The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is a better RPG than Dragon Age: Origins

“[…] while many of my opponents points are quite relevant to what makes a good video game, only two of his points really constitute what makes a good role-playing game, in fact I am able to build my case by adding to what my opponent has said along with adding some more relevant points.”This makes no sense. It goes without saying, that if I can show that Skyrim is a better game than Dragon Age, then I have also implicitly proven that it’s a better RPG (because RPGs are merely a subset of video games).For instance, you could not logically say Shogi is a better game than Chess but not a better board game. Nor could you say apples are a healthier food than strawberries, but not a healthier fruit.Therefore, every point I’ve made in my previous round is completely relevant and every attempt my opponent has just made to claim otherwise is erroneous.1. Superior Graphics, Creatures, and Fantasy Elements in RPGs. Note my opponent conceded Skyrim has better graphics than Dragon Age. He only tries to say this is irrelevant, but as explained previously, every point for Skyrim’s superiority is a relevant one.“Darkspawn are not based on anything specific they are evil creatures that are twisted by the Blight this in turn makes them less humanoid-like but this isn't a disadvantage, this is a advantage, it makes them less susceptible to lose the fantasy aspect.”My opponent’s grammar is terrible, but I think my opponent is saying that Dragon Age’s Darkspawn are more interesting and/or fantasty-ish as enemies because they aren’t based on anything in reality, whereas Skyrim pits the player against creatures the player is already familiar with (for instance, wolves and mammoths). This is erroneous three-fold:1) Skyrim does pit you up against creative creatures. Yes, there are wolves and mammoths and bears and cute little bunnies, but then there are also whisp mothers, ice wraiths, draughrs, falmar, chaurusses, etc.2) A game doesn’t have to be western-fantasy-themed to be an RPG. My opponent’s preference of fantasy-based worlds and enemies is totally irrelevant. Skyrim could have taken place in 1983 New York and as long it retained core RPG elements (such as gaining experience and leveling up), then it would still be an RPG. Therefore, his claim of “losing the fantasty aspect” is entirely irrelevant.3) Dragon Age’s enemies are a one-hit wonder. The game pits you up against darkspawn, and pretty much nothing else ever. This lack of variety is clearly inferior to Skyrim’s armada of enemies (as mentioned in point 1)2.Linear?“[…] when she says Skyrim is non-linear and Dragon Age is by comparison. In Skyrim, after getting out of Helgen, it may be true you can avoid the main quest if you wish, but what would be the point?” The point in any and every video game is to entertain the player. Skyrim has so much replay value, that it’s fairly common for players to restart files (I’ve had at least 12) and it’s nice to sometimes save the main quest for last, or even skip it altogether. And there is nothing at all wrong with that. And if I am so intent on slaying dragons and obtaining words of power, then all it takes is two quests. You only have to do two missions, and then you never have to worry about the main quest ever again. “Furthermore, if you do not complete attempt to do part of the main questline you end up losing tons of quests in the process that were not apart of the main questline if you are not a certain class. For example, in order to get into the College of Winterhold you need to cast a apprentice level spell or demonstrate your Th'uum(dragon shout).” FALSE. You have the option to do the College of Winterhold at any time. It is entirely possible to join at level 1. I’ve had the gatekeeper ask me to use a Flame Spell once. And if your persuasion skill is high enough (and it doesn’t take much) you can convince her to let you in without a test of skill. 3.Open World/Random Battles “You see while it seems like Skyrim is open, think about this, when was the last time you jumped Whiteruns wall? All cities are interior cells not exterior cells, with a couple of small exceptions(towns).” This is actually false. Three major cities are completely open (Falkreath, Morthal, and Winterhold). And the existence of loading screens doesn’t change the fact that Skyrim is widely considered an open world. The sheer size of the main “room” in Skyrim is enough to classify it as an open world. “Furthermore, Skyrim makes it so insanely easy to be lazy regarding fast travel it removes the exploration feature in all practical terms.” Having an option doesn’t remove the alternative. The world in Skyrim is so vast that not having the option to fast-travel would be absurd. However, at least Skyrim gives you the option of following the open road aimlessly if you so choose. Also, in the beginning of the game, there is nowhere the player can fast-travel. There are over 200 different locations in Skyrim to discover, and you cannot fast-travel to any of them until they are discovered. If the player is in a hurry, you can walk to Whiterun and then hire the carriage there- however, the carriages will not take you to the far reaches of the southern Jarall Mountains, or even the minor towns that dot the tundra. The carriages will not take you anywhere other than the nine major cities already marked on your map. So the exploration in Skyrim is the opposite of removed: it is mandatory, at least in the beginning. “Dragon Age instead makes fast-traveling mandatory BUT at least the Random Battles are conceivable and are often important to the storyline, Dragon Age almost never has a pointless random encounter. All the Random battles serve as helper to the storyline.” My opponent contradicts himself here. “almost never” is a key phrase, but in the next sentence he insists that “ALL random battles serve to continue the story.” The latter sentence simply isn’t true, and in any game (with the exception of Pokémon,) even one pointless random battle is too much. 4. Increased Control over Levels “In fact some of skills are counter intuitive, the smith skill is a excellent example of this, because the creatures are leveled, if you use smithing too much the game punishes you by killing you off with harder creature then necessary, and considering this is for using the skills it is not helpful.” The creatures are leveled based on how often you tell the game to level up. However, you can increase your skills as much as you please, all the way to 100, as long as you don’t invest in any perks just yet. If anything, the game rewards players for being intelligent, and thinking ahead. I’m not complaining about the fact that I continue to gain skills. I simply want the option to remain at level 1 with my sneak skill at 70 if I so choose. “But what's the point?” It’s simply a preference. More options appeals to a wider range of people and therefore makes for a superior game. 1. My Opponent's Core Argument. “If Dragon Age gives you more choices, it is a better RPG than Skyrim Dragon Age gives you more choices Therefore Dragon Age is a better RPG than Skyrim The first premise seems obvious, aside from fantasy, the major point of RPG's is the choices made and their effects, everything else is secondary.” As I said earlier, Fantasy is completely irrelevant to RPGs. And the same can be said for Choices. The most classis example of an RPG is the Final Fantasy series. And those games, every single one of them, are 100 percent LINEAR. Therefore, the core of my opponent’s argument is completely irrelevant.