Starkist
12-31-2002, 02:58 PM
Originally posted on my website:
Morrowind is the greatest computer game ever made. Really, I mean it. Every RPG, whether on the PC or a console has its limitations. Most involve a fairly linear storyline, which the player must follow to complete the game. All too many have battle screens which turn the game into a button-pushing boredom. Nearly all RPGs have an advancement system which requires the player to destroy as many enemies as possible in order to become more powerful, more adept with weapons, so that he/she can destroy even more enemies. Morrowind is different.
Morrowind takes its name from the Imperial Province in which the game takes place. You are a newly released prisoner sent to the Dunmer Island of Vvardenfell. At the beginning you get to choose your name, race, looks, and attributes. Then you are released into the world with one job to do. However, you do not have to do that job if you do not want to. In fact, you can do do anything you want. Want to stab the Imperial Guard with a knife? Sure, just know that he will kill you with extreme prejudice. Want to break into someone's house? Go for it, just try not to get caught. Taking things that do not belong to you? It is all possible and more in Morrowind. Of course there are many good things you can do for people too. There are thousands of small quests, hundreds of underground caves filled with treasure and blood, and many unique cities. As with other RPGs you can advance in strength and get better with weapons by destroying enemies, but this is just one of many charactaristics you have. Want to be a smooth talker? Then work on Speechcraft. Want to be a world class merchant? Work on Mercantile. Want to be a thief's thief? Keep thieving and watch your Security and Sneak skills go up. There is also a whole host of magical charactaristics as well. The game is so open ended that you can take a million and one paths to victory.
There are eight races in Morrowind and you can play as male or female. There are three types of Elves, four types of Humans, Orcs, and a cat like race as well. Each has their own unique strengths and advantages. In my current game I am playing a man of the Redguard race, a dark skinned human. I am excellent with the Long Sword and I have a Silver Claymore that is becoming feared on the East Coast of Vvardenfell. I have several different robes that I have found (or stolen) along with some nice Assassin's armor. I am also working on my sneaking techniques and I am always running out of lockpicking tools. I have not yet begun the main quest of the game, but there is enough to keep me busy. In my journal I can see a list of quests that are waiting for me, and the list is long. Many of them are beyond my capabilities, but thankfully the people I promised to help are very patient.
The landscape of the game varies. From giant cities to small fishing villages, from swamps to deserts to mountains to the sea, Vvardenfell is a very diverse environment. Day turns into night turns into day again, and the weather can change quickly. The wilderness is dangerous, with evil men and fell creatures looking for a fight. Safer routes would be boats and giant animals called Silt Striders. Each city has homes, shops, meeting places, temples, and guilds. You can join whichever guild suits your fancy, whether you want to be a Thief, Fighter, Assassin, or more. Doing work for the guilds will take you to higher levels and give you move influence within the guild. Soon you can be a very high ranking member of society! Do not make people angry though, sometimes they can hold grudges. (Especially if you are always pickpocketing them.)
Morrowind is not perfect, but it is head and shoulders above the rest of the RPG community. Morrowind has beautiful graphics, and depending on your system it can have long sight distances, real time shadows, and more. It does require a high end system. I can run it on my PIII 450MHz 196MB RAM system, albeit very slowly and it takes a long time to load the different areas. I also play it on my cousin's P4 1.6GHz 256MB RAM system and it runs much better. A 3D Video Card is a must! I run it on a GeForce2 MX fairly well but a higher end GeForce4 would be better suited to this graphics intensive game.
If you are a fan of RPGs, Morrowind is definately for you. It is available for the PC for around $30 these days and for XBox for about $50.
Anyone else like Morrowind? :)
Morrowind is the greatest computer game ever made. Really, I mean it. Every RPG, whether on the PC or a console has its limitations. Most involve a fairly linear storyline, which the player must follow to complete the game. All too many have battle screens which turn the game into a button-pushing boredom. Nearly all RPGs have an advancement system which requires the player to destroy as many enemies as possible in order to become more powerful, more adept with weapons, so that he/she can destroy even more enemies. Morrowind is different.
Morrowind takes its name from the Imperial Province in which the game takes place. You are a newly released prisoner sent to the Dunmer Island of Vvardenfell. At the beginning you get to choose your name, race, looks, and attributes. Then you are released into the world with one job to do. However, you do not have to do that job if you do not want to. In fact, you can do do anything you want. Want to stab the Imperial Guard with a knife? Sure, just know that he will kill you with extreme prejudice. Want to break into someone's house? Go for it, just try not to get caught. Taking things that do not belong to you? It is all possible and more in Morrowind. Of course there are many good things you can do for people too. There are thousands of small quests, hundreds of underground caves filled with treasure and blood, and many unique cities. As with other RPGs you can advance in strength and get better with weapons by destroying enemies, but this is just one of many charactaristics you have. Want to be a smooth talker? Then work on Speechcraft. Want to be a world class merchant? Work on Mercantile. Want to be a thief's thief? Keep thieving and watch your Security and Sneak skills go up. There is also a whole host of magical charactaristics as well. The game is so open ended that you can take a million and one paths to victory.
There are eight races in Morrowind and you can play as male or female. There are three types of Elves, four types of Humans, Orcs, and a cat like race as well. Each has their own unique strengths and advantages. In my current game I am playing a man of the Redguard race, a dark skinned human. I am excellent with the Long Sword and I have a Silver Claymore that is becoming feared on the East Coast of Vvardenfell. I have several different robes that I have found (or stolen) along with some nice Assassin's armor. I am also working on my sneaking techniques and I am always running out of lockpicking tools. I have not yet begun the main quest of the game, but there is enough to keep me busy. In my journal I can see a list of quests that are waiting for me, and the list is long. Many of them are beyond my capabilities, but thankfully the people I promised to help are very patient.
The landscape of the game varies. From giant cities to small fishing villages, from swamps to deserts to mountains to the sea, Vvardenfell is a very diverse environment. Day turns into night turns into day again, and the weather can change quickly. The wilderness is dangerous, with evil men and fell creatures looking for a fight. Safer routes would be boats and giant animals called Silt Striders. Each city has homes, shops, meeting places, temples, and guilds. You can join whichever guild suits your fancy, whether you want to be a Thief, Fighter, Assassin, or more. Doing work for the guilds will take you to higher levels and give you move influence within the guild. Soon you can be a very high ranking member of society! Do not make people angry though, sometimes they can hold grudges. (Especially if you are always pickpocketing them.)
Morrowind is not perfect, but it is head and shoulders above the rest of the RPG community. Morrowind has beautiful graphics, and depending on your system it can have long sight distances, real time shadows, and more. It does require a high end system. I can run it on my PIII 450MHz 196MB RAM system, albeit very slowly and it takes a long time to load the different areas. I also play it on my cousin's P4 1.6GHz 256MB RAM system and it runs much better. A 3D Video Card is a must! I run it on a GeForce2 MX fairly well but a higher end GeForce4 would be better suited to this graphics intensive game.
If you are a fan of RPGs, Morrowind is definately for you. It is available for the PC for around $30 these days and for XBox for about $50.
Anyone else like Morrowind? :)