The Elder Scrolls Online

malto

Jul 5, 2014

9

first off all the bad reviews for the most part are bs people for some reason wanted to hate this game and so people made up bs reasons to hate it such as "i lagged ones so im giving it a 1" or my favorite "this game is **** because the npcs dont go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning" most people wanted skyrim online. it was never going to be that. its a mmo and a good one atfirst off all the bad reviews for the most part are bs people for some reason wanted to hate this game and so people made up bs reasons to hate it such as "i lagged ones so im giving it a 1" or my favorite "this game is **** because the npcs dont go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning" most people wanted skyrim online. it was never going to be that. its a mmo and a good one at that a lot better then most of the **** thats getting crazy high ratings right now the graphics are good the combat is good the biggest problem is its under populated because of people being idiots. there was a review that said there where pay gates thats bs. the special edition gave you a mount and a new race. thats it. not needed you can still play fine with out it you can play as any faction just cant be a turn coat. all in all most of the bs on here is really idiotic and i hate to see a good game fail because people wanted impossible things/people hate it because everyone else hates it with out playing it them self… Expand

Tahoenvy

Nov 17, 2014

9

ESO has set the benchmark for MMO graphics, they are GORGEOUS. I'm played every MMO out there since EQ in 99, some for only a few hours because they were so bad, some for years. Elder scrolls just blew me away with their innovative graphics. Bethesda is by far the best game company there is. Well worth the cost of the software and the monthly subscription. As a matter of fact I preferESO has set the benchmark for MMO graphics, they are GORGEOUS. I'm played every MMO out there since EQ in 99, some for only a few hours because they were so bad, some for years. Elder scrolls just blew me away with their innovative graphics. Bethesda is by far the best game company there is. Well worth the cost of the software and the monthly subscription. As a matter of fact I prefer the sub games so you don't have to deal with so many DB's… Expand

Chrithu

Mar 12, 2015

9

I hit the 5000 character limit with my long review so now I make a short bullet list:

Positives: + Fully voiced + Best combat system in a Fantasy MMORPG so far. + Skillsystem and Class-System offering a lot of freedom. Any class can be made a Tank, DD or Healer + Crafted gear is often better than looted stuff, thus crafting matters. + No Auction House. (a good thing in my book forI hit the 5000 character limit with my long review so now I make a short bullet list:

Positives:
+ Fully voiced
+ Best combat system in a Fantasy MMORPG so far.
+ Skillsystem and Class-System offering a lot of freedom. Any class can be made a Tank, DD or Healer
+ Crafted gear is often better than looted stuff, thus crafting matters.
+ No Auction House. (a good thing in my book for a myriad of reasons)
+ Awesome storyline (for Aldmeri Dominion and Daggerfall Covenant)
+ Best race-specific voice-work and Dialog-writing in any Elder Scrolls game so far.
+ Update 6 brought a Justice System. I can kill most NPCs now, and steal the **** outta them.

Negatives:
- Very little group content before end-game.
- No group Dialogues. SWTOR set a new standart here. Any MMO missing a similar system will have to accept losses in the rating.
- OUrageously bad storyline for Ebonheart Pact, which consists of Elder Scrolls most favored races. Might be the reason for a lot of the bad reviews mentioning dull quests.… Expand

ThuulDaHarn

Apr 2, 2015

9

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If yo. Have enjoyed any elder scrolls games and mmo games this is the perfect game for you! For me, this is the first MMO game I have played and I am really looking forward to playing again. I havent played it since the beta and this is because the sub fee was a little too expensive, I am buying the imperial edition for my birthday on the 12th. I remember the game being great. It overwhelmed me when I took my first steps in the game. The first thing you see is the character creation menu and you can go really in depth about your character. Just like any elder scrolls game you start in a prison.

Here's the over all rating for ME personally: TESO is a really great game and I definitely recommend it. If I had to give it a rating I will give it a number of around 9/10. On the downside there are some glitches and bugs which is to be expected in a game so new and populated, the game was amazing when I played it and I think it will be way better today.
P.S: Frame rates WILL drop in the towns and cities where more people are, just like any other MMO
I hope you found my review helpful :)… Expand

wildbear247

Sep 7, 2016

9

Been playing this game for a little over one year. Initially I gave this game a 6 because there were some key elements that were missing/flawed, and the the developers were mostly quiet about if/when they planned to address these elements. Missing/flawed elements included things like changing character appearance, changing character race, improving loot drops, fixing PvP lag, no PvPBeen playing this game for a little over one year. Initially I gave this game a 6 because there were some key elements that were missing/flawed, and the the developers were mostly quiet about if/when they planned to address these elements. Missing/flawed elements included things like changing character appearance, changing character race, improving loot drops, fixing PvP lag, no PvP dueling or other small scale PvP features, etc. Thankfully the developer has addressed all of the areas above (including adding other good and unexpected features) and the game continues to evolve and get better. I'm bumping my score from a 6 to a 9 in response. The developer could still improve on interacting with the player base in a more transparent way, so I'm withholding the 10 rating until I see that happen.… Expand

Razier

Apr 15, 2015

9

If youŕe looking for a good review to base your decision on about this game, I ask that you look for a newer review from 2015. When this game first came out, I will admit, it was not great. I played it right after it first came out and was not thrilled. The monthly subscription was too much and the game play lacked. Now with all of the recent updates and with Tamriel Unlimited beingIf youŕe looking for a good review to base your decision on about this game, I ask that you look for a newer review from 2015. When this game first came out, I will admit, it was not great. I played it right after it first came out and was not thrilled. The monthly subscription was too much and the game play lacked. Now with all of the recent updates and with Tamriel Unlimited being released, it is an entirely different game. The quests are captivating and very well written, the combat while perhaps lacking a little bit, is still very fun. The PvP is still remarkable. Walking around the world the graphics are truly remarkable. I am very excited for the future of the game and look forward to seeing the future improvements they have planned.… Expand

AngryIrishman

May 12, 2015

9

I made an account simply to write a short review of the game. I've played all the Elder Scrolls, right from Arena and I find the online game to stay true to the lore, which is important to me as an Elder Scrolls fan. After a marathon with the game, I have come to the conclusion that it was worth the one time buy and if you're eager, like me, you'll even grab the premium membership. ThereI made an account simply to write a short review of the game. I've played all the Elder Scrolls, right from Arena and I find the online game to stay true to the lore, which is important to me as an Elder Scrolls fan. After a marathon with the game, I have come to the conclusion that it was worth the one time buy and if you're eager, like me, you'll even grab the premium membership. There are lots of features yet to be implemented, yet I'm confident that the developers will continue to refine and temper the title. I've had fun and I'm certain another Elder Scrolls fan would as well. The Combat system brings it out on top of any other MMORPG, the crafting is much simpler than the rest of the games in it's genre. However, one critique that I do offer is that there are not enough clearly defined roles, as there were in earlier titles, wherein one could define their character immediately, yet not so much as to limit his/her character.… Expand

dublicious

Sep 8, 2015

9

I've really enjoyed this game for over a year. Yes, it was initially very buggy. Yes, the quests can somewhat be uninspired (but some are great). Yes, there were balance issues. That was a year ago, and this is an MMO. This, unfortunately, is how almost every MMO release goes at first.

Ultimately the game has been seriously improved in the time since release. Endgame (vet dungeons,I've really enjoyed this game for over a year. Yes, it was initially very buggy. Yes, the quests can somewhat be uninspired (but some are great). Yes, there were balance issues. That was a year ago, and this is an MMO. This, unfortunately, is how almost every MMO release goes at first.

Ultimately the game has been seriously improved in the time since release. Endgame (vet dungeons, trials) are awesome and that's where you spend most of your time in MMOs. If you want a rewarding grind, you won't get it. It's just not in this MMO's genes. If you want Skyrim 2, there's absolutely no reason you should have expected that.

The only major gripe I have is the constant cycle of buffs/nerfs. Unfortunately though, that's the state of MMOs in 2015. One group feels insulted and slighted on a personal level when they don't win all the time so they complain loud enough that things get "rebalanced". Then the group that's been nerfed feels slighted and whines until it's rebalanced again. This goes on constantly but ultimately they're not huge changes that impact the game unless you PvP.

As if it needs to be said, do not come here expecting a game you will get the most out of as a single player only. This is an MMO, not a single player game with some multiplayer. You really should interact with people. You should join a guild and run group dungeons. This is by far the best part of the game. Solo quests are a means to an end, and the end is a ton of fun with friends.

On to PvP: I don't generally PvP, so when I do it only lasts until I die a lot and wind up frustrated because I don't have a PvP build and just don't spend a ton of time improving myself to do it, so I'm OK with it. However, the time I have spent has been fun a lot of the time. The PvP/PvE mixed Imperial City is a lot of fun IMO, but you're going to want to find a big group in peak hours otherwise you will be zerged.

TLDR (but still kinda long it turns out): if you wanted Skyrim 2, look elsewhere. This is an MMO which is at its core, and by necessity cannot be exactly the same as a single-player-only RPG. People who started WoW 2 years in after they worked out their kinks and who think that WoW is the first/best MMO ever may lead you to believe the game is terrible. IMO, they're wrong. It's just new. And it's already way better than it was at release.… Expand

Mashille

Jun 11, 2015

9

This game is a very well done mixture of normal Elder Scrolls games with an MMO. The world is beautiful with great open expanses with, probably, the best lighting system I have ever seen in a game. The combat is Dynamic and skill based which involves movement and is very well done and extremely fun and addictive. ALL characters are fully voiced and all have their own story to tell withThis game is a very well done mixture of normal Elder Scrolls games with an MMO. The world is beautiful with great open expanses with, probably, the best lighting system I have ever seen in a game. The combat is Dynamic and skill based which involves movement and is very well done and extremely fun and addictive. ALL characters are fully voiced and all have their own story to tell with some great detail in quests, caves and dungeons. A very good community. End game dungeons and raids are very good for MMO players to enjoy with a massive amount of content. Over 300 hours easily.

Although the game is not like it's predecessors and single player elder scrolls games ti still has the feel of one. being able to go into first person with vast open zones. Although there is not as much freedom in exploration as in Skyrim, it is still very good and rewarding.

The 'Skill' system is one of the best I have seen in any MMO with the freedom to use any weapon or armor with any class. Classes are also very open and free but all players still have access to deep and meaningful charterer progression.

The graphics are not as good as 'Next Gen' games but that is due to it being an MMO and for MMO standards the graphics are amazing. Especially when you think about the 200 Vs 200 PvP battles and sieges which are awesome.

Another great mechanic is the phasing which makes you feel as if you are actually making a difference to the world you are in. A good example of this would be A quest where A city had been overtaken by werewolves and I had to complete an attack to drive them out. After I finished the quest all the werewolves were gone and the city was filled with friendly NPC's.

Questing is very good with meaningful decisions that can really make you think. Most quest progression is shared although not all quest progression is shared so at some points your group members will be separated from you until they get to the same point in the quest. However this does not take away from the greatness of the game. The main story is engaging with interesting characters and fun missions.

Overall the game is definitely worth a buy for most people and is definitely worth a buy.… Expand

Arthur111

Jun 16, 2015

9

So I read some reviews, bought the game, played it for a while and now I would like to counter some negative reviews this game gets.
1. Graphics are great and the game does lag if you set graphics on lower settings. I'm playing on NA server from Europe on ancient GTX9600 and I have no lag outside of PvP.
2. Team play is the best in this game. You do not need to 'invite' people into yourSo I read some reviews, bought the game, played it for a while and now I would like to counter some negative reviews this game gets.
1. Graphics are great and the game does lag if you set graphics on lower settings. I'm playing on NA server from Europe on ancient GTX9600 and I have no lag outside of PvP.
2. Team play is the best in this game. You do not need to 'invite' people into your group to do quests. You bump into someone, run along, kill what you need to kill and you both get the reward.
3. Crafting is very complex relative to other games. If you are good with numbers you will enjoy it, but lesser minds will struggle, which is good IMO.
4. The game feels and plays like the Elder Scrolls. The younger players who only played Skyrim will find it a bit different and those who still remember Morrowind map by heart will find it different as well. Of course they had to compromise to make it work, but they did it well.
5. The game is great to play solo. At the same time, the population of the server I am on is quite high making me wish there were less people for me to get more ore deposits sometimes.
6. The world is big and distances are huge, but wayshrines reduce travel times to nothing! They work Diablo II - style. No more sleeping on the keyboard while flying around the map from one point to another. Amazing...

I hope this helps you to make an informed decision about purchasing the game. As to myself, I never regretted buying it for a second.… Expand

kajelis

Feb 15, 2016

9

Ok, I've played this game from Beta. Early on this game was weak, and I did step away from it for a while. I refuse to base my review on this game based on its infancy. It has come a long way from day one and it is MUCH better now than it was in the beginning. The PVE is awesome, yes there are issues. For example; Group finder is not very strong, in all reality its been very weak since dayOk, I've played this game from Beta. Early on this game was weak, and I did step away from it for a while. I refuse to base my review on this game based on its infancy. It has come a long way from day one and it is MUCH better now than it was in the beginning. The PVE is awesome, yes there are issues. For example; Group finder is not very strong, in all reality its been very weak since day one. It's so easy to talk to and meet new people on this game that group finder is not highly necessary. If you don't like to go and talk to random people then you can play the game solo as it can be done by yourself. There are things that need groups to finish, World Bosses are a great example as they aren't easily solo'd.
Yes, PVP is probably the weakest part of the game. It is better on The non-veteran area is better to pvp on than the veteran areas.
Changes are being made with each patch or update. This game has been getting better with each update. This game isn't as bad as some people make it out to be. You can't go on the early experience from two years ago. See the game for what it is now. It isn't ridiculously expensive to buy and can be easily picked up for $15. A monthly subscription isn't necessary to enjoy the game and it can only get better.
Now for the little things.
Graphics: IMHO this game probably has the best graphics over any MMO i've ever played. Very well done ZOS
Sound/Music: It's okay, expected from an elder scrolls game. Not great but not bad either.
Playability: easy to learn, no crazy mechanics to memorize. Can build your character however you want even if it is the worst way to build it.
Combat: flows well, no cooldowns like your average MMO's. It's a nice change of pace.

I've been a Elder Scrolls fan ever since I was a kid when I played Arena so I may be slightly biased. I refuse to compare this game to Skyrim since it clearly isn't. I believe that this game is best played on PC since it has the options for add-ons and the graphics are just waaaaay better on the PC as opposed to a PS4 or Xbox1. This game was never made with console gamers in mind and it plays VERY well with a mouse and keyboard. You have regular chat available to you, unlike the consoles, so type away if you want. I personally like to control who I can hear on my headset and use clients like TeamSpeak to talk to my friends as I play instead of having to hearing everyone in the whole zone like on console. So YES PC>Console.
Piece of advice as you play the game. Go slow, take your time and enjoy it. Don't rush to max level. You rush to max and then you'll find yourself bored. Create Alts, maybe a different faction or a different class, see what the game as a whole has to offer. Enjoy the time in Tamriel, I'm sure it is more than worth it.
Aloha… Expand

Jakkimakkara

Aug 11, 2016

9

I actually liked for this game. I know that many people hates it and I admit that it's not a good Elder Scrolls, but it is a good MMORPG. Ofc. sometimes it will get buggy, but none of games are perfect. ESO have an enjoyable PvP and even if you don't like PvP, there is still much content for a single player. If you are an Elder Scrolls fan, but don't enjoy for MMORPGs I don't recommendI actually liked for this game. I know that many people hates it and I admit that it's not a good Elder Scrolls, but it is a good MMORPG. Ofc. sometimes it will get buggy, but none of games are perfect. ESO have an enjoyable PvP and even if you don't like PvP, there is still much content for a single player. If you are an Elder Scrolls fan, but don't enjoy for MMORPGs I don't recommend ESO for you, but if you like for MMORPGs I recommend this game for you.… Expand

Godcario

Oct 10, 2018

9

I love this game but there is one problem, this game is a great game to put lots of game time into but its a pay to win game for people who don't want to put in the time (I am not one of those players) I love to play and play till I find more stuff to do after a while though (Like 400 hours) you get bored hop off for a couple of months buy new expansions then come back asking for more!I love this game but there is one problem, this game is a great game to put lots of game time into but its a pay to win game for people who don't want to put in the time (I am not one of those players) I love to play and play till I find more stuff to do after a while though (Like 400 hours) you get bored hop off for a couple of months buy new expansions then come back asking for more! It's a great game I can't wait for the next expansion on the Elder scrolls series!!!!… Expand

ghofmann

Dec 1, 2016

9

The One Tamriel Update changed the whole game. The world has always been huge, but now you can quest/explore/hunt/grind anywhere at any time. Dropped gear sets that used to be tied to specific level ranges will now drop at your level, so the amount of gear choices and build customization has increased like 100 fold. Plus resource nodes and mobs spawn/drop items at your level, no matterThe One Tamriel Update changed the whole game. The world has always been huge, but now you can quest/explore/hunt/grind anywhere at any time. Dropped gear sets that used to be tied to specific level ranges will now drop at your level, so the amount of gear choices and build customization has increased like 100 fold. Plus resource nodes and mobs spawn/drop items at your level, no matter where you are in the game. While this does kill a little bit of immersion (what used to be a lvl 10 mudcrab in the beginner zone is now a max level [or whatever level you are] mudcrab, lol) it makes the whole world worth playing in. The starter zones are beautiful and full of interesting NPCs, so it's nice to be able to play there and still get optimum experience/rewards. Plus, it makes the leveling horizontal rather than vertical, which I've always been a fan of. Higher level characters have more skill options and access to passives that increase power, but not necessarily more raw power.

It had a terrible launch and first year, but most of issues have been resolved. Cyrodil (PvP) still suffers from lag, but it's playable on most machines. -1 point.

I don't like the class system. I'd rather have a classless system. But the game is really great as it is. I would subtract a point here as well, but there are a bunch of "0" scores that outrages me, because the reviewers have not been fair. Not liking the game or it not meeting your expectations does not warrant a score of 0.… Expand

CasperWenneke

Apr 27, 2018

9

I will make this review short as possible. In my opinion this game is absolutely amazing in its own special way. the lore is incredible, and i have never seen anything like it. A lot of people bash this game, but i say they look at the wrong places. The game does have some bugs and frame issues, but i look apart from this, then the game is original and spectacular. Anyone who has everI will make this review short as possible. In my opinion this game is absolutely amazing in its own special way. the lore is incredible, and i have never seen anything like it. A lot of people bash this game, but i say they look at the wrong places. The game does have some bugs and frame issues, but i look apart from this, then the game is original and spectacular. Anyone who has ever wanted to play Skyrim, Oblivion or Morrowind ("almost") with a friend then this is for you.… Expand

Lizarino

Jul 16, 2020

9

As someone who doesn't particularly enjoy MMOs, I really enjoy this game a lot.

I've tried getting into a lot of other MMOs in the past and either not liked the controls, the the graphics or something else. Out of the about 10 or so MMOs I tried last year, ESO was the only one I could get into. It looked great for an MMO, I liked the art style, it had controls I liked and was used toAs someone who doesn't particularly enjoy MMOs, I really enjoy this game a lot.

I've tried getting into a lot of other MMOs in the past and either not liked the controls, the the graphics or something else.
Out of the about 10 or so MMOs I tried last year, ESO was the only one I could get into. It looked great for an MMO, I liked the art style, it had controls I liked and was used to and already like the world and lore from playing the single player elder scrolls games.

Classes:

There are currently 6 classes in ESO (4 free and 2 are with DLCs - warden and necro). All of the classes can do good damage, tank or heal, some better than others if you want to min-max.
Each class has 3 skill lines and each skill has 2 morphs to choose from, which alter how it works. There's also skill lines for each weapon in the game as well as guilds, like fighters guild, mages guild, undaunted.

This brings me into one big problem I have with the game: stamina builds and how limiting they are for what skills you can use. If you don't want to be forced into using a stave with a magicka build (another con for me) then you can do a stamina build. This forces you to only use 2 or 3 of your class skills at most which heavily limit your options and make your character much more boring, as well as having more than one stamina character pretty much the same as any other.

Another thing I like about ESO is how you can solo most of the content in the game, if you hate other humans like me.… Expand

sulaco426

Jul 21, 2021

9

Its just by far the best mmorpg around. i was sceptical at first, cause i dont particulary like TES. Its not a asia - grinder and leveling is always fun. the combat is really nice. its rather simple compared to other games, but its fun and good for new players. the only issue i have, is the questmarkers. ist sometime hard to follow and to now where you gotta go. qualitywise its on the sameIts just by far the best mmorpg around. i was sceptical at first, cause i dont particulary like TES. Its not a asia - grinder and leveling is always fun. the combat is really nice. its rather simple compared to other games, but its fun and good for new players. the only issue i have, is the questmarkers. ist sometime hard to follow and to now where you gotta go. qualitywise its on the same level as WoW… Expand

Sphinxmoth

Jun 21, 2020

9

Well, ESO had a really bad start back in 2014.
But for now the game is far not bad: really good side quests (There are 5 or 7 "go-and-kill-10-monstername-oh-ye-fabled-hero" quests in all game. And the game have few hundred quests.), good-written main quests. Honestly this game comfortably plays as single-player, which is very rear for an MMO an which is really awesome for The ElderWell, ESO had a really bad start back in 2014.
But for now the game is far not bad: really good side quests (There are 5 or 7 "go-and-kill-10-monstername-oh-ye-fabled-hero" quests in all game. And the game have few hundred quests.), good-written main quests. Honestly this game comfortably plays as single-player, which is very rear for an MMO an which is really awesome for The Elder Scrolls series veterans.… Expand

PCGamingGhost

Aug 25, 2020

9

My history with The Elder Scrolls franchise may not be as expansive as some here and I can honestly say that I've never played a game in the series before jumping into The Elder Scrolls Online, but I'm glad because I didn't have any real expectations going into this game. First off I want to say that I've been playing ESO on and off for several years and I consider it to not only be one ofMy history with The Elder Scrolls franchise may not be as expansive as some here and I can honestly say that I've never played a game in the series before jumping into The Elder Scrolls Online, but I'm glad because I didn't have any real expectations going into this game. First off I want to say that I've been playing ESO on and off for several years and I consider it to not only be one of the best MMORPG's available on the market today, but one of the finest MMORPG's of all-time. I'm serious when I say that. This game has everything a fan of the MMO genre could possibly ever want. You want a huge and ever expanding world to explore and discover? This game has it. You want thousands of quests and adventures to solve? This game has it. You want challenging group content such as dungeons and PvP? This game has it. In other words your not going to be short on things to do in The Elder Scrolls Online and at times it's going to feel like after hundreds of hours played that you've barely put a dent into what this game has to offer.

Now, does all this content and activity mean that this game perfect and has zero flaws? No. Far from it. Like with most games there are little things that stand in the way of pure perfection. There are moments where sometimes you feel like completing a certain task is impossible, or you feel lost and have no idea what to do next, but as a whole I would say that this game is one of the best RPG experiences I've ever had and definitely worthy of players giving it a solid effort if you're a fan of the MMO genre or a fan of The Elder Scrolls in general. The world is vast and exciting, the player base is booming and extremely helpful, and the story you'll encounter as you play through the game and it's expansions is enjoyable and intriguing.

I've put over 1,100 hours into The Elder Scrolls Online and have enjoyed it's many expansions (chapters) and feel like this game gives me the closest feeling to my early days playing World of Warcraft as any game I've played since. The feeling of adventure and wonder and not knowing what you'll come across next as you make your way through the world. It's truly a remarkable experience that should be one click away on everyone's hard drive. Jump on in and experience the magic for yourself!
_____________
PCGamingGhost… Expand

MDXV

Jan 27, 2023

9

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SqueekyWheel

Mar 23, 2022

9

Great game for those who like to explore and enjoy well written stories and quests. The world is HUGE, even just the base game will give you months of playtime. The ESO plus subscription gives access to all DLC content plus crowns that can be used in the crown store(ESO version of IRL cash shop) and a craft bag that holds an infinite amount of crafting materials.

ESO relies heavily onGreat game for those who like to explore and enjoy well written stories and quests. The world is HUGE, even just the base game will give you months of playtime. The ESO plus subscription gives access to all DLC content plus crowns that can be used in the crown store(ESO version of IRL cash shop) and a craft bag that holds an infinite amount of crafting materials.

ESO relies heavily on internet content creators to explain the game to players and there is very little info in game about how things work. This makes it confusing for some who expect the game to explain as you play. But there are plenty of great online resources to help you, like UESP, Alcast, Deltia's gaming, Xynode, Hack the Minotaur, Lucky Ghost, ESO-U, Brah we got this, Skinny Cheeks and many more. There are also guilds you can join with players willing to help and explain as you go along.

The game caters mainly to beginners who are still levelling and exploring, and casual players who enjoy the stories and the questing. The world is beautiful, especially if you have a modern PC with a decent graphics card. There is a lot of artwork done in the world, and just looking around at the environments is a joy in and of itself. It's easy to loose yourself for hours just exploring in this game.

Once you have levelled out a character and played through the vet DLC content, which is some of the hardest in the game, that's when it starts getting more tricky. There is not much you can do to progress as a player except for score pushing(going for world rankings etc) or PvP battles. With each new chapter coming out there is usually two new dungeons(4-man content) and one trial(12-man content) added, but beyond that there is not much an experienced player can look forward to. The overland questing, which is great and very nice for beginners, is simply mind numbingly easy for experienced players with high level characters. The content is still great, but there is no way to make the fighting challenging as there is no difficulty setting to make overland questing harder.

So overall this is a beautiful and fun game that will keep you busy for at least about a year of playing, but as you get into end game it will be difficult to find challenging content to keep you interested in the long run. If ZOS ever adds a difficulty setting so experienced players can enjoy all new content the same way beginners can, I'd give it a 10 out of 10, but because it lacks this setting I give it a 9 out of 10.… Expand

VegasWarped

Jun 11, 2022

9

This is my favorite game, I love playing with my groups and communities that I have met in game. While this game does have its bugs, the action combat is very entertaining and responsive.
Lore 10/10
gameplay 9/10
pvp 6/10
community 8/10
solo play 9/10

GoR_Noki

Apr 8, 2023

9

2022/23 and people still compare this game to Skyrim... *sights* not even the same engine....

The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG which plays 200 years before Morrowind, so round about 450 years before Skyrim. So much for the time frame within the lore. TESO is still one of the best MMOs on the market til this date. Well written stories, decent graphics, a big lore, much to explore2022/23 and people still compare this game to Skyrim... *sights* not even the same engine....

The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG which plays 200 years before Morrowind, so round about 450 years before Skyrim. So much for the time frame within the lore.

TESO is still one of the best MMOs on the market til this date. Well written stories, decent graphics, a big lore, much to explore and no player level restrictions for open world maps. The sound with 7.1 is amazing and there is much to do. I needed more than 300 hours to complete all quests of the main game (without DLCs) and there are so many DLCs out by now that you can almost tripple that! The pvp is huge and there is a nice learning curve for raids when you're willing to learn mechanics. Expect it to be hard though.

It is a very good game but do NOT expect it to be like Skyrim! It's a common mistake people make.… Expand

coywow

Sep 17, 2022

9

After roughly 40 hours of gameplay:

As a long time lover of the elder scrolls games i have always wanted an online experience in this magical world we have all fell in love with, and this game delivers that and more. while sadly compromising some former lore, ESO may not make much sense to the OG elder scrolls purists. This game is still very good. After about 8 years of being outAfter roughly 40 hours of gameplay:

As a long time lover of the elder scrolls games i have always wanted an online experience in this magical world we have all fell in love with, and this game delivers that and more.
while sadly compromising some former lore, ESO may not make much sense to the OG elder scrolls purists.
This game is still very good.
After about 8 years of being out (November, 2022) the game has enough content for thousands of hours, and a fun online experience in a well done MMO experience. The game is very good, has all of the story, content, character building, a good fun leveling system, and everything else you could want from a modern MMO.… Expand

CountryPetInn

Apr 7, 2014

8

It is fun to level and it seems like there is no grinding to speak of (gather 10 turtle shells). It's fun to explore and the npc character acting is decent too (LOTRO was missing that and was boring me to go to bed too early) I give it an 8 because there are still areas I'm having trouble trying to figure out.

Uberwolfe

Apr 13, 2014

8

I firmly believe that Elder Scrolls Online is that game you hate but grow to love. As per many MMOs the starter zones are mundane (but skippable on secondary characters) and much of the first 10 levels is fairly ordinary too. But as you get beyond level 10 - things really begin to open up. PvP, dungeons, secondary weapon-wielding and more.

There's much to like here. Usual launch bugsI firmly believe that Elder Scrolls Online is that game you hate but grow to love. As per many MMOs the starter zones are mundane (but skippable on secondary characters) and much of the first 10 levels is fairly ordinary too. But as you get beyond level 10 - things really begin to open up. PvP, dungeons, secondary weapon-wielding and more.

There's much to like here. Usual launch bugs aside, Zenimax have have done a stellar job on many aspects of the game. Having said that though, there are a few head-scratching design decisions that offset the game's positives to a significant degree - but nothing game breaking. My main concerns are the heavy-instancing, the lack of a global auction house, impractical communication tools and the claustrophobic feel of the maps. A few extra skill slots would have also been nice...

But what you get for your money though, is a fun and extensive yet slow-paced romp through Tamriel that surely does justice to the Elder Scrolls as an MMO.… Expand

Cell1e

Dec 30, 2020

8

This game has improved a lot since I first reviewed it 4 years ago, its now has lots more customisation, leveling is easier and so is making money in game. In fact this game has now become one of my favourite mmos to play on a regular basis but much of that has to do with the quality of life improvements that the modders have made to the game. Funny but true and very typical of a BethesdaThis game has improved a lot since I first reviewed it 4 years ago, its now has lots more customisation, leveling is easier and so is making money in game. In fact this game has now become one of my favourite mmos to play on a regular basis but much of that has to do with the quality of life improvements that the modders have made to the game. Funny but true and very typical of a Bethesda game. Still I can now recommend that you try this game, add a few mods to it as well and you will love it. :)… Expand

Radikal

Apr 10, 2014

8

So far it seems all the haters and bad reviewers were looking for something like WoW? My question to them is; why? This is Elder Scrolls and it is the first ever MMO version. Is it perfect? No; there are a handful of bugged quests still, occasional server issues and moderate imbalances here and there but hey...the game's been out for a whole week at the time of this review. What youSo far it seems all the haters and bad reviewers were looking for something like WoW? My question to them is; why? This is Elder Scrolls and it is the first ever MMO version. Is it perfect? No; there are a handful of bugged quests still, occasional server issues and moderate imbalances here and there but hey...the game's been out for a whole week at the time of this review. What you get is everything Elder Scrolls has always been: spectacular visuals, detailed character creation, beautiful soundtrack and the classic quest lore...all in an MMO environment. This franchise will only get better as time goes on and software/game is improved and the world is further developed via forthcoming game updates and patches. This one is going to get better folks so Elder Scrolls fans buckle up and strap in. The rest; if you came here looking for WoW...you should probably go back to it. You won't find any WoW business here.… Expand

Surg3on

Apr 14, 2014

8

Its a good Elder Scrolls game that would be almost perfect if it had of been Single Player! The only big flaws are the MMO style 'public dungeons' and quests where the immersion is ruined by other players. There is a bit of a lack of truly gigantic dungeons as well. The actual quests are excellent, easily as well done as the ones in Skyrim only there are a hundred times more!.
TheIts a good Elder Scrolls game that would be almost perfect if it had of been Single Player! The only big flaws are the MMO style 'public dungeons' and quests where the immersion is ruined by other players. There is a bit of a lack of truly gigantic dungeons as well. The actual quests are excellent, easily as well done as the ones in Skyrim only there are a hundred times more!.
The graphics are excellent if you can run them, moddable single player game probably would have made them look even better! The voice acting is pretty good considering the sheer volume of it.… Expand

stimpy77

Feb 7, 2015

8

I played this just before the beta ended and the game was released, and then I bought it, but never played it, because I didn't want to pay a subscription fee. Now the subscription fees are ending (March 17, 2015) and the game will, like Guild Wars and the like, be free to play. Now I feel comfortable with firing up the game again and enjoying this game.

My experience during the betaI played this just before the beta ended and the game was released, and then I bought it, but never played it, because I didn't want to pay a subscription fee. Now the subscription fees are ending (March 17, 2015) and the game will, like Guild Wars and the like, be free to play. Now I feel comfortable with firing up the game again and enjoying this game.

My experience during the beta was fairly positive. There's no point in comparing to other MMORPGs, what matters is "did I have fun?", and yes, I had some fun, although I was a bit frustrated at times by the difficulty of my early character, but in a way that's a good thing, it's not good for things to be too easy. That said, the game experience does feel watered down. It's not Skyrim, it's not even Oblivion, but being an MMORPG it is similar in mechanics to World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, and others, while retaining the art direction and lore of the Elder Scrolls.

I'm really irked by those who keep repeating "P2W", etc., on every free-to-play game, like a broken record, I honestly don't give a crap about any of that, you're buying into a gaming experience that is primarily PvE not PvP and whatever floats your boat is reasonable here. I'm just happy that in a month and a half (in March 2015) I won't have to worry about monthly subscription fees, so I can pay the initial cost of the game and not $250 or whatever for two years of gameplay before realizing that the game isn't worth that much.… Expand

RuyKann

Apr 25, 2014

8

Some early bugs that have inspired some negative reviews but the game is just getting better and better. It is beautifully designed and the new 12 player team modes are supper cool and make the game much more dynamic. Not higher than an 8/10 because they should have taken a bit more time to make the release bug free. If you like Skyrim you'll probably like ESO.

Shekky

Jun 22, 2014

8

This game is one of those few gems out there some slight bugs aside this could use a few patches and upgrades to make this game truly great. the diverse storyline is amazing filled with tons of hours of gameplay. the leveling process is abit of a grind but the story keeps you entertained in the mean time. one of the biggest complaints i keep hearing about which i can agree with is havingThis game is one of those few gems out there some slight bugs aside this could use a few patches and upgrades to make this game truly great. the diverse storyline is amazing filled with tons of hours of gameplay. the leveling process is abit of a grind but the story keeps you entertained in the mean time. one of the biggest complaints i keep hearing about which i can agree with is having more bars to use more of your spells and abilities being limited to a selection of 5 with your ultimate ability has combat be quite limited. The only other thing I would suggest is adding a minimap i tend to get lost quite easy without one. A few addons has remedied this but it just isn't enough to have to add it through addons.… Expand

Enigma_Syrus

Apr 4, 2014

8

I've played Daggerfall, Redguard, Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim. Elder Scrolls Online bears little in common with them aside from art and lore. With that said, it is still a unique game in its own right. I've seen people claim the leveling system is similar to other games, but it does allow a good amount of customization at the cost of grinding. It is very unlikely you'll find twoI've played Daggerfall, Redguard, Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim. Elder Scrolls Online bears little in common with them aside from art and lore. With that said, it is still a unique game in its own right. I've seen people claim the leveling system is similar to other games, but it does allow a good amount of customization at the cost of grinding. It is very unlikely you'll find two characters with the same build unless they're running a cookie cutter spec from a forum post. Quests are usually close together and generally have a story tied to them. Sure, there are fetch quests, etc. but there the story sets it apart from the elephant in the room (WoW). The quest/story concept has more in common SWTOR.

A criticism and a boon (depending on the side of the fence you're on) is the phasing system. If you make a choice during a quest, your instance of that quest will differ from others. You may receive NPC help, or be fighting a different mob. It also allows you to have quest affect the area around you. If you're into solo play or you group before you begin quest and make the same choices, this is great. If you've already started a quest, others will have to catch up to join you. If you've already completed a quest, you're out of luck...

This is a shame as you're not able to join up with friends in some instances. Sure, there are other places to go, etc. but it would be nice to be able to repeat quests at reduced xp / no xp.

ESO is a good game, but know what you're getting into. Don't believe the hype and safely ignore the whiny "it isn't what I wanted" group. Taken as its own game, it is an above average MMO and will consume a good deal of your time. Even if you don't plan on sticking around, it will hold you over until another game comes along. I don't believe the subscription model is obsolete, I believe commitment to a specific game is.… Expand

bluesnacks

Apr 15, 2014

8

I'm saddened by these reviews, as many of the negative reviews are for silly reasons. "Bugs?" Come on guys. Give me an MMO that didn't have these at launch. By the way, they're fixing a ton of those bugs mentioned below me with a patch coming out today.

"PvE is unbalanced." Really? That doesn't make sense. It's been out for a week, I'm surprised you've already made it to veteran levelI'm saddened by these reviews, as many of the negative reviews are for silly reasons. "Bugs?" Come on guys. Give me an MMO that didn't have these at launch. By the way, they're fixing a ton of those bugs mentioned below me with a patch coming out today.

"PvE is unbalanced." Really? That doesn't make sense. It's been out for a week, I'm surprised you've already made it to veteran level and tested. Oh, wait.

In all seriousness, it's a great game. If you enjoyed Elder Scrolls, and are an Elder Scrolls fanatic, maybe it's not for you. If you're looking for an awesome game to play though, this is it. It has engaging stories, fun combat and a myriad of things to do. Crafting is amazing; and this is coming from someone that has historically *hated* crafting. I was apathetic playing the betas, almost disappointed, but the game really has blown me away so far, and it doesn't deserve people down voting it because of bugs.

As of this writing, 8 out of 10, things could be better, but it's still damn good.… Expand

Doombeldore

Apr 7, 2014

8

I didn't come into this game expecting the sun the moon and the stars as I am an adult unlike some of the kids on here. ESO is far better than any of the recent mmo's I have played from day zero. Everyone easily forgets how unpolished and terrible the majority of mmo's are upon release. This game is the first game I have played in about 3 years where I couldn't put it down. True it needsI didn't come into this game expecting the sun the moon and the stars as I am an adult unlike some of the kids on here. ESO is far better than any of the recent mmo's I have played from day zero. Everyone easily forgets how unpolished and terrible the majority of mmo's are upon release. This game is the first game I have played in about 3 years where I couldn't put it down. True it needs more work and I am positive it will get more work but don't be put off my the negative nancies. This is fun and that's all there is too it...… Expand

AndarneMG

Dec 3, 2015

8

If I'd reviewed this game on release, or on any of the series of six month intervals on which I returned for second opinions thereafter, Zenimax would have been lucky to get a one from me here. More than any other game I've come across before I hated my initial experiences with ESO in Coldharbour, and quickly the game looked to be little more than a horrendous waste of money.

ThatIf I'd reviewed this game on release, or on any of the series of six month intervals on which I returned for second opinions thereafter, Zenimax would have been lucky to get a one from me here. More than any other game I've come across before I hated my initial experiences with ESO in Coldharbour, and quickly the game looked to be little more than a horrendous waste of money.

That being said, something changed markedly with my latest and longest foray into the game. Sure, my misgivings about the story (and particularly the awful dialogue thrown at the main VA) remain unabated, but on the whole my many hours spent since the last return have yielded a gem surprisingly detached from my long history of MMO outings.

ESO doesn't eschew many of the sacred cows or cliches of the genre - I don't mean to suggest that - but where it does seem leagues apart is in the sheer wealth of legitimate, diverse play styles with which players can lose themselves in within a wonderfully (if not exactly beautifully) realized Tamriel.

Give it a go - and be patient - you might just find yourself converted alongside me.… Expand

Squicker

Apr 14, 2014

8

I've played all the Elder Scrolls games since Arena and I am loving Elder Scrolls Online. There is no doubt in my mind that ZOS have managed the difficult task of keeping the unique TES vibe and putting it into an MMO. The single player quests are excellent and interesting, I've never felt like grinding at all, and the multiplayer dungeons are lots of fun. I can't really fault the gameI've played all the Elder Scrolls games since Arena and I am loving Elder Scrolls Online. There is no doubt in my mind that ZOS have managed the difficult task of keeping the unique TES vibe and putting it into an MMO. The single player quests are excellent and interesting, I've never felt like grinding at all, and the multiplayer dungeons are lots of fun. I can't really fault the game design or the playability, it's really superb.

There are issues at the moment with release bugs and support were initially very poor at responding to these. However, over the last few days they seem to be getting on top of things and I am starting to have a lot more faith in the support of the game. I personally have only experienced a small array of non-critical bugs, but I am still only going to subscribe month by month, until my confidence level in support increases. I get the feeling they are a bit overwhelmed right now.

But as a game, this really is an excellent addition to the franchise.… Expand

MikeMosson

May 3, 2014

8

I have played TES games for a long time and I have probably clocked a crazy amount of game time on them. I would say that it is not true that ESO is really a WoW killer, yea it is a good MMO and it is really good fun, but they have made it very expensive to play (£40 for a copy and then £8 a month). They have done really good things with the MMO by making the graphics good and you able toI have played TES games for a long time and I have probably clocked a crazy amount of game time on them. I would say that it is not true that ESO is really a WoW killer, yea it is a good MMO and it is really good fun, but they have made it very expensive to play (£40 for a copy and then £8 a month). They have done really good things with the MMO by making the graphics good and you able to go into 1st person mode etc which is amazing, I would suggest giving it a try because it's good but not as good as one of the single player games are.… Expand

analogkid280

Apr 8, 2014

8

This is a mixed experience that comes out positive in the end. I have to say the familiar music and exploring really help the experience. This plays like something inbetween Oblivion and Skyrim as far a graphics go. The game play is great. I have not interacted with many other players but you sure see them wandering around you all the time. The whole experience goes best with thisThis is a mixed experience that comes out positive in the end. I have to say the familiar music and exploring really help the experience. This plays like something inbetween Oblivion and Skyrim as far a graphics go. The game play is great. I have not interacted with many other players but you sure see them wandering around you all the time. The whole experience goes best with this description for the old timers like me. Remember when SimCity had that one version that was made by a different company. It was still the same basic game it just felt different. That is how I feel about this one. It is great but different.… Expand

Vertran187

Apr 19, 2014

8

I normally hate MMOs i played WOW up to through to Cata expansion and then got sick of it ive tryed pretty much every new release that has come out its fair to say ESO is the best MMO since WOW for sure.

The games quest are far more interesting and it all feels like its part of one huge story like a single player game which is really well done. The leveling and customization is a hugeI normally hate MMOs i played WOW up to through to Cata expansion and then got sick of it ive tryed pretty much every new release that has come out its fair to say ESO is the best MMO since WOW for sure.

The games quest are far more interesting and it all feels like its part of one huge story like a single player game which is really well done. The leveling and customization is a huge improvement there so many choices and option to choose from to create the character you want.
The graphics are great very clear and beautiful at times it makes you want to explore the world and hunt don all the shards.
My biggest problem is the map system it can be confusing knowing where to go the compass worked fine in Skyrim but not here they should implement a mini map.
Combat has some really good idea but only 5 skills at a time is lame it need to be 8-10 and it needs refining id prefer auto attacks once you engage in combat rather than mouse clicks.

The game has huge potential it feels like it released a little to early the over all quality is far better than WOW it just needs some polish I think the foundations are but its just of the mark at the moment still it could very soon become the best MMO out there but there some work to do much better than SWTOR and GW2.… Expand

DrLuigi

Apr 4, 2014

8

Pros:
-It has the story of SWTOR but doesn't handcuff you into being a prisoner of having to actually sit through nothing but story if you don't want to.
-Finally an MMO with next-gen graphics -There are not multiple servers, one giant NA server (or one EU) that gets phased as you work your way through the story mode or join others. -Distinct character customization, it has been a longPros:
-It has the story of SWTOR but doesn't handcuff you into being a prisoner of having to actually sit through nothing but story if you don't want to.
-Finally an MMO with next-gen graphics
-There are not multiple servers, one giant NA server (or one EU) that gets phased as you work your way through the story mode or join others.
-Distinct character customization, it has been a long time since an MMO has given the player this much freedom to create a character how they want.
-Easily one of the smoothest pre-launch/launches in MMO recent memories
-You have to work for rewards you really feel like you accomplish something as you level up, complete parts of the story, and get your next item

Cons:
-Many times it feels like it may as well be a single player game
-The fighting is lest action like and much more 1,2,repeat like
-Itemization needs work, it feels like there is almost a requirement to craft due to lack of AH (no guild markets aren't even close to the same thing)
-Item store, already seeing as you can buy a horse and the cheapest horse you can get in the game is 17k gold I can see how they will have to be really careful not to sway the store towards the P2W aspect.
-You have to work for rewards, some of us can't devote hours of our day to a video game any longer.

Yes having to work for rewards can be both a Pro/Con depending where you are in life/year/month… Expand

Snivonim

May 12, 2014

8

There have been some good MMO's to come out in the last 5 years and they have all had their strengths and weaknesses, but I think ESO is the best. Games like Rift, GW2, and NWN Online have all had some enjoyable moments and most of them have had good gameplay up until the dreaded.. ENDGAME.

ESO has the most detailed, largest, and fully realized game world I have seen to date. The questsThere have been some good MMO's to come out in the last 5 years and they have all had their strengths and weaknesses, but I think ESO is the best. Games like Rift, GW2, and NWN Online have all had some enjoyable moments and most of them have had good gameplay up until the dreaded.. ENDGAME.

ESO has the most detailed, largest, and fully realized game world I have seen to date. The quests are thoughtfully created and plentiful, though quest log never feels a burden. If you are a completionist, there is plenty to complete, but it is definitely not necessary to do every quest. And there is plenty of room to just explore and grind if you like.

Combat is fluid and looks great. Bethesda has designed their combat system to be relatively simple with only 5 active combat buttons (and one quick slotted item) so that more emphasis can be made on tactics in combat. Dodging and movement becomes important. Personally I wouldn't mind another combat bar slot or two as I think it would add a bit more dimension, but I do enjoy the system as it stands.

The crafting system is deep and rewarding, though some may argue to difficult to level - I'd say that crafting should have a significant investment in it.

My only criticism of the game so far would be that I would like to see more race/class combinations (more races and more classes) and more variation within the models some, bigger, wider, shorter, etc. I really think this would add a great deal to the feel of the game and its longevity.

I haven't hit 50 yet so I cannot speak to the end game, but so far I am enjoying the leveling immensely.… Expand

Kattsylt

Aug 2, 2014

8

Im really baffeled by the awful reviews this game gets. But by reading through alot of em i begin to understand why.

* People expect this to play exactly like Skyrim, it obviously wont be. Why people even expected that is beyond me. Its a mmo, not a single player game. As far as im concerned, it still feels enough like an ES game to pass as one. * People expect that there would be noIm really baffeled by the awful reviews this game gets. But by reading through alot of em i begin to understand why.

* People expect this to play exactly like Skyrim, it obviously wont be. Why people even expected that is beyond me. Its a mmo, not a single player game. As far as im concerned, it still feels enough like an ES game to pass as one.
* People expect that there would be no bugs. This is a new mmo and its huge even at release. There were bugs at release but a lot of those has already been squashed which is very impressive.
* People that expeted there to just as much content in this as in other mmo's that have been running for nearly ten years. Do i even have to tell people how mindnumbingly stupid that expectation is?
* People even post bad reviews because they didnt like the voice acting... Even if that was true its obviously not breaking the entire game...
* That there are not enough updates. Its been out for four months, one big update has already been released and another big one is coming soon. You expected major updates every other week?

As for me.
Im happy with the game and i enjoy it alot. I've played ES-series since Arena and this really does feel like another game in the series.

One thing i love is the customization choices you have with your character. I like to play in a lot of different styles and roles and here i can do so without having to create and lvl up a different alt for each purpose. There are different class abilities but each class can play all roles if they so wish. Dragon Knight healer? No problem at all. And if you want to you can just change it into an archer or tank later on.

The crafing is wonderful. And its actually usefull in different to other mmo's. You can get into end game content with only crafted gear with your chosen set bonuses. There are set that drops in raids that are better but the crafted gear is more than sufficient.

If you like Elder scrolls and online gaming i dont see why you wouldnt like this game. Even if you dont like mmo's the game can mostly be played as a single player game too if you feel like it. I know that a lot of players do just that and enjoy it.… Expand

basadd

Apr 9, 2014

8

fun, fresh implementation of online RPG genre. average level of bugs and other problems standard for this type of game. has potential for future staying power, given rich source material.

Jonhuggs

Apr 12, 2014

8

So after much debate I decided to take the plunge and purchase TESO. I've played MMO's in the past (Dark age of camelot, GW, GW2 Warhammer and WOW to name a few) and also The last 3 Elder scrolls games. With that being said this game is pretty solid. The combat will be the 1st difference you'll notice from Skyrim, it's more in line with other MMo's. The world an the other hand is all ElderSo after much debate I decided to take the plunge and purchase TESO. I've played MMO's in the past (Dark age of camelot, GW, GW2 Warhammer and WOW to name a few) and also The last 3 Elder scrolls games. With that being said this game is pretty solid. The combat will be the 1st difference you'll notice from Skyrim, it's more in line with other MMo's. The world an the other hand is all Elder Scrolls and if you spent any time in Morrowind, Oblivion or Skyrim, which I'm sure we all have 1000's of hours tied up into those, you'll be familiar with the looks and sounds of the game. One of the strong points of the game is that the game will feel natural weather your going solo or in a group. So if you like world of warcraft and skyrim then you'll probably love this game, If you're looking for skyrim 2 or never really liked mmo's, you may be dissapointed in this game and with a steep initial cost plus the monthly fee may want to wait till they have a trial before you throw your hard earned money at this game.… Expand

highkingnm

Feb 17, 2016

8

Despite the game's very rocky start, it is now an exceptionally strong world. Much of the fault lies in the early world design. Other than Khenarthi's Roost and Auridon (the Aldmeri Dominion start zones) the early world is unimaginative and doesn't grip you. However, upon reaching Level 20 the game's pace picks up greatly and the game finds its feet. The endgame could (and apparently will)Despite the game's very rocky start, it is now an exceptionally strong world. Much of the fault lies in the early world design. Other than Khenarthi's Roost and Auridon (the Aldmeri Dominion start zones) the early world is unimaginative and doesn't grip you. However, upon reaching Level 20 the game's pace picks up greatly and the game finds its feet. The endgame could (and apparently will) be improved upon, but the sheer amount of content available upon finishing the game is immense (the explorable world almost doubles, followed by the addition of another equally sized world). Under subscription I would not have recommended this game, but with copies now available for as little as £10 in some places I highly recommend it. While it may never recover from the ill-conceived payment model it launched with, the current model is excellent and fits in nicely with the world. It is far from faultless. The quest writing is hit and miss: some is excellently written with some great humourous touches and moving parts, others are nonsensical and weak grinding fodder. So called important choices could also be better implemented, the first 40 levels seeing none that actually matter, although those made between levels 40 and 50 in Coldharbour have a big impact on the final couple of missions and it is not just who you side with but how you act that impacts this. Graphics also remain an issue, blotchy textures and poor pop-in hurting the world's beauty. Why an 8 then with this fairly hit and miss reception?
The world itself is wonderfully realised. Beautiful and massive it feels freeing and open. The depth of each place is huge; even unmarked locations have stories behind them one can dig up and work out if so inclined. Considering it takes hundreds of hours to complete one's original alliance zone, the time to complete all three is considerable, but not unwelcome.
In short, if you can bag it for under £30 then definitely consider it. If under £15 then it is an absolute must buy considering the pure mileage the game gives and the gloriously crafted world.… Expand

Barzenak

Jul 27, 2014

8

I have played many mmo's over the years starting with Asheron's Call beta, WoW, LoTR, D&DO, Rift and STO. I do love exploring and playing with family and friends and so I bought this for myself and my wife. I always loved Oblivion and Skyrim and even though this had mediocre reviews I finally picked it up on sale on steam for half off. I have to say I really fell in love with theI have played many mmo's over the years starting with Asheron's Call beta, WoW, LoTR, D&DO, Rift and STO. I do love exploring and playing with family and friends and so I bought this for myself and my wife. I always loved Oblivion and Skyrim and even though this had mediocre reviews I finally picked it up on sale on steam for half off. I have to say I really fell in love with the game's look and feel as it is familiar but new. The quest system is more alive feeling and the lands are full of things to see and do. I can not comment yet on the later or end game content and we will see how the larger group questing goes but so far so good. I highly recommend this game if you enjoy exploration and a more action oriented combat system. Graphically, it is one if not the best looking mmo's I have seen. Installation was flawless although on my wife's pc I had to do some messing with the setting to not get the black screen so many are complaining about. She has a Ati card as I do and the newest drivers but I have to switch it to sue direct x 9 instead of 11 to get it to run.… Expand

Ogr

Apr 4, 2014

8

If you want to enjoy TESO, please do not compare it to the usual Elder Scrolls Games and don't compare it to an MMO like WoW etc.

The game looks nice and made for adults, fantasy like it was before WoW etc. The Story is sometimes really great and exploring the world is interesting and full of content. Quests are as usual, but with a nice story etc. I don't really like the combatIf you want to enjoy TESO, please do not compare it to the usual Elder Scrolls Games and don't compare it to an MMO like WoW etc.

The game looks nice and made for adults, fantasy like it was before WoW etc.
The Story is sometimes really great and exploring the world is interesting and full of content. Quests are as usual, but with a nice story etc.
I don't really like the combat system, it's okay and sometimes fun, but I would prefere more skills to use etc.
Some things are too old fashioned and made too complicated for 2014, but it is a good game if you play PVE. Not a great game. I would give 7/10 points for the PVE part.

If you liked RvR, this is your game. I've had massive battles with the other fractions and they were so much fun, it really reminds me of DAoC.

So for the PvP part I would give 9/10 (maybe it could go up to 10/10, I'm just lvl 20 right now)

All in all: 8/10… Expand

Jappp

Oct 16, 2014

8

This not an Elder Scrolls (Skyrim) sequel. This is not meant to be a single player game you can finish in x hours.
This is an MMO.
I love elder scroll games, played them all through and through. I did not expect a similar game. Hence, I enjoyed this game from the start. With all its bugs, glitches and exploits (most of which have been fixed and weren't game breaking to begin with).This not an Elder Scrolls (Skyrim) sequel. This is not meant to be a single player game you can finish in x hours.
This is an MMO.

I love elder scroll games, played them all through and through.
I did not expect a similar game.

Hence, I enjoyed this game from the start. With all its bugs, glitches and exploits (most of which have been fixed and weren't game breaking to begin with).
Pve is quite immersive with a good story, phenomenal voice acting and challenging end game content. Last may seem repetitive but what you gonna do, it's at least on par with single player games these days. Nice thing is you can skip most if you really want. It's probably worth the initial payment, but you shouldn't buy this if you only enjoy single play RPG elements.

Pvp was amazing. Balanced classes, interesting objectives providing different strategic angles and good enough reward system.
Notice I say was as ZOS kinda killed it with the latest patch. They gave every alliance it's own campaign to dominate, which bores me to death.
Sure they could have fixed some abilities faster than they did but perfecting stuff like that takes time and I personally think it's part of the challenge to figure out a way to weather this OP stuff.

I definitely get that they need monthly payment to keep the servers up but its way too much for an unfinished game pvp wise. I should expect them to have balanced everything to perfection by now. I think I have the right to expect that as I have never paid as much for any other game.

The game is great.
The monthly fee is not.… Expand

game_over

Jan 31, 2019

8

Poor inventory management, bad pings unless you happen to be close to their _one_ server location in the US, slow zoning, crates(gambling), slow loads (even with an SSD), and sometimes unforgiving group play.

v.s. Great graphics, compelling quests, lush and diverse zones, and (generally) large amounts of content. This was one of the last AAA mmorpg(s) to be made before companiesPoor inventory management, bad pings unless you happen to be close to their _one_ server location in the US, slow zoning, crates(gambling), slow loads (even with an SSD), and sometimes unforgiving group play.

v.s.

Great graphics, compelling quests, lush and diverse zones, and (generally) large amounts of content.

This was one of the last AAA mmorpg(s) to be made before companies decided they could make a crapload more money from mobile gaming at a fraction of the upfront/maintenance costs.

****The game is better now than it was at release. You can group with any friend, in any alliance, and any level in PvE. You can port to any zone, in any alliance and do quests there. The horrid grind after 50 isn't really that much of a grind anymore.

If you are a subscriber the inventory management hell is somewhat mitigated.… Expand

doser

Apr 24, 2014

8

Probably the second best MMO ever made, after Dark Age of Camelot.

Obviously there's a little campaign going in certain circles to write negative reviews with no substance to them. Ignore that nonsense, if you're going to pay a subscription fee, spend it on this... not that other out-of-date, cartoony - PvP-less game.

Pickle-Tickler

Apr 26, 2014

8

This game is neither amazing, nor terrible. It is decent. If you are a hardcore elder scrolls fan looking to get into MMO's, give it a shot. If you are a hardcore MMO fan (WoW player) don't bother. The money that Zenimax want you to pay to play this game is absurd. If you want someone to pay 80 bucks for the game then a $15/month subscription fee, the game has to be better than any otherThis game is neither amazing, nor terrible. It is decent. If you are a hardcore elder scrolls fan looking to get into MMO's, give it a shot. If you are a hardcore MMO fan (WoW player) don't bother. The money that Zenimax want you to pay to play this game is absurd. If you want someone to pay 80 bucks for the game then a $15/month subscription fee, the game has to be better than any other MMO on the market, and the bottom line is, it isn't. When they eventually drop the subscription fee in the future, DEFINITELY pick this game up, so much content and fun to be had in the game. PvP is arguably the strongest aspect of the game, but if you are really into the Elder Scrolls lore, the PvE in this game is made for you. Taking price out of the equation, 8 is my score. If I would rate in the current price for the game, it would be a 6.… Expand

Stolig

May 13, 2014

8

When I first saw they were making an MMO version of Elder Scrolls, I was quite excited as I am a big fan of the series, especially Skyrim, Oblivion, and Morrowind, which I had spent hundreds of hours playing. However, after seeing early builds of the game and some random videos, I was beginning to doubt it. Now that I have played it, I must admit that while it lacks Skyrim's graphicalWhen I first saw they were making an MMO version of Elder Scrolls, I was quite excited as I am a big fan of the series, especially Skyrim, Oblivion, and Morrowind, which I had spent hundreds of hours playing. However, after seeing early builds of the game and some random videos, I was beginning to doubt it. Now that I have played it, I must admit that while it lacks Skyrim's graphical polish, it is a pretty fun game that I find myself drawn back to time and time again. After slightly more than a month playing, I already have a veteran level character and have finished the "main quest" of my faction and now spend my time in the Veteran level content enjoying that as well. If you like Elder Scrolls at all, and enjoy sprawling worlds to explore, then this game is definitely worth your time and effort. It is, however, far from perfect, and can sometimes be a bit buggy. But having played WoW since the closed beta, and a whole slew of other MMORPGs, I have to admit very few were flawless their first few months.… Expand

tagos

Apr 8, 2014

8

This game almost deserves 10. Stick with me while I knock off 2 points.

This is clearly a game released 'ready or not' on a marketing schedule. There are ongoing issues that leave some players (like me) virtually untouched while hitting others hard. These issues are being continually addressed but even so - not good enough. Unfortunately Customer Service ranges from at best,This game almost deserves 10. Stick with me while I knock off 2 points.

This is clearly a game released 'ready or not' on a marketing schedule. There are ongoing issues that leave some players (like me) virtually untouched while hitting others hard. These issues are being continually addressed but even so - not good enough.

Unfortunately Customer Service ranges from at best, indifferent through to actively malevolent in the case of the scheduling of the regular EU maintenance for Sunday morning.

'Our convenience, not the customer' appears to be their motto. Not good enough if you want people to buy into a premium price game with a monthly sub.

And now I'm going to tell you why I immediately took out the longest (180 day) sub I could. The reason is actually very simple. This is the best MMO I have played in a number of years.

LOTRO, Star Wars, Guild Wars, Rift and Conan? None come close.

What makes it so good?

First - the setting. It's Elder Scrolls. It's Tamriel bought to life. You are in a setting with a depth that shows in the books you find, the look and feel of the regions. the background chatter. The graphics are top notch and very 'Skyrim'. Not seen better in any MMO.

Second - the questing. Quest chains are constantly engaging. They all have a real purpose and are disparate threads that weave together into an overarching story line. No 'go kill 7 wolves' or 'go gather 8 bits of wood' because basically 'I'm a lazy-ass NPC who can't be bothered' nonsense.

Plus - it's all voice acted. Not by the usual 'will recite dialogue for food' in off the street bilge. We're talking Michael Gambon and we're talking John Cleese. We're talking real professionals at every turn. The story quality and story-telling is basically first class in every respect.

Third - and this is the big one. This is what makes this game so good. This is what will have you creating different characters and thinking carefully about your options. I'm talking the character development and progression system, which is as close an implementation of the traditional Elder Scrolls 'build the character you want' as you could get in an MMO.

It begins with choosing a Race. These have different bonuses but aren't of crucial importance. You them choose one of the 4 classes. Classes each have their own skill lines but are just a starting point on which to build the kind of character that suits you. More on this later.

You get 3 basic stats -Health, Stamina and Magika. The latter 2 are the resources that power skills. You get points to allocate from levelling and from completing some quest lines.

These interact with Weapon, Armour, Guild, Race, and Alliance skill lines.

How you spend the character points you get from levelling, questing and discovering 'skyshards' is what really shapes your character. In other games if you want to tank and be the melee guy you would pick the Dragon Knight ESO class, throw on heavy armour and shove a sword in his hand.

Not in ESO. You want to be a Sorcerer and be able to tank? Throw on heavy armour, pick up a big sword, develop your healing and shielding skill - maybe learn to summon a big-ass Storm Elemental to take some heat and off you go.

The freedom is incredible. One of my characters is a Dragon Knight. These are basically tanks with a way with fire. But I'm old and slow. I don't like tanking but I do like some of their cool skills. So - put him in light armour, specialise in fire staff magic, choose a range of supporting skills and you have a Pyromancer Battle Mage. Fantastic. That's just one example and I cannot emphasise enough how great this system is.

I was going to bang on about the in-depth crafting system but this is going on too long. But I will tell you about the combat.

This is an action based combat system. You pick 5 of your skills (driven by stamina and magika and which can be morphed into a choice of enhanced version with skill points) for an action bar (and a 6th Ultimate Super Skill). At level 15 when you get to swap weapons in combat this is 12 skills. It sounds limited but it is not. It enables you to develop routines and tactics to suit yourself. I'm a bit old and slow so I like to keep the dodging and rolling to a minimum. I can build for that. You can build for your own strengths and weaknesses.

Finally I'm giving a big shout-out for the PvP. There is a whole Province where Alliances can wage war (no PvP outside of it). There are Keeps to attack and defend, dungeons to explore and siege engines to hurt people and smash stuff with. It is incredible and I'm saying this as an inveterate non-PvP type.

Way too long story short. If you are an Elder Scrolls fan or a fantasy MMO player you can buy this game with absolute confidence you will have a lot of fun.

Bugs are temporary, class is permanent. This is going to be a 5 Star game soon.… Expand

epoc

Apr 13, 2014

8

I have been looking forward to this game for ages! Sure as an Elder Scrolls Fan I should have been concerned that it was an MMO, but I still had hope. And oh boy has it paid off! While the graphics are a step backwards from Skyrim, Online makes up for that in sheer size! For the first time in 20 years we can finally explore all of Tamriel, a world so rich and detailed that it needed this.I have been looking forward to this game for ages! Sure as an Elder Scrolls Fan I should have been concerned that it was an MMO, but I still had hope. And oh boy has it paid off! While the graphics are a step backwards from Skyrim, Online makes up for that in sheer size! For the first time in 20 years we can finally explore all of Tamriel, a world so rich and detailed that it needed this. And for all those saying its just a World of Warcraft clone well you're wrong! Online has a fleshed out combat system, excellent progression system, and the dynamic quests that made Skyrim a joy to play. One minute you'll be heading to your next PvP event, when suddenly you're approached by an Argonian warrior, promising a reward if you can find his lost family relic. And yes you read that correctly - PvP! ITS AWESOME! Thousands of players going up against each other in an epic siege battle nether gets old. But the games greatest strength is how ( like Skyrim) is that everything is interesting. The armour, the quests, the locations and many more. In addition to this, comparing city's and locations in this game from others is an absolute blast! However the game is held back by bugs, and some ridiculous pay walls from Bethesda. Like paying to be an Imperial? WTF? Despite this, this game is top quality, and one I recommend to everyone.… Expand

Shuk

May 21, 2014

8

This is easily one of the better MMOs to release in quite some time. The class system is unique and holds an immense variety of builds and possibilities for your character. Most of the broken quests have been fixed, and those that are still touchy are ones that can be worked around easily. There's nothing game-breaking really, no major crash issues, and poor server-side performance hasThis is easily one of the better MMOs to release in quite some time. The class system is unique and holds an immense variety of builds and possibilities for your character. Most of the broken quests have been fixed, and those that are still touchy are ones that can be worked around easily. There's nothing game-breaking really, no major crash issues, and poor server-side performance has been cleaned up a lot in PvP. Speaking of PvP - it is very entertaining RvR style with a wide variety of effective means of defeating your enemy, as well as all sorts of PvE content within the PvP zone as well. Exploration and achievements are fun and rewarding, many quests are only discovered while exploring - oh and don't forget books! End-game 'adventure zones' are announced and incoming, complete with raid content. +10

Some persistent issues and minor gripes. A big one would include bots. Megaservers tend to suffer from high bot visibility, but they are also quite rampant even taking that into consideration. They are aware of the issue and are working toward proactive measures of dealing with bots. Some class balancing and fixes are needed for abilities that don't work properly. Another gripe would be the game is a bit too solo friendly before veteran ranks, and group functionality is limited in that the game will often put group mates into different phases if one has already done the quest or doesn't have the quest - this can be annoying, especially when trying to sync up quest progress or if you want to run quests with a friend who does not have precisely the same progress. It is also a bit linear at times, you basically need to do most all quests in each zone in order to be the appropriate level for the next area - and there are few alternatives other than grinding. Why anyone would want to skip the quests and dungeons is beyond me, but whatever. Customer service also needs a lot of work - it takes them several days to address issues that people have accessing the game for whatever reason and that's just not good. -3

All in all good game. After reading some of the very negative reviews... some have valid gripes (many have been fixed/addressed) but some are just so far out there as if they expected Skyrim with multiplayer..... or are perplexed by use of standard MMO elements.... or gripe about stupid totally irrelevant crap like lvl scaled mudcrabs... due to such nonsense I have to give +1 for MMO developers dealing with the ever increasing absurdity of gamer demands.… Expand

Kawooster

Apr 6, 2014

8

Quite unsure on where to start for this one. I can say that I have been greatly addicted to this game ever since the five day early access. It definitely brings a lot of new and great ideas to the MMO genre. Even if they have been done before it makes them feel new and exciting.

To start off, the questing set up is amazing. No matter where you go in the game you're never more than a fewQuite unsure on where to start for this one. I can say that I have been greatly addicted to this game ever since the five day early access. It definitely brings a lot of new and great ideas to the MMO genre. Even if they have been done before it makes them feel new and exciting.

To start off, the questing set up is amazing. No matter where you go in the game you're never more than a few minutes without a quest, I actually never really found myself without a quest at most times. They are set up easy and appear on your map as an arrow sort of symbol. If it's a quest you haven't done it will appear as black, and if it's a quest you're on it will be white. You can cycle through your current accepted quests with the T button. It makes it really easy because the one you select will make the arrow appear as white, so you know that's the quest you're on. You can also just as easily go into the J button, which will show all your quests in a little more detail. The quests are actually quite fun themselves. They didn't feel repetitive too often and it didn't feel like a big grind.

The maps and areas are quite large, so it would take a rather long time to run out of land mass to explore. I found myself exploring new areas for a long time, It just didn't get boring. A lot of effort went into the scenery and it's great to look at.

The voice acting is another amazing thing about "ESO" It has been done very well, and if I can remember right, every interaction with an NPC is voice acted.

But what about the bad? Unfortunately I did come across a fair few hiccups along the way. They weren't entirely game ruining, but did tend to frustrate me a little sometimes.
To start off with this, I'm going to mention, that I do know it's still in its early stages and should hopefully get better along the way.

For the first annoying thing. I did mention before that the land mass was big and fun to explore. This is all true, but sometimes that was bad. I felt they didn't put down enough way points, Sure you can discover them and then go there when needed, But some were so far apart, and the specific place you need to go could be in the middle of two, very distant from each other. Sure you can just instant port there for a little over 70 gold, but the more you had to do it, the more it went up. I remember having to port for 600 gold at one stage. I understand why they do this, they want you to see the area for yourself, but once you keep going back and forth from area to area. You've seen enough and just want to get straight to where you want to be. This wasn't that bad, Just a little frustrating at times. You could always use the horse if you have one (still takes a little while) but not everyone got the imperial edition. In that case it's 17,000 gold to get a horse mount. I know this may seem like a petty complaint, and I feel it is, but it did get me fired up sometimes.

I can complain about the broken and glitched quests all I like but everyone who has already played the game knows that. I'm still surprised as to why companies think it's okay to release a game that still has broken parts through it. It's becoming more and more the norm these days. Companies wouldn't of dared to do this even as little as ten years ago. Now it seems like more and more companies are resorting to it. "Don't worry, We will just have updates and patch everything" Is a pretty bad attitude. It's just not on.

I could go on and on about the bad, Also the good. It kind of evens it's self out in the end. No game is perfect and I cant wait to see what it's like in a few months. I could also go about it not keeping true to the "Elder Scrolls" way, Just remember it is an MMO and a good one at that. Maybe it shouldn't be pay to play, maybe it's worthy enough for it. I'm sure we will all know in a few months.

All in all, I actually do really like this game. I could go on and on about it. If you haven't already played it, I recommend giving it a good go, even if it's only for a month.

Definitely deserves an 8 for what it is, People giving it a 4 and such, just doesn't make sense. You can see how much effort they have put into it and how versatile the game really is. Give it a shot I promise you will like it.… Expand

Peter_Bollwerk

Apr 8, 2014

8

I'm a big fan of Skyrim and I enjoy various MMOs, so I was excited to learn about this and have been waiting a long time for it.
In a nutshell, it's definitely a good base for them to start on. There is definitely room for improvement, but I'm having a blast playing so far. It is too early to determine if it will have the staying power to keep a subscription model, but time will tell. I'mI'm a big fan of Skyrim and I enjoy various MMOs, so I was excited to learn about this and have been waiting a long time for it.
In a nutshell, it's definitely a good base for them to start on. There is definitely room for improvement, but I'm having a blast playing so far. It is too early to determine if it will have the staying power to keep a subscription model, but time will tell. I'm optimistic.… Expand

wolfaust

Jul 14, 2021

8

Elder Scrolls games have always distinguished itself from other games with its rich and deep content. These open-ended role-playing game elements, a wide variety of character design options and gameplay style always attracted lots of gamers. Hundreds of heroes in its centuries-old story and the impact of each of them on the world has been felt at all times in different eras of ElderElder Scrolls games have always distinguished itself from other games with its rich and deep content. These open-ended role-playing game elements, a wide variety of character design options and gameplay style always attracted lots of gamers. Hundreds of heroes in its centuries-old story and the impact of each of them on the world has been felt at all times in different eras of Elder Scrolls.

However, I think The Elder Scrolls is successful in the single-player genre. However, when we came across multiplayer, especially in the MMORPG genre, I was quite shocked. The game, which we could play with monthly recurring payments at the beginning, now uses the buy and play philosophy only, which I think is very clever!

Still, there are many elements in the game that I consider good and bad. After a quick thought about these, I had to prepare a comment like the one below.

Pros:

1. True Elder Scrolls experience...
2. Buy to Play... "Off-topic: Come on, it's 2021 of the 21st century. Playing an MMO with a subscription method is not a good thing. Devs should use their imagination to create a new way to earn money from their games; like monetize cosmetics! It's easy, and all of the players can afford it."
3. Almost whole Tamriel, and it's immersive, explorable with lots of world events, creatures, and chests to loot!
4. You can play the game both in First Person and Third Person; however, the first-person mode is not pure as Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion or Skyrim.
5. As a classic in all Elder Scrolls games, ESO also provides rich stories and its classic factions, like Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, Thieves Guilds and Dark Brotherhood. These factions have their storylines, too. Count side-quests, too.
6. Play with your style with a customizable skill system; Healer with Khajiit Dragonknight, or Tank with Argonian Nightblade. Of course, you still can create your tank, damage dealer or support character, too.
7. Deep passive skills system with Champion Points (CP).
8. Show your allegiance to your faction in large scale PvP Zone, Cyrodiil; capture resource points, castles and outpost. Most importantly Elder Scrolls! Or just go with the Battlegrounds.
9. Daily dungeon and battleground rewards.
10. Frequent balance changes with updates and expansion. However, the PvP balance is horrible!
11. Lots of world bosses, caves with their quests.
12. Cleverly designed dungeons and trials with good and challenging mechanics.
13. Leveling is not difficult as they said, it is easy and when you already have CP (like paragon levels) it's getting easier. Example: If you are at 900CP, and if you hit level 50 with your alt-toon then this character, too, will get 900CP right away. Just do main quests, and daily dungeons, you will get to level 50 as soon as possible.
14. You can be a Vampire or Werewolf.
15. Crown Store offers only cosmetic items! Yay!
16. Outfit (like transmogrification) System
17. AddOn Support
18. It's not P2W!

Cons:

1. Servers... They have latency compared with players around the world. ESO has 2 megaservers; NA and EU. Servers sometimes clumsy, latency may be too high and this leads you to follow players from their back not fight side by side.
2. Gold is the only soft coin in ESO, and it is difficult to earn. Join Trader Guilds and sold some of the items you loot from the world to other players. Do dungeons, join trials, complete side-quests and main quests, eliminate world bosses, wander around to find chests, you will get used to it.
3. File Size! Hundreds...
4. PvP balance is horrible, buggy and there is no balance between classes. Since 2014.
5. Crown Store items sometimes are not worth a new store update. Literally!… Expand

ajpearman

Apr 4, 2014

8

Going into the beta almost a year ago, I did not have much hope for this game. I felt that it was clunky, looked rather dull, and the slew of bugs and issues had me pretty disappointed. But over time, I kept hopping back on to the betas when I felt bored, and the game grew on me. They started to improve responsiveness, fixed many bugs, and added in the pretty great voice acting in all ofGoing into the beta almost a year ago, I did not have much hope for this game. I felt that it was clunky, looked rather dull, and the slew of bugs and issues had me pretty disappointed. But over time, I kept hopping back on to the betas when I felt bored, and the game grew on me. They started to improve responsiveness, fixed many bugs, and added in the pretty great voice acting in all of the quests.

The beta weekends convinced me that the game was worth at least a $60 purchase. ESO is fun, unique in many aspects to the MMO market, and has an absolutely staggering amount of quality story quest content. Whether I continue to pay monthly for the game is up to how Zenimax does with their release of the upcoming endgame Adventure Zone- Craglorn, and their Trials 12-man PvE content. As of now, the game is still having some growing pains; there are a few quest bugs, leveling needs to be worked on since grinding is the fastest path to level 50, and overall combat responsiveness could use a bit more work.

All in all, the game is having a pretty strong start, and it is more than clear that Zenimax is capable of handling issues and fixing bugs in a timely manner. Let's hope their content generation teams are up to the task!… Expand

SamuelJJ

Apr 16, 2014

8

I've been playing this game now since the launch date and it's an incredible experience, the amount of content involved in this game is phenomenal. However, the game does have its downfalls but they are minor, specially considering how bad people review this game. The game is being slated for such stupid reasons, therefore I am writing this review.
Bad stuff first:
Price you pay.. theyI've been playing this game now since the launch date and it's an incredible experience, the amount of content involved in this game is phenomenal. However, the game does have its downfalls but they are minor, specially considering how bad people review this game. The game is being slated for such stupid reasons, therefore I am writing this review.
Bad stuff first:
Price you pay.. they could at least make the game itself £30 or F2P after purchasing. Generally I do not like spending more than £20 for a game, though I made Elder Scrolls an accept ion and was pretty surprised. Yeah, it's good fun; but you should not buy this game if you're going in for "a new WoW MMO". You will be disappointed.
I personally prefer playing this game alone and questing. The multiplayer is somewhat irrelevant, boring and frustrating at times, specially when players are doing the quests you are playing.

World bosses are scattered around the lands and they are easy, boring and give very little satisfaction.
PvP is good, but it's basically a world vs world cut from GW2. Hopefully Zenimax will apply world PvP or some unique hack and slash arena content later to this game to make PvP more exhilarating.
Good Stuff:
Combat mechanics are really good and it's a new implement to an MMO, I like not using a cursor to click and attack, its a major bonus to the game.
I have only stumbled across one bug and people say "the game is very buggy". This is Bollo****. It doesn't make the game bad at all, the developers will obviously fix these minor issues so stop typing nonsense. The bug I encountered was a quest NPC who instead of speaking English, spoke German; it was quite funny tbh.
The landscapes are beautiful and you can tell they put a lot of time in to creating this.
So many quests are on the menu to choose from which are voiced and have decent story lines to them. Some of the quests include single player boss fights which separate you from other players and I really enjoyed this as there is tactical fights which are fairly hard.

All in all, I have had a really good experience in this game and I would recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy adventure. Do not enter this game expecting an amazing MMORPG, because in all fairness; for the price you pay, it's really not.… Expand

valendren

Apr 5, 2014

8

Im gonna start of with this before I lose any credibility in my review because im seeing a lot of fake/troll reviews giving it 10s saying its "sweeped the floor" "its perfect" anyways the game isn't perfect its not amazing by any means but is good IN COMPARISON to other subscription paid mmo games like world of warcraft eve etc. If you come from that crowd the game is ok However if youIm gonna start of with this before I lose any credibility in my review because im seeing a lot of fake/troll reviews giving it 10s saying its "sweeped the floor" "its perfect" anyways the game isn't perfect its not amazing by any means but is good IN COMPARISON to other subscription paid mmo games like world of warcraft eve etc. If you come from that crowd the game is ok However if you came from the single player fan base of eso then youl be disappointed things go really slow for me to recommend this as a single player game I just cant in fact youl be very disappointed if your looking for a single player tes experience because its not there for the most part.

Im gonna give two reviews/scores for the game with a decent explanation as to why I gave them that

If your from the tes Crowd (below this paragraph or so is the mmo side score)

The game without emotionally weighting it as a fan its about a 6 its not horrible if you come from that crowd but it certaintly isn't what you're looking for and I just cant recommend the game if you come from that crowd.

Reasons why:
1.Its multiplayer players just get in the way of everything and its not something youd welcome in a single player game from the mmo crowd its like Eh whatever seen it before anyways but when you come in expecting a single player game and a swarm of players kill the boss right in front of you sometimes so fast you didn't even realize it was a boss it just frankly ruins most of the single player joy there is.
2.The story isn't up to par with the single player tes games I mean its not bad and some of them are frankly kind of good but a good amount of them are cut off awkwardly and cant really explain it but if you compared it to Elder scrolls skyrim/oblivion it just transitions awkwardly between events.

For the mmo crowd
Its about an 8 theres a ton of content to go through and most of its pretty enjoyable I for one enjoy the combat system its got its own feel and I kinda like it anyways Eso brings back public dungeons theres some good and some bad to this the good is it captures a bit of that exploration feel and gotta say while the early lvl ones aren't great (mostly because they get mowd down because of other players) as you move on its actually pretty fun to go through them I typed out some more organized thoughts below.

Youl probably like this game for the most part reasons why.
1.Dungeons- they are all in my opinion very well done even some of the public ones theres just so much content to go through as your leveling and some times they even have there own mini stories which are decent/ok.
2.Overworld pve. Eso's overworld pve content and zones which I have few gripes about most of which revolve around phasing but that doesn't get too much into the way atleast for me that is but anyways moving on when your out exploring youl find some pretty good group content/challenges these are most of the time reffered to as bandit camps which offer little bosses to fight meant for small groups but the earliest ones can be soloed if your smart anyways the bosses are challenging and really add to the game
3.This might contradict a previous statement as to why I said I don't recommend this game to the tes crowd which is story. To be honest the stories aren't horrible some of them are actually pretty nice and if you slow down take your time and just enjoy they are actually pretty fun. Oh and to top it off most of them end in instanced boss fights which most of the time are really fun to fight a lot of times they are decently challenging not so much for the early lvl ones but as you move forward they get better and more unique
4. Crafting this is a short one crafting in eso has so much options basically every piece of armor/weapon you make you give it a style glyph trait, stat bonus and if you go out in the wilderness there are special crafting stations you can use. To top it off you can craft items into the "legendary status" essentially making the best gear available.… Expand

outlived

Apr 10, 2014

8

Though it isn't as graphically impressive as skyrim or as immersive I would still argue that this title is more then worthy as any of the previous elder scrolls, I be leave its one of the best mmorpgs I've played in awhil.

DSX714

Apr 6, 2014

8

The best MMO I have ever played. Don't listen to the bad reviews they don't know what they are talking about most of them want this to be something it's not or hate it just for being an MMO. This is not a WoW clone with an elder scrolls skin this very unique. I have played games like WoW and other mmos and they all play out the same way. Generic quests, boring combat, familiar controlThe best MMO I have ever played. Don't listen to the bad reviews they don't know what they are talking about most of them want this to be something it's not or hate it just for being an MMO. This is not a WoW clone with an elder scrolls skin this very unique. I have played games like WoW and other mmos and they all play out the same way. Generic quests, boring combat, familiar control mechanics. I played the Beta and loved it now with the full game I love it even more. It feels like skyrim, balanced and ironed out for multiplayer focus. Not everything is the exact same, you dont kill enemies and loot the exact armor they are wearing and there is barely any ammunition like soul gems and arrows. This is more balanced and requires more effort going through quests you will find things coming together: leveling, armor, weapons. Its not pick up and go like skyrim its more progress then pick up and go. The combat is just like skyrim no more boring watch you and the enemy fight while using a skill in mid combat. Grouping with others is even more fun, its a friendly and relaxing atmosphere this is one of the first online focused games i could see myself playing for over a year. Not everything is satisfying some things you will miss from skyrim like the persistent world with incredible AI where anything could happen, player housing, easier loot, etc. This feels so much like elder scrolls and it is similar to games like wow or guild wars 2. The quests feel more like elder scroll quests than generic mmo quests. There's so much more I could write but trust me this a fantastic mmo so far. I only worry about the end game which was big problem for GW2. But if you accept this game for what it is, It's a real treat for Elder scrolls fans who want to play with other fans, make guilds, adventuring off. Its very satisfying but there are flaws here and there like factions being seperated across the map. But this was the best mmo i ever played and I look forward to playing more of it throughout the year.… Expand

KTLeander

Apr 7, 2014

8

The game is not without some problems like the functionality of the guild AH's and guild functionality in general etc, but in general it manages to create a play experience that feels immersive and different from the other MMO's out there. The things that bother me the most at the moment are minor and can be updated in the future patches. The graphics are great, even thou I'm playing on aThe game is not without some problems like the functionality of the guild AH's and guild functionality in general etc, but in general it manages to create a play experience that feels immersive and different from the other MMO's out there. The things that bother me the most at the moment are minor and can be updated in the future patches. The graphics are great, even thou I'm playing on a laptop and cannot push the all the way up. If you have a medium- to high end rig you are definitely going to enjoy the graphics style of this game. No cartoony-graphics here.

This game doesnt hold your hand as much as the others do. Some people give bad reviews because of this, but in my opinion its a good thing. Also the combat is comparable hard to other games. Especially dungeons. Tanking in this game is something else when you cannot just tab-target, but you need to aim the mob to taunt it while its running around. People complain about that too, but again I think its a good thing. The game is harder and manages to create a difficulty that is more about your own skills than min-maxing.

Crafting in this game is also way more complicated and rewarding than in other mmo's. At the moment in low levels it feels that the quest and loot drops are second to what you can craft, but what I have read the game is more about skills & crafters than to get the most epic loot from the most epic boss. Don't know how that changes in the higher levels.

In general, even thou the game is just out, it already feels a solid experience. I usually know from my first levels will I like mmo or not. ESO definitely gives that wipe.… Expand

aXBlackDeathXa

Apr 7, 2014

8

Ok wow where to start? Most of these reviews I'm reading are way off base (both positive and negative). Let me start with saying the MetaCritic score (83) - at this time - is a fair score for this game. The game is not a 10 and it's certainly not a 5 or lower.
I am not paid, reimbursed, or work for anything "industry related". I’m a 30+ year old father of two who actually played theOk wow where to start? Most of these reviews I'm reading are way off base (both positive and negative). Let me start with saying the MetaCritic score (83) - at this time - is a fair score for this game. The game is not a 10 and it's certainly not a 5 or lower.
I am not paid, reimbursed, or work for anything "industry related". I’m a 30+ year old father of two who actually played the last three beta's and purchased the Imperial Edition of the game.
Having 200+ hours into Skyrim I can honestly say ESO does a fairly solid job mixing that Skyrim first person adventurer with that MMO feel. However what it does not do is excel at either. If you are a hardcore PvP player chances are you're not going to like ESO. You can’t just troll low level areas and “gank noobs”. If you are a hardcore Skyrim player chances are you may like ESO.

What I like: Awesome PVE experience, areas, towns, dungeons are well laid out. The writing and acting for the quests is very well done. It's easy to navigate and the only real thing keeping you in one specific area from another, are the level of mobs around there. I have yet to see game breaking lag even in densely populated areas - including PVP / Cyrodiil. I REALLY enjoy the “look for group” feature. This is a great idea and its executed well. If you’re outside a dungeon or instance and looking for players to team up with…instead of spamming chat looking for folks you simply go into the group interface of the game, click the search icon, refine the search by filling out drop down menus related to size of group, areas, or specific dungeons / instances. You can even filter based on roles (tank, healer, dps, etc.) Like Skyrim you can get lost in the PVE experience and not even touch PVP if you so desire.
What needs work: There are still some minor annoyances. Some quests are still bugged and prevent progress - this is exceptionally frustrating when you could be in the 5th part of a 6 part quest. However since go live I've only had one quest not fix itself by just logging out and back in. Another nuisance is having group members not in the same "game instance". Instead you see them just as a floating arrow. In fact what they see on their screen will actually vary from what you're seeing (in terms of lootable items, etc.) It would be nice to see some UI / inventory

Neither here nor there: Since the game does not force you down specific class / race paths you are open to design your character essentially any way you see fit. One issue with this is if you’re looking to specialize in crafting the enormous amounts of resources involved quickly fill up pack and bank space. You will easily find yourself creating mule characters just to retain crafting materials.

Conclusion: Did I buy the game – yes. Do I have any buyer’s remorse – absolutely not. Although Zenimax does offer some marginal discounts for buying advanced chunks of subscription time I was really hoping to see some sort of “family plan” implemented. For those old farts like myself who actually like to game with their kids, this title will break the bank! Three copies of the game ($120 – 180) 6 months subscription for 3 players ($250). 6 month sub discounted 13.99/mo = $83 per player every 6 months.
ESO gets an easy 8 out of 10 from me.… Expand

mziu

Apr 8, 2014

8

First question you need to ask yourself is: do I want to play an MMO? Second question is: do I want to pay a subscription? Third and last: do I like ES franchise?

Most of negative reviews (come on, you may not like the game, but 0?! 1?! that's not being fair) are based on negative answers to questions 1 and 2. They have nothing to do with the game. It's a good game. If your answer toFirst question you need to ask yourself is: do I want to play an MMO? Second question is: do I want to pay a subscription? Third and last: do I like ES franchise?

Most of negative reviews (come on, you may not like the game, but 0?! 1?! that's not being fair) are based on negative answers to questions 1 and 2. They have nothing to do with the game.

It's a good game. If your answer to the 3 questions is yes, you can give it a chance.… Expand

TheSpiralAim

Apr 10, 2014

8

The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG following the Theme Park model started by Everquest back in the day. I wouldn't really call it a WoW clone since it's really just one way of presenting an MMORPG, and if you get down to it WoW is an EQ clone. That being said let's take a real look at TESO.
TESO presents itself with some of the paradigms the game has had since TES III: Morrowind. ItThe Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG following the Theme Park model started by Everquest back in the day. I wouldn't really call it a WoW clone since it's really just one way of presenting an MMORPG, and if you get down to it WoW is an EQ clone. That being said let's take a real look at TESO.
TESO presents itself with some of the paradigms the game has had since TES III: Morrowind. It has the TES theme arranged in a new way but still familiar, and that is always a bonus. After the character is made and one's faction is selected you start... as a prisoner, go figure. The Player even has to find their way out of a starting dungeon, a thing that was a trend in four of The Elder Scrolls games. So I can give them bonuses for sticking to their tried and true model of throwing the player into the world.
The villain of the game is one many TES fans should be familiar with and this will make most players smile a little hearing and seeing a familiar name. The story presents itself like a single player game and like any TES game might. Every few levels the player is summoned to speak with the Prophet and deal with the problems caused by the villain. The overland questing is fun, and doesn't really feel like the standard progress questing found commonly in Theme Park style MMORPGs.
There are some beautiful charms to the game, as well as fantastic choices in voice actors. The best example of this is a gentleman named Cadwell that is met in the starter dungeon. He is voiced by John Cleese! The graphics are very impressive and fluid feeling for an MMORPG, with some exceptions on how the arrows look when fired from the bow.
The game play is dynamic and fluid, which is a departure from most Theme Park MMORPGs. The fact one has to aim(Mostly) and move around a whole lot, has made the group dungeon content very interesting. There is also the ability to switch weapon, and with it your abilities chosen for your hot bar. This can become frustrating at times, since one only has five hot bar slots, and a lot more fun abilities to use than one can slot, even with the ability to switch weapons.
The crafting is nice but, doesn't really feel that necessary until higher levels, and some of them are actually rather difficult to level up. One bonus to this crafting system is the ability to make armors and weapons that look like whichever race's style--providing you have the racial motif. There is a great deal of frustration involved with upgraded pieces as well, it seems that I destroy more than I upgrade, even when I have a 90% chance of success.
While I haven't noticed too many things I don't like, other than way too many people being on around me, nothing stands out too sharply either, it's just a fun fluid feeling MMORPG. This is a great break from the older more standard models like WoW, EQ2, Rift, EQ ect... I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a Theme Park style MMORPG but more modern than previous examples.

While fun I'm giving this an 8/10. When I find the perfect MMO I'll give it a 10 but, I have a feeling that'll never happen... EVER. Also nothing deserve's a 0... even SWG had merit to give it a score higher than not.… Expand

Spryngsnowstorm

Apr 11, 2014

8

Preface

In general, I don’t like MMORPGs. The auto-combat is boring. Grinding is boring. The quests are boring. Everyone looks the same. I’ve never gotten to end-game (because of the boring), but I have seen friends having epic 30 person fights with giant beasties and it seems more like doing math and less like playing a game. I’m just not into it. Therefore, this review is onlyPreface

In general, I don’t like MMORPGs. The auto-combat is boring. Grinding is boring. The quests are boring. Everyone looks the same. I’ve never gotten to end-game (because of the boring), but I have seen friends having epic 30 person fights with giant beasties and it seems more like doing math and less like playing a game. I’m just not into it. Therefore, this review is only applicable to the low levels of the game and my impressions thus far. I don’t have a lot of experience, but I want to explain why I like this MMORPG.

I love the Elder Scrolls series, which I picked up at Morrowind and never looked back, so I was a sucker for the game world. That’s what convinced me to try it in the first place. I was hopeful but also skeptical. With nothing to lose (my roommate who loves MMORPGs let me make a character on his account to see how it felt), I dove in.

Actual Review

Character creation was a blast. It’s one of my favorite parts of a game. I had been disappointed with the limitations MMOs had concerning look. This time I was glad to see an aspect of ES games carried over (my strong hope being that much of the feel of the games translated [and it did]) in the character creation station. Oh, the glorious sliders! I’ve made 3 characters and they each took 30+ minutes to make and they don’t look like everyone else. I was off to a good start.

The tutorial was a little ambiguous. Some things only brought up an explanation if you happened to click on it. Most of the tutorial was meant to teach you how to equip a weapon and fight with a rudimentary understanding of the battle system. The narrative broke down a little bit as I was being rushed through with this sense of urgency, but then there are 20+ urns with stuff to loot all over the place.

So I got free and was in one of the faction’s starting isles. This was something that bothered me. I want to play a Kajit, but I wanted to be on the same team as my friend. It was not clear to me that the races can only be in their assigned faction (unless I had spent more money on an upgraded account), so I played this character for 5 levels before my friend tells me he never saw that island and I’m not on his team. Damn it! So I can either play the race I want OR play with my friend. I made another character.

Time to talk about combat. This is one of the major selling points for me. It’s point and click per hit, rather than auto-fighting. It livens up the experience and requires more of my attention. Also, the first person option is another carryover I was happy to see. For a lot of the time it feels like playing single player as far as combat. The controls were already familiar to me, so I got the hang of it quickly. I’m not a fan of hotkeys, but it’s a symptom of not being able to pause which is my #1 hang up about MMOs, but there’s nothing for it.

That leads me to my next smiley face, XP distribution, aka Freedom From Grinding. Killing things is fun and sometimes necessary, but that’s not going to get me levels or gold. Missions and little story lines are what this is all about. Yes, the missions start out somewhat trite, but they’re clever and cute and not “go get me 10 of these” level of banal. You know where you’re going, what you’re doing, and there’s an at least moderately compelling reason you’re doing it.

Also in the realm of XP, I am so grateful for the shared kills. We get the same XP and the same loot if we take something down together, making this a co-op venture. There’s not petty squabbling about who gets the stuff or the kill. I feel a camaraderie when I see someone else is on the same path, killing the same things. We have each other’s backs because there’s no reason not to. There’s no more trepidation when I’m playing peak hours because, “Cool, other people to enjoy this experience with!”

Crafting is another thing I love. At first I was daunted by all the huge amounts of instruction, but then I read through a bunch of forums and wikis. Turns out explaining the system is more complicated than the system itself. I was hoping for a little more visual customization, but there are enough mechanics (many, but simple) involved. (I saw someone in a Kajit helmet and I Want It!! I’ll be learning that racial armor style since I can’t be a Kajit because I’m broke [whine].)

To sum up, EOS is a MMORPG I don’t hate, and that’s a glowing recommendation in my book. I’ve always wanted to be able to quest with my friends, but been too annoyed with game play to get there. Now if I can get my friend to stop leveling until I can catch up, I’ll be set.

Thank you, Bethesda.… Expand

Paxter82

Apr 11, 2014

8

My experience so far in ESO has been extremely enjoyable. I don't feel it is fair to compare eso to skyrim which is an offline game, MMO has a number of constraints which makes it close to impossible to match from game mechanics to graphic. So my comparison is more towards other mmos. The few things I like is the mega server, classes, pvp, the difficulty of the dungeons and the craftingMy experience so far in ESO has been extremely enjoyable. I don't feel it is fair to compare eso to skyrim which is an offline game, MMO has a number of constraints which makes it close to impossible to match from game mechanics to graphic. So my comparison is more towards other mmos. The few things I like is the mega server, classes, pvp, the difficulty of the dungeons and the crafting system. I will cover two of the things I like the most, the server n the class system.

The server - the server phasing of the zone is remarkably seamless, which is great cause those around you are doing the same thing which allows progression at the same phase, you also will notice that the developers took the time to really craft each quest, and once you have complete it the world actually permanently change, for example I was asked to defend a town under daedra attack, when I started the town was burning, when we repealed the attack you saw corpses all over the town and fires being put out, once you kill the boss in a nearby cave and return the town was almost back to normal n the towns folk conversations actually change to reflect your actions, in my case I killed the traitor instead of arresting him, my action triggered a different outcome. That little details do give you the impression that you are changing your environment around you. In some zones ghosts for example turn neutral because of an outcome of a quest.

Classes - the holy trinity is still there, non eso players have been complaining about how un imaginative the game is when it comes to the classes, in my opinion this is completely BS the 4 classes are a basic template from there you can practically build any class you can imagine n most probably very playable.

A dragon knight is your typical tanker, yet you can build a dragon Mage which uses cloth armour and a flame staff n suddenly you are hurling fireballs and massive dot and AOE attacks, they can also be a berserker dealing massive damage, n stun locking your opponent, n pulling them to you ensuring the poor dude can't run away

The night blade is your typical rogue, yet it has a whole tree which basically turns him into a warlock dealing with death magic, or a ranger, firing arrows that will make Legolas look like a newb

The Templar is your healer, yet in actuality all the classes can actually be healers the night blade has a build that makes them viable healers in their own right, the Templar can also be a solar Mage using the power of the sun to become a Caster centered on AOE spells n debuffs, they also have a Dps build that rivals the damage of a dragon knight.

The Mage can be a summoner which masters the art of minions or a tank Mage, fighting with a sword n shield

Overall the class possibilities are actually endless n making you carefully decide on which abilities to use on your limited hot bar requires you to do some serious planning on what works n what doesn't.

My only concerns is the supposed new content at a dlc quality content almost on a monthly basis I feel that it is quite ambitious of them, if it does follow through then they seriously have done very well for themselves, making the 15$ worth it. But if they don't I can't see my self playing it past the next six months. As it stands it's a very good mmo, especially the story n the immersion which puts it pretty high, on my list. It doesn't exactly bring something new to the mmo genre but it is very much refined with space to be better.… Expand

corbindamasca

Apr 11, 2014

8

A solid effort right out of the gate, ESO promises to deliver a unique experience in the MMO space that isn't just a cut and paste of previous offerings by other companies. It's not flawless and it's got some curious design choices at launch, but it's to be commended for trying to blaze a new trail in several areas. The biggest challenge it faces is trying to be enough of an MMO for theA solid effort right out of the gate, ESO promises to deliver a unique experience in the MMO space that isn't just a cut and paste of previous offerings by other companies. It's not flawless and it's got some curious design choices at launch, but it's to be commended for trying to blaze a new trail in several areas. The biggest challenge it faces is trying to be enough of an MMO for the MMO crowd (many of whom claim to want no more 'WoW clones', yet decry any game that launches without everything WoW has), and enough of an Elder Scrolls game for those coming from that fan base. Only time will tell if it creates a satisfying fusion of the two experiences, which is a challenge given that the Elder Scrolls games have always had a laser focus on the single player experience. There's plenty of content to justify an initial purchase and a few months of subscription time, but it remains to be seen if the content updates can keep up with the frantic pace that players tend to devour it. I've barely touched upon the PvP side of things, but so far it reminds me of how Guild Wars 2 handled it. You can throw yourself into it or it can be safely ignored, there's plenty to do otherwise.… Expand

Ipico

Apr 19, 2014

8

Giving this game some more time and Have to say I am really enjoying it, my last reviews was honestly based on the beta and a lot of improvements have come now still a lot of bugs but the game feels better now, maybe its the change of faction who knows but the game just feels and plays better to me now.

Triageguy

Apr 14, 2014

8

As many people can be nervous about a new MMO, this one was no different. But after I learned the mechanics and got my feet wet, I've had a blast. It is a fresh take on the crowded MMO genre and I'm glad I spent the money. You can play it like a traditional MMO or play it like an Elder Scrolls Game, both are fun and viable. The large scale PvP is my favorite and it is well implemented andAs many people can be nervous about a new MMO, this one was no different. But after I learned the mechanics and got my feet wet, I've had a blast. It is a fresh take on the crowded MMO genre and I'm glad I spent the money. You can play it like a traditional MMO or play it like an Elder Scrolls Game, both are fun and viable. The large scale PvP is my favorite and it is well implemented and executed. It is worth playing and has taken up more of my time than I thought it would. Take a shot at it, there is something in ESO for everyone.… Expand

paulovaca

Apr 16, 2014

8

I'm waiting for this game since 2007 (first time that I played ES IV Oblivion). So, you can put a lot of expectation in there. First of all, this game is diferent from the others, while others put to much effort in be the best with a weapon in your hand, this game is all about enjoy. You can make a lot of fun just for be a crafter, or you can focus in PVP and PVE, what in my opinion has aI'm waiting for this game since 2007 (first time that I played ES IV Oblivion). So, you can put a lot of expectation in there. First of all, this game is diferent from the others, while others put to much effort in be the best with a weapon in your hand, this game is all about enjoy. You can make a lot of fun just for be a crafter, or you can focus in PVP and PVE, what in my opinion has a lot of more that the others users are saying. You can focus on create good horses (later in game will be horse races), with all possibilities you can create new classes (pyromancer, battle mages, etc), you can "role play" with your guild mates and the possibilities are huge and other things that put you in the world of ESO.

If you read something like "I'm playing for weeks and now I'm rank 40 and the game is sucks" have in mind that in rank 50 you aren't in the middle of the game.

Some times the armor looks like plastic, specialy in low rank. But in high rank this changes a little.

There are lot of bugs, huge bugs.

Last thing when you are in a battle you can feel that your actions can make diference. Your position, your strategy, etc. You aren't another guy hitting a bunch of buttons!

Give the Game a try! If they fix all bugs it is a solid 9!… Expand

wimmy1

Apr 16, 2014

8

People hate on this game because it isn't enough like Skyrim. Well, let me tell you something, this game innovates on the typical MMO experience and is a lot of fun. The environments are beautiful and the gameplay is fresh. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Skyrim, but thought it was overrated. Because it was.

zongi

Apr 21, 2014

8

This is a very good game, perhaps a 10, but you should buy it in about three months or so (lets say around July 2014). The frequent maintenance make it frustrating to play as instead you sit around and refresh the support page to find out when would it possible for you to actually play the game. in the past week the game went down several times and for hours each time.
so far BethesdaThis is a very good game, perhaps a 10, but you should buy it in about three months or so (lets say around July 2014). The frequent maintenance make it frustrating to play as instead you sit around and refresh the support page to find out when would it possible for you to actually play the game. in the past week the game went down several times and for hours each time.
so far Bethesda has not offered any compensation to subscribers, stating only "we are sorry, we are new"... well, that is simply not good enough, I paid money, I want to play, if your product is not good enough, don't ask me to buy it.

The game itself is vast, addictive, with very few problems (The inability to change skill points except later in the game and for a stiff price is one huge flaw which I guess will be fixed at some point).… Expand

flex12

Apr 22, 2014

8

Not the ordinary MMO i would say. Free to explore as you wish, good Quests who do not feel like grindish (ex.: kill 20 of those), fun fighting system (active fighting, blocking).
Overall i've played tons of MMO's and this is one of the better ones. Although there is at the moment little to none group content. Let's see if Zenimax adds these in upcoming patches.

Wobbufox

May 13, 2014

8

To hate, or not to hate?

Well, to be honest...neither. This game is far from flawless, but neither is it terrible. Let's get the nitty gritty out of the way and say that $15, or approx £9 - £10 isn't a huge sub fee for an MMO. In essence, this is standard. Is it worth the money? Only if they will be releasing quality content in the future without making people dish out for anTo hate, or not to hate?

Well, to be honest...neither. This game is far from flawless, but neither is it terrible.

Let's get the nitty gritty out of the way and say that $15, or approx £9 - £10 isn't a huge sub fee for an MMO. In essence, this is standard. Is it worth the money? Only if they will be releasing quality content in the future without making people dish out for an expansion pack. Bots, Gold Sellers and the occassional bug are expected and it seems that these problems are being address. But don't expect it to be sorted within the first few months.

At the end of the day, your opinion on the game will depend on three things: Are you an MMO fan? Are you a TES fan? And are you optimistic, or pessimistic?

If you want Skyrim...I suggest you play Skyrim and wait for the next TES title. If you are an MMO fan, it'll hit all your mainstream boxes, but will let you down on the end-game content as it's still early days. All in all, this is an MMO game with a good helping of TES universe. Just don't be surprised if the game has reworked what Soul Gems do and how they are named...that last one DID break my TES-filled heart.

For those who may not have played it yet, here are some brief breakdowns:

The negative:

Gold Sellers everywhere!!! Well, it's something that every MMO has to deal with. So nothing new, right? As far as we know, this is being worked on.

If you wish to play 'fair', be disappointed for the moment as there are some balancing issues to be dealt with. Oh, and if you are a stealthy TES player, don't expect to 'one-shot-KO' everything in ESO.

The PvP is interesting and rather fun, but as said above, balancing issues do skew the battles a little...towards those with greater range.

In terms of gameplay, one of the main issues is a lack of STRUCTURED group content (outside of dungeons and dungeion-ing), however, expect the immersion to die a little in some caves as a horde of players charge through it, hunting for Skyshards and map-completion. Although, as the game is still in it's early stages of post-release, we have our fingers crossed for a lot more content to come our way.

The positive:

The game holds true to a LOT of TES, and so far I haven't encountered anything that is incredibly lore-breaking. The crafting system in each skill-tree is detailed and holds a large array of customisation.

The combat is fluid and feels great in both; first and third-person perspective, although 3rd person is tactically better, allowing you to see enemy AoE abilities with far greater clarity. The skill trees seem to have a good range of ACTIVE and PASSIVE abilities, as well as a very open system to how you invest points.

The general leveling of a character is a little slow at times, but if you focus on questing, then it shouldn't take that long at all. It is simply a matter of what you're doing. Gathering iron ISN'T going to get your overall lvl from 16-17, but discovering new locations, picking the locks on chests and helping out the ever-needy NPCs WILL get you up swiftly.

On a final note, as said by many before me, the visuals, voice acting and ambient sounds are all top-notch for an MMO.

Overall, this is a SOLID MMO with a lot to offer, and a LOT of potential in the future. All that matters is what you were expecting during the hype. This is NOT Skyrim, this isn't even Oblivion or Morrowind, and how could it be? This is an MMO game that so far holds true to The Elder Scrolls world. This isn't a single-player game, and with that come compromises, remember that.… Expand

valandor

May 17, 2014

8

I'm sure everything that can be said about ESO, both positive and negative, has been said so I'll make this short and to the point. I give the game an 8/10 rating because of its current state which I think is still unfinished. On potential I'd give it a 10. As an MMO it takes a few liberties with the beloved franchise but I find them to be minimal. ESO is above all else an Elder ScrollsI'm sure everything that can be said about ESO, both positive and negative, has been said so I'll make this short and to the point. I give the game an 8/10 rating because of its current state which I think is still unfinished. On potential I'd give it a 10. As an MMO it takes a few liberties with the beloved franchise but I find them to be minimal. ESO is above all else an Elder Scrolls game. Yes it has many bugs, yes there are spammers and bots galore, yes to all of that and more BUT it is still the best MMO I have played in a long time, and that includes my experience in WoW, Guild Wars, Guild Wars 2, RIFT, Neverwinter and many other fantasy MMOs. ESO is fun and it is engrossing and I remain hopeful that it will only get better. If you're an Elder Scrolls fan, buy it. If you're not an Elder Scrolls fan I still recommend it but remember it is best played slowly with every nook and cranny explored (and every in game book read).… Expand

ladyjayblue

May 29, 2014

8

I want to express that I am writing this game review from the point of view of a long time player of MMORPGs. I have played everything from UO on up, and I want to assure readers looking for a genuine assessment of the game that the reviews here are generally unreliable. Common sense should make you question straight 10s just as it should make you question so many zeros.

MoreI want to express that I am writing this game review from the point of view of a long time player of MMORPGs. I have played everything from UO on up, and I want to assure readers looking for a genuine assessment of the game that the reviews here are generally unreliable. Common sense should make you question straight 10s just as it should make you question so many zeros.

More importantly, I believe that the outcry that has generated the bad reviews of '0" are due to people comparing it to the elder scrolls single player games. I have not played any of the previous elder scrolls games and could not for the life of me make sense of why anyone would compare a massive multiplayer to any single player game when the level of depth, immersion, and functionality are so radically different. Get over it and rate the game for what it is; it is not Skyrim. For the individuals who would mourn this, my suggestion is to play what you like; there are plenty of Elder Scroll games available for single players. ESO was created as a multiplayer game. I have my own love of single player rpgs, Bioware classics being some of my favorites, but it would be unfair to compare a game like Baldur's Gate or even Knights of the Old Republic to games intended for years of play time that largely depend upon social interaction.

I have played UO, Dark Age of Camelot, EQ1, EQ2, Star Wars Galaxies, SWTOR, and WOW and Guild Wars 2. In my experience, ESO compares to the likes of Dark Age in terms of the rvr type pvp, yet its sense of exploration reminds me of Ultima or at least the older generation of games from which Ultima emerged. As of late, with my subscription to wow still available for renewal, and an active subscription to Final Fantasy 14, I have to give my vote to ESO for being the most entertaining and the most addicting in terms of keeping me glued to the keyboard.

This does not mean that the game does not have some issues that need to be resolved; many of these have already been acknowledged and I foresee them being addressed in future patches. The most significant of these revolves around group play in pve. For example, I consistently quest with a partner; we are a duo. If you advance through the quest line alone, your partner may not be able to be seen in the quest instance due to phasing. Again, this has been acknowledged and I look forward to the coming changes, but until then, I simply stay aware of this issue and adjust my questing to be in sync with my friend.

On a good note, the vistas are simply beautiful when you set your draw distance to far. The terrain and the skyline in the distance really make you want to go out and adventure, and indeed, I have been out wandering for hours while I run around finding treasure chests, different story lines, and collecting resources. I experienced this sensation in early WOW only momentarily, before the expansions, but I do remember that call of the wild in early games such as the original EQ.

Additionally, the combat is incredibly fun considering the need to move, dodge, and stay active when fighting foes. This is a huge, huge contrast to games that largely have you standing in one place and roll the dice to determine whether you block or dodge.

If you are like me, you need to have a game that serves as an outlet for stress and the hustle and bustle of work. For me, ESO has become the next in line to serve this purpose. I am satisfied with roving the hills or inundating myself in the crafting systems, which have a lot of depth and are quite fun to level.

Of the high points, the liberty to sculpt your character's skills as you see fit is truly refreshing, particularly after coming from World of Warcraft where, over time, the choices in skill trees became fewer and fewer until it was so dumbed down that it lacked any significance at all. Here in ESO, you create a character, and tailor its weapon skills, class skills, crafting skills, guild only skills, and racial skills how you see fit. The truth is that the variety in character builds has the potential to be enormous without the fear that you will not be able to compete if you do not use any one particular cookie cutter build.

Alternately, the opening tutorial is one of the worst I've seen in all my gaming days; it would be an understatement for me to say that you must get past that and into the meat of the game to truly appreciate what it has to offer.

These are my thoughts as a long time mmorpg player. As a rhetorician by profession, I would suggest you consider the agendas that might hide behind ridiculous scores like perfect 10s or complete 0s. It's a rarity to find a game that is completely perfect or that incredibly horrendous.… Expand

Auriakus

Jun 1, 2014

8

I have played this game over 400 hours and I am comparing against the 20 years of mmorpg playing I have. This is a "very good" mmorpg. In my run through of over 200+ quests I have only discovered 2 with noticeable bugs, both which had work-arounds or were not catastrophic- so I'm not sure what the other people are seeing that claim this to be bugged. Here are the great things in theI have played this game over 400 hours and I am comparing against the 20 years of mmorpg playing I have. This is a "very good" mmorpg. In my run through of over 200+ quests I have only discovered 2 with noticeable bugs, both which had work-arounds or were not catastrophic- so I'm not sure what the other people are seeing that claim this to be bugged. Here are the great things in the game:
Tons of content and dialogue with voice acting
Tons of quests (group or fighting alongside other groups is handled wonderfully)
Good crafting system that is rewarding and worthwhile
Can play alone or group- THE GAME IS BALANCED (PVE) despite what some say
Classes are all unique but offer great customization
NO LEVEL GRINDING- this is an amazing things. The sheer number of quests and quest xp limits the need to xp grind to a point I thought unimaginable
Respec'ing is costly, as it should be
Much More

Bad:
Despite some great enhancements to combat botting, there are some farmers/bots around. Its obvious as some bot trains are allowed to operate. I know what this looks like, I have run botting software in other games...… Expand

millertym

Jun 22, 2014

8

Quick summery: If you loved the elder scrolls games, you will like this game a lot - at least though the leveling up portions. If you are a huge fan of WoW and more classically functioning MMOs, it may not be your ball of wax. What we have here is an MMO that is not quite different enough from other MMOs and an Elder Scrolls game that is a bit too different from Elder Scrolls games.Quick summery: If you loved the elder scrolls games, you will like this game a lot - at least though the leveling up portions. If you are a huge fan of WoW and more classically functioning MMOs, it may not be your ball of wax. What we have here is an MMO that is not quite different enough from other MMOs and an Elder Scrolls game that is a bit too different from Elder Scrolls games.

Now more detail: Leveling up can be a basically solo/Elder Scrolls experience if you prefer that (which I did for reading books and lore and beating up mud crabs, etc...). They did an OK job of making you still feel like the bad ass of the world despite all the other players running around here and there. Questing never gets stale and you move around the map to new areas in a way that keeps things moving and interesting. They did a good job of keeping much of the feel of the Elder Scrolls games even in MMO form. Combat feels solid mostly. It's still "Elder scrollsish" with needing to point your character AT the target to hit them and be in range of your weapon or spell. No WoW type targeting at all. Blocking, dodging, interrupting, and lots of movement make boss fights a lot of fun. The 4 man dungeons are the most fun of any MMO I've played. The Graphics look solid and very much Elder Scrolls style. Crafting is pretty cool/good. You can work your way up to making astoundingly cool gear that competes with any drops or rewards. Voice acting is on par with the Elder Scrolls experience.

On a negative note, there is a lot of 'been there done that' as far as an MMO goes. I wouldn't call it ground breaking at all. Mob placement schemes, strategically placed and static quest NPCs, the 'don't travel too fast' MMO feeling are all at play here. Also, while it's combat system is more enjoyable than other MMOs I've played, lag can play havok with it.

In the end, I question why they would have put the effort into making this an MMO when they could have made a cooler Elder Scrolls experience making a new Elder Scrolls single player game. If they were ultra concerned with multiplayer, why not just add a co-op dungeon crawl module to an otherwise single player game. I've had very much fun leveling up my character and playing the game - but really the only place I've felt multiplayer added to the Elder Scrolls experience at all has been in dungeons. In any case, as an Elders Scrolls fan - it's certainly fun enough to level up through to max level, learn more lore about the Elder Scrolls world, and beat a few challenging dungeons with online pals.

If you are an Elder Scrolls fan I predict you would have AT LEAST enough fun with this game to justify the cost and 1 or 2 months of the subscriber fee. And hey, if you end up loving the PvP it may be a fairly long term run for you.… Expand

Darthtux

Jun 24, 2014

8

Elder Scrolls Online is a good MMO but it could improve in many ways. Elder Scrolls Online has a lot of bugs in quests and I was pretty disapointed in not getting my exp but anyways the missions are well done with voice acting and good story telling. The main story was short but it manages to keep a decent pace with the side missions. There's soo much to do in Elder Scrolls Online likeElder Scrolls Online is a good MMO but it could improve in many ways. Elder Scrolls Online has a lot of bugs in quests and I was pretty disapointed in not getting my exp but anyways the missions are well done with voice acting and good story telling. The main story was short but it manages to keep a decent pace with the side missions. There's soo much to do in Elder Scrolls Online like fighting world bosses and doing dungeons, those were fun when you play it with friends! The dungeons are amazing! Pvp was fun with people and go raid on bases and stuff...... Overall Elder Scrolls Online is a good MMO but with too much content it creates too many bugs and the game tends to get boring once you play it for a very long time......… Expand

KingGTO

Jun 26, 2014

8

ESO is a great game for fans of the franchise, and a very good game for those new to the lore of Tamriel and the Elder Scrolls series. The biggest failing of ESO, that’s clearly present in the early feedback on ratings, is the team released the game too early. Since April a ton of work has been done to refine and expand the title, gobs of bugs have been fixed, and the beauty of the titleESO is a great game for fans of the franchise, and a very good game for those new to the lore of Tamriel and the Elder Scrolls series. The biggest failing of ESO, that’s clearly present in the early feedback on ratings, is the team released the game too early. Since April a ton of work has been done to refine and expand the title, gobs of bugs have been fixed, and the beauty of the title is really showing through.

The game looks absolutely stunning, matching the tradition of open world graphics being a key feature of the franchise, but in an MMO environment. The amount of content is huge, both in terms of land and quests and dungeon delves, as well as with surrounding content from NPC’s and books. If you’re a fan of the lore in the series you’ll definitely enjoy the appearance of many famous characters and plot turns.

Audio is wonderful, and I’m frankly amazed at how the team continues to improve audio by adding many more sounds and environmental music. Like WoW before it, the little touches really add up. As an example, casting a defensive shell around your player in combat actually muffles and changes the sounds coming through that magic shield to you. Also, tons of quest text is covered with voice overs.

The combat is ESO is more visceral than I am used to in MMO’s. Moving from DAoC, to WoW, to CoH and other MMO’s has steadily ramped up the notion of real-time combat engagement that doesn’t feel restrained by client server communication. In ESO, melee classes and casting classes alike need to move around, and they can block and interrupt spells. The tactile game feedback with a subtle UI is well done.

Probably the most distinctive “feature” of ESO is it’s openness to character creation. You really do have a viable road to cultivating a unique customized character that can break away from cookie cutter MMO personas (heavy armor tank, cloth only casters, etc.). You have the tools to mix and match spells, armor, weapons and engagement techniques in a very flexible way. And it works, just like in the solo games.

As a type of player, I’m an “explorer”, freakish in how I like to go everywhere, do everything, and eat up all the content. I play a large number of characters; I hoard recipes and do a bunch of crafting, and I create an “ecosystem” amongst them. I collect tons of stuff, read all of the books, and open way too many containers. I look behind waterfalls, and I climb cliffs to reach chests. In ESO, I am well rewarded.

Like Rift, ESO lets you easily form up without requiring grouping for some world content (i.e. overcoming “anchors” and waves of mobs). The game adds in open dungeon delves where characters easily work together to overcome challenges without having to group. But for content requiring groups, the UI is clunky and hurtful. ESO is still struggling to find a refined set of grouping tools vs. UI vs. content.

I haven’t experienced the PvP yet, but from my friends that are very strong in this area of MMO gaming, the feedback has been quite good. My assumption is that some of the grouping issues in the main world plague the ease of use in PvP, but I rarely hear about it, and that’s conjecture on my part. I am looking forward to the longer term “campaigns” that go on for days, but am still focusing time outside of PvP.

If you’re looking for a beautiful MMO that has a lot to offer and a team that is clearly continuing to invest a ton of development and content work into making the game better and better, ESO is a great place to be. I’ve spent a ton of time in MMO’s over the years, and for me, ESO is a keeper. Great fun.… Expand

SGAR

Sep 27, 2014

8

Looking through other reviews I notice that quite a fair few of the complaints are centered around the previous Elder Scrolls titles, and while I am a huge fan of the series I can't help but feel that this game would have been rated much higher had people compared it to other MMOs rather than Skyrim.

One of the first things I noticed upon starting the game for the first time was that itLooking through other reviews I notice that quite a fair few of the complaints are centered around the previous Elder Scrolls titles, and while I am a huge fan of the series I can't help but feel that this game would have been rated much higher had people compared it to other MMOs rather than Skyrim.

One of the first things I noticed upon starting the game for the first time was that it looked remarkably good, and not just for an MMO, I found this game very attractive. Even the launcher has atmosphere. The next thing I found was that it also sounded remarkably good, the score for this game sounds nothing short of epic, a word I don't use lightly. After taking in the ambiance for the better part of five minutes I created my character. The character creation is as good as any I've seen from any other game, when choosing a class I did feel that my choices were limited as there are only four. Character made I entered the game.

The tutorial is done in something like a prison in a different dimension, the area was a little dull, but since I spent so little time there I didn't mind. One thing worth making note of is that John Cleese makes an appearance as a voice actor in the tutorial.

Which brings me to the voice acting. It's very well done.

Now the gameplay. The fighting is set up somewhere between MMO and other Elder Scrolls titles, and I think it works. The hits seem solid and there is a bit that goes into combat beyond what I've come to expect from other MMOs. Enemy AI seems smart, if only for that they can use more than one attack. Crafting is one of my favorite things in this game, being able to destroy old armor for some materials to make new, better armor I find rewarding. Leveling feels rewarding, and happens often enough to not feel like a grind fest.

The quests are varied enough to not get repetitive, and often feel worth doing.

Overall the game is very enjoyable and accessible if you have the money and time. This is an MMO anyone expecting a single player game will be disappointed, through no fault of the game.

TL;DR Don't expect Elder Scrolls Six when buying this, Expect an Elder Scrolls based MMO and you might just have a good time.… Expand

Ultrabonz

Sep 30, 2014

8

Good and underrated MMORPG.

If you hate this game, it's probably because you've expected a follow up to Skyrim. The thing is: If you wanna play Skyrim, then play Skyrim. This is not Skyrim, or Oblivion. This is an MMORPG taking place in the Elder Scrolls universe. Don't compare this game to singleplayer RPG's, compare it to other MMORPGs. As an MMORPG, I can highly recommend TESO toGood and underrated MMORPG.

If you hate this game, it's probably because you've expected a follow up to Skyrim. The thing is: If you wanna play Skyrim, then play Skyrim. This is not Skyrim, or Oblivion. This is an MMORPG taking place in the Elder Scrolls universe. Don't compare this game to singleplayer RPG's, compare it to other MMORPGs.

As an MMORPG, I can highly recommend TESO to anyone who doesn't just rush to the next higher level, but is willing to explore the world, find its secrets, and talk to NPCs. TESO offers more story in 5 hours than WoW in 50 hours. If you don't care about story or dialogues or characters and just want to level up as easy and as fast as possible, then stick with WoW. This game is different.

The stories and quests don't reach the level of Skyrim or other good singleplayer RPGs, but the standard here is way above WoW and most other MMORPGs. The only other MMORPG which offers the same kind of elaborate and interesting quests is Secret World. Again: If you prefer generic, repetitive quests which only serve to level up your character, then look elsewhere. I play TESO to experience the world and its stories, levelling up is just a nice sideeffect for me.

If you skip all the dialogues anyway and never take your time, then you miss the essence of what makes TESO better than WoW, imo. In TESO, it pays to be an explorer and it pays to be patient. You don't just follow the quest marker to your next quest/quest hub. Instead, you wonder what's behind the tall rocks to your left or how you can get to that small island in the top left corner of your map.

I would have preferred more solo instances, though. When you enter a huge palace in order to poison some guy and steal his key to a chest where you find the document you need to obtain, it sadly becomes quite absurd when three other players are doing the same thing at the same time in the same "realm" as you are. Since houses and dungeons are loaded separately anyway, why not make them instanced to you or your party? This would have made a lot more sense and the way it is done now really kills the immersion sometimes.

Also, fast travel could be improved. There are waypoint shrines scattered across the map. I expected to only be able to fast travel from waypoint to waypoint, but once you've discovered a particular waypoint, you can fast travel there from anywhere on the map, which doesn't make a lot of sense and again hurts the immersion.

Also, you can always see the whole map right from the beginning. There is no "fog" on the map which disappears once you enter a new area. This is something WoW does better, imo.

The graphics are good for the most part, especially the lighting. Only downside are washed out textures which don't look so good when you get close. World design is very interesting, with a rather realistic look and enough landmarks which stand out and help your orientation. Music is solid but could be better.

Combat system is a step up from the typical MMO/WoW formula. Maybe that doesn't say much because let's be honest: combat in WoW is not tactical at all - just spam your skills over and over again, that's all.
The combat in TESO might not have alot of depth, either, but at least it's entertaining.

Just look at all the 0 and 1 reviews here. They often hate TESO for not being like Skyrim or WoW or both of them. Well, TESO is TESO, folks! It is different. If you want the same thing you've already played, why don't you just play WoW of Skyrim again? Don't be stupid: We all want the "Übergame" which offers the best of WoW and Skyrim and The Witcher and any other RPG. But this is not going happen. TESO is pretty good at what it does. And if you just rushed through the game in two weeks and complain about the lack of endgame content, then let me tell you this: I don't give a fck about the endgame. I wanna play the game, not the end of the game. You guys probably didn't give a fck about the NPCs and quests, because you're used to WoW, where they both don't matter at all. But that only means you missed half of the game. Then maybe TESO just isn't the game for you. But "completing" the whole game and then punish it with a 0 or a 1 is just really dumb and says alot more about you than about the game. I could never get past lvl45 in WoW, because it just became really boring and mindnumbing repetitive.

Why some people want to complete and reach the endgame of an MMORPG they totally hate is beyond me. What I do know: Their opinion is best to be ignored.… Expand

LunaNosCustodit

Nov 7, 2014

8

The Elder Scrolls: Online was a game that everyone thought would be awesome in theory, but in reality turned out far different than most people hoped for/expected. If you come into the Elder Scrolls: Online expecting an Elder Scrolls game ala Skyrim or Oblivion, you are going to hate it. Come into it expecting what it really is, however, and it's a well put together game with ambition andThe Elder Scrolls: Online was a game that everyone thought would be awesome in theory, but in reality turned out far different than most people hoped for/expected. If you come into the Elder Scrolls: Online expecting an Elder Scrolls game ala Skyrim or Oblivion, you are going to hate it. Come into it expecting what it really is, however, and it's a well put together game with ambition and a few missteps. The Elder Scrolls: Online is an attempt at catering to both Solo and MMO fans, as much of the early game can be completed without the aid of another, even if it makes the experience more fun. It does this well, until the more poorly balanced VR content (which they're actually removing so this point will soon be moot.) With each major update (so far 5,) there have been huge changes and additions to the game. It's hardly the same formula it was back in beta. ZOS obviously cares about their game, and there has been a huge amount of care and detail put into the world itself. Sure, there are some annoying quest bugs and errors that can ruin some things. But if you expect a game of this scale to be bug free, you really don't understand how MMOs work.

All in all, I very much enjoy The Elder Scrolls: Online far more than any MMO I have ever dabbled in. Wildstar, FFXIV, GW2, TERA. They had strong points, but ESO caters to what I'm looking for in an MMO. It's not for everyone; nothing is. But I really think the general negativity some have for this game is very unwarranted and strange. I really hope they add some sort of a trial so that newcomers can give the game a whirl. It's very different than it was during Beta, but the price tag might stave off potential subbers.

It's not perfect. But I can't think of an MMO that is.… Expand

Nikademus

Dec 4, 2014

8

One of the few handfuls of MMOs out there that don't rely on "loot" as the primary incentive to keep playing (as opposed to good storytelling or fun gameplay). Gorgeous graphic, sound, and music; voice acting is great too.

Calcium

Dec 22, 2014

8

I'm rating this game based on my CURRENT experience - not what I encountered at launch. Personally, I think the majority of the negative reviews are a result of several game-breaking bugs Zenimax (true to form) failed to patch for 6-8 months following launch.

Onto my review.. Pros - Gorgeous graphics clearly engineered by people who knew what they were doing. My gameplayI'm rating this game based on my CURRENT experience - not what I encountered at launch. Personally, I think the majority of the negative reviews are a result of several game-breaking bugs Zenimax (true to form) failed to patch for 6-8 months following launch.

Onto my review..

Pros

- Gorgeous graphics clearly engineered by people who knew what they were doing. My gameplay experience didn't suffer horribly playing on a lower end machine before I finally replaced my old clunker computer.

- Vibrant music. Rich, immersive environment. ESO mixed the melodies from Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim producing a beautiful, nostalgic feel.

- Despite the fact this is an MMO, the main story-line was surprisingly attention-grabbing. I found myself wanting to level faster simply so I could complete the next part in the series.

- Unlike other MMOs, ESO broke away from repetitive gather & deliver quests while leveling. Many (not all) side quests are actually quite involved & I found myself completing them not for the xp or gear rewards but merely because they captured my interest.

- Many dungeon fights while extremely difficult at times, are incredibly creative. I find it far more enjoyable to defeat a boss with tricky mechanics vs. the plain old tank & spank most MMOs fall prey to. A fine example is where mobs jump on a random player and hook him/her up to a mid-evil torture device. Better figure that one out fast. ;)

- I really enjoyed being able to see the homelands of many neglected races. Not to mention the fact each race's homeland has unique architecture & stunning environment. The artists did not hold back and breathed life into lands we could only read and imagine throughout the Elder Scrolls series.

Cons

- Banking & bag clutter. This issue is exacerbated by the fact gear, pets, collectible toys, etc. are stored in your actual inventory. Trust me, it matters and takes away from gaming experience as you find yourself dealing with full bags mid-dungeon and creating pack mule alts.

- No auction house. This is (obviously) tied into difficulties players experience with clutter. However, they do have trading guilds and some see this as a more enjoyable feature than a full auction house. Personally I prefer convenience, yet I can understand the logic behind not having to compete with an entire server when pricing items.

- For lore nuts, it's a bit weird when you find a book that wasn't written until a few ages after ESO. This is barely a con but I know it bugs a few people.

- The way dungeon quests are executed is absolutely abysmal and really takes away from my gameplay experience. Basically, whomever talks to the NPC first, acquires the quest (and by default others in the group do as well) and the event starts. However, let me point out that only one person actually speaks with the NPC before the NPC runs off and usually that is when combat initiates. Once the dungeon is completed, you don't have the opportunity to re-do the initial story quest. There are dailies and even several high level variations of each dungeon. However, as I said the story quest will no longer be accessible to you. It's.... a really stupid design and I hope they change this in the future.

That concludes my review. Overall, I would definitely recommend this game. Before I finish this however, I'd like to address the countless 0-5 reviews as they are not without merit given the dates. When this game was first released it was so riddled with bugs certain factions couldn't even level - mine included. At level 25 I had to skip every dungeon/group quest for my faction & dozens of area quests. At this point, the only activity I could participate in was PvP as entire areas would bug out & when I tried preemptively completing the higher lvl areas I'd wind up one shot. Since I literally couldn't play, I canceled my sub for 6-8 months and returned when it was fully patched and was shocked (in a good way.)

ESO was nowhere near ready for release when it launched. However, the game it is today is far smoother & very enjoyable. Nothing like before. I rarely experience bugs & even then they're usually so insignificant that I only notice when one of my OCD guildies points it out. Also, ESO has been regularly updating & releasing new material making me hopeful for its future. That said, this is an MMORPG. If you are looking for a full RPG style game, you probably won't enjoy this for long. Other than that exclusion criteria, if you're looking for a new MMO you can enjoy from level one through Veteran/Raid content, you hit the jackpot. :)… Expand

Hanilvor

Jan 6, 2015

8

This is a great game - don't let the hype fool you. However - if you're expecting a game more like Skyrim give it a few months, once they fully implement the justice and champion systems the game will seem an awful lot more "Elder Scrollsy."

I gave the game an 8 out of 10 because they still haven't quite managed to figure out how to promote more diversity in character builds. Yes youThis is a great game - don't let the hype fool you. However - if you're expecting a game more like Skyrim give it a few months, once they fully implement the justice and champion systems the game will seem an awful lot more "Elder Scrollsy."

I gave the game an 8 out of 10 because they still haven't quite managed to figure out how to promote more diversity in character builds. Yes you can level with just about any build/style you want, but for end game content you can feel pigeonholed into having to choose one meta-build. Hopefully the new Champion System resolves this when it is fully implemented.… Expand

Forrrge

Mar 18, 2015

8

I came to this game very late, in fact just a month before it was due to make the subscription optional. Therefore the game has had a years worth of bug fixes, patches, content updates, balances and refinements. I've played many MMORPGs over the years, some with a subscription, some free to play and some with the same model being used here, in my personal opinion it is right up there.I came to this game very late, in fact just a month before it was due to make the subscription optional. Therefore the game has had a years worth of bug fixes, patches, content updates, balances and refinements. I've played many MMORPGs over the years, some with a subscription, some free to play and some with the same model being used here, in my personal opinion it is right up there. Heaps of quests, all voice acted and to a high level, large areas to explore, easy and meaningful crafting (I normally avoid like the plague) and a great atmosphere, its the most fun I've had in a game of this type for a long time.

There are negatives however, if grouping is your thing, they do make it difficult i.e. people in the same area will see different things depending upon where they are in the quest e.g. mobs may be friendly to them and not to you. I would almost go as far to say that its an enhanced single player game that has multiplayer elements (which suits me). Highly recommended.… Expand

kuroo

May 16, 2015

8

When I first played ESO, the game was pretty buggy and it wasn't worth it mainly because of the price: 50€ and then 15€ subscription every month, I stopped playing like a month after release.

A few weeks ago I started to play again since it doesn't require a monthly payment anymore and I noticed the game improved immensely, one of the best game experiences I've ever had, quests don'tWhen I first played ESO, the game was pretty buggy and it wasn't worth it mainly because of the price: 50€ and then 15€ subscription every month, I stopped playing like a month after release.

A few weeks ago I started to play again since it doesn't require a monthly payment anymore and I noticed the game improved immensely, one of the best game experiences I've ever had, quests don't require grinding, voice acting is a thing, lore and story are engaging, crafting is fun so is PVP and PVE (Some dungeons need a bit more of work although).

I agree with some users who say that the game is not 100% Multiplayer since you can do a lot of things on your own, but that is a good thing from my perspective.

Controls feel close to the average Elder Scrolls game, even tho physics are not the same.

On main towns the game tends to lag a little bit, the good thing is that you don't have to spend much time there.

Add-ons are an amazing thing, and I've only seen it in WoW (And something similar on EVE Online, where you can edit the Overview). They fill some gaps the game has, and others add pretty good features that make the whole experience smoother.

I like the idea of multiplayer MMORPGs but the ones I played seem to be copying WoW (EVE not included), which is a game I personally don't like.

To finish, if you like the idea of an MMORPG based on Tamriel with a few features from the TES games, this is your thing.… Expand

Aertos

Apr 2, 2015

8

I get the bad reviews that this game got at the beginning because I was there for the horrendous loads of bugs, character set backs, item cloning expoits, bots etc. but this game made such a turn around with it's updates and the new business model.

All animations are now fluid and combat feels heavy and just nice. There is now a dungeon daily with rewards you can't get elsewhere and theI get the bad reviews that this game got at the beginning because I was there for the horrendous loads of bugs, character set backs, item cloning expoits, bots etc. but this game made such a turn around with it's updates and the new business model.

All animations are now fluid and combat feels heavy and just nice. There is now a dungeon daily with rewards you can't get elsewhere and the justice system let's you rob houses and NPCs and adds an element of thrill to it, burglaring an altmer embassy and trying to run from the guards to the next hideout!

My only complaint it that Zenimax did not manage to deliver on new content. They did change nearly every aspect of the core game, making it a brilliant title, especially now that it is coming out on consoles, but they showed off so much actual content that did not release yet. Basically veteran players got one new zone, Craglorn, and that zone was originally promised to be in the game from the start.

Till now the game was a beta, or better an alpha for this game, and the re-release as Tamriel Unlimited finally made this game to the game it should have been.

I would rate it a solid 9 out of 10, but because of the missing content and just this first year of bug fixing I reduce my score to 8.… Expand

The_Garays

Sep 22, 2015

8

I've played lots of MMORPGs and this is one of the best one besides Guild Wars 2.

You can either choose going on your own and explore vast the world with lots of quests, or you can team up with your mates and go into the PvP that is crazy! How many people can be in there fighting for territories??? The first time I went in I was almost all the time in stealth mode fearing for my life,I've played lots of MMORPGs and this is one of the best one besides Guild Wars 2.

You can either choose going on your own and explore vast the world with lots of quests, or you can team up with your mates and go into the PvP that is crazy! How many people can be in there fighting for territories??? The first time I went in I was almost all the time in stealth mode fearing for my life, till I got beheaded by some random guy! Afterwards, I got more confident and started team fighting with my guild, what was pretty awesome when you ambush people that are lost or wondering around.

You can literally play PvP for weeks and you won't get bored at all, there's always something going on.

I understand people complaining about this game not being a Skyrim well successor because it focuses on other aspects, which I enjoyed very much the time I played it.

The controls are very easy to master, they felt natural very fast. The sound and the graphics I would say that they're the best in genre besides Guil Wars 2. And the way you develop your character is really easy and fulfilling, because you see how you get rewarded by using the skills you like to.

The only thing why I quit playing was the subscription, I don't see why it has to be so high, when there are other MMORPGs that don't charge you any subscription at all.… Expand

Brittattirb

Aug 27, 2015

8

I've been playing ESO now for the better part of a year. I took a brief break to play the last WoW expansion, but went quickly back to ESO. Now it's free to play! And much less limiting than other sub to F2P MMORPGs that I've tried. All in all I've found ESO to be a bit clunky. Having 5 guilds is cool I guess, but 5 auction houses, 5 guild banks, etc? I think it diminishes the socialI've been playing ESO now for the better part of a year. I took a brief break to play the last WoW expansion, but went quickly back to ESO. Now it's free to play! And much less limiting than other sub to F2P MMORPGs that I've tried. All in all I've found ESO to be a bit clunky. Having 5 guilds is cool I guess, but 5 auction houses, 5 guild banks, etc? I think it diminishes the social aspect of the game in some ways because you lose track of who is who. It's almost too big, and it feels too realistic at times. The characters are a bit plain, the people all a bit haggard, the dye function makes up for some of the gear being less than imaginative, and the combat is interesting. The crafting aspect of the game is ingenious and fun, and you can really do a lot as far as variety between character classes and specs although there are definitely combinations with blatant advantages. I used to hem and haw about the fact you can only have 5 skills slotted until the point was made to me that with only 5 skills, it was impossible to know in a PVP setting how a player would act, and what they would do to thwart you. These days, my free time is very limited and ESO is working for me. I wish they would design a dungeon queue system like WoW,I hardly ever get to a dungeon because I don't have time to look for a group which can be difficult to find. i don't however want epic loot served to me on a silver platter, tired 2004 graphics, or the asshats that frequent WoW. ESO is blessedly lacking in the asshat department.… Expand

zoob_m

Dec 18, 2018

8

There isn't much to say here. Do you like modern Elder Scrolls games such as Skyrim or Oblivion? Do you like high fantasy MMOs such as World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2? Do you ever just wish you could get both in the same game? Well lucky for you, this game combines those two things seamlessly. It would be just another MMO or just another Elder Scrolls game, if not for doing theThere isn't much to say here. Do you like modern Elder Scrolls games such as Skyrim or Oblivion? Do you like high fantasy MMOs such as World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2? Do you ever just wish you could get both in the same game? Well lucky for you, this game combines those two things seamlessly. It would be just another MMO or just another Elder Scrolls game, if not for doing the remarkable task of being both.… Expand

CynicalFurry

Dec 26, 2019

8

Not fantastic, but not bad either.

First off, I love Fallout and Elder Scrolls, and I play both of the franchises RELIGIOUSLY. I am generally not very fond of MMO RPG's, but this one plays well, and I dont feel like an idiot for playing it. RPG Elements are a lot more limited compaired to its sibling games, but it is understandable, it is an MMO RPG, so they cant exactly have you beNot fantastic, but not bad either.

First off, I love Fallout and Elder Scrolls, and I play both of the franchises RELIGIOUSLY. I am generally not very fond of MMO RPG's, but this one plays well, and I dont feel like an idiot for playing it. RPG Elements are a lot more limited compaired to its sibling games, but it is understandable, it is an MMO RPG, so they cant exactly have you be free to do whatever, but it still is worth some time. I got bored a few times while playing, and found some of the quests to drone on just a little too long for my personal liking, but as soon as you start getting into it, the game becomes a joy to play. I really did enjoy my time playing it for the most part. I loved exploring some of the wonders of earlier tamriel than weve seen, and seeing some of the historic moments that the other games were built apon was definitely enjoyable. The only reason why i lost enjoyment in some parts is because of the limitation, But overall, i do reccomend this game greatly.… Expand

PenguinForSale

Dec 13, 2020

8

First of all: Of course I haven't played every MMORPG in the world, but in my opinion this is the best one out there!

Not just that you buy the game and then can play it whenever you want (no ESO Plus needed, DLCs not necessary - base game is fine, it will take a while for normal players to get to max level) but the game itself is worth the initial price you pay. It is big, it hasFirst of all: Of course I haven't played every MMORPG in the world, but in my opinion this is the best one out there!

Not just that you buy the game and then can play it whenever you want (no ESO Plus needed, DLCs not necessary - base game is fine, it will take a while for normal players to get to max level) but the game itself is worth the initial price you pay. It is big, it has heart, it's fun, full of life thanks to an amazing community, ever evolving, there is always something new to find, you can play whatever kind of combat style you want and change it later on, graphics are neat, active support, etc.
Addons make this game even better so now i have nothing to complain about the core experience.
Played it on PS4 first and switched to PC. Why? Just because community is a huge part in MMORPGs (imo) and it was annoying to communicate on console, also the addons made sense to me at higher level and if you play regularly.

ESO Plus is expensive for what you get though (that's why 8/10). And unfortunately if you play ESO with "purpose" at least the crafting bag is needed, regular bank and inventory space is not enough for a chronic looter... also the cosmetics or whatever you wanna buy from the crown store are also a little expensive. But that's optional, so, there you go.

Over 6 years on the market in a fast paced industry and ESO is still relevant and highly enjoyable to play. Other MMORPGs could never hold my attention this long. Good job.… Expand

Krissy004

Sep 18, 2021

8

If you like the elder scrolls series then you'll going to love this game. This game has a lot of single player content that I question its legitimacy as a MMO. With that being said, this game has a lot of multiplayer content to consider it self as a MMO. There's a ton of dungeons, PVP contents and raids. The main highlight of this game is how flexible it is to theorycraft the best classIf you like the elder scrolls series then you'll going to love this game. This game has a lot of single player content that I question its legitimacy as a MMO. With that being said, this game has a lot of multiplayer content to consider it self as a MMO. There's a ton of dungeons, PVP contents and raids. The main highlight of this game is how flexible it is to theorycraft the best class for your needs. Yes there's the usual class but you can achieve skills from other NPCs too. Even with a level cap, ESO incentivizes you to explore the world to get skyshards and do single player quest or delve quest to get those precious skill points. The monetization of this game is what you expect in a MMO this age. There's the cash shop where you can find exp boost, costumes and other cosmetic items. There's also a premium membership for $15 per month and the game lets you unlock past expansion and a larger loot bag for your crafting ingredients if you're the hoarder type of player.
Now let's talk about the main issue of this game. Skill and item balance. Zenimax is doing an awful job of balancing the game. Yes you can theorycraft a class but that class that you create might be so strong that you can fight 5 players at once and defeat them. That's the main reason why most ESO players are PVE players. Alliance war and battleground doesn't have that much player that they "simplified" the options. This obvious stems from Zenimax when they first creating the game. They thought it's fun to create absurd skills and item set effects but forget how it will affect the enjoyment of the players in their PVP contents. If you're a PVE player then all of the things that I've said about skill and item balance doesn't matter.
All in all, the game si good but there are some questionable decision especially the skill and item balance.… Expand

MunhozMCM

Nov 5, 2021

8

My Score:

(8) - Very Good!

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