The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review

Since its initial release over a decade ago, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has stood as a monumental title in the world of video gaming, constantly engaging players with its rich fantasy world, detailed storyline, and expansive gameplay. The question "Is Skyrim a good game?" continues to resonate with both new players and seasoned veterans alike, reflecting the game's enduring appeal. This Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim review delves into the various facets that make it a captivating experience, from its immersive plot and setting to its deep character development and innovative gameplay mechanics. Moreover, with Skyrim on PC and various console platforms, including a special edition review, its accessibility and continued relevance in the gaming community are unparalleled.

In the following sections, this review will explore the critical aspects that contribute to the Skyrim experience, including its graphics and sound that have defined a generation, the depth and breadth of its quests and exploration, and the intricacies of character development. Additionally, this review examines NPC interactions and AI, highlighting the dynamic and lifelike world Bethesda has crafted. The discussion will extend to the game's remarkable replayability factor, bolstered by an active modding community and the advent of the Switch port review. Each component contributes to the levied Skyrim rating and answers the question, "Is Skyrim the best game ever?" according to various perspectives, including that of the Elder Scrolls V Skyrim IGN review and other critical appraisals.

Plot and Setting

Skyrim, set in the northernmost province of Tamriel, unfolds in the year 201 of the Fourth Era, approximately two centuries after the events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. This period marks a time of significant upheaval due to the assassination of the High King of Skyrim by Ulfric Stormcloak, who used his powerful voice, or Thu'um, to commit the deed. Ulfric's actions divide Skyrim, with his supporters, the Stormcloaks, claiming he is the rightful king, while others align with the Imperial Legion, advocating for a less controversial successor.

Geographic and Political Landscape

Skyrim is characterized by its cold, mountainous terrain, divided into nine administrative "holds," each governed by a jarl from a major town. Among these, Solitude, Windhelm, Markarth, Riften, and Whiterun stand out as significant political and economic centers. The landscape is dotted with ancient forts, camps, and ruins, including those left by the extinct Dwemer, or Deep Elves. Despite its harsh conditions, Skyrim serves as the homeland for the Nords, although other races also inhabit the region.

The Great War and its Aftermath

The backdrop of Skyrim's tumultuous setting is the recent Great War between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion, which concluded with the Empire signing the White-Gold Concordat. This treaty, seen as humiliating by many, ended the war but imposed severe restrictions, including the banning of the worship of Talos, a hero-god of the Nords. The ban on Talos worship fuels further dissent, leading to the civil war spearheaded by Ulfric Stormcloak.

The Return of the Dragons

Amidst the political chaos, Skyrim faces a more existential threat with the return of dragons, led by Alduin, the world-eater. The game begins dramatically as Alduin attacks the town of Helgen, rescuing the player character, who is about to be executed. This event triggers the central quest of the game, where the player, revealed to be the Dragonborn, is destined to confront Alduin. The Dragonborn's journey is intertwined with learning the ancient draconic shouts and unraveling the prophecies foretold by the Elder Scrolls.

Cultural and Religious Conflicts

The religious and cultural landscape of Skyrim is deeply influenced by its history and the ongoing conflicts. The Nords' veneration of Talos as part of their pantheon, in defiance of the Thalmor's edicts, plays a crucial role in the civil unrest. The player navigates these tensions, making choices that can influence the outcome of the civil war and the larger battle against the dragons.

Skyrim's plot and setting are rich with lore, conflict, and a sense of impending doom, set against the backdrop of its rugged, beautiful landscape. The intertwining of personal destinies with historical events creates a compelling narrative that drives the player's journey through the game.

Graphics and Sound

Visual Enhancements and Inconsistencies

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition introduces several graphical enhancements that significantly improve the visual experience compared to the original release. One of the standout features is the volumetric lighting, which impressively illuminates the vast landscapes of Skyrim, from the dense Falkreath forests to the rugged terrain of The Reach. Moonlight and sunlight filtering through trees create a more immersive atmosphere, drawing players deeper into the game's world.

However, these improvements come with their inconsistencies. While the foliage and water textures have seen noticeable upgrades, providing a richer environmental feel, the character models and animations remain largely unchanged. This disparity is particularly evident in scenes where the enhanced environmental details contrast starkly with the dated character designs. For example, Ralof's hair texture at the game's start is notably coarse and lacks detail, which can detract from the overall immersion.

The Special Edition's graphical enhancements include sharper textures and increased draw distances, which allow for a more detailed view of Skyrim’s expansive landscapes. Sunny days around Whiterun are more vivid thanks to improved color saturation, enhancing the visual appeal and making the scenery pop.

Soundtrack and Audio Immersion

Jeremy Soule's iconic score for Skyrim remains a critical element of the game's sound design. The soundtrack, known for its lush and immersive compositions, plays a pivotal role in enhancing the player's experience. Tracks like "Dragonborn" and "Ancient Stones" are not only memorable but are intricately woven into the gameplay, accentuating key moments and locations within the game.

The main theme, "Dragonborn," features powerful strings and Nordic-inspired vocals that set the tone for the adventure ahead. This theme is cleverly integrated throughout the game, with variations appearing in different contexts, such as dragon attacks or pivotal story moments, reinforcing the epic scope of the Dragonborn's journey.

Additionally, the ambient sounds and the dynamic range of the audio have been finely tuned to match the visual fidelity of the game. From the subtle rustling of leaves to the echoing roars of dragons, the sound design complements the visual enhancements and contributes to a cohesive and engaging gameplay experience.

Overall, while the graphics in Skyrim Special Edition do show their age in certain aspects, the enhancements bring a fresh vibrancy to the decade-old title. Coupled with Jeremy Soule’s evocative soundtrack, the game continues to deliver a sensorial experience that can hold its own against more modern titles.

Gameplay Mechanics

Combat System

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's combat system has been a topic of debate among players and critics alike. While the combat mechanics provide a foundational RPG experience, they have room for improvement. The responsiveness and accuracy of the hit detection system could be enhanced to give players a more controlled and immersive combat experience. Additionally, introducing a wider variety of weapons and armor, along with customization options, could enrich the gameplay. The leveling system for combat skills also suggests potential for deeper customization, allowing players to specialize more distinctly in their preferred combat styles.

The artificial intelligence of enemies could be improved to offer more challenging and engaging battles. Integrating more dynamic environments would allow players to utilize the terrain and objects around them strategically during combat. Suggestions have also been made to allow for more seamless integration of magic in combat, avoiding the need to switch to a separate menu, which could streamline gameplay and enhance the fluidity of battle sequences.

Magic and Shouts

Skyrim introduces a unique element to its gameplay with the use of "Shouts," powerful spells that the player can unleash using the ancient language of the dragons. These Shouts do not consume Magicka but are subject to cooldown periods, which vary depending on the Shout's strength. The game features a variety of Shouts, each offering different effects, from summoning dragons and heroes to altering weather and controlling time.

For instance, the "Unrelenting Force" Shout can knock back enemies and cause damage, while "Clear Skies" can change the weather conditions, impacting the environment and enemy visibility. The "Call Dragon" Shout summons Odahviing, a mighty dragon ally, once the main quest is completed. Each Shout can be strengthened by learning additional words, which are found on Word Walls throughout Skyrim's landscape and unlocked with dragon souls.

Crafting and Alchemy

Crafting and alchemy are significant aspects of Skyrim's gameplay mechanics, allowing players to create a wide range of potions, weapons, and armor. Alchemy, in particular, is noted for its depth, as players can create powerful concoctions that enhance abilities, restore health, or provide various other effects. The system is robust enough that even without perks, players can craft useful items; however, investing in alchemy perks can lead to creating some of the most potent potions in the game.

The crafting system extends to smithing and enchanting, where players can forge and enhance their equipment. Smithing allows for the creation and improvement of weapons and armor, while enchanting lets players imbue these items with magical properties. This interplay between crafting disciplines adds a layer of strategic depth to character development, as players decide how best to enhance their character's abilities through crafted items and potions.

Quests and Exploration

Main Storyline

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's main storyline is a crucial component of the game, offering players a structured narrative path to follow, while still allowing the freedom to explore at their own pace. The main quest centers around the Dragonborn's journey to defeat Alduin, the world-eater, a dragon who is prophesied to destroy the world. This questline is designed to be linear in nature, requiring completion in a specific order, but it does not restrict players from engaging in numerous side activities available throughout the game.

The main quest offers significant freedom, allowing players to choose when and how to tackle each mission. This flexibility ensures that the main storyline does not interfere with the vast array of side quests and other activities Skyrim offers. Players can pause their progress in the main quest at any time to explore the rich, open world of Skyrim, engage in other questlines, or develop their character's skills and abilities.

Side Quests

Skyrim is renowned for its extensive range of side quests, which significantly enhance the game's depth and replayability. These quests vary widely in nature and complexity, from simple fetch quests to intricate narratives involving deep lore and character development. Side quests in Skyrim are not just filler; they are an integral part of the experience, offering valuable insights into the world and its inhabitants.

Types of Side Quests

1. Miscellaneous Quests: These quests are not part of the main storyline or major faction questlines. They can range from simple tasks like delivering an item to more involved quests that require players to make significant decisions that can affect the game world. Notably, these quests contribute to the 'Sideways' achievement, marking the player's engagement and exploration within the game.

2. Guild Quests: These include a variety of specific questlines associated with Skyrim's various guilds and factions, such as the Thieves' Guild, the Dark Brotherhood, and the College of Winterhold. Each guild offers a unique series of quests that not only provide rich narrative content but also allow players to rise in the ranks of the guild, unlocking new abilities and resources.

3. Daedric Quests: These quests involve the Daedric Princes, the powerful and often malevolent beings of the Elder Scrolls universe. Each quest typically involves a moral dilemma and offers unique rewards, often in the form of powerful Daedric artifacts.

4. Dungeon Quests: Many side quests in Skyrim lead players into dungeons and caves where they face challenges and uncover treasures. These quests often involve puzzles, traps, and battles against formidable foes.

The sheer volume of side quests in Skyrim ensures that the gameplay remains fresh and engaging even after the main storyline is completed. Players can find themselves easily sidetracked by the numerous quests available, each offering its own story and rewards. Whether it's helping a ghostly lover find peace, uncovering an ancient vampire's lair, or simply aiding a small-town blacksmith, Skyrim's quests are a fundamental part of the game's appeal, providing endless opportunities for adventure and discovery.

Character Development

Skills and Perks

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, character progression is deeply integrated into the gameplay through a flexible system of skills and perks. Unlike previous titles in the series, Skyrim abolishes traditional classes, allowing players to develop their characters based on their playstyle. This system is centered around 18 distinct skills, each corresponding to different aspects of gameplay such as combat, magic, and stealth.

1. Skill Advancement: As players engage in activities associated with a skill, it naturally progresses. For example, continually using a bow improves the Archery skill, which in turn enhances the character's effectiveness with bows.

2. Perk Acquisition: Upon leveling up, players are awarded a perk point which can be invested in a perk tree specific to each skill. These perks grant special abilities or enhancements, further specializing the character in chosen areas. For instance, the "Shield Wall" perk increases the effectiveness of blocking with shields, and higher levels of this perk can be unlocked as the player's Block skill increases.

3. Legendary Skills: A notable feature introduced in patch 1.9 is the ability to make a skill 'Legendary'. This resets the skill back to level 15, refunds any spent perks, and allows the skill to be developed anew. This mechanic not only removes the level cap but also enables continuous character growth.

Customization

Character customization in Skyrim extends beyond mere cosmetic alterations, influencing various gameplay aspects through choices made during the character creation phase.

1. Racial Selection: Each of the ten races in Skyrim comes with unique bonuses to certain skills and special racial abilities, impacting the initial gameplay experience. For example, Orcs have a natural proficiency in heavy armor and smithing, making them formidable warriors from the start.

2. Aesthetic Customization: Players can adjust a wide array of physical attributes including facial features, skin tone, and even the presence of scars or war paint. This level of detail allows for a deeply personal connection to the character.

3. Standing Stones: Replacing the birthsigns found in earlier games, these stones provide various enhancements and experience boosts to skills when activated. Only one of these effects can be active at a time, encouraging players to choose bonuses that complement their current objectives or playstyle.

4. Mod Enhancements: For players seeking further customization, mods like 'Imperious - Races of Skyrim' add new dimensions to racial traits and abilities, enriching the role-playing experience. These community-created modifications not only offer new abilities but also introduce fresh challenges and quests specific to each race.

Skyrim's character development system stands out for its flexibility, allowing players to tailor their characters to fit a myriad of roles and playstyles. Whether through mastering skills, choosing perks, or customizing appearances, players are given unprecedented control over their in-game persona, enhancing their immersion and interaction with the game's world.

NPC Interactions and AI

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the depth of the world is significantly enhanced by the variety of Non-Player Characters (NPCs) that inhabit it. These characters range from quest givers and shopkeepers, who offer more elaborate interactions, to the more numerous NPCs populating cities and towns, who often provide simpler, one-liner responses. This range in NPC complexity plays a crucial role in crafting Skyrim's immersive world, but also introduces certain limitations and areas for improvement in terms of interaction and artificial intelligence (AI).

NPC Interaction Variety

1. Quest Givers and Shopkeepers: These NPCs are central to the player's experience in Skyrim, offering quests with engaging storylines and the opportunity to buy or sell goods. The dialogue with these characters is more developed, featuring conversation trees that allow for multiple choices, thereby fostering a more interactive experience.

2. Generic NPCs: In contrast, the majority of NPCs that players encounter in cities or settlements provide limited interaction. Often, they deliver brief responses or comments when interacted with. This design choice, while streamlining the game world, can detract from the sense of immersion, making these NPCs feel more like part of the background rather than active participants in the world.

3. Non-Interactable NPCs: A significant portion of the named NPCs in Skyrim offer no dialogue options, which can be disappointing for players seeking deeper engagement with the game world. This limitation highlights a trade-off in game design, where increasing the number of interactable NPCs could potentially lead to more generic responses and dilute the richness of interactions.

AI Behavior and Optimization

Skyrim employs various techniques to manage the behavior of NPCs and optimize performance:

• Hierarchical AI System: NPCs are categorized based on their importance and proximity to the player, allowing the game to allocate more resources to those directly interacting with the player.

• AI Packages: These predefined sets of actions dictate NPCs' behavior patterns, streamlining their interactions and reducing the computational load.

• Dynamic AI: This system enables NPCs to react in real-time to the environment and player actions, enhancing the realism of their behavior.

• Optimization Techniques: Bethesda Game Studios implemented methods such as efficient pathfinding algorithms and multithreading to manage the large number of NPCs without compromising performance.

Challenges and Opportunities

While Skyrim's NPC interactions and AI contribute to a rich and dynamic game world, there are areas where improvements could enhance the player experience:

1. Enhanced NPC Interactivity: Expanding the dialogue options and interactive capabilities of generic NPCs could provide a more immersive and engaging world for players to explore.

2. AI Behavior Customization: Introducing mods or updates that offer more nuanced AI behaviors, not just in combat but in daily activities and reactions to the player, could add depth to the game world.

3. Balancing Performance and Realism: Continuously refining the AI systems and optimization techniques to support more complex NPC behaviors without impacting game performance is an ongoing challenge.

In conclusion, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim presents a game world teeming with diverse NPCs, each contributing to the game's immersive experience. While the interaction with and the AI of these characters showcase Bethesda's commitment to creating a vibrant, living world, there remains room for enhancement in making these virtual inhabitants even more engaging and responsive to the player's journey.

Replayability and Mods

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim stands as a testament to the power of player-driven storytelling and the limitless possibilities offered by mods. The game's inherent replayability is significantly enhanced by the player's ability to craft their own narrative, diverging from the main questline to explore a myriad of roles—from a mercenary for hire to a rogue assassin or even a character of their own making. This freedom ensures that each playthrough can offer a new and unique experience, effectively dispelling any notions of limited replayability. Players have reported spending hundreds, if not thousands, of hours exploring every corner of Skyrim, proving that the game's appeal lies in its open-world design that encourages exploration and self-directed storytelling.

The Role of Mods in Enhancing Skyrim

Mods play a crucial role in extending the longevity of Skyrim, offering everything from visual enhancements to entirely new gameplay mechanics. The ease of installing mods through platforms like the Steam Workshop, coupled with the ability to manually add more complex mods, has made Skyrim one of the most mod-friendly games available. Here are some of the best Skyrim mods that have contributed to its enduring popularity:

1. Ultimate Skyrim: This comprehensive mod transforms Skyrim into a more challenging and immersive experience, introducing mechanics such as hunger and temperature, alongside an overhauled combat system.

2. Alternate Start: For players tired of the game's traditional opening, Alternate Start offers the opportunity to begin their journey in different scenarios, adding a fresh perspective to each playthrough.

3. Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE): As mods have grown more ambitious, SKSE has become essential for running mods that require advanced scripting capabilities, thereby expanding the possibilities for modding.

4. Unofficial Skyrim Patch: Given Skyrim's infamous bugs, this mod is vital for smoothing out gameplay, fixing a wide array of bugs related to quests, NPCs, and more.

5. Become High King of Skyrim: This mod allows players to ascend to the highest rank in Skyrim, providing new powers such as jailing, executing, or enslaving NPCs, and commanding an army, offering a new dimension of gameplay.

Table: Impact of Key Mods on Gameplay

Mods not only address technical issues and add whimsical elements but also significantly expand the role-playing aspects of the game. From visual mods that introduce new textures and effects to gameplay mods that add new quests and characters, the modding community has played a pivotal role in keeping Skyrim relevant.

In conclusion, the replayability of Skyrim is a multifaceted aspect of the game, rooted in its open-world design and significantly enhanced by a vibrant modding community. The ability to diverge from the main questline and the availability of mods that introduce new elements and fix existing issues ensure that Skyrim remains a dynamic and engaging experience for both new and returning players.

Switch Port Review

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's arrival on the Nintendo Switch marked a significant milestone, bringing an expansive open-world adventure to a portable console for the first time. This section delves into the specifics of the Switch port, examining its performance, exclusive features, and how it compares to other versions of the game.

Performance and Limitations

The Nintendo Switch version of Skyrim, while an impressive feat, comes with its own set of limitations and performance characteristics. Due to the hardware constraints of the Switch, this version does not offer the same graphical fidelity found on PC and next-gen consoles. Players may notice differences in texture quality and a lack of certain graphical enhancements. Despite these limitations, the game maintains a stable performance, generally hovering around 30 frames per second (FPS). This performance level is consistent with the game's original release on older consoles, ensuring that the gameplay experience remains smooth for the most part.

However, it's worth noting that some players have reported issues with crashing, freezing, and occasional framerate drops. Bethesda has acknowledged these problems and has been working on patches to address them, aiming to improve the overall stability of the game on the Switch.

Exclusive Features

One of the most appealing aspects of Skyrim on the Switch is its portability. The ability to play such a vast and immersive game on the go is a game-changer for many fans. Additionally, the Switch version incorporates unique features that leverage the console's capabilities:

1. Motion Controls: Players can use the Switch's motion controllers for more immersive gameplay actions such as aiming bows and magic, swinging melee weapons, and picking locks.
2. Nintendo-themed Gear: Exclusive to the Switch version are items from The Legend of Zelda series, including the Master Sword, Hylian Shield, and the Champion's Tunic. These items add a delightful crossover element for fans of both franchises.
3. Amiibo Compatibility: Using Nintendo's amiibo figures with the game unlocks additional in-game content, further enriching the player's experience.

Comparison Table

To provide a clearer understanding of how the Switch version of Skyrim stands in comparison to other versions, the following table outlines key differences:

Despite the differences, the Switch version of Skyrim offers a unique blend of portability and exclusive features that make it an attractive option for gamers looking to experience Skyrim in a new way. Whether it's battling dragons on a long commute or exploring dungeons while curled up in bed, the Switch port provides a compelling reason to revisit or jump into Skyrim for the first time.

Conclusion

Throughout the detailed exploration of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it becomes clear that despite its age, the game continues to stand as an iconic title within the gaming community. Its complex plot, expansive world filled with diverse quests, and intricate systems for character development have created an enduring legacy. Even after years since its release, Skyrim's ability to draw in players—new and returning alike—with its open-ended narrative and the added depth from an active modding community, highlights its lasting appeal and unparalleled replayability.

The examination of various elements, from the technical aspects of graphics and sound to the immersive gameplay mechanics and the vibrant world of Skyrim, reveals why it is considered a masterpiece in the realm of video games. Whether experienced on PC, console, or the unique portability of the Switch, Skyrim offers a rich, immersive world that invites endless exploration and adventure. The game's ongoing relevance and significance within the gaming landscape underscore its monumental impact and the timeless nature of its allure to gamers around the world.

FAQs

1. How does The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim stand as a game?
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is highly acclaimed as possibly Bethesda's finest creation. It presents a vast, spectacular world that caters to both casual and hardcore gamers by offering unparalleled freedom in gameplay.

2. What keeps Skyrim popular years after its initial release?
Skyrim's enduring popularity can largely be attributed to its active modding community. Modders continue to expand the game with new content, including quests, with nearly 100,000 mods available across various platforms, keeping the game fresh and engaging.

3. Is Skyrim playable and enjoyable in 2024?
Absolutely, Skyrim remains a worthwhile experience even years after its release. Opting for the Anniversary Edition is recommended, as it provides a comprehensive Skyrim experience with potentially over a thousand hours of immersive gameplay.

4. What is the expected gameplay duration for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?
The main storyline of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition can be completed in about 26 hours. However, for players aiming to explore every aspect of the game, achieving 100% completion could take approximately 206 hours.