It really does require skill if you arent spamming sorceries or backstab fishin. the parry and repost system is worked out entirely to prefection and looks beautiful to give you that satisfying critical blow. but this really does require a bit of skill and practice to become efficient. its not like a simple RPG like fallout where you VATS the whole thing. i applaud the game and how challenging it was. it is truely one for the books and totally deserves the title. you WILL die. if you can make a video of you beating the entire game (which you wouldnt be able to do without walkthroughs i guarentee due to the fact of the no hand holding you mentioned) without dieing a single time with no mod, then i would shove a pineapple up my ass with pics for all. and its not just the parry system that requires skill but all the builds you can make. some require more than others yes which is why it can be so difficult. but dont be so butthurt and bash the game. It really is a great game for collectors and people who are hunting a serious challenge. And yes i did start gaming before 2005 not to mention being on FJ since before it was green and never making an account. and you cant even compare the old game to the new because its and entirely different generation of games.