Is elder scrolls 3: Morrowind orginal xbox version worth digging out and trying?

Tygerfire

With it newly becoming playable on X1, I was thinking about digging in the attic for my old copy and trying it out again, but I'm not sure if it's worth it.

In honesty, I don't remember much of the game (didn't become a true elderscrolls junky til oblivion), but I'm wondering if the mechanics and really old graphics will make it almost unplayable now?

Is the PC version much different?

Just looking for reactions from those who have tried it out.

Thanks.

DeadlyRecluse

I don't think I'd break it out on console in 2018.

You can "update" the PC version to make it age better, but unless you absolutely loved the original or really want to experience the story again, I wouldn't bother playing the vanilla/stock version on console. YMMV.

Guarlet

I was all in to say "yes" until I saw the words xbox version. I really love the game (Morrowind is one of my favourite video games of all time), but it would be a lie to say that some aspects haven't aged. PC of course fixes all that right up with updated graphics, overhauled levelling etc. systems, bug fixes, etc. So I am biased towards the PC version as you can really just get so much more out of the experience, but that's just me.

NewBlacksmurf

UPDATE:
According to this... the OG disc works....(honestly cant even test it)

I did purchase it and I think its worth $15, so I'm playing it now.
Its interesting tho because this vs that gives me a memory of the past.....I seem to still like the original game more than ESO: Morrowind because upon being asked to pick (ESO would consider it a class) I had forgot about that part.

That makes its WAAAAAAY better, other than the only thing that sucks at first and that the melee combat.
Game also looks a lot better than it probably use to on xbox....in terms of resolution.

yodased

I put over 2000 hours into morowind, it is my favorite game of all time.

I would not ever play a vanilla cersion on a console.

Morrowind is an unforgiving mess of a game that does not age well. The pc version fixes and improves every aspect of the game.

Dont hurt your memory by booting up something that old.

Orjix

yes, definitely. although i would say if you can play it on the PC (If at all possible), as mods are available and they can help alleviate some of the pains the game has. if you cant get it on the pc i still say go for it, it has some major flaws and can be tough to get into but a great game overall

starkerealm

Yeah, last time I fired up Morrowind, I was using a **** ton of mods to improve it. I'd recommend grabbing the PC version, and playing there with a laundry list of upgrades.

Elrinthil

TES III is one of my all-time favorite games. I've played it inside and out on both PC and the original Xbox. Playing it now just gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling, like hanging out with an old buddy.

If you really loved the game, then it's worth revisiting for $15 (not sure if the disc will work on X1). However, if you were never really that into it, the dated graphics on console may shock you. I think someone else mentioned that graphics can be tweaked on PC with mods. Because of mods, it can be a pretty different game on PC. And since the game is so old, you wouldn't need a fancy rig to run it.

If ancient (by tech standards) graphics don't bother you, give it a whirl. The story, quests, and exploration are wonderful.

Fleshreaper

I recently was going trough old computer hard drives and found my original character saves. Going to have to find something that I can get it to run on.

VaranisArano

I played it this year for the first time on PC with mods. I enjoyed it, but the mods were definitely, in my opinion, absolutely necessary.

zaria

DeadlyRecluse wrote: »

I don't think I'd break it out on console in 2018.

You can "update" the PC version to make it age better, but unless you absolutely loved the original or really want to experience the story again, I wouldn't bother playing the vanilla/stock version on console. YMMV.

Agree, you can run morrowind on pretty much any modern pc, with mods who improve it a lot, both graphic but also to improve some gameplay annoyances.
The original xbox had some issues like limit on how many items you could place in houses because of memory limits.

Spacemonkey

GOTY version yes - I would not consider picking up the full vanilla version.
*The GOTY version is fully patched, has Tribunal and Bloodmoon.

Graphics ARE old (but fine) -> combat has not aged well. But as far as freedom goes (in what to do etc...) , I don't think anything measures up to it. Be patient, read attentively, don't worry too much about 'completing' the game etc... this game has questlines but dates back to an age when completing questlines wasn't really a thing. It's the journey that's important.



If you could play it on PC, id tell you that its a b s o l u t e l y worth picking up. Especially when modding with tamriel rebuilt, and maybe the overhaul and graphics extender (MGE).

The only reason I really see the PC version being better is the tripled landmass and fully quested Telvanni Islands region with Tamriel Rebuilt. It really does breathe a ton of life back into the game if you've played it to death already.

Stewart1874

Missed it, so Oblivion was my first delve into the Elder Scrolls series (Pun was avoidable but nah). Given the absolutely obscene time between now and Skyrim I wish Bethesda had remastered it.

mike_skleinub17_ESO

I find when I go backwards to far the nostalgia and love I have for a game or in this case franchise tend to become tainted in the eyes of todays tech. I've played and enjoyed every one of the series since Arena. Didn't far in Arena and Daggerfall is so buggy that's its one of the games that all buggy games are measured against.

NewBlacksmurf

Stewart1874 wrote: »

Missed it, so Oblivion was my first delve into the Elder Scrolls series (Pun was avoidable but nah). Given the absolutely obscene time between now and Skyrim I wish Bethesda had remastered it.

@Stewart1874

https://www.gamesradar.com/a-skyrim-remaster-might-be-on-the-way-but-heres-why-bethesda-will-never-do-morrowind-hd/
A Skyrim remaster might be on the way but here's why Bethesda will never do Morrowind HD

If the online rumour mill - which has been very right this week - is correct, we're getting an Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim remaster. A number of reports suggest a PS4 and Xbox One remake of the one game that literally everyone has been screaming for.
While German website gamepro has reported it as happening, Neogaf sources have also corroborated the remaster, with apparent insider Enter The Dragon Punch stating that it'll have "mods, all DLC [and] improved visuals." Now that we know mods work on consoles in Fallout 4, this with Skyrim is ridiculously exciting. Even if everyone will just make it about infinite crafting and boobs.

Understandably, this has got a lot of people talking about the chances of seeing any other Elder Scrolls games all HD'd up. Whatever you might be hoping for you can cross Morrowind off the list. I spoke to Bethesda’s Pete Hines a while back and he was pretty clear on one thing: no Morrowind remaster.
"To take Morrowind and then to completely rebuild it? It was an Xbox game. To completely rebuild it have it be relevant for today? That’s a pretty massive team doing a massive amount of work,” he explained.

With a game as old as Morrowind (2002!?) it’s not just a case of brushing up the textures a bit. “You go back and look at it. Do you remember the dialogue system in Morrowind?” points out Hines. “Do you remember what it was like talking to someone and scrolling through this long list of questions. You put that out for someone that just finished Skyrim and they’re going to be like ‘What in the hell…?’”
Ultimately, the idea of putting out a remastered version of a game as old as Morrowind “doesn’t excite” Hines. "Those great games are great for what they were but I don’t know if we’re ever going to spend time going back to old stuff and saying ‘okay here it is now on this console exactly like it was’”. At least we don't have long to wait until Bethesda's E3 conference on Sunday night.

jazsper77

Most overrated game (Fallout -New Vegas) a close second in the history of gaming.
When you need to say you have to play the updated PC version that ends all talk of it being a great game.

I can throw in Suikoden 1&2 today w/o any updates great games. I can throw in N64 RE2 today and it’ll be one of the best games still. I can throw in KOTOR and play it with out it feeling dated.

Never understood the fascination with Morrowind in my view.

Violynne

Tygerfire wrote: »

In honesty, I don't remember much of the game (didn't become a true elderscrolls junky til oblivion), but I'm wondering if the mechanics and really old graphics will make it almost unplayable now?

Allow me to refresh your memory.

Remember trying to attack Cliff Striders? The random percentage of actually making a direct hit?

No? Well, throw in that disk and have yourself a cursing fest.

Tyrobag

Not on console unless you're really dedicated.

Its great on PC, you just need to get a mod that fixes the RNG combat system (aka 9/10 attacks miss, despite your daedric battleaxe going right through their head).

Basically, play it on PC not on console (good advice for everything).

Elrinthil

Violynne wrote: »

Tygerfire wrote: »

Remember trying to attack Cliff Striders? The random percentage of actually making a direct hit?

No? Well, throw in that disk and have yourself a cursing fest.

Oh, this was one thing that drove me absolutely mad about Morrowind. A cliff strider would be directly above, screeching like a banshee, and I'd be repeatedly shooting right at it and only occasionally landing hits. Great way to level marksman, though...

Gargath

It's worth a try just don't forget to level alchemy first, buy ingredients from vendors and sell potions, this never ends, just like their money pool, so you become a billionaire in no time

AlienatedGoat

DeadlyRecluse wrote: »

I don't think I'd break it out on console in 2018.

You can "update" the PC version to make it age better, but unless you absolutely loved the original or really want to experience the story again, I wouldn't bother playing the vanilla/stock version on console. YMMV.

Recently gave it a play on PC with several texture and mesh replacement mods. It was actually decent.

That first boot into vanilla though reminded me just how horridly the game has aged.

Tygerfire

This has all been very helpful...thx for the replies.

Just curious...a few people mentioned that they didn't know if the original xbox disc would work.... Isn't the entire point of backward compatibility so that the original disc would work?

I do have a nice pc rig, so basically my plans will be to dig a bit into the attic, and see if I can get it to work on my x1. If it gets me remotely interested, I'll give it a shot on PC.

Although, if I spend anytime with it at all, I know part of my brain will be screaming at me that I have 120 CP left to grind in HD, and this is just wasting time.

Tygerfire

Just watched a youtube video showing the first five minutes of the basic pc version of the game (which I would guess is still better than original Xbox) and then showing the exact same footage with mods.

Wow...just wow. I was really shocked by how bad it looked (also, everyone walks like there doing that *** march) and also how empty everything looked outside. But then the modded version was gorgous (they even fixed the walking ) and it really only looked a few years old.

Madhojo

Morrwind is the Dark Souls of Elder Scrolls

You have to do it, best RPG ever

Violynne

Lymantria_Luna wrote: »

Oh, this was one thing that drove me absolutely mad about Morrowind. A cliff strider would be directly above, screeching like a banshee, and I'd be repeatedly shooting right at it and only occasionally landing hits. Great way to level marksman, though...

Indeed. Morrowind can be best described as a true dice rolling RPG.

Including the bad rolls that come with it.

Taleof2Cities

The cone of Red Mountain is an explorable area in ES:III Morrowind.

Don’t forget your levitation scrolls.

Tan9oSuccka

I dusted it off and played prior to the Morrowind expansion.

No addons, or mods on original Xbox. It was pretty rough, but nostalgic fun none the less.

*Gravel voice* Outlander....

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Do they plan to overhaul the graphics for console release? It is an absolutely amazing game. I wouldnt be writing this if it wasnt for morrowind, and I certainly wouldnt have played ESO the last 4 years. That said, the combat is pretty basic and the graphics are very dated. I played through Morrowind right before ESO dropped, but I did it on PC where there are really nice graphic mods available.

Ozzymandius

Bought the recently re-released Xbox back compatible version have played through the intro on Xbox one X - graphics aren’t too bad for such an old game. This release includes the two expansions. However, it did crash after 10 mns of playing. Haven’t had time to play it extensively yet but will do when eso anniversary event finishes. One of my most favourite games - played it to completion on PC when it first came out and have played through it several times since.

Ghanima_Atreides

Morrowind today, with mods:







I am also playing it for the first time, finally tempted into buying it during a Steam sale, and I agree, mods are absolutely necessary for the modern player, at least as far as I'm concerned. Graphics, and a number of gameplay fixes and quality-of-life updates are things I couldn't live without.
Since it's the first time I play it, I wanted to leave the rest as close to vanilla as possible and only mod out annoyances as I encounter them.
It's fun though! And it feels a lot larger than Vvardenfell does in ESO...

CromulentForumID

I found the game completely unplayable without some of the well-known bug fix and game system mods on PC. Unless those are fixed on a console release, I personally would stay far, far away.