Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Since Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of the most anticipated games, I felt I needed to have an article JUST about the game alone. Now I have another article about Elder Scrolls but it's a comparison between two other RPG games.

If you have started in the beginning at Morrowind, and made it through Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, then you a pretty familiar with the gameplay and will be able to notice some new features in Skyrim. The story is based upon you being the last Dovahkiin (Dragonborn) and protecting mankind. The great god, Alduin, is said to return and bring the end of the world! Familiar with the bible and how the world will end in fire? Well, he comes to Cyrodill in the form of a giant Dragon to fulfill the prophecy. This is where your journey begins (and hopefully keeps going) in Skyrim.

Skyrim isn't on the name of the game but it is also the name of the land you are located at. Skyrim is located in the Northern part of Cyrodill and this brings up one of the new features that the fifth chapter brings. Bethesda, the game developers of the Elder Scrolls series, has upgraded the graphics of Elder Scrolls V and the environment looks even better. The lighting, shades, and texture of the characters are spectacular and so much smoother making the game more enjoyable to look at.

What came with the new engine is a new twist in the weather. As in Oblivion, when you traveled out of the towns into the mainlands and all the forests looked the same, it became dull and boring after a while right? Well Bethesda has changed this by adding snow in some forests as you travel further up north. They also added changes in weather so that means in one region it can be sunny, then as you travel to a different area, it can rain or snow. These changes can help us in the long run. We get less bored of the game because it's a new variety and we won't get lost so much because we will remember what the weather or climate was that specific area making it easier for us to navigate.

Another difference we will notice in Skyrim from other games in the Elder Scrolls series is the difference in the land and cities. In other games, there was always a very flat landscape throughout the world and not much of a range difference. Well that is no more because Bethesda has added mountains for us to go to the top of, hills, and different geographical settings showing more diversity and variety which makes the game that much sweeter. Now, the land of Skyrim is almost like Oblivion but Skyrim is a bit larger. There are 5 different cities and about 9 small towns and communities in Skyrim. Each city has their own culture and unique buildings. The diveristy of cultures differ from the different cities. Most places you travel won't be same thing you see over and over.

You now have the option to duel wield. Instead of having a sword and shield, you can choose what you want your destined hero to wield in each hand. In his/her right hand, it can be a sword and in the left hand, you can wield a staff. Or if you want to be a Rogue, you can wield two swords in each hand and go at it with your enemies. Let's say your more of a Mage. Not to worry because you can be holding a sword in either hand and have a spell in the other hand ready to blast your enemies. To switch out what weapon or attacks you want is a great addition. This allows to become more versatile and being to change weapon styles in the midst of battle is something that is needed to have that edge on the battlefield.

Bethesda is known for their in-depth and structured attributes and skills that we can add points to as we level up. Fallout series, BRINK, and Elder Scrolls all have this very deep skill point system. Well, Bethesda has decided to hold back on the endless skills and attributes there are to choose from. In Skyrim, Bethesda have taken out the Acrobatics and Athletics skills so that gamers could focus on missions instead of having to run around crazy and jump every where just to get these skills up. Instead, they have added a sprint button to accommodate which in my opinion is a good decision. Most skills and attributes have been taken out for Skyrim and narrowed down to just Magicka, Stamina, and Health. Even though all the skills Elder Scrolls fans know of aren't actually seen, don't worry. They are there but just combined into the three main attributes making more convenient and to keep us on task.

Don't think of the loss of the deep skills system as a downgrade. You will need all your brain cells for the endless quests, side quests and dungeons there are. There are a plethora of new quests that may seem endless. RPG's are known for having a bunch of quests and Skyrim brings it. To make quests more enjoyable and for gamers to complete them, Bethesda has added a new feature called Radiant Story/AI. Whileplaying Oblivion, I went around destroying all that was in my path with new spells and my mighty sword. Having too much fun, I killed some characters that I needed to talk to start a quest or finish one. I wasn't able to finish the game and had to start all over again after putting in a mere 40 hours. Now, I don't know how much gamers had a problem with this but, the Radiant Story AI makes Skyrim much better. What the new feature does is input characters that you have made a relationship with. It can be a friend or enemy, and have them as your main quest or side quests. So even if you killed a character that has a quest for you to do, you still have other friends or neutral friends to fill that spot for that quest.

That's enough for the quests. What really makes Elder Scrolls a step better than most RPG games is there dungeons. Yeah, they were sometimes dull and boring but their rewards were worth completing. In Skyrim, there is a much more diversity in the dungeon environments and not all have the same objectives. You would think with over 120 dungeons that you would run into completing the same thing over and over, not the case for Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. Bethesda has also added some new things to help you out with completing dungeons. If you are ever lost and need some help getting back to the entrance or to a different spot, look for water. The water streams in dungeons act as an symbol of guidance to show you a path to an exit.

Since each city has their own culture and environment, you will be able to interact with the citizens and townspeople and affect the economy. That means, you can cause a city to go into economic decline by taking, and/or sabotage all their products and resources. You'll be able to disrupt trades, cause the townspeople to hate you and have some other towns love you by doing this. The lockpicking game is still around for you to break in and steal some goodies or if you just want to have some midnight fun sneaking into a local pub and drinking all the beer. Just be sure to make it out before the soldiers come.

I am just excited for this game because of the mythical beasts that soar above you and try to fry you for a quick snack. That's right, the dragons roam about in Skyrim. These beasts are very tough to battle but the reward for slaying these beasts will be game changing.

These dragons will be every where. Going hiking in the mountain just to see what's up there? Well, a dragon. Regular fire-breathing or frost bitten dragons will be waiting to have you for brunch. You could take a nice stroll in a small town and a dragon will fly across the town, swoop down spewing fire or ice. Going adventuring in the woods, a dragon may just will swoop down and attack. All of them will attack you! There isn't a finite amount of dragons so might be able to wipe them out, or maybe not because there is no set number of dragons there are in the game. There is so far two different types of dragons, One that spits fire and another addition, the frost dragon. The frost dragon spits ice and what this can do is slow you down making you more vulnerable.

What makes the dragons so exciting is that they have a mind of their own. They aren't going in a path that has already been made for them. They go where ever they please and attack when ever they please. Remember the Radiant Story AI system? Well, here's what Bethesda has done to create a problem for you. If you have been avoiding battling a dragon because you feel you aren't ready, well thanks to the Radiant Story, your next main or side quest could be to slay this beast! So just make sure to take one out every so often. You may want to follow this advice because slaying a dragon has its rewards.

As you slay a dragon, and since you are a dragonborn, you are able to absorb their essence and power up. You gain new abilities called Dragon Shouts. These new magic-like powers are abilities that can make many difficult fights easier just by a word spoken through your character. There are different shouts and effects they have. One has the ability to have a whirlwind sprint ability to have your hero zip past traps, and avoid being hit on the battlefield. Another shout allows you to call down a storm with lightning and thunder to aid you. This was shown during Todd Howard's interview about the game at the E3 convention 2011 in June against a frost dragon.

Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is one the most anticipated games of the year. It's bigger than Oblivion, God of War, and in my opinion bigger than Gears of War 3 and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. The graphics are beautiful, the new features like dragon shouts, being able to have a spell in one hand and your weapon in the other, the endless dungeons to explore, the in-depth quests and storyline, the new addition to have companions and other factions to help you in battle, is just mind-blowing.

Pre-order it, buy it, give it as a gift and then as you see how spectacular it is, take it back and play it for yourself. Do anything you can possible to obtain Skyrim. You won't regret it. Whether you have explored the lands of the Elder Scrolls or not, Skyrim should be on your list of games for you to purchase as the time draws near.

If you wish to see which one is your favorite pick of the match-up, check out and vote at, Elder-Scrolls V: Skyrim vs. Fallout: New Vegas and Dungeon Siege III.