PC
PlayStation 3
XBox 360
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Product Features

Genre
Role Playing
Publisher
Bethesda
Release Date
November 11, 2011
Available Platforms
PC, PlayStation 3, XBox 360

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The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an amazing first person fantasy RPG for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 and is set 200 years after Oblivion. Skyrim, the home of the Nords, is in the midst of a fierce and bloody civil war following the murder of the High King. Dragons have returned to the kingdom and the supremely powerful Dragon God, Aludin will have to be defeated in order to save the world. Create your character, your gender and your appearance. Choose your race out of 10 possibilities (eg Altmer - High Elf, Dunmer - Dark Elf, Orc etc) all of which have individual special skills, then use all of your tactical expertise plus all the weapons and spells you can muster to complete your quests and survive the devastation of the warzone. If you have enjoyed the previous titles in this franchise - you will not be disappointed.

  • matthew willis January 11, 2012 360
    ****

    brilliant,
    historic and creative

  • Matthew Harris November 29, 2011 360
    ****

    With Oblivion released just after the Xbox 360 came out, a sequel was long overdue. After almost 6 years of waiting, Skyrim is finally here. With the hype for this game being almost palpable, it is easy to see how Skyrim could fall flat on its preverbial face.

    However, what we have here is one of the most beautiful and fantastical games ever produced. After spending over 50 hours myself on this game, I can safely say that it is my favourite RPG.

    Story-wise, Skyrim has a lot to offer players that are both fans of the fantasy genre and those that aren't. Clocking in at around 20 hours for the main story alone, you will be spending a great deal of time exploring what Skyrim has to offer. After creating your own character, where you are given an amazing amount of choice, you are thrust into the dangerous world of Skyrim itself. Without spoiling anything, the story keeps you engaged for a very long time. Apart from the main quest storyline, there are vast amounts of side-quests to complete, each with its own backstory! Not only that but the game will keep offering up a never-ending series of quests for you to complete, which makes you want to come back for more!

    Moving onto gameplay then. Bethesda (the studio behind all of the Elder Scrolls games) has done a sterling job in ramping up the action in this iteration of the series. Gone is the clunky 3rd person perspective and lackluster combat controls. Moving around outside of 1st person now looks remarkably good. Swordplay has been revamped too, with each swipe of a sword or axe shaking the camera about and creating a sense of a real, living person. This time around, dual wielding is here. This means that you can equip whatever you want in either your left or right hands. Sword in one, shield in the other, for instance. But this also allows for many different combinations such as spells and dual wielding two swords. Basically, you are free to tackle the intense combat however you like. The new spell system works nicely, with each spell feeling unique this time around and actually worthwhile to level up.

    Dragon shouts are a new addition to the series as well. The player can collect these shouts throughout the game, with each offering different and unique effects. For instance, there is a shout to breath fire and another to conjure up a lightning storm! While these shouts are separate from the magic system in the game, they offer a nice alternative for those difficult combat situations.

    The graphics of Skyrim are absolutely phenomenal. Considering the developer has to work with relatively old hardware, they have done a fantastic job in pushing the Xbox to its limits. Lighting effects and weather effects will make your jaw drop! Epic scenery is what makes up most of the game, and it never gets boring. They even thought to include the Skyrim version of the northern lights, which gives the night sky a very dramatic pop! Skyrim also has a very good and engaging soundtrack. From battles with dragons to a peaceful afternoon by a river, the game will compliment whatever activity you are doing with appropriate music.

    However, while there are some absolutely amazing points to this game, there are one or two annoyances that I picked up on during my time with it. Like the many Bethesda games before it, Skyrim can sometime be a bit glitchy. With such a big open world to explore, there are a couple of times when the game's engine can't process it all and things start moving around without animation. This has only happened one or two times during my 50 hours of play, and so is not a big deal at all. These bugs will be fixed in a future patch as well. Also, the combat can sometimes feel a bit empty, with some of your hits feeling like they are connecting with the air rather than the enemy, but this is just a minor annoyance that is personal to me! Lastly, the game does seem to have the knack of sucking you in! Prepare to spend many an enjoying hour playing this game, but watch the time slip away!

    Overall, Skyrim is an incredible game, offering the best gameplay and polish the series has ever seen. All of the hardcore RPG elements are still present, should you choose to use them, and the combat feels fresh and engaging every time. Go get this game!!