GameBanshee Forums

OK, guys, am I the only one in the galaxy disappointed by the Morrowind gameplay? I'm a die-hard Ultima Underworld addict, having played Origin's UWI, UWII and Ultima Ascension. Admitedly, UW graphics cannot compare with Morrowind's graphics, the former being more cartoonish and certainly not 3D, however I think that Ascension has superior #D graphics. Granted the set designs are not as elobarate as in this game but Ascension is more colorful, contrasty and arguably has better object definition. Ther seems to be too many vague pastel shades for my taste in this game. The graphics seem "thin". Of course Ascension is notoriously disappointing in getting the game to run, but that's another story.

I'm also finding that keyboard commands in Morrowing are really quite awkward. It's possible that I'm so accustomed to the keyboard and mouse commands in the Origin games that I'm finding it difficult to unlearn them, but really, in the Origin games I can advance, retreat and turn with the left mouse button while preparing the weapon for a strike with the right mouse button. Using a trackball makes it even easier. This leaves my left hand free for any special commands. Morrowind seems unbelievably cumbersome by comparison. For example, if you want to advance on the opponent while slashing, you first have to physically move the character left or right using "a" or "d" (which may be inconvenient) to prepare a slash stroke and then resume your advance from a different angle. Turning is also much too rapid and I find myself running into walls or heading right back into a battle I'm trying to run away from.

Is ther anyway therefore to reprogram the motion commands using mouse clicks, or at least to use the arrow keys in lieu of a, w, s,d? Any advice/punishment would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Hmm...

You raise several points. First is that you can easily change keys commands, try taking a look at the options screen. And WASD and the mouse is by far the best control method IMO (especially for anyone used to playing FPS games) - I'm convinced anyone who's comfortable with the arrow keys and the mouse will have back trouble in later life Secondly, if you don't like having to sidestep to do a certain attack - enable Use Best Attack so that your most damaging type of attack will always occur, no matter which way you're moving.

What graphics card are you running the game with? I have Ultima Ascension and compared to Morrowind, it looks like the back end of a dirty bus...I'm not sure what you mean about the textures, they are perfect as far as I can see.

In complete contrast to you, I find the Ultima controls horribly clunky and hard to get to do what I want them to do...but each to his own opinion. Have fun on GameBanshee.

Hi Kameleon,
I suspect you may be right about the "WASD" vs arrow keys if you are using a regular mouse, but I'm using a Logitech Marble FX trackball. My right hand therefore never moves and all the significant gameplay motion occurs with the right thumb (to left click and use weapon), index finger on the marble (to turn) and pinky/ middle finger/ring finger to right click (advance or retreat). Using a regular mouse with this scheme is torture, you're right, and the arrow keys are on the right hand side of the keyboard so yes, for right handers this is a problem. My problem though is I'm not a typist, I'm a hunt and pecker so I dont actually "know" by instinct where WASD are, I have to take my eyes off the screen to find them. The moment I do this I get creammed by the bad guy. Plus, I've got big fingers so they get cramped in that left corner. It may be easier to absorb hits at higher levels but right now I'm not able to maneuver around or away from the tougher and more mobile foes. Logitech Marble FX trackball seems to work the best for me rendering WASD useless.

I tried enabling best attack but this then makes it impossible to actually thrust or slash when you want to. Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a molehill but it seems that "best attack" (chop for a claymore) may not be the best stroke for every given situation such as when the foe is lower to the ground or when the foe is downhill. If that assessment is not true then why bother to have these options in the first place? Each weapon should just automatically use "best attack" without needing the option. I looked at the control menu but it doesn't seem as if you're able to reassign an action to a mouse click, only to other keys which are just as tough for me to find in the heat of the battle.

I'm using a Matrox G400 Millenium, which I know is getting long in the tooth. I've been reading reviews about the new Radeon's which all seem positive, but 400 euros for the 9700? Seems it would be wiser to upgrade the processor. But in any case both games are played with this cards and Ultima Ascension definitely has more brilliant colors, and has breathtaking scenary. I run both games at 1024x768 and I feel that Morrowing simply is not that much better, especially for being a more recently developed game. I still see a lot of crude triangles (distant object and tree branches for example). Maybe the more recent cards use a different 3D instruction set which isn't revealed on the G400, but so far I'm just not very impressed...I'm gonna hang on to the back of that dirty bus......

Cheers,

Re: Re: Newbie disappointed with gameplay mechanics

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
Windows ME

Yes, good old Windows Many Errors can be blamed for almost all of the world's ills, including Third World debt. My advice is to get Windows 2000, saviour of the galaxy, as fast as humanly possible