I've got about 5 hours into Skyrim now. I'm really at a loss as to why the UI is so hated. It isn't perfect and it's not at all pretty to look at, but functionally it works well for me and is quick to use. Took a bit of time for my eyes to get used to where they need to look, but it gets the job done.
That isn't to say I wouldn't have preferred a prettier interface... and one that looks less like a UI that you might see in a space or future-based rpg.
A couple of things admittedly make me biased. The fact that I have recently completed Gothic and I'm now in the last 25% of Gothic 2... i'm currently very comfortable using a keyboard-heavy UI.
Going even further back, I've been through the 80s and 90s where there was essntially no standardized controls or even ways to alter controls for PC games. And every PC game interfaced differently.
Perhaps these experiences provide me with more patience and open-mindedness over contemporary gamers.
Bottom line, the interface isn't pretty, and though the UI prefers to be controlled via keyboard, it gets the job done pretty well - especially after your eyes learn where they need to be looking.
That isn't to say I wouldn't have preferred a prettier interface... and one that looks less like a UI that you might see in a space or future-based rpg.
A couple of things admittedly make me biased. The fact that I have recently completed Gothic and I'm now in the last 25% of Gothic 2... i'm currently very comfortable using a keyboard-heavy UI.
Going even further back, I've been through the 80s and 90s where there was essntially no standardized controls or even ways to alter controls for PC games. And every PC game interfaced differently.
Perhaps these experiences provide me with more patience and open-mindedness over contemporary gamers.
Bottom line, the interface isn't pretty, and though the UI prefers to be controlled via keyboard, it gets the job done pretty well - especially after your eyes learn where they need to be looking.