We're used to Oblivion's 'Radiant AI' *cough* but Skyrim is reportedly going to go one better. Killing NPCs will be just as possible as it was last time around, but it isn't them you'll have to worry about. No, not their ghost coming back to haunt you (although now we think about it, that would be equally immense). Turns out their family might not be so pleased about your wrongdoing...
According to EB Games Australia, family members of NPCs you accidentally (right?) kill on your travels will try to exact bloody revenge on you the next time they see you. Characters in Oblivion had aggression behaviours that could be manipulated to your advantage using spells and the like, but this is the first time the system has been used in this way.
It sounds amazing, but we can't help but remember this video:
It's the 'uncanny valley' of the Artificial Intelligence world. The closer things get to reality without being reality, the more any abnormalities stand out. Still, Skyrim's a chance to get it all absolutely spot on. Fingers very tightly crossed.
24 Aug, 2011
