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Episode 411: Skyrim (Patreon)

Published:
2021-10-18 12:00:06
Imported:
2021-10

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Content

Hey, folks, Jeremy here to share the 411 on Skyrim. 

Podcast humor!

I'm going to be honest: This topic was chosen in one part because Skyrim was one of the biggest and most influential games to arrive in the absolutely gobsmackingly content-packed fall of 2011. And in part because the game's extremely long legs mean it really doesn't feel like it belongs in Retronauts, and people are gonna be angry about it. But the point of this show is to talk about game history, not specifically "retro games" (whatever the hell those even are), and Skyrim was hugely influential and important. And, yeah, it's 10 years old in a few weeks. You don't have to like it. That's just how it is. The march of time cares not for your feelings. (You're really gonna love it with Bob delivers the second blow of this one-two punch on Friday.)

The other reason for this episode's existence is because I really wanted to hang out with Jeff Green, Kat Bailey, and Ray Barnholt for a couple of hours. A great cast makes for a great ’cast, you know?

Edits by Greg Leahy; art by Nick Wanserski. Musical selections:

  • 08:18 - Dragonborn
  • 19:41 - Awake
  • 27:22 - Ancient Stones
  • 37:22 - Out of the Cold (Tavern Music)
  • 49:29 - Far Horizons / Sovngarde
  • 1:02:51 - Steel on Steel
  • 1:16:44 - Journey's End
  • 1:30:37 - The Streets of Whiterun
  • Closing - Wind Guide You

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Comments

Anonymous

Very excited to hear this one. For me this was the last great game I played. And oh... Did I play it. I think I played straight through until 2013

Thomas Young

This is completely accurate to the time frame of the podcast. I don't like it one bit but 2011 was 10 years ago and that was an amazing year for gaming.

Jon Heiman

I was wondering all year if you would cover this game's 10th anniversary! I came to this game late, maybe 2017, having never played an Elder Scrolls game before. I was wondering why/how it caught fire in the maninstream in a way that previous entries had not.

Anonymous

If games like Final Fantasy 6 and Ocarina of Time defined my gaming youth, then Skyrim was the title that's defined my gaming as an adult. It's not a perfect game, but it's the perfect title to slip back into a warm pair of comfy Merino wool socks. I've bought copies on PS3, 360, PS4 (twice!), Switch, and PC. I fully intend to invest the anniversary edition, too. From the music to the world and it fully fulfilled power fantasy, I can't think of another game that's easier to joyously burn 10-15 hours in every few months. I'd also say that the region of Skyrim and its Viking-light aesthetic has had a big influence on my tastes in everything from fiction literature to TV shows, music, and more. Duking it out with a dragon while listening to Turisa's "Battle Metal" never ceases to be fun.

B. Traven

Has there been a Retronauts about other Elder Scrolls games? This seems like something that would be ripe for the show. The mechanics have shifted wildly game to game (in my opinion, devolving in many ways).

Jared Blankenship

Fantastic game. One of the few "new generation" games that grabbed my attention. My first playthrough was 600 hours and I did everything I could possibly do in one playthrough. The atmosphere is fantastic, and I took pains to never fast travel and walk/run everywhere. The soundtrack is also fits well and is suitably epic. The other Elder Scrolls games would be a fun Retronauts topic.

Paul

I recall I platinumed the 360 version on about 100 hours I think. I don't know if that means I did every quest but I certainly did the main stuff, the thieves guild stuff, the magic school stuff, the werewolf stuff, and the vampire stuff. Though I never found all the power words. The switch version is quite good though I didn't play a ton of it. I always think I'll build a new interesting character but I only have two modes: A khajit named Tiger Septim and a Argonian named Lizard Wizard

Anonymous

I'm here for Jeff and Kat.

Dave Dalrymple

I finished the main story of Skyrim mainly out of spite after the goofing off had worn thin. I was married to Uthgerd, and she travelled with me as a companion. One day, she suddenly disappeared, and all the items I had stored at our house disappeared as well. She turned up dead at the morgue a few days later.

Shaxbert

Ten years on, Skyrim's still my go-to chill-out game. It's extremely easy to just drop in and tool around for a few hours after a stressful day at work. It's lasted this long with me solely on the strength of the modding community; install a couple mods and presto- suddenly it's an immersive survival sim, or a Souls-like, or ... a game with a magic system that's actually *fun*. My current character's an archaeologist/treasure hunter who's filling out the Legacy of the Dragonborn museum/library. Level 50 and I haven't even given the Dragonstone to Farengar yet. (Totally got it, though; needed it for the museum, don'cha know)

Anonymous

Personal highlight was finding a ring that allowed my archer to walk on water, which resulted in constant trolling enemies on ships and islands who couldn't reach me to fight back while I circled them, raining arrows and death at every turn... In regards to how the Switch version looks, it seems to be based on the PS4 build with a few of the fancier effects switched off.

Anonymous

Here's the 1up Skyrim race that Jeremy mentioned. https://www.twitch.tv/videos/48021245

Anonymous

bizarre disdain for the main story quest among the casters here

Anonymous

Oh man, listening to this podcast reminded me how much I liked this game when it came out. Because it has come out so many times and I've played this game so much I forget that at one time it was one of the greatest games ever made. When Skyrim came out, I didn't have a good enough PC to play it, so I bought it for a friend's xbox 360. For weeks I would show up at his house every day with cigarettes and energy drinks and we would each play 12 hours a day while the other was sleeping. I don't think there has been a game since that hooked me as hard as Skyrim did.

Anonymous

Another great episode. Makes me want to dive back in. Side Question: Jeremy Parish: how is the Virtual Boy book coming along. Any release dates in the works? Don't mean to be a pain but I hope you'll announce it. I will shut up now, thanks!

retronauts
>>70109618

The VB book is out and available now at limitedrungames.com, chief. Go grab a copy!

retronauts
>>70076391

'Cause it's way less interesting than randomly stumbling into a weird Dwemer cave, or in Kat's case, marrying a cool werewolf

Luis Guillermo Jimenez Gomez

Great episode. Also, I'm willing to bet "(You're really gonna love it with Bob delivers the second blow of this one-two punch on Friday.)" means it's Dark Souls.

Anonymous
>>70109618

Thanks! I was checking the wrong site. I just got a copy! Thanks again

Michael Castleberry

My first character was an Imperial. I definitely exploited the crafting system to create a sword that I was 2 shotting dragons with. Had fire and soul trap on it, so I named it Scorpion.

Anonymous

The VR version of Skyrim gave me the most dastardly of headaches. Ambitious take, I'll give them that.

Anonymous

I’ve never played much of Skyrim, but it’s fun to see retrospectives of 2011. That was the year I gave up on my PhD and got a job, and gradually realised I had free time and disposable income for gaming. My “return to gaming” (other than Discworld MUD) title was Bastion, on a crappy laptop with no proper mouse. I also started reading Rock, Paper, Shotgun voraciously, so I was immersed in the phenomenon that was Skyrim even though I only picked it up on the cheap some years later. Really neat to realise in retrospect what a good time I picked to return to the hobby!