The Best TES Game?

[AKB]

(Note: I am sure this thread has existed before but considering this seems to be the most appropriate sub-forum for this I think it is okay to recreate it)
(Second Note: I am pretty sure polls are still broken, I created this poll in the hopes it would be fixed soon enough. Please don't reply to inform me that they are broken, I already know)
(Third Note: I included Skyrim in the poll as it will be released soon enough, and a few people will certainly wish to say it will be there favorite in advance)
(Fourth Note: This sort of thread nearly always dissolves into flaming over people's opinions, so if you can't argue civilly with your fellow forum members please don't reply to any other post)
(Fifth Note: There are a lot of notes for this thread, aren't there?)

What is your favorite game that is part of The Elder Scrolls franchise? Mine would have to be Oblivion, none of the others managed to eat up so much of my time as Oblivion did. Admittedly most of my love for the game stems from the mod base, which easily stretched out the game's length a great deal.

Though I already know which game is my favorite, I am curious of which one is your favorite mainly because one of the most common topics of discussion on this forum is the classic "I like X game because of this, but hate Y game because it did this" debates. So any opinions on which is the greatest of the bunch?

[HatofMadness]

Oblivion, Duh.

[Argonanza]

Oblivion is the only one I've played. So, yeah, Oblivion.

[MARS]

Each game has its own unique feel. Oblivion has given me the most playtime but now that I've played the older games a bit more I must admit that it's not quite the same anymore. There are so many things I love in Daggerfall and Morrowind that aren't present in Oblivion...
So I'll say Morrowind. I said Oblivion in another thread but I've changed my mind since then.
But as I said, each of them has its own unique feel.

[mulder]

I like Morrowind, I really do, but I like Oblivion more.

[Spiney]

They're all the best in their own way.

/thread

[AKB]

I'm glad you managed to question every member of the forum to come to that answer Spiney, thanks for saving me the trouble of this thread! Seriously though how can you say that you managed to answer this threads question considering I was specifically asking for opinions, not for an answer but what people thought about the subject.

Sorry, I simply can't stand seeing the /thread thing as I've never actually seen a thread close with that, I also don't think I've ever agreed with someone who has used it on the topic they think the ended. It is like walking into a room, telling everyone involved the conversation is over, and then leaving the room as the conversation continues.

[Dean]

I'm glad you managed to question every member of the forum to come to that answer Spiney, thanks for saving me the trouble of this thread! Seriously though how can you say that you managed to answer this threads question considering I was specifically asking for opinions, not for an answer but what people thought about the subject.

Sorry, I simply can't stand seeing the /thread thing as I've never actually seen a thread close with that, I also don't think I've ever agreed with someone who has used it on the topic they think the ended. It is like walking into a room, telling everyone involved the conversation is over, and then leaving the room as the conversation continues.

My god there are so many good quotes on this site tonight. Me likey.

Topic: I will go with Morrowind personally, main reason being that I have only ever played Morrowind and Oblivion. Perhaps if I was to play some of the others then my opinion might change.

I like Morrowind over all because it always had me coming back for more, and I know nearly everything about it these days which I have never done for any other game. The lore and storyline in this game is intense and detailed, sure the graphics and combat ain't the best I've ever seen, but that doesn't really bother me at the end of the day as I can live with it.

Oblivion has many merits, the graphics and the combat are absolutely amazing. It's the small things like poisoning weapons etc. and the spell animations that make me just think WOW! By no means does Oblivions story and setting bore me at all, I just like the darker and more mysterious feel that Morrowind gives off.

[AKB]

Off topic:
Too reply to Dean,

If you want a minimal hassle way to play the earlier DOS games I suggest you downloading these pre-configured packs:

For Arena

For Daggerfall

I can't vouch for the Arena one but I know for a fact that the Daggerfall one works great, it handles nearly all of the annoying little things it takes to run DOSbox for you. The game styles are pretty much impossible to compare to either Morrowind or Oblivion though. they are much more similar to Ultima Underworld so if you liked that game, you'll like this one most likely.

[Chaos the N'wah]

Morrowind. The first ES game I played, dark ambiance, rich story-telling despite less than spectacular graphics

Oblivion was good and actually made me think of combat instead of just "hit it with the biggest stick till it's dead", but it just didn't have the same magic, Morrowind holds for me. SI made Oblivion a very close second for me.

[Wolfie]

Off topic:

For Daggerfall

but I know for a fact that the Daggerfall one works great, it handles nearly all of the annoying little things it takes to run DOSbox for you. The game styles are pretty much impossible to compare to either Morrowind or Oblivion though. they are much more similar to Ultima Underworld so if you liked that game, you'll like this one most likely.

Weird dont work for me then again nothing is working for me

[Spiney]

I'm glad you managed to question every member of the forum to come to that answer Spiney, thanks for saving me the trouble of this thread! Seriously though how can you say that you managed to answer this threads question considering I was specifically asking for opinions, not for an answer but what people thought about the subject.

Sorry, I simply can't stand seeing the /thread thing as I've never actually seen a thread close with that, I also don't think I've ever agreed with someone who has used it on the topic they think the ended. It is like walking into a room, telling everyone involved the conversation is over, and then leaving the room as the conversation continues.

Oh Tee hee. It's just a joke. You don't have to take it personally. No need to get your knickers in a twist.

Really, I've played from Arena to Oblivion, and they're all miles apart from each other. There's no real way to compare them.

[Shadow]

I've played each one all the way through (except Skyrim and handhelds) and I guess I'm going to come to a conclusion in technical terms.

Oblivion was better in engine, graphics, sound, and size than any other. It was all the latest technology and even some which couldn't be used it was so high end, for that time. For me, I found it most enjoyable in terms of plot and playability but that's just an opinion.

[OblivionDuruza]

IMO Morrowind is a clear winner. It wins on the lore and culture of the inhabitants of the game world. The exoticism and variety of the land of of Vvardenfell. The vibrant characters and language of the various cities. The many different guilds that provide re-playability and variety. The woundefull interaction between guilds that adds real depth and allows for various outcomes. The epicness of being a near god- Incarnate. And finally the amazing Great Houses and the Dunmer people, who I will never cease to love, due to this game.

[Xephonai]

I beat Arena and now I am playing Daggerfall, so daggerfall out of the two

[VirtualWeasel]

Morrowind. Hands down.

[OblivionDuruza]

Morrowind. Hands down.

+1 It's got my vote (yay first vote ). You all might like to revisit this thread and cast your votes too .

[scribbane]

Morrowind. I've owned the game for almost 9 years now, almost since it came out, and I still love it. I have only ever played Morrowind+Expansions, Oblivion+SI, and bits of Daggerfall, but Morrowind still wins. I find myself rather bored with Oblivion, but Morrowind never gets old to me. I may stop playing for a time, but its not because of boredom or dislike.

[Arzgonzianz]

Definitely Morrowind (+1 for GOTY) What I really like about Morrowind that sets aside from oblivion is that pretty much all off the creatures I cannot find in real life! I don't wanna fight a wolf... or chase a deer... I wanna fight Nix Hounds! And chase Netch! Bears are good in Solstheim though!!!
I do realize that Oblivion does have odd creatures... And dremora... But Morrowinds' always was more appealing to me. (I would give almost anything for the Cliff Racers to be back...)

[FaWa]

Definitely Morrowind (+1 for GOTY) What I really like about Morrowind that sets aside from oblivion is that pretty much all off the creatures I cannot find in real life! I don't wanna fight a wolf... or chase a deer... I wanna fight Nix Hounds! And chase Netch! Bears are good in Solstheim though!!!
I do realize that Oblivion does have odd creatures... And dremora... But Morrowinds' always was more appealing to me. (I would give almost anything for the Cliff Racers to be back...)

CLIFF RACERS FLYING HIIIGH IN THE SKYYYYYYYYY (Favorite NPC in Oblivion...)
Actually I just got killed by a Cliffracer today when I didnt notice something was attacking me. I forgot flying things existed so I thought there was some kind of bug.

But yea Im going to say Oblivion. Morrowind was amazing in terms of lore and atmosphere, but Oblivion manages to hold the top spot just because of the core mechanics and I feel as if it was very well rounded in all areas. I didnt feel as if it was missing any one piece of the puzzle, where as in Morrowind I thought the combat, and the animations could use a TON of work.

Daggerfall is not very accessible at all and Im really trying my hardest to get into it but its hell for me.

[Arzgonzianz]

You do have a very good point on the animation of combat... Although I do find it fun to start a new charactor and hack away and random NPCs for a few mins...

[I_am_one]

I've only ever played Oblivion (And about three minutes of Daggerfall. That rat in the first dungeon kept killing me...), so I'll have to say Oblivion.

[Eltee]

I love Oblivion, and I easily have the most hours pumped into it. I love the combat, I love Cyrodiil...
But Morrowind has it's Mystique. It is such a grand adventure, and, I just love it.

[Argonanza]

I'm gradually going from being an Oblidiot to being a Morrowhiner.

[FaWa]

Poor Arena

Nobody even mentions it