Summary
Since its launch in 2011,The Elder Scrolls: Skyrimhas set the pace for open-world RPGs, with nearly every other entry in the genre taking cues from the perpetually re-released title. Beyond the depths of exploration, immersion, and variety,Skyrimboasted a mind-boggling amount of enthralling storylines, both standalone and interwoven, and the agency it allows its players while unraveling a cohesive plot is a standard few studios have been able to replicate. Never is this masterful game design on finer display than the In My Time of Need quest line.
Now that Bethesda’s next flagship RPGStarfieldlooms on the horizon, many fans are revisiting the previous titles that have contributed to the studio’s impeccable pedigree. From the very firstElder Scrollsgame through Bethesda’s entries in theFalloutfranchise, crafting far-flung worlds that still feel believable, with interesting characters and engaging gameplay has always been at the crux of its design philosophy. Many are qualifyingStarfield, its first new IP in decades, asSkyrimin space, which has fans discerning the vast merits and occasional flaws of what many consider to be Bethesda’s Opus Magnum.
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In Skyrim, Player Choice is No Illusion
Forming the plot of a vast RPG is an imposing feat, unique among storytelling mediums. Under its facade, it can still be a guided experience with targeted themes, but on the surface, it must make the player feel as though they are in control of the story, able to shape it and the world. The best among them form a complex network of dialogue choices and contingencies for when a player decides they do not want to act in the best interest of moving the story forward. Games likeSkyrimallow players to act across the entire gamut of morality, and there might be no puzzle in storytelling harder to solve than crafting a tale that has the flexibility to still be coherent with a good or evil protagonist.
InSkyrim,on the outskirts of Whiterun, is band of Alik’r mercenaries bickering with the city guards. As they argue for access to Whiterun, it is revealed they are on the hunt for a Redguard woman named Saadia. Learning that and accepting the In My Time of Need quest, the playercan go into Whiterunto find this woman, who is in repose at The Bannered Mare tavern. From there the quest can cascade in a number of directions, with the player having the option to,
For Bethesda, True Player Choice is Not Just Yes or No
The most impressive aspect of this quest line is that contingencies for any decision the player makes are baked into its storyline. The dialogue choices, even ones that appear resolute, can be backed out of with preceding actions. It is one thing to write a binary decision into a story, giving the veiled sense of agency, but just creating two distinct outcomes in reality. InSkyrim, and especially for the In My Time of Need quest, the multi-faceted and fluid nature of a storyline’s unfolding truly makes the player feel like it was an organic encounter.
It is a rare feat when a game can be so immersive as to feel unscripted. InSkyrim,there are moments that fit the description of linear, sequenced events, but for the most part, it is a game with sporadic tendencies. A simple random run-in can wind into an hours-long, deep, and rewarding side journey, where the outcome is truly established by the player’s decisions. It is a remarkable credit to Bethesda’s writing and one thathopefully will translate toStarfield.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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