promised.
You know, just sayan’ to contrariate everything and anything.
As for Skyrim, both giant spiders and Todd Howard confirmed in first press release (ha! now your playthrough is tainted!) so little in the way of excitement and much much repulsion.
Fasting is when you intentionally starve yourself for a cause.
Cool.
I usually just avoid those “first 15 minutes of X revealed!”. Can’t help myself with the rest 😛
Oh, I NEVER fall for those first 15 minute videos. The first 15 minutes of a video game is usually the best part of playing it!
The first 15 minutes = tutorials (which are more often than not, lame) or hand holding hidden tutorials (which are, too, more often than not, lame). Some do those thing good, like CoD4, but usually that’s not the case.
I still love playing the first 15 minutes, though. All the excitement of new stuff.
Another trailer came out today. I have fought temptation… and kicked its ass.
I can’t do this sort of thing for games I love, I find that a pretty good part of the fun of a game is the anticipation, and all thel ittle tidbits, seeing how the all add together and trying to fill in the blanks yourself and then being blown away with how wrong you are.
But, I will tell you one thing, I will abstain from watching anything related to Skyrim as well…. out of sheer disinterest. 😉