Chris Sims nails it. Every Elder Scrolls game i've played winds up like this. It starts off feeling like you're in this vast world, and after playing for weeks and weeks you're like "is it over soon?" and "another side quest?".

That said, i'll probably wind up getting this game when it's on clearance.

that's how i felt about Dragon Age 2. there were a billion side quests that had nothing to do with the main story. the main story basically was occurring in the background without any input from you.

at least Skyrim has people actually make requests of your character to find a spoon. DA2, your character would walk over a spoon and then at some point later, you'd be in the market and see a person you've never spoken to before with a marker over their head. walk over to them and they thank you for finding their spoon and give you money. what the hell?

it's too bad. one of my favorite things to do is watch fnord12 play an RPG, ostensibly to give my input on the choices the character can make, but really just to watch the cut scenes.

Are you going to buy Diablo 3. I've never played the original games on PC but I'm tempted to get this one. Also, have you ever played World of Warcraft?

I never got into the Diablos; i found them too chaotic. And i stay away from MMORPGs because i got myself addicted to their text based MUD precursors in college, so i stay away from them now. My real preference for RPGs are the tactical and turn-based types, but they don't really make those anymore.