Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Review

10/10 Banzai!s

The Game:

Skyrim continues the Elder Scrolls series with their latest open-world, action RPG title released almost worldwide in November and December in 2011. The game was highly anticipated, an instant hit upon release, and is famed for being the very first non-Japanese game to receive a perfect 40/40 by Famitsu magazine. Wow.

The style of gameplay hasn’t changed much from Oblivion (the only other Elder Scrolls game I’ve played) with the player’s choice of first or third-person view, swinging your sword or blasting fireballs at your targets while exploring the land of Skyrim and picking-up quests along the way. There are a few alterations, which I’ll discuss in the “What I Liked” portion of this review (and that’s a good sign, right?)

Reminiscent of the previous installment, your character begins as a prisoner, tied and bound, being carried to a small town to await the execution for a crime you – the player – aren’t aware of. Just as your head’s about to be disconnected from your body with the assistance of a giant ax, a dragon swoops down and belches fire over everything. You manage to escape, and follow a new comrade to safety.

From there, you’re free to do as you please.

The main quest centres around the dragons that have mysteriously returned to Skyrim – and the strange connection your character has with them. Each time you slay one of these beasts, a whirlwind of power explodes around you, and the dragon’s soul is absorbed. What’s up with that? Well, you have many hours of game-playing to figure it out.

Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Review

Aside from the main quest, you’ve also got the usual guilds to have fun with – the Thieves Guild, the Dark Brotherhood, and the Mage’s Guild. There’s also the Champions, who are an elite group of, well, champions who reside in the city of Whiterun. And of course, what fantasy world would be complete without a civil war? You have the choice of siding with the Stormcloaks for the Imperial Army, vanquishing the opposite group of which you’ve chosen, and either putting a new king on the throne or keeping the old one.

There’s a lot to do, here. The main quest, side quests, mini side quests, and super mini side quests, as well as farming to improve your skills, exploring the vast number of caves and dungeons, and searching for Words of Power to add to your arsenal for kicking-butt. And if you simply feel like reading a book, Skyrim has plenty of those, too.

 

What I Liked:

It’s hard to be specific here, since I gave the game a perfect 10. Bethesda Game Studios has a great system of free-play as an action RPG, allowing you to select either a post-apocalyptic genre (Fallout) or high fantasy (Elder Scrolls). They put an incredible amount of detail into their games, which are loaded with backstory and even books which you can pick off the shelves and read. It’s a system that works, and as long as they don’t screw it up, I see no reason to award such games with high ratings. In the case of Skyrim, they didn’t screw it up.

The level-up system has changed to a simpler, but better system. As in Oblivion, you don’t gain experience points in the normal sense, but from using your skills. If you’re constantly being attacked while wearing light armor, then your light armor skill levels up. If you’re always flinging arrows at your targets, then your archery skills levels up. Once enough of these skills have increased, then your overall level is ready to rise. There, you have the option of improving your Magica, Health, or Stamina. Afterwards, you can add a “park” to one of your skills, much in the style of Fallout 3. Personally, I prefer this sytem more than that of Oblivion.

They’ve also tossed out the whole repairing-your-armor-and-weapons thing, as Bethesda felt this only slowed down the gameplay – which I agree. In Skyrim, if you pick up a sword or piece of armor, its quality never degrades through constant use. Maybe it’s unrealistic, but there’s plenty of micro-managing throughout the game that you don’t need to worry about the condition of your weapons. That’s a big plus.

The graphics’ quality is a big improvement from Oblivion. Rivers and waterfalls seem alive, rather than flat digital surfaces that have been rendered to appear as though moving. Trees and rocks appear better rendered, wind blows snow about, and the sky lights up at twilight, revealing the two majestic moons in the sky. It may not be Final Fantasy XIII quality, but it’s probably, thus far, better than any Bethesda game.

 

What I Didn’t Like:

Now, I’ve given this game a perfect score of 10 Banzai!s. So while there are still a few complaints here, consider this merely nitpicking. Afterall, no game out there is perfect – regardless of the rating. To me, a perfect 10 means it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played. And Skyrim is one of the best games I’ve ever played. It’s not perfect, but I don’t believe in perfection. To me, it just doesn’t exist. So with that in mind, on with the nitpicking!

Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Review

First, let’s talk about the bugs – and yes, there are bugs. What would a Bethesda game be without game freezes? But to be fair, playing this on the PlayStation 3, I didn’t experience too many problems. I logged in well over 100 hours into the game, playing all its quests and side-quests from start to finish. In those 100 hours, the game froze on me 6 times. That’s not too bad, especially compared with, say, Fallout: New Vegas.

The world of Skyrim is much smaller than Cyrodiil, and perhaps to make up for it, Bethesda threw in a bunch of mountains to add some struggle to your destination. And boy, do I hate mountains – even more than broccoli! Either you end up having to run around the damn thing looking for a path, or you attempt climbing by continuously hitting the jump button while wiggling the movement controls left and right. Less mountains and more land would have been nice.

Also, I found the map more difficult to navigate than in Oblivion. Everything’s basically black and white, but three-dimensional. The arrow which points in your destination is white, which basically means it’s hard to see. And if it’s hiding below the faded legend at the bottom of the screen, you can barely see it at all. It’s a simple thing, but coloring the arrow in blue, red, or tickled pink would have vastly improved the map.

 

Overall:

If you’re a fan of either the previous Elder Scrolls games, or even the Fallout series, then you won’t want to miss Skyrim. The story is just as good as Oblivion, with fun and interesting side-quests and Guilds to work through (I personally recommend the Dark Brotherhood – great story!). There’s plenty to do in this game, as much micro-managing as you like, and will provide hours and hours of gameplay, making you feel you’ve gotten your money’s worth.

It may not be perfect, but 10 Banzai!s means it’s one of the best titles I’ve played thus far.

written by Damon Finos

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Trophy Guide

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Trophy Guide. Difficulty: ***  Not a particularly difficult Platinum, but be prepared to invest well over 100 hours of gameplay.

Game Name Difficulty Trophies Developer Country Bronze Silver Gold Online DLC
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim *** 51 Bethesda Game Studios U.S. 36 14 1 0 25

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Like the other games in the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim is a first-person (or third) action RPG with an open world. After the initial introduction, players are free to roam from one end of the map to the other, explore mountains and caverns, find locations, chat with townspeople, and partake in numerous quests and side-quests, in addition to the main storyline.

In the world of Skyrim, you are saved from execution after its interruption by a legendary dragon. As it seems, these creatures have sprung up out of nowhere and threaten the fate of the land. But you are the Dragon Born, a being capable of absorbing the dragon's spirit and wielding its power - and destined to face the dragon god, Alduin.

The game received overwhelming praise by nearly all gaming magazines, with an average score of 95% for its outstanding adventure, complex story and overall fun-factor which supply hours and hours of entertainment.

If you've played the Fallout series - or Oblivion on Xbox 360 - then you can imagine what's involved in getting 100%. Skyrim is not particularly difficult - you can even adjust the mode during gameplay to its easiest setting without affecting the trophies - but the 3-star rating is more for the amount of time consumption this platinum requires. Be prepared to sink well over 100 hours into this one.

NOTE: The Trophies on the PS4 version have a separate list than those on the PS3.

Two-thirds of the trophies are story-based, and will come naturally as you progress through the game. Each guild has three trophies - joining, a half-way point, and completion. Plus there are trophies for each stage of the main quest. Avoid selling apparel given to you upon joining a guild, for some of these - such as the Thieves Guild - will be upgraded upon finishing the final quest. If you sold it, the outfit can't be upgraded, and you can't get the trophy.

Then there are trophies for reaching certain levels, and completing a set number of side quests and miscellaneous quests. These can be done anytime during the game.

The remaining are a few challenge-based trophies, such as escaping from jail or acquiring a bounty in every town. Again, these can be done whenever you feel like it.

For the Golden Touch trophy, you must have 100,000 gold total in your possession. This means save, save, save! At the end of the Dark Brotherhood quest, you'll be given 20,000 gold to hand over. Keep it as a jump to the 100,000 before giving it away to complete the quest.

If you're having trouble getting a skill up to 100 for the Skill Master trophy, we recommend sneaking. Find a safe room, such as in an Inn where people are either walking around or sleeping. Then hit the L3 and "sneak" into a corner. Tie an elastic band around the analog stick, wrapping it around the controller to its handle, so that you'll be constantly "sneaking" into the wall. Leave it on while you sleep, watch a movie, or read a book, and soon you'll have your 100 Sneak level.

The most valuable Walkthrough is a wiki guide hosted by IGN:
http://www.ign.com/wikis/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim

Here's an entire website dedicated to Skyrim, which includes a Walkthrough and other secrets. Though the site is filled with advertisements, it's free and can be useful:
http://skyrimwalkthroughs.com/

Here is another Walkthrough on Game Front, which continues to grow in size:
http://www.gamefront.com/skyrim-walkthrough/

Here's a great Trophy Guide by bigboy989 and king_0_hell:
http://www.yourgamercards.net/index.php/trophyguide.html/_/retail-games/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-r277

This fantastic Trophy Guide was created by olsen77:
http://www.ps3trophies.org/forum/elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/134194-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-trophy-guide-road-map.html

Another Trophy Guide, by Dalton "Horror Spooky" Cooper, posted here:
http://www.cheatmasters.com/blog/2012/01/02/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-achievementtrophy-guide/

A great Achievement Guide (same as the trophies on PS3 & PS4) posted here, by Webb:
http://www.xbox360achievements.org/forum/showthread.php?t=341623

Here is a contributing and growing Trophy Guide, posted on PSN Profiles:
http://psnprofiles.com/guide/Skyrim

Finally, here's a basic Trophy List:
http://playstationlifestyle.net/2011/11/06/catch-a-glimpse-of-skyrims-epic-adventure-with-full-trophy-list/

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Trophy Guide PS4

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Trophy Guide. Difficulty: ***  Not a particularly difficult Platinum, but be prepared to invest well over 100 hours of gameplay.

Game Name Difficulty Trophies Developer Country Bronze Silver Gold Online DLC
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim *** 51 Bethesda Game Studios U.S. 36 14 1 0 25

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Like the other games in the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim is a first-person (or third) action RPG with an open world. After the initial introduction, players are free to roam from one end of the map to the other, explore mountains and caverns, find locations, chat with townspeople, and partake in numerous quests and side-quests, in addition to the main storyline.

In the world of Skyrim, you are saved from execution after its interruption by a legendary dragon. As it seems, these creatures have sprung up out of nowhere and threaten the fate of the land. But you are the Dragon Born, a being capable of absorbing the dragon's spirit and wielding its power - and destined to face the dragon god, Alduin.

The game received overwhelming praise by nearly all gaming magazines, with an average score of 95% for its outstanding adventure, complex story and overall fun-factor which supply hours and hours of entertainment.

If you've played the Fallout series - or Oblivion on Xbox 360 - then you can imagine what's involved in getting 100%. Skyrim is not particularly difficult - you can even adjust the mode during gameplay to its easiest setting without affecting the trophies - but the 3-star rating is more for the amount of time consumption this platinum requires. Be prepared to sink well over 100 hours into this one.

NOTE: The Trophies on the PS4 version have a separate list than those on the PS3.

Two-thirds of the trophies are story-based, and will come naturally as you progress through the game. Each guild has three trophies - joining, a half-way point, and completion. Plus there are trophies for each stage of the main quest. Avoid selling apparel given to you upon joining a guild, for some of these - such as the Thieves Guild - will be upgraded upon finishing the final quest. If you sold it, the outfit can't be upgraded, and you can't get the trophy.

Then there are trophies for reaching certain levels, and completing a set number of side quests and miscellaneous quests. These can be done anytime during the game.

The remaining are a few challenge-based trophies, such as escaping from jail or acquiring a bounty in every town. Again, these can be done whenever you feel like it.

For the Golden Touch trophy, you must have 100,000 gold total in your possession. This means save, save, save! At the end of the Dark Brotherhood quest, you'll be given 20,000 gold to hand over. Keep it as a jump to the 100,000 before giving it away to complete the quest.

If you're having trouble getting a skill up to 100 for the Skill Master trophy, we recommend sneaking. Find a safe room, such as in an Inn where people are either walking around or sleeping. Then hit the L3 and "sneak" into a corner. Tie an elastic band around the analog stick, wrapping it around the controller to its handle, so that you'll be constantly "sneaking" into the wall. Leave it on while you sleep, watch a movie, or read a book, and soon you'll have your 100 Sneak level.

The most valuable Walkthrough is a wiki guide hosted by IGN:
http://www.ign.com/wikis/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim

Here's an entire website dedicated to Skyrim, which includes a Walkthrough and other secrets. Though the site is filled with advertisements, it's free and can be useful:
http://skyrimwalkthroughs.com/

Here is another Walkthrough on Game Front, which continues to grow in size:
http://www.gamefront.com/skyrim-walkthrough/

Here's a great Trophy Guide by bigboy989 and king_0_hell:
http://www.yourgamercards.net/index.php/trophyguide.html/_/retail-games/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-r277

This fantastic Trophy Guide was created by olsen77:
http://www.ps3trophies.org/forum/elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/134194-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-trophy-guide-road-map.html

Another Trophy Guide, by Dalton "Horror Spooky" Cooper, posted here:
http://www.cheatmasters.com/blog/2012/01/02/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-achievementtrophy-guide/

A great Achievement Guide (same as the trophies on PS3 & PS4) posted here, by Webb:
http://www.xbox360achievements.org/forum/showthread.php?t=341623

Here is a contributing and growing Trophy Guide, posted on PSN Profiles:
http://psnprofiles.com/guide/Skyrim

Finally, here's a basic Trophy List:
http://playstationlifestyle.net/2011/11/06/catch-a-glimpse-of-skyrims-epic-adventure-with-full-trophy-list/

Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited Trophy Guide

Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited Trophy Guide. Difficulty: *****  Not only time consuming, but unlocking the Emperor trophy means being the best of the best.

Game Name Difficulty Trophies Developer Country Bronze Silver Gold Online DLC
Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited ***** 46 ZeniMax Online Studios U.S. 34 8 3 33 42

Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited is an Massively Multiplayer Online, first released on the PC in April 2014, titled simply The Elder Scrolls Online and required a monthly subscription, before adding Tamriel Unlimited to the title, removing the monthly subscription, and eventually ported onto the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June 2015.

Similar to previous Elder Scrolls titles, Tamriel Unlimited is open-world and nonlinear, allowing players to explore areas on the continent Tamriel, finding and completing quests, exploring towns and dungeons, and partaking in group activities. The Cyrodiil area is a PvP location where players from different alliances may battle one another and attempt to dominate by claiming towers and stealing scrolls.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited received relatively positive reviews, with an average score of 74%, criticized for its bugs and graphics, but praised by many for its overall fun.

If any game on the PlayStation 4 warranted a 5-star rating for difficulty, it's this one. The amount of time involved can't be measured in terms of hours, but months - or years, if you have a day-job. The vast majority of the trophies, however, can be obtained with enough effort, dedication, and time.

The most difficult will be the Emperor! trophy, which required you to become the Emperor of Tamriel, something which only one player at a time can be on each server. This needs, for at least one full week, little sleep and no distractions in order to beat every online player in your alliance.

Realistically, if you dedicate yourself to only playing this game, while still holding a day-job, expect 6-8 months at the very least.

Since there's so much to do, the game doesn't really require much of a roadmap. However, if you're in need of some direction, we recommend focusing on working through and completing the main story, which is a solo quest. A new Chapter opens up after every 5 levels you reach, which means leveling-up your character is also imperative. You will be unlocking a trophy for each stage in the main story completed, as well as a trophy for eventually reaching Level 50.

Also, there is a Fighters Guild and Mages Guild solo quest to work through, which also becomes unlocked in stages as your character levels-up. Work through these as well, in order to unlock the Fighters Guild Veteran and Arch-Mage trophies.

As you work through each area in your alliance, make sure you discover and explore all the dungeons and striking locals (symbolized on the map with an Eye) to work towards either the Aldmeri Master Explorer, Daggerfall Master Explorer, or Ebonheart Master Explorer trophy, depending on your alliance. Also, you'll need to defeat each boss in all the public dungeons for either the Aldmeri Dominion Conqueror, Daggerfall Covenant Conqueror, or Ebonheart Pact Conqueror trophy.

At any point during your progress, you can earn the Indecent Exposure trophy for wearing stolen armor and having them taken away by a guard, as well as the Lycanthropy trophy for becoming a werewolf, and the Vampirism trophy for becoming a vampire. Becoming a werewolf or vampire can be done by either being randomly infected by an NPC, arranging another player to infect you, or simply by purchasing the skill - and therefore, the trophy - by spending crowns in the in-game store.

By the time you've completed the main story, reached Level 50, and done everything above, you should have a little over half of the trophies. At the end of the main story, you will be allowed to travel to the next alliance area, where you can continue doing quests, explore dungeons and find striking locals. Simply rinse and repeat what you did before, minus the solo quests.

There are a few trophies which you won't be able to unlock until you have full access to all three alliance zones on the map. This includes Anchors Away, for destroying every dark anchor in Tamriel, Tamriel Skyshard Hunter, for finding all the skyshards, and Master Fisher, for completing all the fishing achievements.

Once all that's finished, you can move onto the PVP area in Cyrodiil. Here, your ultimate goal is to become Emperor, which means that not only do all 6 of the main towers must be conquered by your alliance, but you need to be the highest ranking player within that server when it happens, as well. When joining servers, you can select either weekly or monthly events, which means the stats reset after a certain period of time, allowing the chance for another player to be crowned Emperor. The Emperor! trophy is by far the most difficult in the game, and will require an incredible amount of time and dedication.

If you managed to do all that and unlock the platinum, then congratulations! You've just received one of the most challenging Platinums on the PlayStation 4, to date.

First, IGN has a useful Wiki Guide here:
http://www.ign.com/wikis/elder-scrolls-online

Here's an Achievement Guide (same as the trophies on PS4) by ThePantsParty:
http://www.xboxachievements.com/forum/showthread.php?t=624268

Ambuaz has a useful Emperor Guide here:
http://elderscrollsonline.info/emperor

Here's a Public Dungeons Guide:
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Public_Dungeons

And a Group Dungeons Guide here:

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Group_Dungeons

And here's a useful Master Fisher's Guide:
http://teso-guides.com/the-elder-scrolls-online-master-fisher-fishing-guide/

IGN has a useful Skyshard Locations Guide here:
http://www.ign.com/wikis/elder-scrolls-online/Skyshards

A useful Map of Tamriel:
http://esomap.uesp.net/

Finally, here's a basic Trophy List:
http://psnprofiles.com/trophies/3610-The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-Tamriel-Unlimited?guide