(Preview) The Elders Scrolls V: Skyrim

Title: The Elders Scrolls V: Skyrim

Release Date: 11/11/11

Developer: Bethesda

Skyrim is the fifth installment in Besthesda’s Elder Scrolls series that is to be released on the Xbox 360, Sony Playstation 3, and PC mid-November this year. Taking place roughly 200 years after the events of the fourth game in the series (Oblivion), The province of Skyrim has erupted into civil war after the assassination of its king (ok...so this seems kinda familiar). In the midst of all this, the god Alduin, who takes the form of a massive dragon, has arisen to destroy the world (Curve ball!). Your character is one of the last living Dovahkiin (Dragonborn), and must fend off Alduin and save Skyrim from destruction. If you think your going to breeze through this game, think again...Bethesda stopped counting at 350 hours of game play. So your in for the long haul...

Fun Fact: Yeti's hate fire

Skyrim pits you against foes both new and old alike in a vast open world (the equivalent to 16 square miles) that your character is free to roam on foot or on horseback to complete the main and side quests, or to just explore at your own leisure.  Not only have the core game mechanics been improved upon, but the graphics are breathtaking. Bethesda created a new game engine for this title (and future titles) called the “Creation Engine” which allows every detail to stand out vibrantly and the team to treat each individual object personally…and that’s not even the tip of the iceberg.



Landscape shot (Beautiful...I know)



Each individual Item in the game has been rendered with this engine and micro detailed .To put into perspective the amount of work being put into this title in art and structures alone, consider each branch on a tree is assigned different weights with the create engine so that it reacts differently to wind gusts in game.  Or take into account that small detailing on a shield can actually give you an idea of which race forged it or what region it’s from. With the new engine running, generated landscapes such as that of Oblivion and Fallout 3 is a thing of the past. The draw distance renders further than that of previous titles, meaning the player can stand on…let’s say a mountain top, and view out over the world much further than in Oblivion. The engine even allows snow to fall dynamically, scanning the game world and then determining where and how snow falls upon the terrain. The dungeons of Skyrim are exquisitely detailed as well. In Oblivion one person worked on an assigned dungeon to create it, however in Skyrim a team of 8 artists worked on each of the 150 dungeons adding a variety of eye candy. Combing through one of the massive dungeons, you may take notice to the detailed flora growing through the hairline cracks of the floor, or maybe even the shadowing caused by a spell as you cast it down a dark corridor. Simply put, it’s stunning.

Dungeon screen shot

Towns in the game have a working economy which you can help support by working a job (like in fable), or help destroy (clearly the more entertaining of the two). Gamers familiar with other titles from Bethesda will recall the camera zoom as you talk to a NPC in game, and how they would stop what they were doing to talk to you. No longer does that happen as now when you initiate a conversation, the NPC’s go about their business (…move along) and the camera doesn’t zoom in for a more natural feel. Trailers demonstrate the player talking to a lumber mill worker who is sharpening an axe and continues to do so while conversing and making eye contact in between doing his job. Some NPC’s are even randomly scripted to challenge you to a duel, or perhaps give you a side quest. This makes the game more unique for each person playing as game experiences will very between your game and someone elses.   (I will take it upon myself to speak for everyone when I say this is a nice feature and we will accept it…as long as that damn adoring fan is gone…and never comes back…ever. For any reason. Seriously Bethesda, we will harm you)

...I seriously hate this guy.

But I digress...Bethesda wanted a game created where the character in the game would become a reflection of the individual playing it. You can still select from the major races (Dark Elf, High Elf, Orc, Human, etc) however,  instead of choosing a class from the beginning, Skyrim allows the player to define how the character’s stats are by how you actually play the game. If you use your magic more than your mace, your character will become more of a mage than a warrior and so on. This leaves open the chance to make your character truly an extension of yourself immersing you deeper into the game play. Guardian stones that are found throughout the world also help define your character by blessing you with a special stat enhancement, or by giving you a new skill to use.

Guardian Stones

The game features a new AI called “Radiant Story” which can dynamically change side quests based on a players actions or skill set. As an example, the player might be sent off to a dungeon that has yet to be explored, and face enemies that are defeated most effectively with the player's combat style, making one person’s game vary from another’s. What skills you learn in Skyrim depend on how you play the game. As you play, you have the ability to look to the constellations to see your progress. For instance, the constellation for the Block skill is a shield, and as you become more proficient with the skill and begin to level up, you get to select a perk in one of the ability constellations. When you select which one you wish to take a perk from, the constellation then turns into a perk tree, allowing you to add on new skills (each time you level up, you can select one of 280 available perks). Using the block skill for an example again, when opened to select a perk you can add a skill called “shield wall” which makes your blocking 25% more effective. The skill tree adds just that much more tailoring to the individual playing, allowing complete customization.

Constellation screen shot

The combat system has been overhauled.  Weapons can either be found or created by your character at a forge, and each weapon can be assigned to a hand individually (allowing duel wielding). Whereas in Oblivion, a sword was one handed or two handed, in Skyrim you have the option to perhaps use a sword and a shield. Spells may also be assigned to a hand so if you decide to play more as a battle mage, you’re given the chance. Shields may also be used for a bashing attack, and precise timing is required to effectively block an enemy’s attack. Your character may sprint and jump as well at the cost of stamina. Finishing moves have also been added as well making your weapon type (blunt, blade, etc) affect the type of finishing move your character performs. Bows now hit harder (archers rejoice…) and no longer will you have to pump 500 arrows into your enemy to kill them. To compensate for the bow being more powerful, it takes longer to draw it back. The stronger the bow, the longer the draw it back (which only makes sense right?). The added distance given with the bow will come in handy as you try to shoot dragons…yeah…dragons.

Dragon from TES5

Dragons play a huge role in the game (and I mean HUGE…seriously, check out the photo for a size comparison). The dragons are not scripted in Skyrim (meaning that they are given a set of actions they can use, and randomize them however the AI sees fit) and are randomly encountered so they can show up at any given moment, anywhere in the game. When battling one of the behemoths, they will fly around attacking until damaged enough that they no longer can do so (sometimes crashing into the ground so hard that pieces of the landscape are broken up or dirt flies up from the crash site) or land to battle you on the ground. Different races of dragons are introduced throughout the game world such as Frost dragons and other variants. The Dragons can also attack cities or towns at random. Often they nose-dive to the ground, or walk through the location breathing fire which engulfs all and causes significant damage to structures and surroundings. Not every dragon will be hostile however, and some can be communicated with the in-world’s language of Draconic. Videos have shown dragons randomly picking up giants and creatures in mid battle with a character and lifting them into the sky only to release them to fall to their death.

I almost want to imagine him yelling he can see his house from up there...

When a dragon is slain, the player has the ability to absorb its soul and gain a “shout” which is an ability that gives the character special powers such as slowing time, teleportation, or even summoning a dragon to help you in battle(Yeah…you will be literally shouting at enemies…while this seems completely mental, I’m ok with it). In dungeons and other locations, word walls are available to find and read. Reading these gives you knowledge of the word for the shout, and once you absorb a dragon soul you may select from a list of words you have discovered. Each shout may also be leveled up depending on what type of shout it is. If you’re worried you may get bored with a hand full of lame abilities, rest easy…because there are over twenty shouts in the game to help further customize your characters particular playing style.

Character gaining a new shout

Though the above seems like a lot of information, it actually doesn't begin to cover everything Bethesda has put into the game. With information released thus far, I'm easily picking The Elders Scrolls: Skyrim as a game of the year winner. Bethesda has poured hours of hard work into this game, and it definitely shows with the amazing detail, character customization options, and sheer massive amount of content. 11-11-11 will change the RPG genre forever as gamers lock themselves away from the world to fully immerse themselves in the gorgeous world of Skyrim.