I'm curious what you guys have to say about this. Are there any games you consider perfect? Can a game even be perfect?
My example of a perfect game is always Portal 1. Portal 2 has more going on, but in 1 there just isn't anything to shave off. From start to end, there is nothing I'd change about the game. It's short, infinitely replayable, great pacing. I like Portal 2 a lot in concept, in concept it should be a perfect sequel, but it just doesn't keep the extreme tightness of the original game.
And yes, in 2002 video game designers already figured out to make combat not complete ass. At least a handful of playtesters must have stabbed the air against like 4 cliff racers for a minute and they just released it anyway.
It's designed to be like a D&D game combatwise, every swing you make with your sword a dice roll on the table of the game. It's very dated, and I kinda can't fucking stand it, but the combat being like that is fully intentional.
Yeah the beginning of Morrowind REALLY missed out on telling the player these 3 things:
Only use skills you put points into, until you can afford some training. Otherwise they won't do shit
Wait for your green Stamina bar to be full before doing ANYTHING. ANYTHING. Even BARTERING.
Make Alchemy a minor skill, find some Restore Fatigue food like Saltrice, and hotkey that shit. Munch on it after you've been running and need to do something.
If you know these 3 things, Morrowind becomes 10x better immediately.
Seriously if anyone reading this wants to play Morrowind but was turned off by the Swish/swish/swish thing, I need you to go back and play it now that you know these 3 things.