The Elder Scrolls VI: 10 Ways To Blow Skyrim Out Of The Water

10. Conversation Animation Overhaul

Bethesda is perhaps most famous for their engrossing RPG systems, a reputation that just barely precedes a legacy of laughable character animations. Whether you're chatting up some co-ed mages in Winterhold or spamming the crap out of the jump button as you hike a sheer wall, fluid movement has never been The Elder Scrolls' strong suit. Skyrim makes a few steps in the right direction, but these are marginal improvements and additions when compared to what truly needs addressing. NPC facial animations are in particular need of a... facelift. General expressions remain rigid, largely lifeless and unaffected by the physical intricacies of terrain. A person talking is never going to look like a person talking if they can't move their eyes or head independently from their body. Traditionally, NPC's have lacked the nuance of conversational gestures and glances, appearing altogether unaware of their surroundings until they feel threatened. We want characters who don€™t stare blankly until a conversation is over. Subtle environmental interaction and understated facial capture in the vein of The Last of Us would greatly enhance the believability of living bodies in space. The Elder Scrolls VI could introduce dynamic NPC reactions that remark on the weather, a scent on the wind, a view from a peak or the guidance of the constellations. Some procedural climbing animations would be icing on the cake.