September 14, 2016 7:39 PM EDT
One thing I simultaneously love and hate about Skyrim is how down-to-earth it is. Despite being a fantasy world, it manages to be believable and even mundane; the people, the setting, the ecosystem, and the various history books and magical treatises make the interesting become ordinary and the ordinary become interesting.
But if I want to be some goody-two-shoes hero, this lifelike setting poses a problem. Ever been to Markarth? The House of Horrors and No One Escapes Cidhna Mine suck. Somehow I managed to do both of those the first time I played Skyrim, and, like, dang. I signed up to be a dragonslayer, not be forced to kill some dude out of self-preservation or pick between participating in an insurrection and killing the oppressed natives' imprisoned leader. And then there's whatever the quest in Whiterun with Saadia and the Alik'r is... of course you do the 'right' thing and stand up for the helpless noblewoman, but there's no proof she wasn't a traitor after all. And THEN, of course, there's the civil war... though oddly enough, after going the standard Nord hero route and sacking Solitude, I became a staunch Imperial in subsequent playthroughs and never looked back. A united Empire is good for everyone, and all that. More importantly, if the entire Cyrodiilic Empire couldn't take the Dominion, there's no way Skyrim has a chance on its own. *cough*andUlfric'sbeingplayedbytheThalmor*cough*
...Right, so I kinda went on two tangents there. The point is, as awesome as the chasm of difference between Skyrim and the standard fantasy adventure is, Skyrim's morality is about as gray as its color palette. I get tired of the grittiness sometimes.
On a different note, my favorite part of every playthrough is the Dawnguard stuff. Its medieval/gothic mash-up aesthetic clashes horribly with the decidedly B.C.E. look of Skyrim in general, but it's all just so cool. Crossbows! Gargoyles! Gross bug armor! Harkon's voice! Ancient Falmer! Auriel's Bow! The only worthwhile follower in the game! I enjoy the premise of the Dawnguard side (unknown, unaided and possibly illegal heroism), and the vampire side is kinda just one long power trip. It also amuses me that Harkon's introduction is so serious and then next thing you know he's giving you a tutorial.