Played a bit today, but primarily focused on finishing my big 'final' playthrough of the now-complete New Vegas. Some initial observations:
- The game, as many have said, looks fantastic. However, what I really dig is the new 'gritty' look. Gone is the ultra-sanitized look of previous elder scrolls games. People look like they live in houses that don't have running water. Lower-class homes look like lower-class dwellings.
- Game optimization is fantastic. My machine is hardly state-of-the-art, but running at high, I get excellent frame rates. Had a CTD earlier, but that was after some extended running through the landscape, resulting in multiple grid loads. I get the same kind of errors in Oblivion, Fallout 3 and New Vegas, so it really isn't a big deal to me. I like to move slow through these games anyway and almost never fast travel. You see a lot more if you take the time to walk through the landscape.
- Details are everything. Bethesda loves it's flagship series and it shows. Having come into the inn at night, I rented a room, after which the innkeep came out from behind the counter and showed me upstairs to the room. No more friendly, yet vague directions about which room is your's. NPCs act a whole lot more like real people now, which is a real immersion booster.
- Bethesda took my favorite things about their incarnations of the Fallout series and put them in the game. We've got perks, crafting and even a status message telling my that I was well-rested after waking up in the inn.
- Melee combat seems clunky and slow. Maybe I am not used to the feel of the game yet, but I have found swinging my sword to be clumsy at best. Have been relying on my archery more, but this game could really stand to have a type of VATS interface.
I haven't even tried magic yet, and I am pretty tired right now, but I will probably start a fresh game tomorrow and give it a whirl then. Skyrim is clearly the 2011 game of the year, and looks like it will be an obsession of mine for some time.