I’m not sure I even want it because their games were groundbreaking back in the 00s but the seams were showing by skyrim and Starfield especially.
The repeated use of the same cave or ruins layouts feels like a metaphor for their games themselves. The ways the games are realistic can even work against them because the other ways they are unrealistic ends up putting them in this RPG uncanney valley. Like stealth archers exploiting how the NPCs will react to getting shot but then just go back to what they are doing and forget about the arrow sticking out of them. Or how you can rob someone blind as long as they don’t see you actually grabbing the item. Or if you want to look at an item on display in a store or inn, the moment you touch it you’re treated as a theif and even a pet being present means guards are called.
Playing Starfield really drove it home. It was interesting at first until I got to the main city and that really drove home that this was just skyrim in space. Or not even, skyrim where you could teleport to other locations with your ship.
Maybe they finally have evolved it a bit and it’ll be better than what I’m expecting, but then there’s that Microsoft thing you brought up…
I’m probably also in the minority, but you’re not alone.
Were there any mods that improved NPC behaviour? Like anything that would make the NPCs not completely incompetent in handling a stealth archer, or even one just at a difficult to reach vantage point?
A slew of them improve NPC activity, from increased population sizes to threat assessment to “memory” retention (ie. recall you attacking/robbing them) to upgraded looks/mannerisms and dialogue options (even when there were none before), and so much more, yep. 🤘🏼
Might have to fire up skyrim again and give them a try. Also gives some hope for the new game, since iirc they have a bit of a habit of pulling a “I made this” on some of the more popular mods.
Yeah, they were the ones to take the lush community garden and infest it with carnivorous plants instead, and then started charging admission. Now, that’s all but default SoP everywhere. 🤢
I would be shocked if the game was ground breaking. I fully expect more of the “NPCs just go back to default if you kill their buddy and wait a while” like we’ve had for 20 years. Plus all sorts of other jank and nonsense. I just don’t think Microsoft can pull off something new and great.
My personal favourite is as long as it says “hidden” they won’t know you’re stealing from them while you three feet away.
The worst I ever saw was in Starfield. I had to hack a computer. Instead of waiting for him to leave his office I just knelt down behind his computer monitor until he couldn’t apparently see me…or remember I was just there…or hear me.
That lazy shit is so egregious in 2026. I’ve played mid-quality AA games with better NPCs (Greedfall and Elex come to mind)
I’m not sure I even want it because their games were groundbreaking back in the 00s but the seams were showing by skyrim and Starfield especially.
The repeated use of the same cave or ruins layouts feels like a metaphor for their games themselves. The ways the games are realistic can even work against them because the other ways they are unrealistic ends up putting them in this RPG uncanney valley. Like stealth archers exploiting how the NPCs will react to getting shot but then just go back to what they are doing and forget about the arrow sticking out of them. Or how you can rob someone blind as long as they don’t see you actually grabbing the item. Or if you want to look at an item on display in a store or inn, the moment you touch it you’re treated as a theif and even a pet being present means guards are called.
Playing Starfield really drove it home. It was interesting at first until I got to the main city and that really drove home that this was just skyrim in space. Or not even, skyrim where you could teleport to other locations with your ship.
Maybe they finally have evolved it a bit and it’ll be better than what I’m expecting, but then there’s that Microsoft thing you brought up…
I’m probably also in the minority, but you’re not alone.
Hey now, both are pretty damn awesome after 200-400 mods, so ☝🏼😅
Were there any mods that improved NPC behaviour? Like anything that would make the NPCs not completely incompetent in handling a stealth archer, or even one just at a difficult to reach vantage point?
A slew of them improve NPC activity, from increased population sizes to threat assessment to “memory” retention (ie. recall you attacking/robbing them) to upgraded looks/mannerisms and dialogue options (even when there were none before), and so much more, yep. 🤘🏼
Might have to fire up skyrim again and give them a try. Also gives some hope for the new game, since iirc they have a bit of a habit of pulling a “I made this” on some of the more popular mods.
Yeah, they were the ones to take the lush community garden and infest it with carnivorous plants instead, and then started charging admission. Now, that’s all but default SoP everywhere. 🤢
I would be shocked if the game was ground breaking. I fully expect more of the “NPCs just go back to default if you kill their buddy and wait a while” like we’ve had for 20 years. Plus all sorts of other jank and nonsense. I just don’t think Microsoft can pull off something new and great.
But even if they did: fuck em.
My personal favourite is as long as it says “hidden” they won’t know you’re stealing from them while you three feet away.
The worst I ever saw was in Starfield. I had to hack a computer. Instead of waiting for him to leave his office I just knelt down behind his computer monitor until he couldn’t apparently see me…or remember I was just there…or hear me.
That lazy shit is so egregious in 2026. I’ve played mid-quality AA games with better NPCs (Greedfall and Elex come to mind)
I’ve played rpg porn games with better npc ai.