I don't really see how skyrim is dumbed down gameplay wise compared to other elder scrolls game. They never really shined gameplay wise. Morrowind has a nice word, but my god the fights are painful.
Skyrim is more a platform for mod than an actual game. That said, there are a few interesting quests here and there hidden among the fetch quest.
Bethesda should take inspiration from fallout New Vegas. Now that was content, lots of interesting quests, interesting character build, and player agency.
Bioware used to make solid games, although their plots weren't necessarily brilliant, the gameplay used to be pretty nice. Now they've got some shitty writers that retcons things over and over, and they keep dumbing down the gameplay.
Mass effect claimed to be about player choice, but it's a total failure on that point.
Alpha protocol was much better in that regard.
Larian just has this skill, they make worlds with really a sense of wonders. They manages to be naive and serious, grim and humorous and the same time.
Dark souls is pretty overrated imo. Why ? Although there is some background if you track every item, the core story is really lacking. Unless you like conjectures without actual answer.
Gameplay wise, it's really most of the time a one trick pony. A decent shield and build will make the game smooth as a whole. What's irritating is how they don't explain core mechanics, and everyone has to wiki stuff.
The only good bosses are almost all in the Oolacile DLC.
The rest just have 1 or 2 method that make them incredibly easy, instead of a borefest otherwise.
Checkpoint and teleport placement ain't always ideal either.
