The Elder Scrolls franchise has been around for years, but only in recent years has it gained national acclaim and a larger base of players. The last two installments of the series were somewhat popular, but Skyrim represents the birth of a new generation of players who are ready to enjoy one of the best games created in the last decade.
The game is set in Skyrim, obviously, a snowy area filled with mountains, dragons, and the natives of the area, Nords. Skyrim is a sandbox style game, which basically means players can do whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want. They can create any type of character of any race. Players can be a magician, a warrior, an archer, or a stealthy assassin type. After that, they are free to pursue their own interests, whether that be heading the mage guild, becoming a master thief, or leading the rebellion to victory against the Imperial Empire. The one downside to this game is that its single player, not multiplayer online. I’m not entirely sure why the Elder Scrolls has never had an online component, but I’m sure there’s a good reason for it.
The genius of the Elder Scrolls series lies not only in the freedom you’re granted, but the world itself. Bethesda, the creator of the series, has made Skyrim a beautiful environment consisting of countless vista of breathtaking splendor. Standing at the top of a mountain watching the artificial Aurora Borealis as the moon shines is an amazing sight to see.
Another benefit to the game is the unique dungeons that players get to slog through. In the last game, Oblivion, all the dungeons were created by one designer, which was evident throughout the game. Skyrim throws all that out, bringing in five designers, each with an individual style. This is noticeable by the greater variation in the design of the individual dungeons, which adds to the environment of the game.
To top it all off, Bethesda includes a Radiant AI system, which generates new content in the game based on the actions players take. If a player kills a person one day, a week later their family could come up and talk to them about it. Skyrim reacts to your presence in the land. The Radiant system gives an infinite amount of quests to undertake, greatly increasing the replay value of Skyrim. So, whether or not you’re a video game fan, Skyrim is a title worth checking out.
