I just wanted to talk to some people about the screens in Game Informer. Now I'm not talking about the actual detail level or beauty of the graphics, those topics have been beaten to death in other threads. I just wanted to ask people their general opinion about the art direction Skyrim is taking.

For example, the first picture I saw was of what I'm assuming to be the updated look for trolls. I could be wrong, but regardless, what bothered me about it (it looked good, don't get me wrong) was that I was like "hey, isn't that a balverine from fable 1?"

And there were other things that looked almost uncomfortably familiar. Thats the only one I can put my finger on at the moment.

I get that all fantasy games have common elements in them with a pre-conceived notion of what they should look like, but REALLY, that troll was just too close...

Note* this isn't a thread to bash Beth or call them a bunch of copiers, I'm gonna absolutely love the game no matter what, I just wanted to know if I'm the only one that made that connection

Looks up artwork by Frank Frazetta. He did a lot of the artwork for Conan the Barbarian which Todd Howard states was one of the inspirations for Skyrim.

Ah. Makes sense. Good enough I guess

Based only on the GI screens, it seems that while humans are more realistic, creatures, armor and weapons are becoming more stylized. Although there is supposed to be more visual distinction between races, but we can't be sure if that means Bosmer will look like the Morrowind concept art.

I've only seen a couple of low res scans (can't get the mag here) - so I don't know if others have already seen images like this, but I'm waiting on seeing some pics of the cities, really hoping for some cool architecture

I like it. It will feel like it's own ES game. Rather than feeling like Morrowind, or Oblivion.


Really that's the best ways for Game Series to grow. So that one sequel never really makes the older games obsolete, and each title gives its own incentives for people to go back and play them time and time again.


For example in games like Gran Turismo, Madden, Bad Company, Civilization, etc, they are improved versions of the older games, making the older titles obsolete. Where as games like Elder Scrolls, Zelda, Metal Gear, etc, all make each title familiar, but unique enough to stand on its own. Making each title much more repayable. As much as many of us want "Morrowind 2" in Skyrim, it really is not the best thing for the series. The best thing for the series is to have its own direction, Bethesda knows this, and this is why they are taking Skyrim in a different direction.

I so far am very happy with the Art Direction.

The troll looks pretty similar to the trolls in Oblivion. I like the grittier look that Skyrim is giving off. I've always been a fan of "realistic" fantasy.

I agree, it looks a bit like Oblivion and Fallout especially. Only better. A lot better. Notice the arms on the player when in 3rd person view in some of these screens. It really looks a lot more defined and realistic. Also, the screen with the waterfalls and the old wooden building structure looks freakishly good. Oblivion was too "smooth" everywhere. This time it looks so much more defined. Imagine Fallout 4, which they're probably working on right now

One thing that will have an impact on the art direction as well are the animations. Can't wait to hear about those. Hope they use Euphoria, please for the love of God..

The the Balvarine is laregely a contrived and fairly generic monster in-and-of-itself, with a fancy name. The trolls of ES remind me most closely of the trolls of Willow.

I don't really se Beth copying Fable, Fable is a less successful and less fun franchise. It would make more sense for Beth to copy something really good ... maybe Oblivion? Fallout? Or, Morrowind?

It looks amazing. Really amazing. I dont know what to do or say.

They are approaching a really visceral and gritty art direction, rather than the colorful and cartoonish Oblivion or the weird and twisted Morrowind.

I like it, a lot. It's very realistic and it seems very immersive.

But seriously? Fable art direction? It's way too cartoonish and childish...

Whatever the art direction is... I love it.

It looks dark. Dark fantasy is always good.

Also, the troll looks BADASS. I thought it was a werewolf the first time I saw it.

Same. I've recently become an architecture freak.

Has anyone here played Age of Conan?
Skyrim looks like the Cimmerian areas.
Which were amazing.

The giant spider reminds me of Shelob and find him/her very creepy. But I'm affraid of giant spiders generally. Still, I hope they give the dragons a sense of uniqueness, not like "Hey, all the dragons look the same like other dragons from other games/paintings/stories. Boring."

Exactly! Dark fantasy is my fav, which is why Im loving the look so far, its familiar yet something we havnt seen in a video game yet (why we havnt i have no idea). Skyrim is looking like a realistic dark fantasy, im kind of hoping that there will be some pretty unique creatures though too. Brutal unforgiving creatures that'll tear your limbs off!

So far it's absolutely PERFECT for me :drool:

What I've seen of the art style so far is gorgeous. I'm feeling a definite sword & sorcery and Conan vibe.

And Frazetta, yes. Hell, the demo character in the GI screenshots initially reminded me of http://frankfrazetta.org/viewimage.php?loc=frazetta01.jpg.