This week we discuss Bethesda Softworks, makers of The Elder Scrolls series and Fallout 3. While Square Enix has mastered the interactive novel, Bethesda is the undisputed king of wide open spaces, allowing players to do whatever they want. Beginning with Arena, we cover The Elder Scrolls series, Morrowind, Oblivion, even a little Daggerfall. Then at the end, Jake covers Fallout 3.
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The most surprising thing about Bethesda games is, well, you’d think with all that acreage covered there’d be less to do than other, linear games (like Grand Theft Auto’s non-interactive storefronts and zombie pedestrians). Quite the contrary! Bethesda titles crammed with goodies to pick up and pocket (read: steal). Every home is loaded with interactive knickknacks, every remote farm teeming with some subterranean Elder God to discover or another, every stretch of forest is peppered with darting wildlife and Elven ruins.
Whether you love Bethesda-style games or hate them, there’s one thing you can’t deny: Those guys have one hell of a set design team.
- Zeus
P.S. The Elder Scrolls: Arena is freeware. Enjoy.
Edit (2009-07-10): Daggerfall is now freeware. Huzzah!
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