The Elder Scrolls Online

 PC
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 2703 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,210 out of 2703
  2. Mixed: 447 out of 2703
  3. Negative: 1,046 out of 2703
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  1. VieriRoma
    Apr 5, 2014
    10
    For an Elder Scrolls fan, or a fan of MMOs in general, this game is a dream. Immersive, staggering amount of attention to detail, and just flat out fun to play. There is a ton of content in this game, and I just wish Zenimax had been more forthcoming with their information leading to release, but once you delve into the game, it is just massive. The combat is fun and engaging, and theFor an Elder Scrolls fan, or a fan of MMOs in general, this game is a dream. Immersive, staggering amount of attention to detail, and just flat out fun to play. There is a ton of content in this game, and I just wish Zenimax had been more forthcoming with their information leading to release, but once you delve into the game, it is just massive. The combat is fun and engaging, and the freedom to create builds with your characters is so much fun. I can only imagine what else is coming down the road with new weapon skill lines or class skill lines, or even new guilds. The graphics and the world are beautiful, and it manages to nail that Elder Scrolls feel of exploration and wonder. The quests are actually interesting, and not boring turn 10 of these in, come back, rinse and repeat. An amazing game overall, and most importantly, a smooth launch compared to some other big mmos in the past couple of years, with developers that actually are listening and fix things. Don't let the naysayers and trolls make you think this game is not worth it, because it most certainly is. A highly polished, fun, experience in a world you can lose yourself into for hours, I will be in Tamriel for the long foreseeable future.… Expand
  2. joanjett
    Apr 6, 2014
    10
    Wow is all i can say! This game has it all from pve to pvp. I've seen some people
    talk about how you can't explore? Bull...you even have runes for better exploration!
    And my god the game is huge! I started last sunday for the 5 day head start and i'm now at level 24 and i have been putting 10-12 hours a day in. There are some people who have max but thats your die hards who were beta    Wow is all i can say! This game has it all from pve to pvp. I've seen some people
    talk about how you can't explore? Bull...you even have runes for better exploration!
    And my god the game is huge! I started last sunday for the 5 day head start and i'm now
    at level 24 and i have been putting 10-12 hours a day in. There are some people who have max
    but thats your die hards who were beta tester's from when the game was in alpha and
    know all the tricks and did no crafting or exploring lol! And i love finding chests and trying to open em.

    The game graphics are top notch and the music is great! The combat is about same i've seen in games
    so nothing special there but thats ok with me. UI top notch! And the pvp area is not just for pvp as
    there are resources there for crafting and dungeons all over the place! LOL! Just make sure you got a good horse cause its freaking big! Don't understand the hate for this game....must be the kiddies cause they like
    everything to be free lol!    … Expand
  3. 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.
  4. A7ibaba
    Apr 22, 2014
    0
    This game sucks so hard ,it's beyond my comprehension to spend my words to describe this awfull piece of software. Combat is disgusting,texture are low ress, AI is bugged, enemy bosses are ridiculously unimaginitive and boring, world exploration is plain awful. This is ruined copy od Elder Scroll Skyrim with unoptimised online component full of glitches and software bugs.On top of thatThis game sucks so hard ,it's beyond my comprehension to spend my words to describe this awfull piece of software. Combat is disgusting,texture are low ress, AI is bugged, enemy bosses are ridiculously unimaginitive and boring, world exploration is plain awful. This is ruined copy od Elder Scroll Skyrim with unoptimised online component full of glitches and software bugs.On top of that monthly fee is required to play this garbage. I think 0 (Zero) is fair score for this game, just because of pure existance and to show the world how the games not should be made for future reference.… Expand
  5. realtonit
    Apr 10, 2014
    10
    I`ll give it a 10 because it made me quit WoW, finally.

    It`s better than WoW in almost every aspect, they just need to improve the game phisics, other than that its perfect, specially the PvP system. Castle wars are just too fun to describe. I`d play them everyday.

    10 out of 10 for ESO
  6. tariyaki
    Apr 22, 2014
    0
    Too much money for clunky animations, boring quests, bad graphics and a system that discourages you to play with other people considering it's an MMO.
    This game feels like it has been made by amatures while using the series good name to feed off the $$$.
    Stay away. not worth the money or the time.
    Replay Skyrim with mods instead.
  7. ethaner63
    Apr 8, 2014
    9
    I have played Morrowind, Oblivion, some Daggerfall, and Skyrim. I have also played WoW, Rift, Guild wars 1/2, Lineage 2, EVE, and LotRO (only a little).
    I have thoroughly enjoyed ESO. I'll start with the combat/levelling. The evolution of skill paths is **** genius, it allows for tons of different combinations and it really feels like you could use just about any spec that you come up    I have played Morrowind, Oblivion, some Daggerfall, and Skyrim. I have also played WoW, Rift, Guild wars 1/2, Lineage 2, EVE, and LotRO (only a little).
    I have thoroughly enjoyed ESO. I'll start with the combat/levelling. The evolution of skill paths is **** genius, it allows for tons of different combinations and it really feels like you could use just about any spec that you come up with effectively. The combat has most of the aspects of skyrim (sneaking is similar, etc.) except you have a tool bar with skills that is similar to GW2. There are no cooldowns on the skills, it is all about your stamina/magicka, so there is a lot of skill behind ordering your attacks and doing appropriate combos. There is an active dodge mechanic which keeps you on your toes and you have to be ready for aoes and power attacks from the mobs. It isn't a hyper complex combat system with amazing AI but it is much better than any other MMOs. ESO does a good job of borrowing good ideas from other MMOs and making them unique to the game while removing flaws that were apparent in their inspirations. There are anchors (like Rifts) and world boss spawns, public dungeons that you find just by wandering the environment. It really feels like elder scrolls to me, there are times where I completely forget that I am playing online. I like the artistry the most in this game, once you get past the tutorial and into some of the cool questlines there are some fantastic animation sequences/artistry. The environments are amazing (in the main quest for the Pact you end up in hammerfell at a tomb that is just breathtaking. This game retains that "Elder Scrolls Vibe" where you are totally entertained just wandering about the world looking at things. I find that I hardly pay attention to my levels/skills because I am legitimately invested in the quest lines, stories, and environments. This is not to say that there aren't grinding quests, but they are set up in such a way that they are auxiliary to a main goal or mission and you can get them out of the way at the same time (2 birds one stone, kill X number of people on your way to Y objective for the main questline in the area). The voice acting is impressive, tons of speaking characters and they all have entertaining dialogue. I can go on and on but I think you get it.
    There are some issues though, here are the ones that I have come up with. There is no open world PvP, so you can't take your character from one alliance and go terrorize the towns of another. This is disappointing because I love to do **** like that, and also I would like to explore the other zones without being forced to make an alt. The ranged combat is a bit frustrating, once you target an enemy the bow sort of just auto-aims at it. you can jump and do 360s and still land shots every time. It sort of ruins the immersion having arrows aim like that. I would suggest aimable arrows with more power so that dodging becomes a factor. I can see how scripting every arrow would be a feat of programming, so I can't complain too much. Some of the collection related grindy-sidequests have non-instanced collectibles which can be a pain in the ass if you are with a herd of people all trying to do the same quest and competing for the same collectibles. I can't comment on the endgame content but the world PvP is pretty entertaining, it is similar to WvWvW except the land is much larger and the siege is built in a better way. I'll have to mess with it more.
    Overall, ESO is probably the best MMO I've played in years, simply because it actually feels like an adventure and I enjoy the exploration and questing more than I ever have. There are flaws, but most of them are flaws that you would find in any other MMO (especially the last 2 that I listed). The environments are what make me come back, and the lore is integral to the game. The fact that it's in the second era makes all of the story fascinating because you find yourself working with the tribunal and a bunch of historical figures that you only get to read about in the other games.
    As a critic of many MMOs, I would give this one a 9/10. Probably the best rating I have given out in years and years. Let me know if you want further detail on anything. Don't let the people hating on the game get to you, most of them only played the beta or didn't get past level 10. The quest stories for the leveling zones always have cool cutscenes and you often find yourself whisked away to other worlds/continents, this keeps you from feeling like you are restricted to your alliance's land.    … Expand
  8. saulot
    Apr 7, 2014
    5
    I wanted to like this game. This is like elder scrolls in name and setting only. Combat seems so slow and grindsome. Graphics are poor, only 4 classes, pretty much like all the other mmos buts its not elderscroll
  9. 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 level    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 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
  10. Ixoziel
    Apr 13, 2014
    5
    When I first heard of The Elder Scrolls Online (mentioned as TESO from now on), I thought it would be fantastic. A few months prior I had mentioned to my friends that an online Elder Scrolls game would be awesome. I got invited to closed beta... and it was just disappointment after disappointment.

    The graphics are worse than Skyrim, and Skyrim came out in 2011. Why? I'm not big on    When I first heard of The Elder Scrolls Online (mentioned as TESO from now on), I thought it would be fantastic. A few months prior I had mentioned to my friends that an online Elder Scrolls game would be awesome. I got invited to closed beta... and it was just disappointment after disappointment.

    The graphics are worse than Skyrim, and Skyrim came out in 2011. Why? I'm not big on graphics... it's just very annoying to me, when you have a game in a series that comes out three years later and the graphics are worse. I loved morrowind, but trying to play it after Skyrim / Oblivion is tough for me because of the unimpressive graphics. I just don't understand the huge step BACK... if you're worried about everyone being able to play, just make it downscale well at lower settings.

    The combat tries to make you think it's action, but it's really just typical MMO fare. It has the "appearance" of having to aim your abilities, but WoW has aimable abilities too (AoE)... and that doesn't make it more exciting. Shooting with a bow is auto aim, spells are auto aim, it's just horribly boring. At least WoW has 25-30 spells usable at once, while in TESO you're locked to 5 because of the stupid limited spellbars.

    Now the business practices... Day 1 pay for power (horses): check. Have to pay extra money to play all races in all alliances, which ruins the lore: check. monthly fee, massive up front cost, AND a cash shop: check.

    I have spent HUNDREDS of hours each on morrowind, oblivion, and skyrim... and this game just bores me to tears. Literally every part of it is a step down from skyrim. The combat, the graphics, the immersion, the sound... the only upside is multiplayer.

    They tried too hard to please everyone, and they're caught in the middle now. Every part of the game is "OK" and nothing is fantastic. With oblivion / skyrim, the strong parts of the series were exemplified, now they're nonexistent, so you're just stuck with a bunch of "meh". And "Meh" isn't good enough for a game that wants you to pay money for horses, 80$ upfront, and 15$ a month.    … Expand
  11. orctown-troll
    Apr 11, 2014
    5
    Reading through the reviews here there is no doubt that most of the 10/10 scores have been written from development team members God-bless-them! The game is pretty good. It would be ok as free to play. Truth is that it is not easy to make a MMO that is going to be truly interesting for everyone. The need to drag the play out with deliberate grinding is going to deter most people in theReading through the reviews here there is no doubt that most of the 10/10 scores have been written from development team members God-bless-them! The game is pretty good. It would be ok as free to play. Truth is that it is not easy to make a MMO that is going to be truly interesting for everyone. The need to drag the play out with deliberate grinding is going to deter most people in the end. For this game $60 up front and then subscription represents pretty poor value for money. Most of us would be better of playing RIFT. Just as Bioware wasted millions making a mediocre game in SWTOR, Zenimax has wasted big bucks on a game that is simply not a good investment for most players. I suggest avoiding this game till it is free to play. Let's hope that rather than mediocre MMOs Zenimax actually puts some effort into greatly improving their single player games and evolving that model with co-op and multiplayer elements.

    Orctowngrot.    … Expand
  12. Onimor
    Apr 12, 2014
    10
    It doesn't take long for a player to understand that they are in the mists of playing something very special. The art work in the game is the magnus opus of mmo-rpgs. Having played many of them in the past, ranging from vanilla wow, age of conan, TSW, Terra, Rift, TOR etc etc. This game manages to ignite a feeling in playing an MMO that had long since been jaded in my mind. The explorationIt doesn't take long for a player to understand that they are in the mists of playing something very special. The art work in the game is the magnus opus of mmo-rpgs. Having played many of them in the past, ranging from vanilla wow, age of conan, TSW, Terra, Rift, TOR etc etc. This game manages to ignite a feeling in playing an MMO that had long since been jaded in my mind. The exploration in this game is its biggest strength. I love playing this game. People who hate it, are rating it for the wrong reasons (connections issues, bugs, I suspect they are trying to play it on a rust bucket tin can machine). This is a solid game, very well made. I would recommend it to any Next Gen User also, as I suspect like Diablo 3 it was transition very well.… Expand
  13. eroeru
    Jul 18, 2014
    0
    The game is a boring MMO piece of ****. I'm not surprised though that there have appeared bots/employees that deal a perfect score here, having not reviewed anything prior. Yet from a Bethesda-related game I'm disappointed.

    The game is first and foremost a boring cash-cow with nothing as advertised and only the per-month greedy monetizing of an essentially f2p game - the mechanics are    The game is a boring MMO piece of ****. I'm not surprised though that there have appeared bots/employees that deal a perfect score here, having not reviewed anything prior. Yet from a Bethesda-related game I'm disappointed.

    The game is first and foremost a boring cash-cow with nothing as advertised and only the per-month greedy monetizing of an essentially f2p game - the mechanics are usual cheap mmo ones, there's no freedom nor exploration other than that found in games like wow, the "massive battles" and "great sieges" are just bland walk-through-a-corridor scenes where the usual inert couple of "fighters" scattered on the road, here and there, having only the function of holding a sword and greeting you for a good day.

    The game is far worse than TOR even. A prime example of why no franchise can be trusted to go the MMO road. Even if the devs have good intentions, investors make the game a shell of an experience. Nothing to see here, move along.    … Expand
  14. xgamrx
    Apr 16, 2014
    9
    ESO is not your typical hack and slash MMORPG. It is a mix between Dungeon and Dragons Online, Age of Conan, Guild Wars, and World of Warcraft. I am not writing this review as a fan boy of Bethesda, but believe it is important that I chime in on the different perspectives of the game. The exploration and discovery component is enthralling to say the least. The battle engine could useESO is not your typical hack and slash MMORPG. It is a mix between Dungeon and Dragons Online, Age of Conan, Guild Wars, and World of Warcraft. I am not writing this review as a fan boy of Bethesda, but believe it is important that I chime in on the different perspectives of the game. The exploration and discovery component is enthralling to say the least. The battle engine could use some minor improvements but is adequate. The game play is really challenging and makes you think and prepare a plan before engaging in most battles. I have noticed no or minimal load times with absolutely zero in-game pop ups. The grinding is minimal while the character voice over, storyline and graphics are simply astonishing. It's a visceral treat and experience like no other. I will not comment on the PVP element since I am really not interested in that particular component. This review is coming from an extremely cynical gamer. Yes, ESO is not perfect and no game will ever completely meet or exceed our expectations, but it is still worth purchasing for any discerning gamer.… Expand
  15. 1am4critic
    Apr 11, 2014
    9
    Probably the best mmo out there since world of warcraft and guild wars. As an mmo, I feel the game is really engaging albeit slightly on the easy side. PVP is really fun, at first I thought the idea of the constant Cyrodil power struggle would limit what you could do as a pvper, but the battles can get really awesome. The loot is pretty cool, and I like how there are so many skillProbably the best mmo out there since world of warcraft and guild wars. As an mmo, I feel the game is really engaging albeit slightly on the easy side. PVP is really fun, at first I thought the idea of the constant Cyrodil power struggle would limit what you could do as a pvper, but the battles can get really awesome. The loot is pretty cool, and I like how there are so many skill abilities, sometimes I find it difficult which to chose. Compared to combat in other mmorpgs, I actually like this. If you seriously want to see numbers and damages dealt, there actually is a mod for that, and yes, ESO actually has mods! (which I feel is another plus), although mods are more limited than the singleplayer games like oblivion and skyrim.

    This game does have a few things keeping it from a ten though. Firstly, if you wish to play this as elder scrolls VI, you may find it a little bit of a disappointment. It was difficult merging the immersion level of the single player games and the fun, action and sociability of mmorpgs, and although I felt they did a good job, there are some obvious things that stick out. MMORPG people may find the game a little bit too not straightforward, the lack of ui and hud may frustrate a mmorpg veteran, while an Elder Scrolls fan may not appreciate the fancy abilities and hack and slash feel. Another thing that I should mention is the bugs, you would think a quality franchise like bethesda would have solved this by now, but expect to run into a few when you play. Fortunately nothing has been game breaking for me yet.

    The game is extremely good, and for an mmorpg, it is quite revolutionary. However, the joining of the two video game genres, although fairly seamless, had its flaws. But despite these flaws, I would say this is one of the best games I've played to date    … Expand
  16. streamlap
    Apr 8, 2014
    10
    Beside from the opening mission, questing is actually fun it doesn't feel as a grind at all.
    I really love the way you have total freedom over the way you develop your character and the way your frequently used skills and spells improve and you can morph them into something better and more personal it really makes you feel unique, this is surprisingly cause there is only 4 base classes to    Beside from the opening mission, questing is actually fun it doesn't feel as a grind at all.
    I really love the way you have total freedom over the way you develop your character and the way your frequently used skills and spells improve and you can morph them into something better and more personal it really makes you feel unique, this is surprisingly cause there is only 4 base classes to choose from.
    On top of that I think the pvp is amazing, even somewhat strategic at times also the use of siege weapons makes it ton of fun.
    On top of that the graphics are stunning.
    Overall I feel that this is one of few Mmo 's out there that does it right!    … Expand
  17. Arkeden
    Apr 21, 2014
    4
    Compared to many MMO's that set the standard for what a great multi-player online role-playing game should be, Elder Scrolls Online falls short in multiple areas.

    1) The spell animations, design, and variations are extremely limited. Ex: A Mage can only use Fire, Ice, and Lightning Spells. The ONLY true healer class/spells are holy. Many players like to see cool and colorful spell    Compared to many MMO's that set the standard for what a great multi-player online role-playing game should be, Elder Scrolls Online falls short in multiple areas.

    1) The spell animations, design, and variations are extremely limited. Ex: A Mage can only use
    Fire, Ice, and Lightning Spells. The ONLY true healer class/spells are holy. Many players like to see cool and colorful spell animations that make them feel powerful. ESO's spells are on the more subtle side.    … Expand
  18. gerar
    Apr 25, 2014
    1
    Laugh out loud at the 10's. They could only come from corporate shills or people with the lowest of low standards. This game is a train wreck and the bodies are piling up fast.

    Endless load screens Progress ending quest bugs Accounts banned for no reason Potentially economy destroying duping bugs Disappearing bank slots and items It really feels like bots and gold sellers are 20%    Laugh out loud at the 10's. They could only come from corporate shills or people with the lowest of low standards. This game is a train wreck and the bodies are piling up fast.

    Endless load screens
    Progress ending quest bugs
    Accounts banned for no reason
    Potentially economy destroying duping bugs
    Disappearing bank slots and items
    It really feels like bots and gold sellers are 20% of the player base
    Constant client crashes
    Combat is clunky at best (how anyone can say this is fluid is beyond me)
    Graphics are nice but the color schemes are bland at best
    Character creation is great until you realize how generic every single race looks when it is the same re-skinned skeleton
    Zerg-fest PvP
    Tedious PvE

    Of course the shills and low standard folk will scream "But but but it's an mmo they never have a smooth launch"

    And I will say " It's 20-fricken-14!"

    They have years of past mmo successes and failures to research and they put out this? A generic mmo with The Elder Scrolls slapped on it to sell some copies? A shame really.

    I did give it a "1" because it installed and uninstalled pretty easily.    … Expand
  19. Player1gamer
    Apr 5, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolutely solid multi-player RPG game, with real RPG elements that have been disappearing from games lately. Great character building/skill systems, lots of choices in the game that actually feel important to your character's progression.

    Pros:

    -Great music and audio effects, combat/weather sounds are impressive
    -Character creation process offers a ton of customization
    -Incredible aesthetics, art assets are exceptional, best looking MMO on the market
    -Skill/weapon/armor system is top notch, lots of possibilities
    -Story/writing are very well done
    -Crafting is an involved but fun process, not a useless chore
    -Combat involves real time aiming, blocking, interrupting, dodging, weapon swings, etc.
    -Collision detection
    -The game can actually be challenging at times while leveling, but isn't overly punitive
    -You can become a vampire or a werewolf, complete with various strengths and weaknesses
    -Overall extremely high production value

    Cons:

    -"Exploration" can sometimes feel like aimless wandering, not knowing what to do next
    -Experience rewards may need to be raised for pvp, dungeons, etc.
    -You can occasionally hit a brick wall in terms of progression, run out of quests, etc.
    -Some quest lines are occasionally bugged

    In my humble opinion, the best part of ESO is the skill system. Unfortunately there's been a trend in RPG gaming lately to dumb down or outright remove skill systems, resulting in more of an "action-arcade" type of experience. ESO bucks this trend, and features one of the most thorough, well thought out systems I've encountered.

    Any class can wield any weapon or armor type(s), resulting in many unique yet effective character builds. Melee sorcerers wielding huge 2 hand weapons, tanks with a caster-like fire spell focus, bow wielding Templars with burst healing; crazy yet viable combinations are plentiful. You can weapon swap on the fly too, which opens you up for a whole second bar of abilities and alternate play-style. Basically, you can create whatever type of character you want, and if you're smart with your choices, it should work. Ever wanted to play a melee warlock type of character that dual-wields swords and wears a mix of heavy and light armor? Go for it, it's entirely possible.

    Your character will gain skill points through quest chains, finding/collecting "Sky Shards", and leveling up. You can then invest these points into class skills, weapon skills, armor skills, racial passive skills, crafting skills, vampire/werewolf skills, mages/fighters guild skills, etc., etc.. If you're into theory crafting, or planning out and building rpg characters, there's a lot to get involved in with this skill system. It isn't so complicated or elaborate that a novice would be put off, but it offers a ton of depth which is really refreshing. The choices feel important, which is vital for a great RPG experience.

    Anyway, I'd highly recommend this to anyone who considers them self a real RPG fan. This is probably one of the best RPG titles released in the past several years.    … Expand
  20. Poisonthemonkey
    Jun 9, 2014
    0
    Waste of time! Not a lot of thought or heart was put into making this game, just a big budget. The combat is meh. It should get better as you get further in, but it doesn't. The dungeons are VERY poorly made, especially compared to other MMOs out on the market right now. Most importantly, there's little reason to trust the devs--they've hidden major beta bugs (dupes, quest progressionWaste of time! Not a lot of thought or heart was put into making this game, just a big budget. The combat is meh. It should get better as you get further in, but it doesn't. The dungeons are VERY poorly made, especially compared to other MMOs out on the market right now. Most importantly, there's little reason to trust the devs--they've hidden major beta bugs (dupes, quest progression bugs, etc) and pretended they only found out about them after release. How can you trust that the developers/producers will act with the player's interest in the long run? I can't, so I unsubbed.… Expand
  21. PixelCritic
    Apr 9, 2014
    10
    A delightful game.

    Story: It's compelling and immersive. Something refreshing, similar to SWTOR, but in a TES flavor, and unlike SWOTOR, this one comes with a great gameplay. Music: Amazing and inspiring. Even walking around cities will make you feel like buying the Soundtrack. Gameplay: Combat and animations are superb, the crafting system and open dungeons are a great experience    A delightful game.

    Story: It's compelling and immersive. Something refreshing, similar to SWTOR, but in a TES flavor, and unlike SWOTOR, this one comes with a great gameplay.
    Music: Amazing and inspiring. Even walking around cities will make you feel like buying the Soundtrack.
    Gameplay: Combat and animations are superb, the crafting system and open dungeons are a great experience without the frustration brought by other MMORPGs. Even regular combat feels epic.
    Social Interaction: This is where there is plenty of room for improvement. The Chat system makes it a bit difficult to keep track of players around you, and I would strongly suggest them to create RP phasing. The game uses a single server where people "phase" between instances by being paired with friends and guild members. The same should be done with Roleplayers. Roleplayers are often Elder Scroll fans who delve deep into the lore of the games. They prefer better communication and interaction and thus should get a "instance phasing" of their own.

    The game would get a 9, however I added an extra point to offset what I believe are unfairly low scores from users that really can't elaborate their reviews well at all.    … Expand
  22. GameroftheBeer
    Apr 10, 2014
    9
    This game is pretty great for someone who loves the Elder Scrolls universe and/or MMO's. That is not to say it is not without flaws, only that most flaws are bugs and not design/mechanics related. PvP is awesome and you truly feel part of a large scale battle at times, others you can be all alone scouting enemy territory. The graphics are somewhere between Oblivion and Skyrim.This game is pretty great for someone who loves the Elder Scrolls universe and/or MMO's. That is not to say it is not without flaws, only that most flaws are bugs and not design/mechanics related. PvP is awesome and you truly feel part of a large scale battle at times, others you can be all alone scouting enemy territory. The graphics are somewhere between Oblivion and Skyrim. Character customization is nearly infinite. The skill trees are seem linear but offer enough depth to truly be the type of player you want to be, a tank sorcerer, etc. While there is plenty to do in groups with friends in ESO, sometimes it seems if the quests want to separate parties into unique instances which is my only gripe currently with the PvE experience. Public Dungeons don't seem to have this problem but sometimes overcrowding can be the problem then.

    All in All, a great game and a nearly flawless launch compared to other recent online game launches.    … Expand
  23. Harlekin
    Apr 10, 2014
    9
    Some of the 'reviews', which are more subjective and unqualified opinions are not really suitable for a site like this. People turn towards these kind of sites to be able to get an idea about the game. Sad to see, that it is not really doable.

    Some people are trying to compare a MMO set in the Elder Scrolls lore with a stand-alone console / PC version, which has a different depth and a    Some of the 'reviews', which are more subjective and unqualified opinions are not really suitable for a site like this. People turn towards these kind of sites to be able to get an idea about the game. Sad to see, that it is not really doable.

    Some people are trying to compare a MMO set in the Elder Scrolls lore with a stand-alone console / PC version, which has a different depth and a different aim in general. People are trying to compare apples with pears here and it simply doesn't work.

    Nowadays many expect to have a free game, the graphics quality of the CryEngine 3 (so should like Crysis for example) etcpp. It simply is technically not feasible, so it would be good to gather information and understand first, before commenting like this on review pages. Further, people tend to forget the other MMOs out there and how they started out. Gazillion of bugs, technical issues, like lag, server crashes, packet losses and so forth.

    The game is actually fun. Of course it has its flaws as any other game too, but in regards to the big picture it does do a lot right. And I am not the biggest MMO player anymore. I quit more or less years ago. The game will receive its updates and improvements and will eventually grow over time.

    Sometimes I don't understand what people expect, when they say "it is nothing new" - well no, it is an MMO and there isn't much innovation that can be done in the first place --- look at the big screen or books --> same story there. The plot of many movies have existed for decades. They are visually pimped, have different actors and people like them, although there is not that much new to expect there as well.
    And for the costs? Paying a few bucks per month is no big deal to be honest. You simply can't neglect the running costs here - infrastructure, people, etc. It would be like going to Burger King and asking for free food. And a visit to the cinema already costs more nowadays. You can play 24/7/365 - that is more than you get for that money in many other fields.

    One thing for people who like to dismantle everything - it is easy to criticise something, but hardly anyone wirtes improvement points or suggestions. How would you make it better?
    Example: Someone cooks for you - you eat the food - you say: tastes like crap" ---> is that really valuabale information? I believe not! Something like:"you could have used these spices" or "cooked this a little longer" etc. is definitely more useful.

    Like that it is more like someone just complaining without having the knowledge to do so.

    My 5 cent.

    PS: No, I am not a fanboy, but I gave the rating due to so many unqualified '0's here.    … Expand
  24. Endenium
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    This is easily the best MMORPG I have ever played. Its a fairly balanced hybrid classic ES gaming and classic MMORPG formula. It brings many new ideas to the genre, but then borrows too many dated clichés. Some of the quests are brilliant. Others are bland, grocery list, grocery shopping quests. Get this. Get that. However, with the seemingly 1000s of quests in the game, I seriously cannotThis is easily the best MMORPG I have ever played. Its a fairly balanced hybrid classic ES gaming and classic MMORPG formula. It brings many new ideas to the genre, but then borrows too many dated clichés. Some of the quests are brilliant. Others are bland, grocery list, grocery shopping quests. Get this. Get that. However, with the seemingly 1000s of quests in the game, I seriously cannot blame them for eventually running low on great ideas. Perhaps they just shouldn't have made the leveling process quite as long? Maybe. Maybe not. They had to appease such a wide variety of players. There's no doubt that even if they cut leveling time in half that people would just **** about not having enough single player material. No one should complain though as there is truly something in this game that should satisfy anyone and everyone. There is so much content packed into it that it is just straight up astonishing. IMO any gamers that hate this game were probably former hard core MMORPG players that burned themselves out playing WoW or something, and are bitter nerdos that just can't seem to allow themselves to enjoy anything that doesn't recreate that experience in the exact same way. Its like those old bitter men that complain about "kids these days" and new music that comes out. They keep comparing it to a time when they were just generally happier in life, PERIOD. And they blame the new game or new music for their own failure or capacity to have fun or enjoy something.

    ESO is fun as **** if you approach it with an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to make the best of something that reaches so far in so many different directions. It is quite enjoyable, just as long as you don't compare it to the glossy nostalgia of biased memories. It will never compare to the memory of your favorite dream from long ago. It will however, be completely fulfilling and rewarding if you allow yourself to embrace something new in your life instead of resenting anything and everything that isn't exactly what you once had.    … Expand
  25. AdamE
    May 4, 2014
    10
    I was hesitant to buy this game because of the subscription. However, after taking the plunge and buying it, I would totally recommend it. The game looks great and the world is enormous. There are also tons of interesting quests to do. Overall, I imagine I'll spend a huge amount of time playing it.
  26. Fabtech23
    Apr 5, 2014
    9
    Just shy of being, in my opinion, a perfect MMO. Some bugged quests and some quests that feel too "fetchy" remind me that this still an mmo at heart. Overall though Zenimax did a fantastic job translating the Elder Scolls universe in to the multiplayer world. Class creation is essentially limitless thanks to the unique skill trees and how they can evolve. Voice acting is superb and I neverJust shy of being, in my opinion, a perfect MMO. Some bugged quests and some quests that feel too "fetchy" remind me that this still an mmo at heart. Overall though Zenimax did a fantastic job translating the Elder Scolls universe in to the multiplayer world. Class creation is essentially limitless thanks to the unique skill trees and how they can evolve. Voice acting is superb and I never felt like I was grinding level, just nicely progressing a story. Each zone, like other mmos, is broken in to the level range. However, each zone itself is essentially a mini skyrim, and you are free to explore it as you see fit with no shortages of random dungeons, quests, bosses, chests, or crafting modes to find. Endgame content remains to be seen, but if what I have experienced so far is any consolation, we're in for a treat. PVP is extremely large scale and the auto-jump to level 50 is nice for low level players allowing them to complete quests and feel involved in the current conflict. Attacking/ defending towers as well as placing siege artillery feels purposeful and meaningful. Honestly the best mmo I have ever played and overall just a great game. It might not play out to be the WoW killer everyone is waiting for, but it's a solid game in a series with a massive fan base. $15 a month is worth the plethora amount of content you're getting, seriously we're talking hundreds of hours.… Expand
  27. WreckBeard
    Apr 5, 2014
    10
    This game is simply awesome. There are a few bugs that are slightly annoying, but it is all normal for a game that just launched. It has that Elder Scrolls feel, but with the ability to join a large community with it.

    I would recommend this game to all of my friends.
  28. bravo872
    Apr 24, 2014
    0
    In the interest of full disclosure I should point out that I am no longer able to Log in to ESO.

    If your looking for, a Skyrim sequel, an elder scrolls multiplayer, a better feel than SWTOR, this unfortunately isnt it. It all started like any other MMO, lots of down time, bugs, and many many patches. Problem is that it did not get better and its growing pains only seemed to worsen.    In the interest of full disclosure I should point out that I am no longer able to Log in to ESO.

    If your looking for, a Skyrim sequel, an elder scrolls multiplayer, a better feel than SWTOR, this unfortunately isnt it.

    It all started like any other MMO, lots of down time, bugs, and many many patches. Problem is that it did not get better and its growing pains only seemed to worsen. Patches to fix one problem would just cause more issues. The guild banks had to be taken down, long log in times became login time out errors. New content and TV ads cant fix the flow of retreating customers.    … Expand
  29. Jilted
    Apr 28, 2014
    0
    I can see Zenimax is really fighting to hold their flagging scores. Just the day before yesterday the reviewer score was at a 74 and now some unknown "review" site pumped it up a point back into the green, not on what the game is, but what they "hope it could become". Then you have all these first post 10's in the user reviews which rattle off the same points just in different orders.I can see Zenimax is really fighting to hold their flagging scores. Just the day before yesterday the reviewer score was at a 74 and now some unknown "review" site pumped it up a point back into the green, not on what the game is, but what they "hope it could become". Then you have all these first post 10's in the user reviews which rattle off the same points just in different orders. They've also gone on the attack for reviewers like Angry Joe, Francis/Boogie, and many others, saying that it's just now the "Hip(ster)" thing to do, and bash on their game. Then they go around on fake accounts posting things like "try it for yourself, why would you trust some unknown reviewer?" like like $100+ just to try their shoddy game is chump change. Suck it up Zenimax, you failed and failed hard. It's not because it's just "cool" to hate your game, it's because you didn't listen to anyone who fairly criticized your game during beta and keep trying to blame everything from WoW to Hipsters for your failure. This is the third time I've said pretty much this, let's see if this one sticks without mysteriously disappearing.… Expand
  30. fluffybunny
    Jun 24, 2014
    0
    Game is let down by the most extreme incompetence in both the developer vision, the incompetence of the coding team for patches, and the incompetence of the terrible customer support.
  31. DaChunK
    Apr 5, 2014
    6
    A very STATIC and GRIND game. By static I mean it does not give me anything unexpected. By all intensive purposes it's a generic MMO. Creatures do not attack unless very close or you attack first which I find very boring, there are NO dynamic random encounters, all characters are placed and stay there to an effect, questing is meaningless and crafting is a overly complicated and longA very STATIC and GRIND game. By static I mean it does not give me anything unexpected. By all intensive purposes it's a generic MMO. Creatures do not attack unless very close or you attack first which I find very boring, there are NO dynamic random encounters, all characters are placed and stay there to an effect, questing is meaningless and crafting is a overly complicated and long winded affair.

    The reason I love Eldar Scrolls games is it dynamic nature, you don't know what to expect. This game has not surprised me once yet!

    As per normal MMO, players run around as fast as they can running errands to level up. For this is the only respectable way to level and for that very reason, people don't give a poo about what the quest actually is. Why change an already great system that the past 5 games had in place? Leveling came naturally as you explore and have random encounters. Questing was an optional and it was fun, you actually listened to the dialog and cared about the quest itself.

    As with pretty well ALL other MMO's, it takes hundreds of hours to reach max level. This is my biggest GRIPE. For me it is not realistically achievable. I'm an older gamer and spending that much time to reach the "end" game is crazy and I think poorly designed. I'll most likely never experience what it's like to "finish" the game and see my character at his/her peak strength. I'd love to see and MMO where you can get to max level after 50 hours, therefore rewarding players sooner.

    The good points - Great graphics, fantastic character and skill development, a hug expansive world with plenty to see and do and decent pvp.

    I'll most likely enjoy it for a while but not subscribe and not play the obscene amount of hours to reach end game.    … Expand
  32. GuruChaz
    Apr 30, 2014
    9
    I played in the beta and I wasn't sure I wanted to purchase this game. It felt like I was playing a flat single player game and just chatting with people online. I don't know what happened but about a month after release, I decided to trade a few PS3 games in at Gamestop, pay the difference, and get Elder Scrolls Online. I have to say that I am enjoying the release version of thisI played in the beta and I wasn't sure I wanted to purchase this game. It felt like I was playing a flat single player game and just chatting with people online. I don't know what happened but about a month after release, I decided to trade a few PS3 games in at Gamestop, pay the difference, and get Elder Scrolls Online. I have to say that I am enjoying the release version of this game way more than I did the beta version. There's a lot more polish and the game doesn't feel as flat. It's been enjoyable as both a Nightblade and a Sorcerer. Dungeon groups are fun and the story line and quests are abundant and well done. I'm a picky gamer and I will sincerely give this game a 9. I don't know who is giving it a 6.2 or whatever. That's ridiculously low...stupid low, in fact. It's really good if you like Elder Scrolls and especially the crafting system.… Expand
  33. The_Grim
    Jun 11, 2014
    9
    To be honest, it is shocking that this game has an average user rating of 5.9. To put this in perspective, this is a significantly lower rating than Marvel Heroes, TERA, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Darkfall: Unholy Wars and Dungeons and Dragons Online received. All of which are *vastly* inferior to the gaming experience of Elder Scrolls Online.

    As an MMO fan since around 1999, this is    To be honest, it is shocking that this game has an average user rating of 5.9. To put this in perspective, this is a significantly lower rating than Marvel Heroes, TERA, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Darkfall: Unholy Wars and Dungeons and Dragons Online received. All of which are *vastly* inferior to the gaming experience of Elder Scrolls Online.

    As an MMO fan since around 1999, this is far and away the best MMO that has released since World of Warcraft came out in 2004 (that includes the Secret World...which is another MMO I was very fond of). It is has kept my interest similar to how my favorite MMOs to date have: 1) Asheron's Call, 2) Dark Age of Camelot, 3) World of Warcraft, 4) City of Heroes and 5) The Secret World all did when they came out. It is too premature to say if it will crack that top 5, but it certainly has the potential to do so. If you are an MMO fan and have not played this, you are truly missing out on a very entertaining MMO gaming experience.

    There has been a ton of misinformation regarding this game. I wanted to address several of the common incorrect things that have been stated regarding this game based off my experience playing it since pre-launch:

    - The game is not even remotely as buggy as people claim it is. I have encountered (through yesterday) 4 bugged quest through approximately 525 completed. Of those 4, there were 3 that were fixed 2 days after the official launch of the game and 1 (introduced a week and a half ago) that was fixed this Monday.

    - The bot situation has been over exaggerated greatly. Botting was an issue but primarily occurred (but not limit to) the lower level zones. It was unlikely, but not impossible to see them outside of those areas. In the two months I have played, I have seen a total of 5 bots. That number does not indicate a rampant problem, but it was something that did need to be addressed. This is something that Zenimax has been working on and I haven't seen a bot in a few weeks at this point.

    - As a big fan of the Elder Scrolls game (especially Oblivion and Skyrim), it is not a standard Elder Scrolls game, but honestly...that would be difficult to do in an MMO format. The reason being is that it is hard to provide a level based progression in a true sandbox environment (that was something that the Secret World was able to kind of get around while leveling by just rewarding skill points). However, this is a great Elder Scrolls game as a MMO. It is important to make that distinction.

    - The questing while leveling is actually fun and the story line provide some very interesting lore to help drive and form what your doing. This combined with the huge game map and incredible graphics as well as sounds provides some a great immersive game experience.

    - The combat and specialization options provides a different and unique approach to the standard MMO genre conventions. The combat is more resource limited with active combat elements (such as blocking, dodging) with no true global cooldowns. In addition, there is a ton of different specialization options for your characters...with very few true cookie cutter builds (most that are obviously superior have been getting carefully and methodically adjusted). The ability to build your character around your preferred gaming style is very refreshing. However, this is a caveat to this when you get into the Veteran Ranks that I will mention below).

    - The reason this game is currently getting a 9 (instead of a 10) from me is due to the undefined way that Veteran Ranks are being handled. They don't seem to have a clear concept (or haven't shared it with the user community) of how those will be utilized to provide further progression in the game. This lack of clarify and currently implementation makes the leveling for the Veteran Ranks more grindy and less rewarding that the 1-50 experience. In a recent newsletter, they did say they were looking at ways to improve this, but there are no specifics as of yet. That is my primary concern for this game at current. If they can develop a good system for this that fits into character progression, this game will be amazing.

    In closing, I would recommend if you are an MMO fan that you check this game out when the opportunity arises and that you do not buy into the hyperbole regarding this game. If you are wary of buying it (only $30 on Amazon in the US right now), I would recommend waiting for a sale on it, a friend pass or a trial if it becomes available to see for yourself. This is the best MMO to become available on the market in a long time and don't let someone else's misinformation steer from trying a great game.    … Expand
  34. erezike
    Apr 7, 2015
    0
    A very bad online game, a terrible single player game.
    It starts off nice with a decent intro-cut scene and a familiar location in molag bal daedric dimension.
    The combat is familiar and reminds of skyrim and oblivion. the four classes gives you enough to play with and the 3 different factions fighting for control over the realm seems promising and balanced. But that where the good ends    A very bad online game, a terrible single player game.
    It starts off nice with a decent intro-cut scene and a familiar location in molag bal daedric dimension.
    The combat is familiar and reminds of skyrim and oblivion. the four classes gives you enough to play with and the 3 different factions fighting for control over the realm seems promising and balanced.
    But that where the good ends and the bad starts to kick in.
    The world doesn't encourage you to play with other people, people run from one boring quest to the next without any incentive other than to level up and push the boring story forward, the game doesn't manage to lure you in,. this is due to the doll quest, unimmersive environment which doesn't react to your actions with spawning enemies every 30 seconds and other player runabouts who are completeting the exact same quests as you, so there you are stuck in this chain of quests and poorly done exploration, where you are about to embark on this important quest only to find out someone else finished that gravely important quest only seconds before, and someone else is going to finish the exact same quest after you seconds after. Its ridiculous.

    The leveled enemies - enemies are leveled in order to guide you on the right path of exploration, there is no lore difference between the enemies you defeat when you are level 1 and the enemies you defeat at level 20 other than to guide you on the right path of the developer, this makes no sense storywise.

    enemies spread - enemies are spread in pairs across the map and seem to take no notice of their friends 20 meters away who are engaged in deadly combat.

    Graphics and sound are mediocre in comparison to 2011 skyrim, everything feels dead and flat.

    Despite the fuzz it gave me to play an elderscrolls game. and the prospect of engaging in a battle as part of the alliance, this game is a total letdown and isn't worth your money.    … Expand
  35. Chomag7
    Apr 5, 2014
    7
    I was really excited about this game, I even flamed haters and naysayers but my opinion of this game has changed drastically since headstart.

    I have leveled 3 characters to level 10 since then and my verdict on this game is this: GAME IS BORING. I won't criticize bugged quests or subscription plans or anything like that, I'm only going to say that the game is really light on the Fun    I was really excited about this game, I even flamed haters and naysayers but my opinion of this game has changed drastically since headstart.

    I have leveled 3 characters to level 10 since then and my verdict on this game is this: GAME IS BORING.

    I won't criticize bugged quests or subscription plans or anything like that, I'm only going to say that the game is really light on the Fun factor due to combat mechanics lacking that thing that would make combat engaging and fun, not to mention the combat animations themselves are far from being something to be excited about. There is also way way way too much running/riding between quest locations. Also leveling is SLOW AS **** I mean it, you can spend 8 hours in the game and you'll barely hit level 10 - this coming from someone who plays video games a lot.

    All player models in the game have some kind of glitch, like weapons clipping through limbs or heads. Though granted, this is an OCD of mine (I really hate clipping of gear though the limbs of my character) and you may not care about such issues. I found the female khajiit model to be the most clipping free model.

    While I never considered ESO could be a contender for WoW, I'm sad to say that it doesn't even qualify as a time filler until WoD, as it becomes boring really fast and makes further leveling seem climbing a mountain except there is no reward at the top. I believe in the idea that leveling should be a fun journey in any game and not something to wade through on your way to the end-game. ESO fails here, leveling is extremely boring.

    I am now going to join the haters who say the game will be f2p in 6 months. Sorry but it's my genuine feeling. ESO is simply lacking Fun.    … Expand
  36. Ralathar44
    Apr 14, 2014
    10
    The Elder Scrolls Online manages to be a unique and compelling game that bucks the conventions of traditional MMORPGs and brings a little of that Elder Scrolls flavor into the MMORPG scene. But do not mislead yourself, it is NOT Skyrim 2.

    Essentially it is a fairly free form MMORPG that makes questing interesting and matter, gives great freedom of building your character, and on a more    The Elder Scrolls Online manages to be a unique and compelling game that bucks the conventions of traditional MMORPGs and brings a little of that Elder Scrolls flavor into the MMORPG scene. But do not mislead yourself, it is NOT Skyrim 2.

    Essentially it is a fairly free form MMORPG that makes questing interesting and matter, gives great freedom of building your character, and on a more subtle level really makes the world feel satisfying. The quests all make sense, areas don't feel the same, interesting little things are tucked around every corner, and the atmosphere and music cap it off. The world just feels alive.

    Lets get down to business.

    Story: 10

    I'm not talking about huge jaw dropping story moments here. The game manages to be consistently real and interesting throughout. Each quest feels real and you don't get sent out on fetch 10 or kill 20 quests. Instead they want you to do things like save crew members, stop rituals, find books of dark knowledge, stop mutinies, pray at shrines to pay respect to a mothers children, etc.

    Killing and item uses happens during these quests, but the focus is on accomplishing something and not just slogging through something to put more exp on your bar. This is the first time in forever that I actually read quest text.

    SWTOR did well on story too, but it had great high points and then everything else sucked. TESO is consistently good throughout. TESO beats out every other MMORPG when it comes to consistently good story, hands down.

    Graphics: 10

    This has some of the best graphics of any MMORPG on the market. Within it's genre it is top notch. But this is not to be compared to skyrim, it's a multiplayer game with the capability of putting 500 people on screen at one time and still running smoothly, that would kill Skyrim.

    Also, people tend to think about MODDED skyrim. Vanilla Skyrim and even DLC HD Skyrim is not near as impressive before you start adding all the custom mods to it.

    Atmosphere: 10

    Each area feels hand crafted. I've been looking for areas that looks the same and have not yet found one. Each area feels appropriate to itself and the quests in that area. The music and the quests given strengthen this. There are scenic views, shipwrecked coastlines, swamps, forests, beautiful cities, etc.

    I've been been playing MMORPG's a long time and without a doubt this is the best one I've played in regards to atmosphere.

    Gameplay: 8/10

    The game starts out a little slowly in the gameplay department and before you hit level 10-15 your combat is much less dynamic and interesting than it will be later. So hang in there. Once you make it past those level though:

    The gameplay is solid and fun, but it's not groundbreaking and it won't be the reason you stay in TESO. Granted this is much much better in PVP, but even then it's just good and not heads and tails above other games like some of it's other aspects.

    The combat is complex enough to be challenging without overflowing you with buttons. The character building is varied and doesn't seem to have "right" answers atm and dungeons have even been run with all DPS. Speaking of, dungeon encounters are really fun :D.

    Dungeons: 10

    I'm not much of a raider. I raid and do dungeons in every MMORPG a little bit but have never been drawn in before...till now. I've raided in quite a few MMORPGs too.

    TESO dungeons however manage to be consistently entertaining and CHALLENGING. A good clean run through might have 2 wipes in it, but it doesn't feel too punishing to wipe out here and there and in fact each boss gives you a soul gem (to revive with) so it's kind of expected.

    Boss mechanics are fun and challenging, the atmosphere in dungeons is amazing, the story of dungeons is solid, and the level design is great.

    PVP: 10

    PVP is amazing and is likely the closest thing to Dark Age of Camelot that has happened yet. I would say it's very comparable to Guild Wars 2 PVP EXCEPT it's much deeper and more satisfying. Losing battles in TESO MATTERS. Rezzing is limited. The map is HUGE.

    Combat is fast and frenetic but not as much so as Guild Wars 2, being slightly more strategic. I wouldn't say it's perfect, there are still some tweaks that likely need to be made, but it's VERY good.

    Also, just watching a battle with siege weapons and spells firing back and forth is a spectacle to behold.

    UI: 8/10 The games minimalistic UI is clean and immersive, staying out of the way to enhance you feeling part of the world. If this does not appeal to you then you can turn on more UI in the options to get the information you crave. If this still isn't enough for you then the game supports add-ons via LUA . But the game loses 2 points on UI for it's Guild Store system, which needs some work currently. Conclusion: Very very solid story based MMORPG that has a unique feel from there others and has well done PVP. I highly recommend trying it out for yourself    … Expand
  37. Vindicator
    Apr 22, 2014
    0
    I know so much work went into this game, but it's such a disappointment. This is not an Elder Scrolls game, this is something else. If it didn't have this name slapped on the box, it would be a different story, but I can't support this direction for the series. The things that could have been kept in the game like unrestricted freedom and opportunity to go where you want and attempt toI know so much work went into this game, but it's such a disappointment. This is not an Elder Scrolls game, this is something else. If it didn't have this name slapped on the box, it would be a different story, but I can't support this direction for the series. The things that could have been kept in the game like unrestricted freedom and opportunity to go where you want and attempt to do what you want in a vast open world would have made this quite the experience. Unfortunately the devs instead made it a very restricted cookie cutter MMO experience and ruined their opportunity for something amazing. Sorry devs, copy/pasting what makes other games successful into an existing franchise that can already stand on it's own two feet neither does your game justice, it doesn't do the fans of the series justice.… Expand
  38. Faidin
    Apr 13, 2014
    10
    I think this is an excellent game - the best mmorpg I've played since DAOC / EQ1. The combat is enjoyable, the quests are a lot of fun to complete, and the best part about this game is that it never feels like a grind. It's just one epic experience that keeps getting better.
  39. Tanikaze
    Apr 13, 2014
    10
    I give this game a 10 to counter the unnecessary negative pple giving it 0 with no reason!
    The Elder Scrolls Online is really a great game, being both a huge MMO with PvP and social features, and an RPG with deep lore and customisation. It still has bugs, but it's less bugged than Skyrim at release and servers are fine.
    Don't miss it if you were waiting for an MMO that isn't a WoW-clone    I give this game a 10 to counter the unnecessary negative pple giving it 0 with no reason!
    The Elder Scrolls Online is really a great game, being both a huge MMO with PvP and social features, and an RPG with deep lore and customisation. It still has bugs, but it's less bugged than Skyrim at release and servers are fine.
    Don't miss it if you were waiting for an MMO that isn't a WoW-clone (and that finally uses some cool graphics)!!!    … Expand
  40. Luckyduck
    Apr 27, 2014
    0
    This game is trash. The combat is floaty, the classes are horribly unbalanced, there's endgame besides Cyrodil, and the business model thinks it deserves to be both a subscription based game as well as a cash shop driven game. To add insult to injury, you need to cancel your sub 30 days in advance, so if you didn't cancel immediately after signing up to try your free month, you're goingThis game is trash. The combat is floaty, the classes are horribly unbalanced, there's endgame besides Cyrodil, and the business model thinks it deserves to be both a subscription based game as well as a cash shop driven game. To add insult to injury, you need to cancel your sub 30 days in advance, so if you didn't cancel immediately after signing up to try your free month, you're going to get billed for another pay period, whether you want to or not.

    Fire Matt Firor already, quit giving that guy a job. He doesn't deserve one in this industry. Then bring in Todd Howard to fix this abomination he didn't even want.    … Expand
  41. 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
  42. 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
  43. nikkonymous
    Apr 21, 2014
    7
    I'm a bit disappointed with the game. PvE is barely stable, especially those on the quests. Encountered several annoying bugs and glitches. But still pretty much worth a shot. Love the unique dynamic combat style, crafting, exploration, good story and many more. That's why I could never hate this game, since I'm a big fan of the series since TES 2 Daggerfall and MMO games. Still hopingI'm a bit disappointed with the game. PvE is barely stable, especially those on the quests. Encountered several annoying bugs and glitches. But still pretty much worth a shot. Love the unique dynamic combat style, crafting, exploration, good story and many more. That's why I could never hate this game, since I'm a big fan of the series since TES 2 Daggerfall and MMO games. Still hoping zenimax devs could figure out faster ways to fix the current content.… Expand
  44. toaster00
    Apr 28, 2014
    9
    Incidentally, I'm willing to accept that scores from maybe 3-8 are honest expressions of opinion which differ from mine. But scores of 0? Please. That's just preposterous. Even if I only looked at the (rapidly disappearing) bugs and not the solid fundamentals, this game can't seriously be rated below a 5. Scores of 0 smack of an organised campaign by WOW neckbeards to keep people playing aIncidentally, I'm willing to accept that scores from maybe 3-8 are honest expressions of opinion which differ from mine. But scores of 0? Please. That's just preposterous. Even if I only looked at the (rapidly disappearing) bugs and not the solid fundamentals, this game can't seriously be rated below a 5. Scores of 0 smack of an organised campaign by WOW neckbeards to keep people playing a dying game.
    This game is, at worst, an acne-spotted teenager who has a good future if things go right. WOW is a senile old man that smells of cheese and whines on and on about the old days.    … Expand
  45. Querelle
    May 1, 2014
    10
    It's the best storytelling MMO so far. A world immersive, rich and beautiful and enormous waits to be discovered. I have never been so absorbed by a MMO-World. I really love this game! For me it's the best Elder Scrolls game so far because it is much more storydriven and you can feel the leitmotif much more than in any other Elder Scrolls game...
  46. tmacdonald
    May 3, 2014
    9
    The Elder Scrolls Online is a great game which manages to make staple game features feel fun and fresh, and provides a world full of interesting places to explore. Everyone should take it upon themselves to play this marvellously crafted MMORPG
  47. Cyanthrax
    Oct 28, 2014
    7
    Thought I would make an update of my review from when the game first released. To this day it's still a pretty decent game.

    The positives: There's a lot of character customization just like you would find in any other TES game. It's especially nice when it seems choice is slowly dying in the world because those choices were often obsolete while in TES no matter what you choose it's    Thought I would make an update of my review from when the game first released. To this day it's still a pretty decent game.

    The positives:

    There's a lot of character customization just like you would find in any other TES game. It's especially nice when it seems choice is slowly dying in the world because those choices were often obsolete while in TES no matter what you choose it's beneficial in some way. The game also presents quite a bit of difficulty in most situations. You always have to be on your feet in this game in just about all situations. The art and gameplay all look like it's a TES game and I truly believe that ESO lived up to being an Elder Scrolls game, just online. A lot of people complain about it for stupid reason; the graphics. These people often don't understand game design and don't get that you can't have current gen graphics in an MMORPG. The feel of the game itself is as TES as it gets with the exception the animations are a little different; again understandable if you get game development. ZoS also does pretty well at listening to their playerbase and I think have a good future in the coming years for this game.

    The negatives

    The game has released 6 months ago yet bugs are still present. I expect some bugs, but I would've expected ZoS to have it pretty close to being perfect by now. The game is also extremely lacking in content if you're a PvPer and feels very much like it's just a grindfest. Nothing is new and it feels really repetitive when there's only one form of PvP that many game developers seem to think is extremely fun which is AvA battles; EG massive 100 vs 100 player battles where you usually take forts and keeps. The gameplay is always based on who can make the biggest Zerg. There's no structure in it. If this game had gladiatorial PvP (arenas) I would be sold, but as of now it's just repetitive. Obtaining gear can also be a massive chore. Don't get me wrong. I love a challenge and I love something that's going to eat a lot of my time, but at this point getting max level gear is insanely time consuming where you would actually have to live on the game if you wanted to be in top tier gear. The veteran system also seems kinda pointless. I don't get why they don't just add new armor tiers instead of making me level every time a new tier releases. If I wanted to level more I would play my alt.

    Other thoughts

    They're adding a new system that has a massive new line of talents. So massive in fact it would take a player 6 months to complete and that's if you play the game more than the average and if ZoS doesn't add more to it...I love the fact that means more choices and more progression for my character, but I truly disagree that whoever plays the most should have a much high advantage over someone who's more skilled.    … Expand
  48. ManrayInTheSky
    Jan 25, 2015
    10
    Best continuation of TES series. Beautiful graphic, nice pve, open world, non-target, pvp siege battles. Don't even listen to haters, you will love it.
  49. RobertC
    Apr 11, 2014
    3
    Broken quests and dungeons might be overlooked. But, the vanishing banks is over the edge. Add to that the horrid customer service and, this is one to avoid until/if they get their act together. Really sad as, I was a huge fan up until release.
  50. Sturminator
    Apr 4, 2014
    9
    It's no joke that, in recent years, the mmo genre has become over saturated and as a result become almost stagnant and dry. 2014 is turning out to be a hopeful year for mmo players, not only because of Wildstar or WoD, but because of the Elder Scrolls Online. By no means is the game perfect, but what if there is one word I would use to describe ESO it would be: Fun. The only reason IIt's no joke that, in recent years, the mmo genre has become over saturated and as a result become almost stagnant and dry. 2014 is turning out to be a hopeful year for mmo players, not only because of Wildstar or WoD, but because of the Elder Scrolls Online. By no means is the game perfect, but what if there is one word I would use to describe ESO it would be: Fun. The only reason I wouldn't give this game a higher score is because in its current state it is very buggy. Hopefully Zenimax can iron these problems out, but until then I will think of ESO as a very enjoyable game with a lot of potential.… Expand
  51. floatingbumblee
    Apr 22, 2014
    3
    One third of TESO players who took the time to review it think it sucks.
    ONE THIRD!
    That's pretty damn sad. Personally each time I turn it back on it feels like i've picked the top off a scab just before it has healed. The "Critic" reviewers saying this game breaks new territory... i uh... really? THIS GAME IS A COOKIE CUTTER of EVERY OTHER MMO YOU HAVE EVER PLAYED only more    One third of TESO players who took the time to review it think it sucks.
    ONE THIRD!
    That's pretty damn sad.
    Personally each time I turn it back on it feels like i've picked the top off a scab just before it has healed.
    The "Critic" reviewers saying this game breaks new territory... i uh... really?
    THIS GAME IS A COOKIE CUTTER of EVERY OTHER MMO YOU HAVE EVER PLAYED only more infuriating because it feels like they spent all their resources on named actors when they could have spent it on fixing bugs and developing thrilling content and making a truely OPEN WORLD (where you can climb **** mountains and swim to OBLIVION if you want to... so annoying).
    Freetoplay FTW!!!!!! You lost me Betheduhyeah... i just dont get yous    … Expand
  52. nomad2185
    Apr 11, 2014
    10
    I love it!Best MMO out there(personal opinion).I'm regular player of WoW the last 4 years but ESO is so different with great meaning of say ! The Graphics and Music are Great!Customer service is very good until now and The exploring is great! It's worth 13 euros per month.
  53. Dreycraft
    Apr 10, 2014
    10
    If you're tired of the same old mmorpgs to hit shelves, if you're tired of mmorpgs promising innovation but just end up being a huge letdown, and if an mmorpg that encourages you to explore a gorgeous world and feels old-school with modern mechanics of the genre sounds right up your alley, The Elder Scrolls Online is your game, period. Very few people even know just how massive this gameIf you're tired of the same old mmorpgs to hit shelves, if you're tired of mmorpgs promising innovation but just end up being a huge letdown, and if an mmorpg that encourages you to explore a gorgeous world and feels old-school with modern mechanics of the genre sounds right up your alley, The Elder Scrolls Online is your game, period. Very few people even know just how massive this game is, certainly not the haters, they just pretend to know so they can give it ridiculously undeserved low scores because for some reason the game just pisses them off. Let me put it this way, if you played Oblivion, you know the land of Cyrodiil quite well, this game has the entire province of Cyrodiil from Oblivion, it's the same size, and the entire map is a PvP playground. When I first learned that, my jaw hit the floor, and when I finally experienced it in-game myself, my jaw hit the first story floor of my house. The PvP in this game is unmatched, and that's just one aspect of what this game has to offer. You can build a character however you want, wear whatever armor you want, and use whatever weapon you want. For some reason you want to be a rogue-type class(Nightblade) that wears heavy armor and wields a massive two-handed battleaxe? No problem, you have that option, and that just popped in my head, it may not make sense but who cares, that's why ESO rules. Then there is the crafting, you don't have to train to get them and aren't limited to only a few crafts, you can master them all at once, and you can immediately go out and gather any materials you find and begin experimenting with them to create instantly useful items. ESO's combat is just awesome, it uses what is called reticle-targeting action combat meaning you can miss your enemies if you don't have the reticle aimed on them, and everyone can dodge, block, interrupt, and sneak. The main story and other quests have been very clever and entertaining as well, even the low level ones. I could go on forever, there's so much this game has to offer, it's just ridiculous. If you love this genre and pass on The Elder Scrolls Online, you just robbed yourself. IGNORE THE HATERS!… Expand
  54. WhiteTalpa
    Apr 11, 2014
    4
    awful controls i mean like sometimes it doesnt even work, the lagg is awful considering it doesnt even look that great and i mean my pc can handle better looking games, the quests are boring... the npc look like actual players so thats really confusing and it meant ive died a couple of times...because i have to put it in low graphic setting some of the quest npc wont even load into theawful controls i mean like sometimes it doesnt even work, the lagg is awful considering it doesnt even look that great and i mean my pc can handle better looking games, the quests are boring... the npc look like actual players so thats really confusing and it meant ive died a couple of times...because i have to put it in low graphic setting some of the quest npc wont even load into the game right away i have to stand there and wait for it to load there are so many more reasons why this is an awful MMORPG if you're a fan on elder scrolls you're gonna be disappointed and if you're a fan on MMORPGS you're gonna be disappointed.… Expand
  55. 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
  56. Dragonborne_777
    Apr 11, 2014
    9
    First off all I am an Elder Scrolls lore junkie and huge fan. I have played The Elder Scrolls Arena when is was first released and all subsequent titles thereafter, (Daggerfall, Morrowind, Redguard, Battlespire, Oblivion, Skyrim as well as the mobile games). Eso is not a perfect game but it is a good game. Most other positive reviews have covered the good points about the game so I won'tFirst off all I am an Elder Scrolls lore junkie and huge fan. I have played The Elder Scrolls Arena when is was first released and all subsequent titles thereafter, (Daggerfall, Morrowind, Redguard, Battlespire, Oblivion, Skyrim as well as the mobile games). Eso is not a perfect game but it is a good game. Most other positive reviews have covered the good points about the game so I won't go into detail about what I like.The only bad think I can think of is the quest phasing. If you and your said friend are not at the same phase in the main story and you are having trouble completing a storyline step, A.K.A boss mob, your friend cannot join your instance to help you with said boss. The only way said friend can help you is if he is on the same phase as you. This is my only complaint about the game and in my opinion needs to be fixed. All in all I understood this was an MMO and not a single player Elder Scrolls game. I understood some sacrifices had to be made regarding the game. Eso, is one of the better MMO's I have played since Vanilla WoW and I have had a lot of fun playing it so far. It is worth the buy. And yes I have played onter mmos such as Ultima Online, Everquest, Rift, Vanguard, Everquest 2 , World Of Warcraft, DOC, etc.… Expand
  57. Wyrmdale
    Apr 11, 2014
    10
    This game provides what true MMO-players were waiting for years. Where Age of Conan or Star Wars the Old Republic came close - Zenimax learned the lesson of their failures. Playing since headstart this is the best experience I've had in any MMO for years. Well done, Zenimax - keep rollin'.
  58. Jimbob2k666
    Apr 6, 2014
    6
    I cant help but be left confused every time I login to this game. There are so many different aspects to the game, and it definitely is not "pick up n play". I feel totally uninspired when I play. Yes it's new but basic things like name tag options are missing. The crafting is confusing and this is coming from a veteran top end crafter in the old days of SWG which was complex if youI cant help but be left confused every time I login to this game. There are so many different aspects to the game, and it definitely is not "pick up n play". I feel totally uninspired when I play. Yes it's new but basic things like name tag options are missing. The crafting is confusing and this is coming from a veteran top end crafter in the old days of SWG which was complex if you wanted to excel at it......I have played all the Elder Scrolls games, but this one might be something I end up leaving well before the free 30 days are up.… Expand
  59. Acabar
    May 1, 2014
    9
    The game has had a pretty solid launch, especially in comparison to other MMO launches out there. I'll break things down into the game's look and the game's feel.

    LOOK: The game is very pretty and well optimized in my experienced. I've played this game using a dated graphics card (GeForce GTS 440) and a new card (GeForce GTX 760). The 460 ran the game pretty well on medium to medium    The game has had a pretty solid launch, especially in comparison to other MMO launches out there. I'll break things down into the game's look and the game's feel.

    LOOK:
    The game is very pretty and well optimized in my experienced. I've played this game using a dated graphics card (GeForce GTS 440) and a new card (GeForce GTX 760). The 460 ran the game pretty well on medium to medium high settings with some tweaks here and there. The 760 runs it pretty much at max with hardly any FPS issues.

    PvP also seems to be very well optimized from a look/performance aspect. I've spent a few hours in Cyrodil and find that even at higher settings, the FPS stays pretty stable with a a lot going on.

    Animations are good for the most part. Only complaint I have is sometime NPC animations, specifically when conversing with a NPC is somewhat awkward or clunky at times.
    Combat animations are nice and the collision you have with NPCs makes the combat feels more solid in comparison to over MMOs - abilities have some weight behind them.

    FEEL:

    Overall, the game seems nicely balanced and bugs, while there are some, are not too terribly wide-spread. What has impressed me the most is Zenimax's response to bugs. Yes, it has caused longer maintenance times or unannounced down times, but it's something to be expected from a game that has such a large scope.

    The classes have plenty of differences between them to keep things interesting and I absolutely love the skill system and how it works. You truly can build your character however you really like to and have that character fit a certain role or play style. It also allows a ton of customization in regards to play style in general - want to make a caster that can tank? Go for it. How about a rogue healer? Have at it. Many of these ideas are viable with the right skills and equipment.

    The stories are awesome, as is to be expected from Elder Scrolls and the voice acting is pretty decent. Dungeons provide a decent challenge and aren't just zerg-fests and have good side stories with them.

    OVERALL:

    The biggest issue people will have with the feel of this game is that its not a standard Elder Scroll experience and not really a standard MMO experience, but some mix of those things.
    The game plays great and has a ton to do. Dungeons are fun and the quests are a blast to go through.

    I'd recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the Elder Scrolls series and MMOs, with the understanding that its kind of a blend of each.    … Expand
  60. dodo
    Mar 31, 2015
    9
    I seriously can't understand the negative feedback this game got. I've played Oblivion and Skyrim before and been playing this since it went free to play. Considering other mmos this is a really good one that manage to capture a lot of the Skyrim feeling although being multiplayer. The multiplayer dimension even adds meaning to it I think. It's really fun to play with a lot of good loreI seriously can't understand the negative feedback this game got. I've played Oblivion and Skyrim before and been playing this since it went free to play. Considering other mmos this is a really good one that manage to capture a lot of the Skyrim feeling although being multiplayer. The multiplayer dimension even adds meaning to it I think. It's really fun to play with a lot of good lore and quests to be had.… Expand
  61. thehaxx646
    Apr 22, 2014
    5
    About as meh as an elder scrolls game can be.
    It's just no fun at all, all the life is sucked out of the game. Wait till this goes F2P, then play it.
  62. 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 the    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 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
  63. 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
  64. bbnj
    May 5, 2014
    0
    Stopped playing with 10 days remanining on my account. PVE is boring as hell, the world is bland and console budgeted, there's loading screens everywhere, and PVP is broken as hell in so many ways its ridiculous. And even if it wasn't it offers the same depth of a potato. Skyrim with mods is much more entertaining.
  65. 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
  66. Arikaen1984
    Apr 5, 2014
    0
    Finally an MMO to explore and have fun in. I don't understand why people are calling it a WoW clone. I guess because its online everything now has to be a WoW clone but whatever. First off I must say that the people hating on this game probably only played the beta's. I played during beta and it almost made me want to not get this game, and after being burnt by Final Fantasy 14:A RealmFinally an MMO to explore and have fun in. I don't understand why people are calling it a WoW clone. I guess because its online everything now has to be a WoW clone but whatever. First off I must say that the people hating on this game probably only played the beta's. I played during beta and it almost made me want to not get this game, and after being burnt by Final Fantasy 14:A Realm Reborn (A True WoW Clone), I was reluctant to try it again. I am so glad I did. Huge open zones that can be explored, tons of quests, hidden items, probably the best crafting system I have ever seen in an MMO (Simple but deep), so much customization you can create almost any character you want (would have liked more hair options). I have put in around 40 hours since early access and I'm only level 16 haven't gotten to zone 3, and haven't even touched PVP yet. I love that I don't need 6 hotbars for all my skills. I Personally chose 5 skills 1 ultimate and have just been upgrading them. There are hundreds of skills and you can swap them out but for me it was easier to just choose a few i like and morph them. Morphing abilities makes them stronger unlike other mmos where you get a new ability and previous ones become obsolete. The combat is very nicely done. You can dodge Aoe's, attack, block, stun and even do group synergy attacks which is just awesome. Love getting together with a group and killing the world monsters or helping out when chains come down from the sky. I wish I could stop talking about how awesome this game is but I can't. And the bugs oh yes the bugs, still one of the smoothest launches I have ever been a part of and they are getting things done quick, On 1st day of early access there was a quest that was bugged and I couldn't turn it in, well I went to work and came back 4 hours later to it being fixed and I could turn it in. And the gold spammer omg in FF14 ARR The spammers would create accounts faster than you could block them. In this game I blocked 3 spammers the first day 3 spammers the second day and I have yet to see one since launch. I'm sure they are around but I have not heard a gold spammer in the past 20 hours of gaming. No other MMO can say that. Are there bugs YES! are they getting fixed faster than any other MMO ont he market? You bet your sweet ass. Will there be more? I don't doubt it. Will those be fixed to? I guarantee it. So long as the cheap bastards who don't want to pay for a quality game and are fine with being blocked from content go back to their F2P MMOS and stay away from this one I will be happy. There are 2 opinions about ESO those that love it and those that can't get their parents to pay their monthly sub.… Expand
  67. Fhear
    Apr 4, 2014
    9
    At frist, in BETA, i was very suspicious about the game - about how the game-mechanics work. I've played about 4 or 5 days and thought: Nahh... it won't get any long. But then in the next BETA i gave it another try and more and more I began to LIKE the game. The mechanics tempt you into trying new options and motivate for longer, the fights are challenging and you need to be active(youAt frist, in BETA, i was very suspicious about the game - about how the game-mechanics work. I've played about 4 or 5 days and thought: Nahh... it won't get any long. But then in the next BETA i gave it another try and more and more I began to LIKE the game. The mechanics tempt you into trying new options and motivate for longer, the fights are challenging and you need to be active(you cant go off the keyboard for 10 seconds and survive), the story is GREAT... But the best part ist still the RvR! I love it!… Expand
  68. TheSnowWolf
    Apr 13, 2014
    10
    I've been playing ESO since the beta and I have to say, I was very impressed with the development of this game, among other things, and I'm going to explain why.

    When I first began the beta I was not very impressed. It was very buggy, which was expected, but the beta testers were listened to and huge patches before release fixed many of the gamebreaking bugs. Bugs aside it was not    I've been playing ESO since the beta and I have to say, I was very impressed with the development of this game, among other things, and I'm going to explain why.

    When I first began the beta I was not very impressed. It was very buggy, which was expected, but the beta testers were listened to and huge patches before release fixed many of the gamebreaking bugs. Bugs aside it was not terribly engaging and difficult to get into. I barely gave the next beta weekend a shot, but I did. And that's when it started getting good.

    The world is rich and diverse, with a complex, involved crafting system that inspired me to create a dedicated crafter character for the first time in a game. The quest system began to improve and give me more varied, interesting tasks. The combat, which was a part of the game that really impressed me from the beginning, got even better.

    PvP is excellent. It's AvAvA style, with the entire province of Cyrodiil comprising the PvP zone (though don't think that means there's no plain-old-adventuring in Cyrodiil, as the province contains lots of crafting materials, in addition to PvE quests, cities, and ruins.) The three-faction war is always exciting and fast-paced - there were complaints of too much "zerging" during the beta, but small assassin groups (sneak works in PvP!), keep defenders, and scouts have come to really change the battlefield since - I have honestly never had more fun with an MMO PvP system!

    Exploring the world just for the sake of exploring it became a favorite pastime, and I know that here, there is a lot of discussion on whether or not this is a "true Elder Scrolls Game." I have to say that for me, honestly, it feels very much like an Elder Scrolls game. I have played Oblivion and Skyrim, and, while ESO possesses its own unique flavor, I am constantly fondly reminded of these games and feel very involved in the world of Tamriel. For those who want a single-player experience, the devs have taken great care to keep the "Elder Scrolls feel" intact in what is, for the series, a completely new genre - I found it quite simple to ignore the chat and play as though in a world that was simply more populated than before.

    All in all, I recommend this game very highly, both to those who typically play in the MMO genre, and to fans of the Elder Scrolls series. Anyone who dismissed it during the beta (as I almost did) should give it another look.    … Expand
  69. Vi-Pe
    Apr 12, 2014
    9
    The elder scrolls online is really good game. No it's not the best elder scrolls game, but easily one of the best MMO games.
    Graphically TESO is really beautiful game. The world is really colorfull and the graphic style is really pleasing. The sounds and music are also really good, the sound effects are pretty realistic and fit into the world. The soundtrack is also good old TES styled    The elder scrolls online is really good game. No it's not the best elder scrolls game, but easily one of the best MMO games.
    Graphically TESO is really beautiful game. The world is really colorfull and the graphic style is really pleasing. The sounds and music are also really good, the sound effects are pretty realistic and fit into the world. The soundtrack is also good old TES styled music which is awesome.
    The combat system in the game isn't that good. The idea is good, but they have messed it up. There is small delays when you are trying to hit enemies and some times they can hit you even tho you are far away. Also homing spells and arrows which do go through walls are rally annoying.
    The most of the quests are fun and aren't just quickly made. Lore is also pretty good and its interesting.
    No, the elder scrolls online is far from perfect but its still really good game. It's still missing lots of stuff which is incoming (criminality and karma and dark brother hood adm thieves guild) and I'm really waiting for them. Yes TESO is bit too expensive but I'd say its worth it if you have some spare money.    … Expand
  70. Formulka
    Apr 10, 2014
    10
    One of the best MMOs I have played in a long time. Fantastic meaningful quests with heavy persistent phasing. This changes everything. It means the world around you changes based on your decisions and stays that way, it feels great to save a village from a bunch of bandits and every time you go through its saved full of happy people thanking you for job well done. This also means you areOne of the best MMOs I have played in a long time. Fantastic meaningful quests with heavy persistent phasing. This changes everything. It means the world around you changes based on your decisions and stays that way, it feels great to save a village from a bunch of bandits and every time you go through its saved full of happy people thanking you for job well done. This also means you are given decisions that have huge impact on the world around you and they are not black or white either they are mostly gray vs gray and you have to think for a minute or two which is the one you really want. Do you want to save the souls of the past villagers or do you want to clear the place from hoards of undead making it safe for resettling? Exploration is heavily rewarded, you can find quests everywhere, you can search for collectibles or for lost treasure using a treasure map you've just found on a bandit. Several quests are even based around exploration not giving you any markers making you think and solve puzzles.

    The combat is fun and satisfying, you have 2 sets of 6 abilities (based on weapons and class) you can freely switch between plus light and heavy attack with blocking and rolling. Its fairly dynamic and just standing around even if you are a support is not the best option by far. The way you acquire your abilities is just like any other ES game - the more you use particular ability, the faster it grows in power and the faster you can morph it giving it some awesome side effect or completely changing it which you have to choose from two options. And sometimes, just like the quests, its fairly tough to decide.

    Classes seem clearly cut just like in most MMOs, you have a Sorcerer (mage), Nightblade (rogue), Dragonknight (warrior) and a Templar (paladin), but they are NOT. All of them can use all of the weapons and all of the armor both of which have their own skill trees. You can build a battlemage (battlesorcerer?) with a heavy sword and heavy armor for example, not all builds are viable but all of them are possible and you can make them work. And thanks to the huge number of available skill points not just from leveling but mostly from exploration, you can try a lot of crazy builds without gimping the character forever or without the need for constant respecing (which is available as well).

    I have yet to get into PVP but many claim its the best one in a long time, the potential is huge and the possible battles of hundreds of people in 3-way RvR sound great.

    All in all this is a fantastic game and after playing dozens of MMOs it feels so fresh and its so worth it. The questing and exploration alone will keep you around for months and I have only explored a fraction of one of the 4 huge worlds you can explore. There is so much content in the game it boggles the mind and none of it feels generic, every quest, every part of the map fits in the world and expands the lore of it. It is a worthy Elder Scrolls game and if you liked the Skyrim, Oblivion or Morrowind, you will love ESO as well.    … Expand
  71. Kaskako
    Apr 10, 2014
    10
    Ignore the haters and try it out, ask a friend for example to give it a try on his characters. It really is an awesome game.

    Amazing world, nice combat, awesome character building, nice story, epic pvp and fun pve. Crafting can be interesting. All this set in The Elder Scrolls universe.

    It has it's flaws, and bugs but they are being fixed constantly and improvements are sure to come.
  72. ajruls78
    Apr 11, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What ESO is, is not an MMO, yet it is not a traditional RPG. It is its own unique, innovative game which this industry just simply has not seen yet. Therefore it is unfair to compare this game to anything else out there in the industry. ESO is best defined as a single player game in a multiplayer world which I have found to be one of my greatest gaming experiences so far. People are saying that this game has flaws. I say they are not flaws, they are what makes this game unique. It does not follow the traditional formula for an MMO, instead it writes its own set of rules. The developers built this game they way they wanted to, and it shows greatly.

    Graphics:
    ESO's graphics are unparalleled by any other game in the MMO industry. These are the greatest graphics I have ever seen in a MMO ever. Period. You will not be disappointed by the rocky slopes or the individual models for each and every tree. The water texture is spectacular, and even the sunlight has its own way of standing out. Character models are awesome. It feels "real." 10/10
    Music:
    The music of Elder Scrolls games has never ceased to disappoint, and it remains so in ESO. The music creates a unique feeling for every zone, and the sounds fit accordingly to each attack and movement parallel to each unique surface. 10/10
    Controls:
    The lack of buttons is understandable based on the fact this game will be available for console, however it would be nice to be able to have access to all of your abilities. However in turn the combat system is very good once one can get used to it. It involved dodging, LoS, and overall skill to generally win a fight. It takes some time to get used to, however the lack of keybinds will in the end lead to a more balanced game while at the same time giving up some degree of immersion. 8/10
    Gameplay:
    What stands out in ESO is the ability to play how you want to play. For example I can play a sorcerer, a traditional healing class, and instead become a plate wearing tank with offheals. You play this game how you want to play it, classes are barely a mold for how you should go about this.
    PvP has brought it to the table as well, the sheer amount of chaos which takes place in each warzone is astounding! Catapults, war machines, hand to hand combat, and the intense strategy going on in general chat. It is spectacular and brings something to the table which no other game before has managed to do, made World PvP fun for an entire game audience. The megaserver technology not only allows Cyrodil to become extensively populated at any given time of day, but each individual zone always feels active as well. Gone are the days of having to pay for server transfers to play with a friend!
    The world immersion is another quality which really struck me with the Elder Scrolls Online. Like its predecessor Skyrim, ESO strikes me as one of the most immersive games I have ever played. I'm not usually a lore junkie, but this game changed that. After hearing the individual voice acted quests, and the intense stories which took place inside them, I found myself compelled to not rush to max level, but to slow down, read the books on the book shelves, and smell the roses. It is noticeable that through all these things combined, the developing team has held themselves to a higher standard then ever before.
    One critique I have of the gameplay is the lack of direction. I would often times find myself questing in zones which would be 5 levels higher than me because I wouldn't have a direction on where to go next. There are quests everywhere, however directional quests are important and ESO does sometimes lack this. It is an easy fix, but well have to see what the team does about this.
    ESO does not come without its fair share of bugs. Although most low level quests are fine, as you progress upwards some quests are bugged and unable to complete. Issues like these often come about during game launches and can be the result of an overloaded server or an internal bug within the quest itself. Skyrim notably came with its fair share of bugs, something the Elder Scrolls Franchise has become famous for. Nevertheless it sold nearly 30 million copys.

    Conclusions:
    Overall ESO is a stand out game. The graphics, music, and storylines are unparalleled in any other game. The controls do take some getting used to but are useful after you understand how the games combat system works. PvP is an intrinsic experience alone, and PvE content is nonlinear. Overall Elder Scrolls Online has impressed a die hard WoW player like myself enough to cancel my subscription to World of Warcraft, and spend my $15 a month on this game instead. Elder Scrolls Online has redefined the MMO industry, and with new content coming just a month after release, it is evident that the developers care strongly about this game. Therefore it is my pleasure to reward The Elder Scrolls Online with a 9.25/10 and give it the title as one of the greatest games I have ever played.    … Expand
  73. DarkPurity
    Apr 22, 2014
    1
    I was in most of the beta sessions and the disappointments just kept on coming. ESO had a lot of potential, but the first thing you'll notice is that ESO is more like just "O" with the "ES" part arbitrarily glued on. The Elder Scrolls lore is totally unnecessary to the game, which is a shame, since the lore has to be integral for it to be a real ES experience. It really feels likeI was in most of the beta sessions and the disappointments just kept on coming. ESO had a lot of potential, but the first thing you'll notice is that ESO is more like just "O" with the "ES" part arbitrarily glued on. The Elder Scrolls lore is totally unnecessary to the game, which is a shame, since the lore has to be integral for it to be a real ES experience. It really feels like Zenimax and Bethesda bought a template of an MMORPG out of a box and spent the last 2 years painting by number. While there are some "FPS-like elements" such as replacing cooldown timers with ability charge-up, it's still a cookie-cutter online game.

    If this were a reinvention of EverQuest I'd score it much higher, as it's a little more faithful to the genre, but as an ES game, it's terrible. Anyone who has played the Elder Scrolls series will immediately notice breaks in the lore, or be driven mad by the "MMO Vaulted Cielings" that exist to trick you into thinking the world is larger. In fact, you'll notice that almost everything is that same WoW comically large stuff compared to your character. Skills don't advance by use; you're still leveling a-la-WoW. The spec system is also identical. The only positive is that the PvP is more "siege" than "arena", but even that just comes down to who fields the most bodies.

    Zenimax drove up in a windowless van and promised Elder Scrolls, but all that is in the back of the van is tears, shame, and disappointment. The more I played, the more I just wanted to play Skyrim, so I just modded my Skyrim and played that instead. So will you. I predict this game will be Free-To-Play by year 2.    … Expand
  74. Torain
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    I never expected to say that: Elder Scrolls Online is one of the best games that I ever played!

    At first, I want to give you a summary of some positive aspects of Elder Scrolls Online: -great character creation! the best I've ever seen --- -great skill system with much depth in the end and no class restrictions --- -great gameplay --- -dynamic fights! --- -enjoyable quests, much    I never expected to say that: Elder Scrolls Online is one of the best games that I ever played!

    At first, I want to give you a summary of some positive aspects of Elder Scrolls Online:

    -great character creation! the best I've ever seen ---
    -great skill system with much depth in the end and no class restrictions ---
    -great gameplay ---
    -dynamic fights! ---
    -enjoyable quests, much variety
    -great immersion, athmosphere, game feels much more alive than any other MMORPG ---
    -beautiful graphics, better than any other MMORPG
    -beautiful sound
    -much more to explore than in any of the existing MMORPGs!
    -great PvP, even though much alike Guild Wars and DAoC
    -grouping is fun in dungeons and PvP
    -great crafting system, finally crafting is really worth paying attention to it!

    Reviews like Angry Joe's are extremely biased and just polemic in my opinion.
    For instance, graphics are criticized by many people for being not as good as in skyrim. But this is a MMORPG! Graphics are still the best of any existing MMORPG and even better than some single player games.
    There are only a few bugs. Don't get fooled by people, who claim that the game is totally bugged! The overall performance is much more stable than at the release of World of Warcraft, for example.
    Phasing and group questing is also not ideal. But I (and everyone else that I know!) never did grouping for quests in MMORPGs anyway. Groups are more important for visiting dungeons, doing PvP and trading etc and that works fine! So the social part of the game is not better or worse than in other MMORPGs when it comes to the decisive parts.

    Every game has its downsides!
    Still, the aspects that I listed in the beginning of this review really stand out.
    I liked World of Warcraft, Everquest and Guild Wars, but I enjoy Elder Scrolls Online even more.    … Expand
  75. Sivus
    Jun 5, 2014
    0
    Graphics are subpar and bland. Music is subpar and bland. Classes are subpar and bland... pattern?
    Every zone had (and still has) quests so broken that the game comes to a stop, requiring 2-5 restarts or simply logging off for a day for them to reset it. PVP is fun if and only if you have a group of friends playing with you or you're able to figure it out on your own. That and it's    Graphics are subpar and bland. Music is subpar and bland. Classes are subpar and bland... pattern?
    Every zone had (and still has) quests so broken that the game comes to a stop, requiring 2-5 restarts or simply logging off for a day for them to reset it. PVP is fun if and only if you have a group of friends playing with you or you're able to figure it out on your own. That and it's already impossible to catch up if you're just starting (and the game hasn't even been out for six months). Doing all the quests will put you below 50 if you happened to select Daggerfall as your starting faction, leaving you completely SCREWED. Trade skills were touted as one of the best features of the game and while it's impressive your left with a bank so small and so expansive to upgrade that you'll need all 10 character slots just to hold small amounts of mats (that stack poorly on top of everything else). This game is a mess. Mod Skyrim and avoid this cash grab. SHAMEFUL.    … Expand
  76. Asglarek
    Jun 21, 2014
    0
    Pathetic...Matt Firor is still trying and failing to hide pve in a pvp game like how he and Mythic totally screwed up DAoC with Trials of Atlantis but damn the torpedo's full steam ahead to hell with the player base and the TESO lore. My prediction, F2P by Christmas and cancellation of console versions maybe even Hellgate:London redux. 0/10 for me.
  77. 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 bugs    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 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
  78. CravenWraith
    Apr 19, 2014
    0
    The game was dead before the release date. The developers failed to heed warnings from their beta testers of a duplication glitch and as a result the game's economy and balance was ruined during early-access. Although they are banning accounts of those caught exploiting the bug, many of the exploiters had already traded the duplicated items to other accounts that they own or to friends'The game was dead before the release date. The developers failed to heed warnings from their beta testers of a duplication glitch and as a result the game's economy and balance was ruined during early-access. Although they are banning accounts of those caught exploiting the bug, many of the exploiters had already traded the duplicated items to other accounts that they own or to friends' accounts (which obviously are not being banned). Nobody in their right mind will want to buy this game now that so many other players have such a massively unfair advantage.… Expand
  79. DigitalOz
    Apr 15, 2014
    10
    I played the 4 beta weekends and have played now for a couple of weeks. I have played Elder Scrolls games since Daggerfall and I love the Elder Scrolls world. I am an adult with a job and family, so I can only play for a few hours a week. So far, I think the game is outstanding. By far the best graphics in any MMO to date. I have long been waiting for a graphics refresh in the MMORPGI played the 4 beta weekends and have played now for a couple of weeks. I have played Elder Scrolls games since Daggerfall and I love the Elder Scrolls world. I am an adult with a job and family, so I can only play for a few hours a week. So far, I think the game is outstanding. By far the best graphics in any MMO to date. I have long been waiting for a graphics refresh in the MMORPG world. It has been needing it for a long time. I also like that the graphics are realistic style instead of cartoon oriented. There is voice acting throughout most quests. The game improves on the MMO formula in several ways, but two notable ones for me are: first, combat is no longer just a 'turn on combat mode and mash spell/activity buttons' affair. You can actually dodge, block and stun opponents, so combat requires more thinking and action during the combat and it becomes more interesting as a result. Second, they have done a great job moving away from pure grind for leveling. So far, I have never been without quests to complete and quests reward handsomely so that leveling results more from quest completion than just monster killing. Quests so far have included the usual kill quests and delivery/messenger quests, but also there have been a number of puzzle quests. I have enjoyed the variety of quests. Overall I am having a lot of fun and enjoying the breathtaking graphics.… Expand
  80. statickinetics
    Apr 14, 2014
    3
    Deceptively beautiful, frustratingly generic and mechanically flawed. In a nutshell.

    I wanted to like ESO, because as someone who has only really enjoyed one MMO (EVE), I have been craving for an experience that will provide actual replayability. Unfortunately, ESO is not that game. Before getting into why this game is fatally flawed, let me just get this out of the way: The world    Deceptively beautiful, frustratingly generic and mechanically flawed. In a nutshell.

    I wanted to like ESO, because as someone who has only really enjoyed one MMO (EVE), I have been craving for an experience that will provide actual replayability. Unfortunately, ESO is not that game.

    Before getting into why this game is fatally flawed, let me just get this out of the way: The world design is excellent. This is probably the only redeemable feature of the game, although you're probably better off admiring screenshots than dropping 60 bucks on the game. Environments are lush and crisp, full of interesting details and creatures. Unfortunately, they are also filled with rote NPCs that drone around and remind you that yes, this is in-fact just another MMO.

    The fatal flaw with ESO is the level progression. This is a game that effectively forces you to PvE, and in particularly forces you to complete quests. Going around killing things nets you practically no XP, at least relative to the quest rewards. And let's be clear: these quests are horrendously boring, rote, and uninspired, full of tropes and cliches from a thousand other MMOs. The plotline is so unoriginal and the dialogue (while voice-acted) so tired and bland that you find yourself mashing the skip button just to get through the quest as fast as possible. The game effectively pushes you down a path to quest-grinding, which discourages random exploring (random exploring being the hallmark of games like Skyrim).

    Once you have gotten through the arduous grind to level 10 so that you can access PvP, you can enter a partitioned area of the map solely dedicated to PvP. At first, this seems promising. The area is very large and full of nodes that can be attacked. There are even siege weapons that can be deployed and battles with large numbers (in the hundreds potentially) are relatively smooth and lag-free. However, the experience quickly loses its allure once you realize that the only way to gain meaningful XP is by completely "quests" which are either rote (scouting missions), impossible (capture some objective on the other side of the map far far away from friendly territory), or time-restricted (kill 20 players... but only available once per day).

    What this means is that you could be running around, killing players, helping cap objectives and generally advancing the fight for your faction and gain zero XP, zero gold and only a random loot item every now and then that gets mailed to you.

    Now, all of this would be acceptable if the combat itself was interesting or dynamic. It isn't. A game like EVE is successful because the PvP is deep, complex and rewarding. There are genuine risks involved and the rush of winning a battle or getting a kill is hard to compare to any other game.

    ESO is the complete opposite. PvP basically involves mass zerg rushes, spamming random buttons and if you happen to die in the mix or get caught out by some hidden gank squad, you just respawn back at base with literally no penalty. No penalties and no rewards = boring, not-fun. The combat is lazy and skill-less. All that matters is you have the right combinations of buttons to push and almost all of the skills are equally effective so there's no real need to worry about optimization.

    Needless to say, my time with ESO didn't last long. Maybe about a week. I won't be subbing past the free month. I uninstalled the game and went back to playing Natural Selection 2, which is game that actually feels rewarding getting kills, capping objectives and winning. ESO fails on all of the fundamentals that make a game rewarding by not offering a challenging experience, or one that provides any incentives in the form of risk/reward. Most importantly, it forces the player down a path to arduous quest-grinding of the worst kind for few rewards or for any real purpose beyond having a bigger number next to your character name.    … Expand
  81. zyander
    Apr 15, 2014
    3
    Basically a very good game, lots of fun and interesting things to do and a few challenges.
    But....
    This is 2014. I'm beyond excuses for poor technical implementation of MMO. Everyone gets by on launch issues because "that's how it is for all games". I'm tired of that lame excuse. I played UO for almost 7 years, it had a very shaky start, rebounded and was great. Then WoW for about 7    Basically a very good game, lots of fun and interesting things to do and a few challenges.
    But....
    This is 2014. I'm beyond excuses for poor technical implementation of MMO. Everyone gets by on launch issues because "that's how it is for all games". I'm tired of that lame excuse. I played UO for almost 7 years, it had a very shaky start, rebounded and was great. Then WoW for about 7 years. Same bad start, fixes, then okay.

    Why haven't any MMO publishers learned from all of the mistakes that have come before. Most technologies has advanced greatly in the 17 years or so since UO launched, yet MMO launches all seem to be falling into the same old problems.

    MegaServer is a good concept, but I question it's viability. They have already removed a lot from the game, nameplates being the most obvious, I believe because their megaserver can't support it.

    Dozens (maybe more but this is from my limited play) of bugged quests (many reported during beta yet the game launched with them), terrible server lag, frequent disconnects for Unknown Error (I'm concerned about unknown, but more because they capture no data in the error folder that might allow them to determine what happened).

    Lot's of people losing banks, upgrades, skill points, 5-6 times a day kicked out and rolled back 5 or so minutes and lag of up to 20 minutes in chat.

    I really want this game to be good and the next game I play for 7 plus years, but unless there are significant fixes soon and better communications to the player base, I sadly feel it will fall by the wayside. I'd hate to see that happen, the Elder Scrolls games have been some of the best for 20 years. I had already setup a 6 month sub, but will be removing that before the "free month" is over unless some real change occurs.    … Expand
  82. Tarikko
    Apr 16, 2014
    0
    Been waiting for this game since it was announced. Paid around 300 dollars (imperial edition collector item i think + customs and shipping) with a smile on my face, thinking i will be playing my dream mmo.

    I was utterly disappointed, the moment the game started. The game just feels plasticky, I dunno how to put it better. The gameplay, the interface, the voice overs (so cheesy) and the    Been waiting for this game since it was announced. Paid around 300 dollars (imperial edition collector item i think + customs and shipping) with a smile on my face, thinking i will be playing my dream mmo.

    I was utterly disappointed, the moment the game started. The game just feels plasticky, I dunno how to put it better. The gameplay, the interface, the voice overs (so cheesy) and the dialogue, the combat, the graphics... terrible all together...

    I can think of one redeeming aspect which are the sunrays, I am serious nothing else is ncie about this game.

    Shame on Zenimax and shame on Bethesda for allowing them to use the ES name. Just a ploy to rip you of your precious $...

    All in all, it is a subpar, generic MMO.. Save your money, trust me.

    I just made this account just to be able to post this.    … Expand
  83. Dodgernalicium
    Apr 5, 2014
    10
    By far most graphic, lore and combat wise superior MMO in the world right now. Absolutely enjoying it. Don't listen to the haters and bad ratings, they probably don't even own the game.
  84. Lobane
    Apr 6, 2014
    9
    Its a very enjoyable MMO. It strives to be different, and for the most part succeeds. However, it is an MMO...if you're expecting it to somehow transcend the genre then your expectations are unrealistic. If you enjoy both Elder Scrolls games and MMOs (plural, as in not simply a WoW fan exclusively, but rather someone who enjoys the genre) then you will most likely enjoy this gameIts a very enjoyable MMO. It strives to be different, and for the most part succeeds. However, it is an MMO...if you're expecting it to somehow transcend the genre then your expectations are unrealistic. If you enjoy both Elder Scrolls games and MMOs (plural, as in not simply a WoW fan exclusively, but rather someone who enjoys the genre) then you will most likely enjoy this game immensely.

    For those giving it a 0-2, I honestly do feel bad for you. But lets be brutally honest here. The internet exists, and there is no shortage of info on this game. This is a financial investment, and almost nobody is going to buy this and commit to a subscription without a bit of research first. To say this game is a 0 or 2, is to admit to the world that you lack proper deductive and decision making skills, because this game is exactly as advertised. "I hate goats, and I can't stand simulators...what's this goat simulator game, I think I'll buy this and....oh man, what the hell?! This sucks!" Lol, they do look kinda cute when they eat paste they, don't they?    … Expand
  85. rawhide1970
    Apr 7, 2014
    10
    I'm going to give this a 10 to counter-balance the zeros. I'd actually give it about an 8.5.

    I think it's trendy to bash this game right now, but it's actually quite good. The character customization is reasonably deep, the quests are well done for an MMO, and has been pretty solid for me in terms of bugs (a few) and crashes (none). But where this really shines, and also where I    I'm going to give this a 10 to counter-balance the zeros. I'd actually give it about an 8.5.

    I think it's trendy to bash this game right now, but it's actually quite good. The character customization is reasonably deep, the quests are well done for an MMO, and has been pretty solid for me in terms of bugs (a few) and crashes (none).

    But where this really shines, and also where I see so few negative reviewers actually get to, is it's pvp - it's a must-see for MMO fans.    … Expand
  86. GoDMachine
    Apr 6, 2014
    10
    The Elder Scrolls Online is a polished, fresh, engaging, and extremely fun MMORPG experience. The PVE experience is engrossing and massive in scale. It encourages exploration which is what I've come to expect of any Elder Scrolls title. The massive PvP zone offers so much to PvP players, it mixes in older elements of mass PvP from games like Dark Age of Camelot, yet keeps everything freshThe Elder Scrolls Online is a polished, fresh, engaging, and extremely fun MMORPG experience. The PVE experience is engrossing and massive in scale. It encourages exploration which is what I've come to expect of any Elder Scrolls title. The massive PvP zone offers so much to PvP players, it mixes in older elements of mass PvP from games like Dark Age of Camelot, yet keeps everything fresh and modern with gorgeous visuals and siege warfare that actually feels like war. The combat system is smooth and intuitive and offers more room for tactical decisions by not relying on a tab targeting system. Crafting and gathering is an absolute joy to progress into because of the simplicity of the AI that eases players into the complexity that the system holds. All in All, I would recommend this game to anyone looking for something new, that does not rely on a lot of what makes so many other MMOs way too similar and bland.… Expand
  87. catflaps
    Apr 7, 2014
    10
    Great, fresh take on the MMO genre. Leveling is fun and the environments are huge and detailed. Although the release was hampered by bugs and last minute changes, it was actually pretty smooth for an MMO, and the devs really seem to listen to the players.
  88. ElvenArcher
    Apr 27, 2014
    3
    not a good mmo or multiplayer game
    not a good tes or singleplayer experience
    it's not anything it is meant to be.
    but it is everything it's not meant to be.

    avoid it at all 'costs'... get it?
  89. 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
  90. aking23
    Apr 11, 2014
    10
    Elder scrolls online is a great game. While not being as good (not even nearly) as the previous elder scrolls games ESO is still a great game, just not as much when compared to the other games in the series. The game-play is fluid fast and keeps you involved (unlike other mmos, COUGH COUGH WOW) the item and crafting system requires you to actually get involved and pay attention (againElder scrolls online is a great game. While not being as good (not even nearly) as the previous elder scrolls games ESO is still a great game, just not as much when compared to the other games in the series. The game-play is fluid fast and keeps you involved (unlike other mmos, COUGH COUGH WOW) the item and crafting system requires you to actually get involved and pay attention (again unlike other mmos). The pvp is great and it takes time to get from point to point making deaths actually matter. The game is broken up into zones witch while that isnt that great the zones are still pretty nice looking and filled with content. Overall this game is probably one of the best mmos currently available if not THE best.… Expand
  91. retrobax
    Apr 13, 2014
    9
    I was a bit concerned after reading a lot of the negative comments, but after 2 weeks of playing I am pleasantly surprised by this game. The world is beautifully presented and the leveling process is fun and diverse. Combat is more about using your skills you have well rather than copying someone's uber build and mashing icons. The crafting system is unique and rewarding with crafted gearI was a bit concerned after reading a lot of the negative comments, but after 2 weeks of playing I am pleasantly surprised by this game. The world is beautifully presented and the leveling process is fun and diverse. Combat is more about using your skills you have well rather than copying someone's uber build and mashing icons. The crafting system is unique and rewarding with crafted gear the equal if not better sometimes than looted gear. There certainly are a few bugs that can be quite frustrating like not being able to finish some quests, but these are being fixed reasonably quickly. MMO's are not for everyone but I've played almost every MMO since Ultima online and this one is better than most of them.… Expand
  92. terriptus
    Apr 24, 2014
    3
    This game is boring and painfully 'average'. For a game that promised to break the mold of MMO's, it hasn't done anything new. I won't go into some long winded rant about why I'm only giving this a 3, as Angry Joe and Francis/Boogie summed it up better than I could and I suggest going to watch their reviews. Maybe Wildstar will prove to be better implemented.
  93. Zeata23
    Apr 25, 2014
    0
    I came into this game, thinking it would be disappointing, and prepared for a terrible mash-up of too many games, appealing to too many people. I got that, and worse. The launch went smoothly, but the game breaking bugs were too many, entire zones have reset on me, and the PvP wasn't worth it. I wanted to like this game, I still do, but it's just so difficult. I regret buying this game.
  94. Kucha
    Apr 23, 2014
    7
    his is a good MMO that I am playing and plan to continue to play because I'm enjoying it. Having said that, I admit that it's not revolutionary, but one that does most things right. Overall, I'd say that ESO is an Elder Scrolls single player and MMO hybrid. You got some, but not all parts of both. If you are OK with sacrificing some of your beloved Elder Scrolls single playerhis is a good MMO that I am playing and plan to continue to play because I'm enjoying it. Having said that, I admit that it's not revolutionary, but one that does most things right. Overall, I'd say that ESO is an Elder Scrolls single player and MMO hybrid. You got some, but not all parts of both. If you are OK with sacrificing some of your beloved Elder Scrolls single player experiences for the opportunity to play with others, then this game is just for you. If you are inflexible and demand a full Elder Scrolls and MMO game, then you will probably be disappointed.

    PROS

    The developers do a great job of giving you an immersive amount of quests as you level up. The process does not feel like a grind, and one can take the time to enjoy the adventure process en route to max level. Good stories, good (although repetitive) voice overs, lots of lore, and pretty nice graphics. Oh, and the world is HUGE. I have to give kudos to the Devs for that. Second, the classes are incredibly flexible, enabling a player to play any role with any class. It can be rather fun to create non-traditional classes, such as a healing tank. Also, the PvP battles are enjoyable and pretty intense.

    CONS

    On the other hand, the game is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. There are a few too many bugs, some of which are unacceptable as they should never have made it into the game. Also, making auction houses (guild stores) available only through guilds is unwelcome. You won't be able to buy or sell from all players in your faction this way. Furthermore, the game economy is in shambles as a near endless number of gold spammers, and game exploiters threaten the very economic stability of the game. ESO devs should have been more aggressive about removing these guys from day 1.

    The game is missing some of the single-player Elder Scrolls game elements that I enjoy. For example, you'll have to level before going to all of the zones. This kills exploration for me. Also, many of the other tasks that I enjoy doing (killing random villagers and stealing from merchants) are not available. Furthermore, some of the caves and dungeons are static and look the same. The variety of crypt and/or cavern exploring is just not as exciting as in the single player counterparts.

    My personal opinion is that these issues have not kept me from playing this game. I've enjoyed most of my experiences in this version of Tamriel and I look forward to ZeniMax fixing the bugs and stabilizing the game experience (i.e., hunting down the spammers/exploiters). If you like both Elder Scrolls and MMO's, then you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don't give this game a shot.    … Expand
  95. GoldAnt
    May 3, 2014
    10
    Great game. The people who are hating on this game are the ones treating it like an mmo where you blast through and try to level your character asap. The people enjoying this game are the ones actually doing quests, reading the lore, and immersing themselves in the incredible world that has been created here.
  96. Garloz911
    Apr 16, 2014
    4
    Honest to god I do not understand why this is an MMO. It plays as a console game that got ported to PC and has a few adventures. Yes the quests are pretty neat so that's nice. But in all honesty here it does nothing new. I hate being "that guy" but the PvP is copy paste of guild wars. All arguments aside if you compare the two they really have the same PvP. PvE in ESO is neat because youHonest to god I do not understand why this is an MMO. It plays as a console game that got ported to PC and has a few adventures. Yes the quests are pretty neat so that's nice. But in all honesty here it does nothing new. I hate being "that guy" but the PvP is copy paste of guild wars. All arguments aside if you compare the two they really have the same PvP. PvE in ESO is neat because you have long adventures.... alone... by yourself... in an mmo... (cough cough SWTOR). But the dungeons actually are really well done. Besides the console UI that should never have happened and the PvP which is copy paste it is an Elder Scrolls game and feels like one. When they slapped MMO on it though it really is a huge let down that brings nothing new into the universe.… Expand
  97. msk1970
    Apr 21, 2014
    1
    I am a DIE HARD Oblivion and Skyrim fan. I have spent hundreds of hours on those games, and Skyrim with the legendary setting and a few mods is simply amazing. I am still playing it over 2 years after release.
    HOW DISAPPOINTED AM I IN THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE? My groan of disappointment has been heard around the world, and has travelled through dark matter to reach the far corners of the    I am a DIE HARD Oblivion and Skyrim fan. I have spent hundreds of hours on those games, and Skyrim with the legendary setting and a few mods is simply amazing. I am still playing it over 2 years after release.
    HOW DISAPPOINTED AM I IN THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE? My groan of disappointment has been heard around the world, and has travelled through dark matter to reach the far corners of the galaxy. My disappointment is a 5 year old, on Christmas morning, waking to a kick in the face from Santa, my disappointment is a groom being told on his wedding day by his dream bride that he a loser, and she is off with his best friend, my disappointment is Jesus telling his flock 'Hey I am just a regular dude, get lost' - yes, THAT is how let down I am after waiting for something as great or better than Skyrim. ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE SUCKS! GIVE US ELDER SCROLLS 6!!! The successor to Skyrim! - a SINGLE PLAYER game that is even better than skyrim, the greatest RPG in history. It was within your reach, Bethesda, but the hand of greed stayed that wonderful opportunity, for a money grubbing letdown called ESO. For the LOVE OF GOD, how could you do this to us Elder Scrolls fans!! AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!

    Oh- the ESO - bugged, boring,    … Expand
  98. Vandral007
    Apr 7, 2014
    7
    ESO is a passable MMO which competently recreates the world of Tamriel. There is unfortunately very little here to distinguish this from it's competitors in this market, and while it does nothing wrong, it does nothing to make it stand out. The content is solid, but I very much doubt I will be renewing my subscription with this game, when I can play Guild Wars 2 with more content and noESO is a passable MMO which competently recreates the world of Tamriel. There is unfortunately very little here to distinguish this from it's competitors in this market, and while it does nothing wrong, it does nothing to make it stand out. The content is solid, but I very much doubt I will be renewing my subscription with this game, when I can play Guild Wars 2 with more content and no monthly charge.… Expand
  99. Genelegasse
    Apr 21, 2014
    3
    Nothing to see here, fellas... nothing extremely special. It's a huge game! the quests are pretty poor and very spread out, they make a poor effort to explain anything to you of how the game works. So many bugs make it nearly unplayable me and my friends have been stuck in loading screens countless times makes you just want to log out. That's what i'd advise... logging out.
  100. 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
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 64 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 64
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 64
  3. Negative: 1 out of 64
  1. CD-Action
    Jul 23, 2014
    60
    Eight years of development, a team consisting of even 250 people at some points, budget reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s a pity that this ‘Skyrim Online’ disappoints both fans of previous Bethesda games and MMORPG veterans who expected some fresh air in the stale genre. [06/2014, p.44]
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jul 8, 2014
    60
    A well done MMO that can lure players not familiar with the genre. But if you've played MMOs before, this one doesn't offer anything new, nor anything exciting.
  3. DarkStation
    Jun 16, 2014
    50
    60 days was more then enough time for me to determine that I would rather spend my time elsewhere.
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