The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12985 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10,547 out of 12985
  2. Mixed: 1,375 out of 12985
  3. Negative: 1,063 out of 12985
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  1. ApfelGanja
    Dec 12, 2011
    8
    Skyrim is a great game, with a massive world, hundreds of side quests, and enough gameplay to keep you in front of your rig for a couple hundred hours at least! But I can't give this game a 10 or even a 9 due to the technical issues. The game is filled with bugs to the brim (and the occasional crash, although rare) and although Bethesda have promised us a patch, i haven't seen any patches.Skyrim is a great game, with a massive world, hundreds of side quests, and enough gameplay to keep you in front of your rig for a couple hundred hours at least! But I can't give this game a 10 or even a 9 due to the technical issues. The game is filled with bugs to the brim (and the occasional crash, although rare) and although Bethesda have promised us a patch, i haven't seen any patches. The menu is a console port, even an idiot can see that, and the gameplay does have some glitches and combat does get repetitive sometimes. But overall, I'm really enjoying this! I'm only level 27, but I've been to every town or city there is, and there's always plenty to do!… Expand
  2. Tsori
    Nov 16, 2011
    10
    The game was setout as a spiritual successor of oblivion. And that is what it is!

    Honestly, if your after something blindingly new in the world of TES then your not going to get it. This game is what oblivion should have been. The immersion is amazing, the environment is vast, changing and beautiful, sure the graphics are not exactly top of the range but honestly, ive never felt for a    The game was setout as a spiritual successor of oblivion. And that is what it is!

    Honestly, if your after something blindingly new in the world of TES then your not going to get it. This game is what oblivion should have been. The immersion is amazing, the environment is vast, changing and beautiful, sure the graphics are not exactly top of the range but honestly, ive never felt for a moment that the graphics detract from the immersion. Wind changes the landscape, water erodes the rock, the world physically changes around you through no choice of your own. You feel small , you feel like the world is there.. and your just living in it.


    Theres a whole list of things i could say to sway you, but frankly those who love this genre.. wont need convincing. Those who played oblivion but hoped it could be something more.. wont need convincing. Those who would enjoy this game... dont need convincing... as they will already have it. If you didnt see its announcement and pre-order on the spot.. this game isnt for you.    … Expand
  3. boompow
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Fantastic fun game that does a great job immersing you into its world. It feels like it looks and I love the setting, coldy windy, norse mythology mixed with the deep story and background of Elder Scrolls. It rings familiar of Oblivion but the characters feel like real humans and while still not exactly pretty don't rip you our of the experience any longer. The simplified skilling systemFantastic fun game that does a great job immersing you into its world. It feels like it looks and I love the setting, coldy windy, norse mythology mixed with the deep story and background of Elder Scrolls. It rings familiar of Oblivion but the characters feel like real humans and while still not exactly pretty don't rip you our of the experience any longer. The simplified skilling system is perfect for me because i dont want to get my calculator out and permanently worry about messing up my "build". I can understand if you liked that part of the previous games you might be dissapointed by that. For me it balances out to a great value and I look forward to a long winter in Skyrim. The PC version needs some fixing with some glitches here and there like followers dissapearing but overall its the best RPG i have every played and I have been doing this since the first Baldurs Gate.… Expand
  4. SavageGamer
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    This game is awesome. Every inch is so rich and just simply amazing looking. Characters, animation, effects, environments are all top notch. I have seen some odd ai behavior here and there, but that is to be expected in a game where you can do almost anything! It is so huge, I will be playing for many months to come. I don't see why some are hating on the UI so bad, I guess that because IThis game is awesome. Every inch is so rich and just simply amazing looking. Characters, animation, effects, environments are all top notch. I have seen some odd ai behavior here and there, but that is to be expected in a game where you can do almost anything! It is so huge, I will be playing for many months to come. I don't see why some are hating on the UI so bad, I guess that because I played with a controller. I tried playing with mouse and keyboard too to figure out what people were talking about. Using ASDW in the menus lets you roll through them pretty fast, I didn't find myself clicking around with the mouse like some seem to be doing. A bit different yes, bad no. I just think peeps need to get used to it. The more I play, the better this game gets.… Expand
  5. Jewnicorn
    Nov 11, 2011
    10
    Those who are completely slating this game, look at yourselves. You're all saying you've played "10" hours, or even less and basing your opinion on that. There's 300 hours of gameplay in Skyrim. Someone compared it to The Witcher 2 about graphics; most people can barely run The Witcher at even reasonable settings...another complained about the same 10 year old background song? Sorry, butThose who are completely slating this game, look at yourselves. You're all saying you've played "10" hours, or even less and basing your opinion on that. There's 300 hours of gameplay in Skyrim. Someone compared it to The Witcher 2 about graphics; most people can barely run The Witcher at even reasonable settings...another complained about the same 10 year old background song? Sorry, but **** off! Thats easily one of the best songs that has ever been used for any game created in the past 10 years. This is a warning to all thsoe who read the bad scores; ignore them. If I had £1 for every 12 year old ranting about how their dads PC can't play this game, I'd be richer than ****ing Bill Gates! I loved Oblivion and I know I am going to love Skyrim. So stop winging, trade your game in with "daddy" stood next to you, because you obviously have no I.D. and buy a Wii and Sonic: Adventures 3D from CEX and stop downing the Metascore. Or me and Chuck Norris will personally stick your **** PC so far up your ass you'll be able to taste the Blue Screens that your wank hardware causes!… Expand
  6. Tobias14
    Nov 11, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is abseloutly amazing! I It's like constantly thrilling, and it never stops! This game has actual content inside, which means the game has a soul. I personally think this game contains an endles experience, you wont regret buying it! 10/10… Expand
  7. efx
    Nov 11, 2011
    10
    Damn i had so much fun playing this game was completely immersed for 8 hours straight today. So much possibilities, endless world pure fun. Sure PC version could be better its quite lazy console port but still GOTY.
  8. Nauxas
    Nov 11, 2011
    10
    An amazing, amazing game. One of the best games I have ever played. A great sequel to Oblivion and past Elder Scrolls Games. And maybe even one of the best RPGs ever created. This game is a must own for any Elder Scrolls fan, RPG fan and gamer in general. 10/10! :D
  9. ppd8472
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    As a new follower to the Elder Scrolls world - only played Oblivion, I can say, without a doubt, this is one of the better games I've EVER played. Period. The depth of the quests, the soothing sounds of the soundtrack, and the absolutely beautiful world created in Skyrim will resonate with me for a long time to come. I have sunk 30 hours in and I haven't even begun to scratch the surfaceAs a new follower to the Elder Scrolls world - only played Oblivion, I can say, without a doubt, this is one of the better games I've EVER played. Period. The depth of the quests, the soothing sounds of the soundtrack, and the absolutely beautiful world created in Skyrim will resonate with me for a long time to come. I have sunk 30 hours in and I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of how far the proverbial rabbit-hole goes. They took what was awesome from Oblivion, coupled it with the positive characteristics attached to the new Fallout series, and made one hell of a good game. True, they are some bugs, but nothing that detracts you from the games playability in the least. I even find some hilarious - like woolly mammoths that fly. So I never gave them two thoughts. I can't put this game down. If you love the Elder Scrolls series, the Fallout series, or any game in general, get this, you will not regret it.… Expand
  10. dimgl
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Reading over some of the mixed and negative reviews that have been submitted, it's disappointing to see how the current generation of gamers expect perfection from ambitious games and spoon-fed gameplay.

    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the pinnacle of the current generation of gaming. With breath-taking graphics, solid, intuitive controls, refined gameplay and a huge sandbox world, there's    Reading over some of the mixed and negative reviews that have been submitted, it's disappointing to see how the current generation of gamers expect perfection from ambitious games and spoon-fed gameplay.

    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the pinnacle of the current generation of gaming. With breath-taking graphics, solid, intuitive controls, refined gameplay and a huge sandbox world, there's really not much more that you can ask for from a single-player game well worth the $60 dollar investment.

    Although the graphics do at times look rough around the edges, it's the grand scale of things that really defines Skyrim as a precedent for future games. Taking into consideration how ambitious Skyrim aims to be, it can excused when there are tiny blemishes inside of what is a massive package. In terms of graphics, my biggest complaint are animations. Bethesda should look into improving their animations for their next installments of Elder Scrolls.

    Sounds are brilliantly programmed, bringing the in-game world to life. There are endless background noises, hacks and slashes sound crisp, and sounds for spells seem real when cast. The music is also on-point, with a fitting score that matches the epic feeling of the game. It's also been much improved since Oblivion, with combat cues more varied, subtle and well placed. I'm looking forward to hearing all of the music.

    Game-play is by far the best feature in Skyrim. Whether you decide to become a thief or a battlemage, the game is tailored to your defining your experience. No dragon fight you will have will be the same as the next, and each play-through will have you experiencing new things. The amount of content also seems endless... which is impressive, as the game is only 5 GB on my hard drive. Improvements have also been made in terms of personalization; perks and skill trees have been introduced, changing the way your character plays depending on where you branch off. Also dual-wielding has been introduced, allowing for more interesting gameplay options.

    I haven't dived into professions yet, but I look forward to enchanting and smithing soon. Basically, this game is incredible. The story is immerse, the environment is realistic enough to be believable, and fighting dragons is by far one of my favorite experiences in gaming. I am thoroughly pleased with my purchase and I would recommend this game to anyone.    … Expand
  11. tater
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Absolutely worth the wait. I fully expect it to take GOTY honors which it absolutely deserves. Improved graphics, combat system, menu navigation. Great story lines and another brilliant soundtrack. Have had the game freeze up twice in about 3 solid days of playing. A couple of graphic glitches here and there and some AI issues... Nothing that has diminished the experience for me.
  12. G00SEy
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Game is amazing, nothing more to say. Immersion factor 10. I am trying to avoid the game at this point because I wont do anything else. A few ruff edges here and there, but be prepared to not have a girlfriend, sign some divorce papers, lose your job, or any other negative thing that comes with being lost in a game.
  13. Icemelt
    Nov 29, 2014
    10
    There needs to be a way to purge the bottom ratings from this game. Anyone that gives Skyrim less than a 5 should have their computer use and gaming privileges removed forever. This is by far one of the best RPGs ever made. It has absolutely set the bar so high that current games half a decade later still fail to life up to it.

    Newsflash! RPG games ALWAYS have an exploitive easy-mode    There needs to be a way to purge the bottom ratings from this game. Anyone that gives Skyrim less than a 5 should have their computer use and gaming privileges removed forever. This is by far one of the best RPGs ever made. It has absolutely set the bar so high that current games half a decade later still fail to life up to it.

    Newsflash!

    RPG games ALWAYS have an exploitive easy-mode way of playing the game. For Oblivion it was probably battle-mage. For Skyrim, it's probably stealth archer. The ability to mod and keep the game alive well after it's introduction is amazing. The Skyrim modding community is one of the biggest modding communities on the net next to Minecraft.

    This game is awesome! If you've waited this long to play, you've waited too long, but start now!    … Expand
  14. Randizzledante
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    Games like this are the reason I became a gamer. This is video game perfection in every sense of the word. Props to Bethesda for not selling out and adding a garbage multiplayer mode. It's simply not needed. You pay $60, and get a game with literally 1000+ hours of content. Sorry all you little losers who need to rank up every 30 seconds to find joy in a game - this isn't for you.Games like this are the reason I became a gamer. This is video game perfection in every sense of the word. Props to Bethesda for not selling out and adding a garbage multiplayer mode. It's simply not needed. You pay $60, and get a game with literally 1000+ hours of content. Sorry all you little losers who need to rank up every 30 seconds to find joy in a game - this isn't for you. But any true gamer will appreciate this masterpiece.… Expand
  15. thehawk
    Dec 28, 2014
    10
    It's Christmas in Skyrim 2014. The game is over 3 years old and I am still playing it and having a great time. Why? Because of the mods and creation kit. Modded Skyrim is a completely different game - better graphics, more followers, bigger towns, enhanced player homes, more armour, more hairstyles and so many new high quality quests that the original plot sometimes seems tame inIt's Christmas in Skyrim 2014. The game is over 3 years old and I am still playing it and having a great time. Why? Because of the mods and creation kit. Modded Skyrim is a completely different game - better graphics, more followers, bigger towns, enhanced player homes, more armour, more hairstyles and so many new high quality quests that the original plot sometimes seems tame in comparison. So much innovation. So much extra gameplay. The ability to personalise the game world.
    The only depressing part is all the other rpgs that Bethesda could make with the game engine that won't get made,    … Expand
  16. ElectroniChibi
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    So far I've played Skyrim for 38 hours. So far I've been completely seduced by game. The quests are great and Skyrim is a marvelous addition to the series. In my opinion Skyrim is worth every penny, if you like the series, Skyrim is definitely a must.
    Even though the game is quite buggy, but which game doesn't have bugs? And I bet Bethesda would do anything to solve them and maybe even    So far I've played Skyrim for 38 hours. So far I've been completely seduced by game. The quests are great and Skyrim is a marvelous addition to the series. In my opinion Skyrim is worth every penny, if you like the series, Skyrim is definitely a must.
    Even though the game is quite buggy, but which game doesn't have bugs? And I bet Bethesda would do anything to solve them and maybe even further improve it.
    They did a really good job working the engine to give Skyrim a great look, but they also managed to get it running on low spec computers. I run Skyrim on High graphics with an Macbook Pro (I use it for study but who can blame me for having the need to play Skyrim) from last year with Bootcamp with high fps rate. For me the graphics are the only thing which could have been better, but since I give a damn about graphics it doesn't matter at all.
    To all the reviewer giving Skyrim a bad review have proberbly neither played the game for longer then 10 hours or if they had they only **** about the graphics and the bugs. Of course they can't put all their resources on graphics if they unless they want their storyline to be as boring as any other FPS' like BF3 and MW3, which used all their resources on the graphic and left a single player campaign even worse ever. Not only did they get a great storyline but also made Skyrim into a nice piece of art. Not only do they give you the feeling that you are a Viking running around raping people and bashing skulls. But the environment will put you in awe. Never before has Tamriel looked so great as in Skyrim.    … Expand
  17. Levethian
    Dec 12, 2011
    10
    Opinion after 250+ hours. Bethesda's pursuit of freedom is admirable, and this is the best world created to date; but it naturally comes at the cost of a cohesive narrative. If you want great story & characters, better to play a more traditional RPG. Or better still, read a book. 60,000 lines of dialogue in Skyrim, but still not enough :). If you're about to play this for the first time,Opinion after 250+ hours. Bethesda's pursuit of freedom is admirable, and this is the best world created to date; but it naturally comes at the cost of a cohesive narrative. If you want great story & characters, better to play a more traditional RPG. Or better still, read a book. 60,000 lines of dialogue in Skyrim, but still not enough :). If you're about to play this for the first time, make sure you check the 'Skyrim Nexus' and browse it's 2700+ mods (amended UI, better textures), and I suggest a mod that stops NPC's from clamoring to spout their life-story (no NPC greetings).… Expand
  18. TomSEA
    Nov 28, 2011
    10
    Huge and beautiful. Engaging and mesmerizing. The amount of content and replayability is off the charts. If you've played Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas, then you have a pretty good idea what to expect as far as game mechanics are concerned. UI is pretty much identical to the Fallout games. Inventory is a little clunky, but doesn't take long before you're on auto-pilot with it andHuge and beautiful. Engaging and mesmerizing. The amount of content and replayability is off the charts. If you've played Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas, then you have a pretty good idea what to expect as far as game mechanics are concerned. UI is pretty much identical to the Fallout games. Inventory is a little clunky, but doesn't take long before you're on auto-pilot with it and other game controls and just enjoying the game. As awesome and in-depth RPG as you will ever play IN YOUR LIFE. Just buy it and enjoy the game. I'd ignore the nay-sayers who seem more interesting in showing off their "zero" score and going out of their way to find and bemoan the slightest, insignificant defects while overlooking the gaming experience in its entirety.… Expand
  19. zero298
    Nov 12, 2011
    9
    Graphics look good, including animations. Voice acting is pretty good. The landscape, unless you're on top of a mountain looking down onto the flatter areas, is magnificent and a huge improvement over the copy and paste job from Oblivion. The crafting/enchanting systems are a welcome edition and add a new dimension for those who want to focus on the merchant end of the game. One of theGraphics look good, including animations. Voice acting is pretty good. The landscape, unless you're on top of a mountain looking down onto the flatter areas, is magnificent and a huge improvement over the copy and paste job from Oblivion. The crafting/enchanting systems are a welcome edition and add a new dimension for those who want to focus on the merchant end of the game. One of the big horrifying problems though is the obviously built for consoles user interface. It's like a nightmarish laggy iTunes inspired inventory where 5000 songs are spread over only 10 album/artists. Oh, and you can't switch to album view. The worst part is, I don't know if mod tools can fix it. I feel like the UI is a big part of a game since it's basically your window into all of your game interactions. Considering you're going to be using it throughout the ENTIRE game more effort ought to be put into it.

    Sure, there is some hotkey support such as pressing 'm' for the map, 'j' for the quest log and being able to pull up a favorites list with 'q'. But it all feels really tacked on. The mouse can pick items in the inventory as you'd expect but the way that the items are presented makes using the mouse feel like you're using one of those extendo-grabber-clow things to pick up a coke can. If a mod that basically presents row/columns of multiple items instead of just one GIANT screen hogging 3D render of an item and allows you to select them through that comes out, this game can be marked for finished.    … Expand
  20. SJ_pl
    Jan 22, 2012
    10
    At first I was very sceptical about the graphical design and character animations of this title but the immersion that this vivid worlds offers is unprecedented! You don't enter a location after a loading screen, you don't switch from jungle to icy mountain tops in seconds. You have to move your ass out of the house that you've just bought, mount your stolen horse and ride, ride and ride.At first I was very sceptical about the graphical design and character animations of this title but the immersion that this vivid worlds offers is unprecedented! You don't enter a location after a loading screen, you don't switch from jungle to icy mountain tops in seconds. You have to move your ass out of the house that you've just bought, mount your stolen horse and ride, ride and ride. The weather will change and you'll meet some bandits along the road but after a while you'll reach the windy sanctuary. The feeling is GREAT!… Expand
  21. Zombiechow
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a triumph. Bethesda's magnum opus and the new benchmark for action RPG's in terms of size, scope, scale, and story. There's a lot to love here. Bethesda managed to take its signature, addicting, open world style of game play and refine it to near perfection. There is a massive amount content here. So much so, it's staggering. I find myself talking toThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a triumph. Bethesda's magnum opus and the new benchmark for action RPG's in terms of size, scope, scale, and story. There's a lot to love here. Bethesda managed to take its signature, addicting, open world style of game play and refine it to near perfection. There is a massive amount content here. So much so, it's staggering. I find myself talking to everybody I meet to obtain new things to do, and even if they have nothing for me, a lot of the time they will add their own unique insight into the events and happenings in the world. This makes the world feel alive and lived in. Quests for the most part, are fun, interesting, and will easily distract you from the main story line in a numerous amount of wonderful ways. I won't list any spoilers here, but it's advisable to partake in these, even if the task seems trivial. The game starts off interestingly enough and it's immediately more engaging than the previous title. While I loved Oblivion, I found the first hour or two of the game to be relatively boring and painful. In fact, i had to pick it up and start over several times over a period of months before I finally got into the game. Again, I won't provide any spoilers, but it's much more engaging and vastly more interesting. I'm about 50 hours into the experience and I've not wanted to put down my controller.

    Controller? PC? Rly? Why you ask? Well, it's simple. The game was designed for consoles. It's a simple fact, though this isn't a bad thing. I'll touch more on this later, but the new UI is beautiful, responsive and easy to access with a controller. Important information, for the most part, is easy to access and your treated to absolutely stunning 3D models of available armor, weapons, items, etc. Everything can be examined in real time front to back and there are tons of beautiful details to gorge yourself on. The gameplay is heavily revamped in this time around and there are a few new ways to enjoy combat here. The most notable being the ability to dual wield weapons. Yes, dual wield. This can be a combination of weapon and magic, or weapon weapon. I won't go into a lot of detail on this as it pretty much speaks for itself, but imagine being able to stream a wall of fire at your target, then close in to finish him off with an axe to the head. It's a load of fun. Each weapon can be triggered independently or together to have a cumulative effect which is substantially more powerful. Swordplay this time around feels much more engaging and is vastly more brutal. The finishing moves are also a nice touch, but seem to happen only at random. In other words, you will WANT to get up close in personal with your targets.

    Now lets talk about the visuals. Bethesda revamped the entire visual style of the series the results are absolutely stunning. The attention to detail within the world of Skyrim is absolutely insane, setting a new benchmark for the genre visually. From the clouds swirling the mountain tops, the wind blowing freshly falling snow from the ground, and the amazing texture work, there is a lot to take in visually here and I found myself examining everything. In fact, the world looks so good that it's almost distracting. Those who have already made the 7,000 step hike to the top of The Throat of the World will agree with me here. The world of Skyrim is cold, jagged, and harsh....yet Bethesda managed to make such an unsettling place a thing of beauty. Even this said, there is plenty of variety in the environments to keep things from becoming stale.

    Character models have been vastly improved and look amazing. Gone are the days of strange looking faces and awkwardly designed characters. Character animations could still use a bit of work, but for the most part they're superior to that of what was seen in Oblivion. The flow of time is greatly improved as well. NPC interact with themselves fluidly without many awkward pauses in their speech. Additionally, the world does not come to a halt when you talk to an NPC. This was a huge annoyance to me in Oblivion and took away from the overall immersion in the world.

    The game is not without its flaws though and I wish I had more space to get into these, but there's nothing game breaking here. The UI is awkward if you use a keyboard and there are various bugs in the world such as wobbling plates plates on tables that should be stationary, slow transitions after brawls with NPC, and a few other things, but nothing severe. I also wish that weapons didn't seem to "bounce" off of a target when you swing.

    Skyrim is a masterpiece. It's not a game, It's an experience. One that will easily take several hundred hours of your life. There's a lot I've not touched here such as customization of your character, but trust me...there's a lot to love here. Bethesda has not only set a new benchmark for itself, but for all open world games as a medium.    … Expand
  22. drachehexe
    Nov 27, 2011
    8
    Anybody who gives this game more than 7.5 isn't looking at Skyrim objectively or they know nothing about RPG's in general.

    Skyrim is a beautiful, full world. There are plenty of quests to do, people to meet, and dragons to kill. However, none of it is really innovative. Other than dragons Skyrim doesn't really add anything new to the Oblivion formula. Just about everything that made    Anybody who gives this game more than 7.5 isn't looking at Skyrim objectively or they know nothing about RPG's in general.

    Skyrim is a beautiful, full world. There are plenty of quests to do, people to meet, and dragons to kill. However, none of it is really innovative. Other than dragons Skyrim doesn't really add anything new to the Oblivion formula. Just about everything that made Oblivion good is there, and not much else.

    The graphics are beautiful, the game-play is smooth for the most part, the dialogue and voice acting are top notch (even if voice actors are reused ad naseum). Sadly the game has a serious number of little flaws that, when added together, really make Skyrim and overall disappointment.

    Starting with the interface. Definitely developed with consoles in mind. For PC users it's slow, clunky, and just plain bad. Even using my 360 controller with the PC version of the game it's just not right. This is probably why I don't own a console, this minimalistic design scheme is weak and uninspired.

    The interface is most troubling because it gets in the way of the meat of of any RPG; combat. You'll often find find yourself accessing the inventory several times through combat to change spells, or drink potions, or switch from dual wield to weapon and shield. Even with the "favorites" button which can cut time navigating the menus it still becomes an annoyance breaking up the flow of a particular battle and ruining the overall experience.

    Moving on to keyboard controls they are just plain screwed it up. Even after the patch I cannot make my own custom keyboard setup as the game fails to save any of the changes I make. And the default controls are a mess. They could have taken some hints from some of the modern day standards instead of screwing it up just to be different. Different isn't always better.

    The level and skill advancement hasn't changed much from Oblivion, except now you can choose various perks from high skill levels that used to be automatically assigned as you progressed in Oblivion. The spells and skill selection hasn't changed much (if at all) which is also disappointing.

    Combat is action oriented hack and slash where your skill with the keyboard (or controller) is more important than your character stats. As everything you face will be tailored to your level you will, for the most part, never find anything too hard or too easy if you approach the encounter right.. Honestly, I think my characters skill with a bow should be more important than my skill of aiming the bow for him. While it's a standard for action RPG's it lessens character development.

    You will find tho that making a character to your play style will be pretty easy. The balance and difference between various play styles is well done and feel quite different for the most part, requiring different strategies for encounters. Mages, warriors, rogues, and rogue-mages, and warrior mages all feel independent of each other. This is perhaps the highlight of the game mechanics.

    The biggest disappointment of this game is Bethesda's promise of certain things that they failed to achieve. One was the "alieness" you felt in Morrowind. They promised players would feel like a stranger in a strange land with Skyrim, much like the unique presentation of Morrowind which was lost with the generic setting of Oblivion. Skyrim has no such sense of being unique in any way. It's more or less like one would expect an RPG set in snowy mountain regions with nordic influence.

    Skyrim is a fine game. It's fun to play and it's vast. There is lots to look at and do. But it's not perfect. It's certainly better than most other open world RPG's (Gothic 3 & 4, Risen) but then so are Morrowind and Oblivion to this day. Sadly, Skyrim fails to take what Morrowind and Oblivion games us to the next level. It just gives us more of the same but with a worse interface.    … Expand
  23. ILFM
    Nov 20, 2011
    10
    This game has endless content, gorgeous graphics, unscripted dragons, over a hundred spells, dual wielding, a giant map that extends forever, live characters, people that react to every last thing you do. (Ex I had fire spell in my hand, little girl says it's bad to play with fire mister, or I had a dragon sword in my hand, little boy said I like you're sword sir. or I drop stuff in theThis game has endless content, gorgeous graphics, unscripted dragons, over a hundred spells, dual wielding, a giant map that extends forever, live characters, people that react to every last thing you do. (Ex I had fire spell in my hand, little girl says it's bad to play with fire mister, or I had a dragon sword in my hand, little boy said I like you're sword sir. or I drop stuff in the streets and people fight over it, trying to take it)

    Endless quests, epic weapons, amazing music, many places to live, get married, tons of factions, kill animations, crafting, alchemy, enchanting, smelting, mining, wood chopping, tanning, smelting, sharpening, the world is so beyond alive it's crazy. Everything is so amazing, it's the most beautiful hand crafted world I have ever seen. Skyrim is nothing short of a master piece, and Bethesda earns every amount of praise they get. Game of the year, best game of all time.    … Expand
  24. Beaner
    Jan 20, 2012
    10
    This is my second review of this game because it's worth it. For those of you out there who like to rush through games, then maybe you'll find Skyrim to be too short for your liking; however, this is NOT the reason Bethesda makes their Elder Scrolls games. Like Morrowind and Oblivion before it, Skyrim allows you to sit back and explore an amazing world full of side quests andThis is my second review of this game because it's worth it. For those of you out there who like to rush through games, then maybe you'll find Skyrim to be too short for your liking; however, this is NOT the reason Bethesda makes their Elder Scrolls games. Like Morrowind and Oblivion before it, Skyrim allows you to sit back and explore an amazing world full of side quests and adventures. It's simply a beautiful game in every aspect and is the best in the Elder Scrolls series to date. I have been a fan of since Morrowind and will continue to purchase Elder Scrolls titles as they are released. Sure there are glitches in the game which Bethesda will fix and the menu navigation could be better, but all in all a great gaming experience. I can't wait for upcoming expansions :)… Expand
  25. fluffy4evah
    Nov 19, 2011
    10
    one word: AWESOME
  26. ineffable
    Nov 12, 2011
    8
    Perhaps it's a bit early for me to be writing a review (only played about 4 hours), but I'm gonna go ahead and call it - this game is really good. I'm not a huge Elder Scrolls fan - I found Oblivion to be boring. The landscape, the story, everything about it seemed like some half-assed Tolkien ripoff. This game displays more personality, has a landscape that is interesting and pretty (notPerhaps it's a bit early for me to be writing a review (only played about 4 hours), but I'm gonna go ahead and call it - this game is really good. I'm not a huge Elder Scrolls fan - I found Oblivion to be boring. The landscape, the story, everything about it seemed like some half-assed Tolkien ripoff. This game displays more personality, has a landscape that is interesting and pretty (not cut-and-paste woodlands), and shows improvement in almost all ways. It has flaws. The combat is a bit better than Oblivion (especially archery) but still feels stiff. The voice acting can be pretty wooden, and some (very little) of the dialogue has made me cringe. But it's well worth the money.

    And as for the people talking about what a buggy mess it is... well, it has a patch out. I patched it before playing and I have not had any graphical bugs or crashes. It's worked perfectly.    … Expand
  27. SuriVuk
    Nov 12, 2011
    9
    It's here! The Elder Scrolls are back, the dragons have returned, and it's time to take your sword and head into another captivating adventure of the Elder Scrolls series. Now, I won't claim this game is perfect. Far from it, actually. But what this game is... it is captivating, it is huge, it's utterly epic. Unfortunately, living up to the huge hype that followed this title seems to be anIt's here! The Elder Scrolls are back, the dragons have returned, and it's time to take your sword and head into another captivating adventure of the Elder Scrolls series. Now, I won't claim this game is perfect. Far from it, actually. But what this game is... it is captivating, it is huge, it's utterly epic. Unfortunately, living up to the huge hype that followed this title seems to be an impossible task to uphold. First of all, the menus and controls seem to be made for a joypad, rather than the mouse&keyboard combo, which is a shame, because in some situations, when you're facing a horde of enemies, it can be somewhat painful, if not fatal, to change between the various spells, weapons and abilities your character might come in possession of. Secondly, bugs and glitches are ever present, but seeing the scope and the size of the game, they feel petty and unimportant, but then we come across huge bugs that just frustrate you. Also, the small amount of space the game requires on the Hard Drive and its relatively small system requirements have taken a toll in form of low-res textures. Nevertheless, the game still looks gorgeous, even on Medium and High settings, but, also, while animations are better than Oblivions, there's still room for improvement. Animations, however, won't stop you from enjoying the rugged landscapes of Skyrim, as they are stunning and gorgeous, and exploration never gets boring, as there is always something to do, one more cave to explore, one more ruin to clear. Gameplay has undergone some improvements, but, also, one huge drawback: removal of attributes, still, the game is enjoyable, and has depth, as combat has been somewhat improved, the magic system is fantastic and the dragon shouts are useful tools. The crafting system is by far the best in any TES game, and brings memories to the crafting of the Gothic series. So, to conclude: Bethesda has delivered one of the best games of this year. Although it doesn't quite live up to the hype, this game is a very good piece of software, sure, it has its flaws, and many PC gamers may feel disappointed and disgruntled by some of them, but, for the rest of us, with a bit higher level of tolerance, TES 5 is an enjoyable, fun game to play, that will provide a great many hours of entertainment.… Expand
  28. crispyrollz
    Nov 12, 2011
    9
    OK being a huge rpg fan i really like skyrim its great looking compared to earlier elder scrolls games not as many glitches way to much stuff do third person is ok at best but there are some glitches when ever u try to duel wield it will only show one item on u when u put away your weapon which sucks and more often the not your finishing move will look awkward me personally i would haveOK being a huge rpg fan i really like skyrim its great looking compared to earlier elder scrolls games not as many glitches way to much stuff do third person is ok at best but there are some glitches when ever u try to duel wield it will only show one item on u when u put away your weapon which sucks and more often the not your finishing move will look awkward me personally i would have gave this a 11.5 out of ten but i have to look at it from a critics stand point but i suggest u pick it up it could easily b game of the year in my opinion… Expand
  29. Joeyy
    Nov 13, 2011
    9
    This is a great game, as a previous mod developer for oblivion/heavy mod user, it does make me smile to see how much the developers listened to the community and Incorporated ideas and systems from mods. It feels like oblivion streamlined and made a lot better, and is a great game overall, i have enjoyed the storyline, although I am not done yet, and there is a huge amount of gameplayThis is a great game, as a previous mod developer for oblivion/heavy mod user, it does make me smile to see how much the developers listened to the community and Incorporated ideas and systems from mods. It feels like oblivion streamlined and made a lot better, and is a great game overall, i have enjoyed the storyline, although I am not done yet, and there is a huge amount of gameplay possibilities.


    The only thing that prevents me from giving this a ten is that the textures are too low rez for a gaming pc that runs bf3 on ultra, however it still looks nice and I don't doubt that a HD texture pack and perhaps even tools to increase view distance (before LOD kicks in) will be available in the foreseeable future. The freedom in TES titles is about mod-ability as much as vanilla gameplay choices.    … Expand
  30. Areiston
    Nov 13, 2011
    9
    I've been playing for around 13 hours now. And I have to say it's a fantastic game. At first I was a little disappointed, but as I progressed I realised how much of a great game it is. I haven't encountered any problems except for 1 or 2 texture glitches. There are some similarities with Oblivion and Morrowind that some people may hate, but you can easily see past it. The game is huge stepI've been playing for around 13 hours now. And I have to say it's a fantastic game. At first I was a little disappointed, but as I progressed I realised how much of a great game it is. I haven't encountered any problems except for 1 or 2 texture glitches. There are some similarities with Oblivion and Morrowind that some people may hate, but you can easily see past it. The game is huge step forward from previous titles no matter what others say. I'm not going to go into any detail as many have already done that

    Instead of agreeing or disagreeing with peoples reviews, try the game for yourself. Rent it(on PS3 or Xbox 360) or play it in a friends house first, just in-case you have regrets buying it and wasting your money.    … Expand
  31. ITSC
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Brilliant game which immerses you in the Nordic mythology like no other yet with a weird twist which takes you back to the roots of Morrowind. 10/10, cant wait for expansions.
  32. glest
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    While I admit, the menus are a sorry console port, the game itself is breathtaking and amazing. Shame on the trolls who rated the game a zero. The graphics are amazing, the engine is far stabler (heck, the "~" console in oblivion didn't even work for me), and the gameplay is smoother. Some people complain that the game has been "dumbed down", but I must disagree. Fast travel is a majorWhile I admit, the menus are a sorry console port, the game itself is breathtaking and amazing. Shame on the trolls who rated the game a zero. The graphics are amazing, the engine is far stabler (heck, the "~" console in oblivion didn't even work for me), and the gameplay is smoother. Some people complain that the game has been "dumbed down", but I must disagree. Fast travel is a major boon, not a curse, especially with the massive size of the game world (I won't kid you, I haven't experienced 1/10 of it yet, it's so large). I, for one, would not want to spend half an hour getting from city to city just for "shop hopping", for example. As well, the "finishing blows" concept was a pleasant surprise to me. Does it make battles easier? Oh sure, but they're random with powerful strikes, and I've still managed to die a few times (half being falls from tall places - go figure), so I'd hardly say battles are suddenly too easy. I'm sure as soon as I have a run-in with a dragon, I'll invent some new curse words.

    I wish there was a way to assign hotkeys to equipment instead of just using the favorite list (as in oblivion), but do like how versatile the favorite list is, as well as how spells and weapons can be given a hand.

    The game plays amazingly smooth on my computer. Where Dragon Age II had some points where it stuttered, I've yet to encounter any lag even on the "high" settings that the game defaulted for me.

    Is the game an improvement? Most definitely. Ignore the trolls who are rating 0s just because they're unhappy with a single change. The game is most definitely worth it, and then some.    … Expand
  33. changchang
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Skyrim traditionally isn't a game with a strong main-quest, but with an unbelievable freedom. There are quests everywhere and a giant world to discover. Though the controls are not optimized for PC, its a jewel and a masterpiece. For me personally, it's the RPG-Highlight of the past 5 years.
  34. MasterXi
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    My thoughts more than a review. This game is all around awesome. I never expected to get this game and never played any of the older ones. After getting it, I'm glad I did. CoD MW3 and BF3 are put on hold for awhile.

    Run ultra graphics with a GTX 580. Load times are 2-3 seconds average with some loads going up to 5 seconds. Play with XBox controller. Amazing on 5.1 surround sound    My thoughts more than a review. This game is all around awesome. I never expected to get this game and never played any of the older ones. After getting it, I'm glad I did. CoD MW3 and BF3 are put on hold for awhile.

    Run ultra graphics with a GTX 580. Load times are 2-3 seconds average with some loads going up to 5 seconds. Play with XBox controller. Amazing on 5.1 surround sound and 59" TV. Glad I got it for the PC.    … Expand
  35. lolfactor1000
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    First i would like to say that if you don't like this type of game don't play it. second don't say it looks worse then Morrowind, if you play on PC like you should and have it set to ultra this game makes everything else look like crap. now that i have the rambling out of the way lets get to the game itself. This game is amazing! I couldn't believe my eyes looking on the vast and beautifulFirst i would like to say that if you don't like this type of game don't play it. second don't say it looks worse then Morrowind, if you play on PC like you should and have it set to ultra this game makes everything else look like crap. now that i have the rambling out of the way lets get to the game itself. This game is amazing! I couldn't believe my eyes looking on the vast and beautiful of Skyrim. Everything has be greatly upgraded from Oblivion. The only reason i couldn't give this a 10 out of 10 was because of the poor scripting of the kill scenes. Half of the time your sword wouldn't even be touching the enemy. But besides that the game is perfect. can't wait to see what DLC comes out for it.… Expand
  36. SpiffyHarry
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    Absolutely brilliant! Breath-taking visuals, a class system with unparalleled customization, engaging and genuinely fun combat, ridiculous amounts of replay value, crafting that's actually useful, beautiful music and sound effects, interesting side quests, smooth/greatly improved animations and a rich, vibrant world that comes alive with the amount of lore involved! :)

    I bought the PC    Absolutely brilliant! Breath-taking visuals, a class system with unparalleled customization, engaging and genuinely fun combat, ridiculous amounts of replay value, crafting that's actually useful, beautiful music and sound effects, interesting side quests, smooth/greatly improved animations and a rich, vibrant world that comes alive with the amount of lore involved! :)

    I bought the PC version, which isn't perfect, the menu system was clearly developed for the console and suffers because of it. Using your mouse to click on icons can cause you to be booted out of the menu, it's a little temperamental and clunky.

    Unfortunately, as with the previous Elder Scrolls, there's little to no character development, it feels very lonely, your companions follow you silently, rarely commenting on anything you do, on-top of being incredibly two dimensional with no back story. Some of the voice acting is reused too often and there are many bugs and glitches.

    Overall, a fantastic game that delivered on the majority of my expectations, but falls just barely short of being an all round master piece. I give it an 8.5/10.    … Expand
  37. spartancrusader
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Im just going to start off by saying that this one of the best games, if not THE best game i have ever played. I have no idea where you guys are getting that its graphics are terrible- you must be playing on the lowest settings or something, because they are *stunning*. They look NOTHING like oblivion. And the animations are much less stiff. And besides, if youre honestly rating a gameIm just going to start off by saying that this one of the best games, if not THE best game i have ever played. I have no idea where you guys are getting that its graphics are terrible- you must be playing on the lowest settings or something, because they are *stunning*. They look NOTHING like oblivion. And the animations are much less stiff. And besides, if youre honestly rating a game down because of graphics, there is something wrong with you. There is a ridiculous amount of stuff to do, with each guild having an interesting questline, plus the many other side quests to do. Not to mention just running around exploring any cave you can find! The dwarf ruins are truely amazing-a MASSIVE improvement over the boring, grey ayleid ruins in Oblivion. The dragon fights, while easy later on are still really fun. Also to the people complaining about weapons and armor being invincible- it was a stupid concept anyway. Yes, it is more realistic, but does having to bring up a menu and whack your armor 50 times with a hammer really bring you that much satisfaction? Im glad its gone. Also, if you are experiencing alot of bugs, you must be very unlucky, I have not had any, besides, with a game as big as this it is understandable, and they will be fixed. For now, just save often. As for the UI, it is clearly not designed for PC, but i dont see the big deal.. you can still use your mouse. And IMO, the favorites system works great. While the controls are a bit clunky, you can change them easily, for example i changed my dragon shout so Mouse 3 for easy access. The perks system is WAY better than the levelling system in Oblivion, the environments are better, the cities feel more lifelike, crafting and being able to improve armor is really great, sneaking is improved, archery is improved, spells are improved, sprinting is an awesome addition, (Where are people getting that theres no new content??) and the combat feels alot less clunky at least for me. Also, to the person complaining about buildings just "Appearing" that happens.. if it really happens often enough for you to rate the game lower, you must need a better computer, lol. If it is too easy, TURN UP THE DIFFUCULTY.. duh.. And if anyone is complaining about unimaginitive places, just go to the Blackreach. Amazing. The only real complaint I have is that the main questline was somewhat dissapointing. It did bring you to some awesome places, but, i don't know it just didnt feel very satisfying, and the final boss was very easy. But who plays it for the main quest anyway? OH one more nitpick, why get rid of Longswords?… Expand
  38. joshyman
    Nov 21, 2011
    9
    I normally get bored with games after about 10 hours. I'm 30 hours into Skyrim and everything feels new. There are bugs, but they add to the experience, because its an elder scrolls game. Which just makes them funny! The graphics are great, the gameplay mechanics are awesome. They have really improved on combat since Oblivion. Also, all the guilds in the game have a ton of quests, you canI normally get bored with games after about 10 hours. I'm 30 hours into Skyrim and everything feels new. There are bugs, but they add to the experience, because its an elder scrolls game. Which just makes them funny! The graphics are great, the gameplay mechanics are awesome. They have really improved on combat since Oblivion. Also, all the guilds in the game have a ton of quests, you can literally play this game forever. I'm a wearwolf, and love it. And the vampires are cool too. The story is great, killing dragons really feels epic, but it does kinda get stale after the same old dragon fight. However, all the unique dungeons......this is my favorite part. Running through a random place you find, killing a boss, getting the loot. Its just a wonderful FUN game. Nothing really gets boring. Voice acting is spot on, and you feel like a real bad ass when you climb up on a dragon and shove your axe in its forehead :)'



    great game, i love it, can't wait for DLC!    … Expand
  39. Kubix
    Nov 22, 2011
    10
    Skyrim is simply amazing. First off, any QQ about the game not running properly, LEARN TO UPDATE YOUR HARDWARE and DRIVERS. The PC is not a console. I'm running an i7, gtx570, 8gb of mediocre ram and the game runs PERFECT and max graphics. If you can't run it on high, then DON'T, its really as simple as that. As usual the TES franchise has an excellent mod community offering tons ofSkyrim is simply amazing. First off, any QQ about the game not running properly, LEARN TO UPDATE YOUR HARDWARE and DRIVERS. The PC is not a console. I'm running an i7, gtx570, 8gb of mediocre ram and the game runs PERFECT and max graphics. If you can't run it on high, then DON'T, its really as simple as that. As usual the TES franchise has an excellent mod community offering tons of content and more will be coming out, power to the PC. I love the new weapon system(the default mouse controls are just strange), finally it is viable to play a battlemage, unlike Oblivion. The simplification of the attribute system is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, but the new system works very well and I no longer need my spreadsheets :P The world is simply huge, I've had more fun wandering the vast land of Skyrim than completing the main quest line. If you're looking for a great offline RPG to play then look no further than Skyrim. "Once M'aiq got in trouble in Riften, and fled to Windhelm. It is good that nobody there cared." - M'iaq the Liar… Expand
  40. kozzy420
    Nov 24, 2011
    10
    Bethesda did a great job on this game here, I was a hue fan of there older games (Morrowind, Daggerfall and Arena), but Oblivion and Fallout3 did not impress me much at all.

    Now comes Skyrim and Bethesda has done an amazing job improving things since Oblivion. Nearly everything is improved, from the story to the combat to the controls and performance. Its almost like they heard all my    Bethesda did a great job on this game here, I was a hue fan of there older games (Morrowind, Daggerfall and Arena), but Oblivion and Fallout3 did not impress me much at all.

    Now comes Skyrim and Bethesda has done an amazing job improving things since Oblivion. Nearly everything is improved, from the story to the combat to the controls and performance. Its almost like they heard all my issues with Oblivion and fixed them for Skyrim, great effort Bethesda!

    The soundtrack is epic as usual and of course the gameworld and lore is extremely well made. This all came as a very nice surprise to me though as I was not expecting all that much, but whats here is an epic rpg.

    Skyrim joins The Witcher2 as the best rpgs of 2011, both extremely well made and awesome rpg's that I loved to death. Its great when companies can improve on past games as well as Bethesda has done here with Skyrim, which is the best game from the rpg giants since Morrowind!

    Buy this game now!

    Here is to Skyrim and the great job by Bethesda!    … Expand
  41. WinTime
    Jan 15, 2012
    10
    Despite the many bugs the game is excellent, even the game trailer super popular cry, and yes there are games = D FUS RO DAH
    Here it is the best game of the year!
    here it here it is my dream game Skyrim hefty guys skaaaaaayrim !!!!!!!!
  42. PeyoteCoyote
    Jan 24, 2012
    8
    I won't waste a lot of time repeating what's been said. I love open end games that take a lifetime to fully explore. However, one thing I absolutely despise are the "run around" quests in games that are basically there just to keep the player in the game so they can make claims that it takes x amount of hours to complete. Skyrim if full of these. Gets old real fast.
  43. thegimble
    Feb 9, 2012
    8
    After playing Skyrim and reading most reviews i found the scores were too high. Graphically its very good as is the control system. The storyline is very good with the element of choice having an effect on what happens next really makes the game play stand out. All great but its full of bugs like i have not seen in a while just looking at other sources for the game its apparent thatAfter playing Skyrim and reading most reviews i found the scores were too high. Graphically its very good as is the control system. The storyline is very good with the element of choice having an effect on what happens next really makes the game play stand out. All great but its full of bugs like i have not seen in a while just looking at other sources for the game its apparent that there are loads of them as well which is killing the game play. A good game that could have been the best ever but spoilt by bug issues which seem common but with no updates to sort out.… Expand
  44. Burkendah
    Feb 29, 2012
    10
    For being one of the most anticipated games of the year it did not disappoint. With character customization in both aesthetic and skill values and hours of side quests many of which contain very interesting stories) it has been called game of the year for a reason. The graphic quality was amazing and unlike other preceding rpg games skyrim gave you entire country to explore with no linearFor being one of the most anticipated games of the year it did not disappoint. With character customization in both aesthetic and skill values and hours of side quests many of which contain very interesting stories) it has been called game of the year for a reason. The graphic quality was amazing and unlike other preceding rpg games skyrim gave you entire country to explore with no linear story line to decide how you played out the wonderful and fascinating story that the elder scrolls always brings us. I also really enjoyed player interaction with the characters and other npcs, like when passing guards would comment on your great new gear or how epic it was when you slayed those bandits or witches or other great evil or how some npcs showed thier appreciation for you when you completed certain quests for them. The few downsides were for a game with such a large budget they could have down with more voice actors it felt like I was talking to the same individual each time even if that previous individual was last seen at the other end of the country and they could have spent some time ironing out some of the bugs that frequently gave the players a laugh or an annoyance (like the flying mammoths for instance). All in all a great game that I would recommend to just about anybody. Fus Ro Dah… Expand
  45. Cubixreviews
    Aug 8, 2012
    9
    I rate this game 10 out of 10, but something is wrong with Metacritic forcing me to rate this awesome game 9 out of 10. With Skyrim you can have the best gaming experience you have ever had. Skyrim It's outstandingly fun, and It haves a really good written story. This is how a RPG need to be. And the world of Skyrim is really huge, where you an explore the unknown.
  46. Sloul
    Dec 20, 2011
    8
    Just another good action-rpg.
    The balance but no perfect, the dialogues are sometimes repetitive/incoherent/retarded.
    But overall its still a good game with a huge potential of playability thanks to the mod community (nexus).
  47. iloveeverything
    Nov 18, 2011
    10
    I only have a 100 % to give to this game. Its the best elder scroll and the best game I played in years. The interface is extensible, the envrionnement is well made ( the world is small, but very well made), they improoved the AI etc... Worth every cents out of your pocket.
  48. Hovis
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Personally I think that Skyrim is the best game ever made. Nothing else has created even a fraction of the depth and texture in the game world. I'm forty hours into it now and still not really feeling like I've so much as scratched the surface. It's just so damn good and so damn deep and there's so much of it, it's just mind blowing to play. I've never played anything like it. It is aPersonally I think that Skyrim is the best game ever made. Nothing else has created even a fraction of the depth and texture in the game world. I'm forty hours into it now and still not really feeling like I've so much as scratched the surface. It's just so damn good and so damn deep and there's so much of it, it's just mind blowing to play. I've never played anything like it. It is a staggering work of art, a masterpiece, a feat of game design that is utterly unmatched, in my opinion.

    One day somebody will make a game better than this. But at this moment, I don't think anybody has.    … Expand
  49. Heben2
    Nov 17, 2011
    10
    It might have some initially bugs, as any other game, and I agree that it does not bring that much new to the franchise as it maybe should have - it could have used a prolonged beta and half a year more development. I especially dislike that it is clearly imported from xbox along with the bugs that comes with that.
    But then again, I loved Oblivion, and I certainly love Skyrim, as it is one    It might have some initially bugs, as any other game, and I agree that it does not bring that much new to the franchise as it maybe should have - it could have used a prolonged beta and half a year more development. I especially dislike that it is clearly imported from xbox along with the bugs that comes with that.
    But then again, I loved Oblivion, and I certainly love Skyrim, as it is one of the best games I have ever tried (without focusing on the bugs and glitches). Your possibility to make your own decisions of what is going to happen with your character in this wast open world is brilliant, as is its gameplay where they have corrected most of the bad from Oblivion and it is one of the most beautiful games I have ever seen (a long with Mass Effect 2), why I cannot give it less than 10.
    I still hope they make a major patch where they fix the greater bugs and the imported part on the PC-version..    … Expand
  50. PremierBromanov
    Nov 16, 2011
    8
    Skyrim is a very fun game. However, this doesnt mean that it is great. speaking from the perspective of someone who has never played more than an hour of any of TES games the world seems very open and your choices are just as open. See an area? go to it. The world (from a distance) seems very detailed and beautiful. However, the game fails to impress when you get close to anything. itSkyrim is a very fun game. However, this doesnt mean that it is great. speaking from the perspective of someone who has never played more than an hour of any of TES games the world seems very open and your choices are just as open. See an area? go to it. The world (from a distance) seems very detailed and beautiful. However, the game fails to impress when you get close to anything. it feels like a game developed for consoles and ported lazily over to PC. The textures for a game this size, however, are more detailed than you might expect, even if they arent HD. The UI is a disaster, following the trend of recent games for the PC where a UI is developed for a controller and ported over to use a mouse. When will developers realize that i can handle large menus easily without need to separate everything into smaller sub menus? The favorite tool is lacking. The idea is there, and the fact that you stop time when you do it is nice, but it is simply a list you choose from (and can add quick keys to, but the game doesnt show you these keys unless you're looking at the favorites list). The game also doesnt remember items you have in there if they are depleted or removed from your inventory, meaning if you use up your potions, you have to re-favorite them to find more. Also, the perk system is absolutely horrible. Sure, it looks nice; you click on a star and you get sort of a nice visual representation, but it isnt practical at all. It takes a long time to cycle through your perks and it's not always clear where you'll go if you click somewhere, on top of that, you cant just hover your mouse over a star and see what it is, you need to actually click on the skill, then progress (slowly by the way) your way through the stars to get to that perk. Whoever thought this was a good idea should be fired. Now the main event: the combat. So far, i havent dabbled into much aside from sneaky bows and daggers, but i can see the potential for endless mix-matching of styles, which is a huge plus. But, compared to better combat games like Dark Messiah or the trap laying bomb throwing Witcher 2, the combat falls flat sometimes. Often, the easiest way to deal with a tough opponent is to engage it a little bit, run away and heal, and then engage it some more and the whole experience takes too long and isnt intense enough. Give me more hazards like Dark messiah (i saw some hazards early on but they dissappeared), give me preparation like Witcher 2. All in all, the game is very large, very open, and has great potential, which is why i give it an 8 despite these complaints. This game will last any player for hours and hours, which is huge considering a more recently release boasts 5 hours for $60… Expand
  51. CollegeGamer
    Nov 23, 2011
    10
    I hardly play any RPGs. I played and loved Witcher 2, as well as Mass Effect 2. Never played previou Scrolls games. Yet, this game is amazing. I truly enjoy the combat, though it has its flaws. I love the fact that you can say screw the main quest and take off on your own. The side quests are better than the main quests in 90% of the games out there. Great music. Decent graphicsI hardly play any RPGs. I played and loved Witcher 2, as well as Mass Effect 2. Never played previou Scrolls games. Yet, this game is amazing. I truly enjoy the combat, though it has its flaws. I love the fact that you can say screw the main quest and take off on your own. The side quests are better than the main quests in 90% of the games out there. Great music. Decent graphics (poor compared to Witcher 2,) but the art design in this game causes moderate graphics to look unique and beautiful. Without any fanboyism, truly one of the best games ever made. ALSO, dude...this game is endless, and it is always interesting. How many games today are geared towards single player, and are worth playing? Hardly any these days. Skyrim is one of the few games I can say is truly worth the money.… Expand
  52. prinnylaharl
    Nov 24, 2011
    8
    Either my eye sight is gone or people are talking out their ass when they say the graphics are bad. It's quite good for a game, certain people just have THE PERFECT GAME in their head and will down vote anything that does not match it. Yea the game isn't perfect, no game ever will be. Pros; Great open world, good graphics, good voice overs, good mod support. Overall it's a hugeEither my eye sight is gone or people are talking out their ass when they say the graphics are bad. It's quite good for a game, certain people just have THE PERFECT GAME in their head and will down vote anything that does not match it. Yea the game isn't perfect, no game ever will be. Pros; Great open world, good graphics, good voice overs, good mod support. Overall it's a huge improvement from previous elder scroll games. Cons; Dragons are too easy, Smithing/Enchanting are too powerful later on, ocassioal crash bugs, interface was designed for consoles and they had to actually patch in mouse support for PCs. Level Scaling; While it's true that enemies and items scale based off your level, it is not to the extent that it happened in Oblivion. Your stats scale faster than theirs and they do get progressively easier, even to the point of being able to instantly kill nearly anything. It's not like before where you were punished for leveling. Again, it's far from perfect and was obviously designed as a console port, but it still manages to pull passed that and comes into it's own as a great RPG.… Expand
  53. dubesor
    Mar 11, 2012
    8
    Skyrim is a great game, one of the best RPG games out there. Unfortunately it obviously has it flaws. If I wrote this review before 'finishing' (maybe ~50 hours in) I would have given it a 9 or a 10. But so many flaws come into mind. Many quests are bugged. You have to google the issue and find out something is bugged and correct it manually with console commands (if possible). Just one ofSkyrim is a great game, one of the best RPG games out there. Unfortunately it obviously has it flaws. If I wrote this review before 'finishing' (maybe ~50 hours in) I would have given it a 9 or a 10. But so many flaws come into mind. Many quests are bugged. You have to google the issue and find out something is bugged and correct it manually with console commands (if possible). Just one of dozens of examples is when the quest contains reading a certain journal/book but you found it much earlier it will bug out and make you unable to ever finish the questline unless you do your own research and try to manually fix it with console commands. This has happened WAY TOO OFTEN. The other MAJOR flaw are the boring quests. There are some really nice and interesting quests out there who tell a beatuiful story and it is really fun doing the quests, but far too many quests are simply like this: 'I lost my sword/flute/whatever, go to the dungeon, kill all enemies, at the end there is a chest with my lost item in it, return it to me'. Far too many of those. No story, nothing. Uber boring and so many of these quests. At the end of the game around level 50 I just quit because 99% of the quests seem to be these boring catch quests without story. Overall still a good game with awesome graphics, some great stories. The mainquest is a huge letdown also. The endboss is too easy and the "mainstory" ends abrupt with no rewards. I finished ~110 hours in. The first 50-80 hours were awesome. Then was the time when only boring quests were left. Still recommend buying, but don't expect a flawless game as it is certainly not. Also some other major bugs with followers and equipments or leveling ruined a lot for me if it wasn't for manually googling fixes and console commands. 8/10… Expand
  54. Minderrx
    Nov 25, 2011
    9
    Been waiting for this game to come out for 3 years now. Ant i must say i got much much more than i expected. All thou this game requires good hardware to run on its true beauty i recommend this game to every one who loves previous Elder scrolls titles.
  55. Ignatius_Reilly
    Mar 2, 2013
    9
    I had given this game a 5 previously, but upon revisiting it with a fresh perspective, I've really come to love it. The perk system is deceptively deep, the world design is magnificent and constantly demands that you push on and explore further, and the even the quests my biggest beef previously can be highly entertaining, and so I'm glad I spent that 60 dollars after all. Good job, Bethesda.
  56. Piapia
    May 22, 2012
    8
    It's easy to see why the boys at EA decided to hold back the release of ME3 so as to not have to compete with this game; it's everything good about the previous Elder Scrolls emphasized, with just a touch of what they learned from doing the Fallout franchise. if you liked either games by Bethesda, you'll like this. The sad part is, it doesn't really bring much NEW to the series if you'veIt's easy to see why the boys at EA decided to hold back the release of ME3 so as to not have to compete with this game; it's everything good about the previous Elder Scrolls emphasized, with just a touch of what they learned from doing the Fallout franchise. if you liked either games by Bethesda, you'll like this. The sad part is, it doesn't really bring much NEW to the series if you've played them before... but still has just enough freshness that while you may not jump up and down with joy, you'll get satisfaction. You don't fix what isn't broke, after all (or bugs, when you're Bethesda, and the game has ALL the usual bugs in that regard- if you've been a fan of the series you know what they are and you expect them anyway). As usual, it also comes with a MASSIVE modding community, made so easy and simple by Steam integration that anyone can do it; so if there's something more you want, you have a lot to fall back on. It'd be a ten, but the game is NOT without its problems (as said, the usual Bethesda bugs, the fact that it CAN feel rehashed and old at times, and can definitely have a 'grinding' feel to it). The difficulty is alright- especially for someone new to the series, though not so much for one used to the old quirks- and it excels on a technical level. Outstanding graphics, beautiful music (the soundtrack is the best in a long time), smooth gameplay and an easy to understand while still fairly vast system of upgrades. Not a perfect game, but one of the best to come out in a long time and thus far better then anything other companies have put out this year (2012) or even the last.… Expand
  57. MintyChris
    Aug 5, 2012
    8
    Very good game. Massive in size and content. Visually amazing in parts.

    Lacks depth. Lack of connection to enviroment and its people. Completing tasks has no real impact on the lanscape and its contents.

    Close but falls short of being a great game.
  58. Kelemvor
    Dec 20, 2011
    8
    Skyrim is a good game, but by no means the game it could have been.
    The graphics are improved, the music is fantastic, and the nordic atmosphere is captured quite well.
    The problems however make the game less fun on the long run, compared to the older installments. Attributes have been removed completely, the magic system has been gutted, to a mere handful of effects left, the spellmaker    Skyrim is a good game, but by no means the game it could have been.
    The graphics are improved, the music is fantastic, and the nordic atmosphere is captured quite well.

    The problems however make the game less fun on the long run, compared to the older installments.
    Attributes have been removed completely, the magic system has been gutted, to a mere handful of effects left, the spellmaker is gone, there are very few good quests, most of them are kill&Collect quests, the guild quest series are mostly very short and unimaginative, and the main story, while better as in Oblivion is also average at best.
    But there are a number of improvements too. The graphics have been updated, you can cook and smith now, buy multiple houses, and marry someone. The perk system which is introduced works quite well, but can in no way compensate for the loss of attributes, spellmaker and magic effects.
    There is more wildlife now, and the cities are denser populated, making the world more "alive". The dungeons are handmade now, and have a shortcut at the end, so one does not have to run through the entire dungeon to get to the exit. Unfortunately the variety of the enemies is extremely limited. There are bandits, trolls, Rogue magic users/vampires and Draugrs(Most of the time), that's it, that's all you will ever encounter in dungeons. All in all a good game, which lacks the complexity and replay-value of its predecessors, and gets boring more quickly. While i played more than 500h in Oblivion(with the extraordinary OOO-Mod), Skyrim gets tedious after less than half of that time.

    Despite that, i see a concerning development on the horizon. The dumbing down of games has reached TES. No spellmaker, no attributes, less skills, gutted magic system, imaginative quest replaced by boring grind quests. If this continues, Skyrim is the last TES-installment i will buy. I played all of the TES games, and never was this trend so obvious as in Skyrim.    … Expand
  59. YassirX
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    Very good game, everything has been said. Its immersive has outstanding graphics and a very good story. If you like sandbox game than this game definatly is a must buy.
  60. murlochieftain
    Nov 25, 2011
    10
    Skyrim gives you everything the old Elder Scrolls game lacked. The old Elder Scrolls, (3 and 4, specifically,) were amazing, by the way. The combat system is intense and fun, something you don't get tired of doing after hours of game play. The leveling is rewarding with perks and new items and monsters, (I, for one, do NOT want to find banded Iron armor at level 28, thank you.) The nonSkyrim gives you everything the old Elder Scrolls game lacked. The old Elder Scrolls, (3 and 4, specifically,) were amazing, by the way. The combat system is intense and fun, something you don't get tired of doing after hours of game play. The leveling is rewarding with perks and new items and monsters, (I, for one, do NOT want to find banded Iron armor at level 28, thank you.) The non player characters and the landscape around you is immersing and visually stunning, keeping you in their world instead of the real one. Bethesda truly produced a higher standard for the RPG genre, and with the addition of mods and expansion DLC I will be seeing myself playing this game for years to come.

    NOTE:
    Do not complain about the graphics if you are playing it on a console. A good pc will beat the crap out of console graphics any day. This game is NOT a console port, it was meant for the PC, with better graphics and adjustable controls. If you think this is a port, you have obviously not even bothered changing the controls, something very easily done in the menus. Bugs area problem, but they do NOT break the game for you, so please do stop complaining. The minor glitches will be fixed with a patch in a few days but the game is tons of fun regardless. (I actually enjoy exploiting glitches and bugs when I find them, they made Oblivion very interesting for me.)

    There was a lot of work put into this game, and it really shows. Good job, and thank you, Bethesda.    … Expand
  61. Murugan
    Nov 25, 2011
    10
    I literally cannot remember the last time I played a game and was so embroiled in a fictional world. Let me begin by stating that this game is not perfect (melee combat still feels a tad floaty and some glitches exist) but I don't believe any game is flawless. TES V, though, comes close enough to warrant a perfect score. First, one must realize the sheer amount of improvement over theI literally cannot remember the last time I played a game and was so embroiled in a fictional world. Let me begin by stating that this game is not perfect (melee combat still feels a tad floaty and some glitches exist) but I don't believe any game is flawless. TES V, though, comes close enough to warrant a perfect score. First, one must realize the sheer amount of improvement over the previous installment. Graphically, this edition is clearly superior. Magic is far more entertaining and viable, dual wielding is an excellent addition, and the level design has been improved drastically. Quest lines range from moderately enjoyable to downright fantastic, and voice overs and animations have been worked on and improved. Perhaps most importantly, though, is the realization that this game offers a truly living, breathing world to explore and conquer. Throw in some dragons, loot, and a few houses to buy, and you have yourself a game that stands above the competition. Nothing is perfect. But this game shines in ways I haven't seen for a long, long time.… Expand
  62. elfelixg
    Nov 14, 2011
    8
    Out of 10:
    Graphics: 8 - not the very best, at times I feel they could have done better, I have a high end PC and even though it looks nice I wanted a longer draw distance. Sometimes up on the top of the mountains the surrounding lower areas go grey.
    Sound: 8 - music is superb. Overall sound is good. There are a few sound failures such as a dog just feet away from you sounding like its on    Out of 10:
    Graphics: 8 - not the very best, at times I feel they could have done better, I have a high end PC and even though it looks nice I wanted a longer draw distance. Sometimes up on the top of the mountains the surrounding lower areas go grey.

    Sound: 8 - music is superb. Overall sound is good. There are a few sound failures such as a dog just feet away from you sounding like its on the other side of a hill. Things like that take away from the overall experience which is still good. Some of the voice acting is fantastic, some others not.

    gameplay: 8 Free roaming is great, the 1 v 1 is ok. Glad you can get a 3rd person perspective sometimes. I wish blocking were a bit faster on the reaction time. By the time you see a swing starting on your enemy it is usually to late to react. Swinging any weapon has little else to do other than clicking the mouse button over and over. Animations of certain special kills are nice.

    Lasting appeal: 8.5 It is a single player game, but so far, I have been playing the hell out of it and I still have a ton more to do. Game feels like it will take a month to finish.    … Expand
  63. Allions
    Nov 16, 2011
    10
    Ok, that is what should be called a "game". Oblivion was a good game, Skyrim is the best RPG i ever played since a long, long time. The only thing i don't totally like are the graphics on PC, they should have done better... but i don't care a lot about graphic, i care about the gameplay. And here the gameplay is absolutely epic.
  64. Andrew5
    Nov 16, 2011
    10
    I purchased Skyrim on launch day, and once I started up the game, there were no load times, no advertisements, no logos besides Bethesda's but a clean interface going straight to the menu screen and new game. Starting and playing the game itself is like living in a fantasy world. The music, sounds, graphics and everything make you feel totally immersed. This game is improved from OblivionI purchased Skyrim on launch day, and once I started up the game, there were no load times, no advertisements, no logos besides Bethesda's but a clean interface going straight to the menu screen and new game. Starting and playing the game itself is like living in a fantasy world. The music, sounds, graphics and everything make you feel totally immersed. This game is improved from Oblivion in every way because there are no game breaking bugs, crashes, graphic, or performance issues, and the ones that they do have are very minor and can be patched. I have played about 35 hours so far and I can say that this game is a masterpiece. I have only been to one city so far and have been doing quests only in that city. I have not even gone through half of the quests yet as I have a long list of things to do, and each quest doesn't feel generic like other RPGs' fetch quests and kill quests. There are 8 more holds in the game, so I know I can expect much more than the 300 hours Bethesda advertised. Overall, I can't even begin to describe what this game offers and how much you can do in it while having so much fun.… Expand
  65. FencaR
    Nov 12, 2011
    10
    Great Game, few bugs here and there, issues with graphics and what not on the PC version, nothing too unexpected for launch. Beautiful world to explore, first time I saw the moon I just stopped and stared for a few minutes, a well designed "Perk" system that rewards you for the way you want to play, and a story that is actually engaging and central enough to keep you on task....wheneverGreat Game, few bugs here and there, issues with graphics and what not on the PC version, nothing too unexpected for launch. Beautiful world to explore, first time I saw the moon I just stopped and stared for a few minutes, a well designed "Perk" system that rewards you for the way you want to play, and a story that is actually engaging and central enough to keep you on task....whenever you stop eating butterfly wings :B… Expand
  66. Kveki
    Nov 12, 2011
    10
    It is the game where you can be whatever you like...What else is there to be said ? ....Somebody will complain about graphics,somebody about inventory but people that is the reason why there are mods !...Game is awesome and if you give it a chance it will become you game of a decade !
  67. nalrya
    Nov 12, 2011
    9
    I really don't get why people would be disappointed by this game.

    I played Morrowind and Oblivion and I was kinda disappointed by Oblivion being all buggy, having an annoying user interface, non-comfortable quest-log the fights still being as stiff as in Morrowind and character animations so wooden. But I still loved it, for aside from the annoyances it still was an awesome game. Now I    I really don't get why people would be disappointed by this game.

    I played Morrowind and Oblivion and I was kinda disappointed by Oblivion being all buggy, having an annoying user interface, non-comfortable quest-log the fights still being as stiff as in Morrowind and character animations so wooden. But I still loved it, for aside from the annoyances it still was an awesome game.

    Now I bought Skyrim.

    My first impression after about 8 hours of play is: Bethesda seems to have really listened to many things players disliked about Oblivion. I'll point out a few of the improvements I noticed:

    + Combat is now made visually entertaining by cinematic use of the camera, which is a really HUGE factor to make the fights feel like real action. Also the finishing blow scenes are an amazing addition to feeling immersed as your character.

    + No more stupid minigame for influencing NPCs. (THANKS for that!)

    + A simple and easy to use quest-log with short descriptions of what's going on. Also you can show all of your quests as indicators ont he map if you want to, making it possible to set yourself a route in which to do a few quests in one journey.

    + Skill-system has been simplified by reducing the number of skills and at the same time got more interesting by adding talents/perks/whatever-you-want-to-call-it to each of the skills, which give actually gameplay changing benefits.

    + User interface and HUD design follow the "Form follows function" principle. I personally really love the simplicity of it. Especially for dialogues it really helps immersion that the corresponding interface is now a HUD that just appears in an appropriate position instead of a whole new screen with it's own interface like in the previous games.

    + The graphics are AMAZING on Ultra. I really don't get how people can say Oblivion or even Morrowind(!) looked better. Unless you're playing it on low or medium and then complain about the graphics not being top notch - really just /facepalm in that case.

    + Improved storytelling for sidequests and more depth-of-character for NPCs in general thanks to using a lot of mini-cutscenes when something important happens.

    For the long-term I can't say too much but after killing my first dragon I'm really excited about how the main-story will develop. Also in my about 8 hours of play I didn't encounter a single bug. Seems quite strange with so many people claiming it's as bug-filled as Oblivion was on release. I had 2 crashes but they were quick and non-reproducable so I really don't mind them at all.

    Also I really can't understand the people who claim questing and exploring gets boring in the long-term. If you feel like that for Skyrim (or have felt like that for Oblivion and/or Morrowind), then I dare to say it's probably a problem YOU have with open world games, not an issue of the game. All-in-all I feel that the immersion in this game is absolutely GREAT. I give a score of 9 simply because I would never ever give 10 overall (though the atmosphere/immersion would really deserve a 10 so far), because nothing's perfect :)    … Expand
  68. intro
    Nov 12, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a game that truly makes us think over that the game industry is gradually progressing.
    Not a minus in this masterpiece, I have not found.
    Game of the Year!    … Expand
  69. DonTrixster
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Amazing game, Has surely surpassed previous Bethesda masterpieces such as Fallout or Oblivion. The storyline is AMAZING, the graphics is AMAZING, the game-play and whole leveling up and combat speciality system is AMAZING. Just playing the game on my pc with Maxed-out graphics is an honour alone.
    Besides the main storyline missions, which has at least 10hours playing on it at least,    Amazing game, Has surely surpassed previous Bethesda masterpieces such as Fallout or Oblivion. The storyline is AMAZING, the graphics is AMAZING, the game-play and whole leveling up and combat speciality system is AMAZING. Just playing the game on my pc with Maxed-out graphics is an honour alone.
    Besides the main storyline missions, which has at least 10hours playing on it at least, there's loads of side quests which are actually fun and interesting, which altogether makes up for the lack of a multi-player feature

    Highly recommended, game of the year material here!    … Expand
  70. Elderstealth
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Skyrim
    After 40 hours of gameplay I still love this game. I give it 9 out of 10 due to the menu system been console based. I have selected 10 out of 10 to try an balance unfairly bad ratings that I feel are unfounded. The graphics in this game are incredible. The leveling system is awesome leveling up what you actually do i.e my first character is a mage but often i run out of magic so I    Skyrim
    After 40 hours of gameplay I still love this game. I give it 9 out of 10 due to the menu system been console based. I have selected 10 out of 10 to try an balance unfairly bad ratings that I feel are unfounded. The graphics in this game are incredible. The leveling system is awesome leveling up what you actually do i.e my first character is a mage but often i run out of magic so I hit enemies with a one handed "Axe of fear" this increases One handed weapon skill while my mage cast in creasing conjuration, destruction and restoration (the only schools of what I cast). Getting of track to whats important. This is a fantastic game upgrade to large screens fast video cards and buy the game :)    … Expand
  71. catraven70
    Nov 13, 2011
    8
    I waited a very long time for this game to be released. I was floored when I first popped Oblivion in my system. With regret, I didn't feel those same emotions at the beginning of Skyrim. As I continue playing, I am enjoying my experience but there is something missing. Where is all the pomp that Oblivion had ? Theme music anyone? Nope. I did truly expect more from Skyrim then what I'mI waited a very long time for this game to be released. I was floored when I first popped Oblivion in my system. With regret, I didn't feel those same emotions at the beginning of Skyrim. As I continue playing, I am enjoying my experience but there is something missing. Where is all the pomp that Oblivion had ? Theme music anyone? Nope. I did truly expect more from Skyrim then what I'm getting, but since it's Elder Scrolls...ah well ..sigh… Expand
  72. Zeusbot48
    Nov 14, 2011
    8
    A solid title offering beautiful, if inconsistent, graphics, tons and tons of content, a surprisingly fun combat system and fantastic storyline(s). However, the game is plagued by bugs and terrible AI. NPCs will walk into walls, get stuck, get in your way, and clip on stairs and terrain. The quest and item mangement interfaces could use some work too. You get one category for all theA solid title offering beautiful, if inconsistent, graphics, tons and tons of content, a surprisingly fun combat system and fantastic storyline(s). However, the game is plagued by bugs and terrible AI. NPCs will walk into walls, get stuck, get in your way, and clip on stairs and terrain. The quest and item mangement interfaces could use some work too. You get one category for all the quests that aren't part of the main storyline, and it will fill up with a daunting list of dozens of mix and match objectives, but very little useful info on where to go to complete them. If you zone out for a second during the dialogue (easy to do as you usually have to listen to someone drivel on for 5 minutes until they tell you where to go next) you are going to have to google it and pray. As for items, they are broken up into categories in your inventory, but when you put them in the storage chest in your house, they are no longer split up by category. Get used to scrolling through hundreds of items to find the Tiger Balls you need for that potion. The graphics are mostly magnificent, but I did find myself underwhelmed at times by areas that weren't as well polished. The game generally plays like Fallout 3, but with a much more satisfying and amusing combat system. Overall: if you can look past the bugs and minor quibbles (and you probably will) a magnificent RPG that will provide many many hours of entertainment.… Expand
  73. Godmodder
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Okay. So to me, this game is near enough perfect. The things that are getting the bad reviews are as follows; Bad textures, bugs, No feeling of epic, and the good old favourite, the menu system. Let's start with menus. I had absolutely no problem with the menu's. At all. Not once. What I do is, I read. And umm occasionally I click. It's amazing really. Honestly I don't get what the problem is, frankly they've done a great job in creating a system which works well on PC AND consoles, the only way I could see you having a problem with this is if you're sitting literally looking to hate it. So I've put a solid 42 hours into this game now, and literally the only bug I've encountered was my companion continuing to fight someone who stopped. But as soon as the character fell to their knees, she stopped and everything was nice again. I've had 2 crash to desktops, but frankly I'm running very slightly above minimum, so it's expected of any game of this standard. I get that there are and will be other bugs, but frankly a single bug every 13 hours or so does me just fine, that's a lot better than most games and a LOT better than any other Bathesda game. People saying the graphics are the same as oblivion or morrowind are just naunces, they really are. I don't remember the last time I read such **** I'm playing on low graphics settings and it's /beautiful/. I'll get to see what Ultra is like this weekend and I'm sure I'll be stunned. Super sharp textures wouldn't work well in a game like this anyway, there needs to be a certain level of blending so that everything sits together in the world, as opposed to having some standalone Mammoth who would just look like a cartoon. As for epicness, I can almost see where that's coming from, but when I sit back and think about it, it makes sense that you're not being rewarded for absolutely everything. So what? I helped General Tullius take Windhelm, if it weren't for him and Legate Rikke I'd have no idea what I was doing. He's the general, I'm just a soldier; why would I get all the fame? Maybe the game should play so that you DO deserve it, but people DO recognise you for it, it's just more realistic. The best killers in our world don't go about getting worshipped now, do they? I DO understand that however, that might be the one thing Oblivion done right. In any case this game is astonishing. It's honestly brilliant in every way imaginable. The detail Bathesda have went into is unbelievable, a real masterpiece. Don't listen to the whiny little **** giving this game 0's, they're talking pish. Get this game.… Expand
  74. zigmovezig
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    As of this post, i have 51 hours of playtime in Skyrim. This game deserves every 10/10 review it can get.
    I haven't been this engrossed in a game ever, period. For those of you who are unsure due to the 0/10 reviews, allow me to point out the BS.
    Common complaint number 1, the UI - Yes, the UI was based for a console game. But its honestly not that big of a problem so long as you (and let    As of this post, i have 51 hours of playtime in Skyrim. This game deserves every 10/10 review it can get.
    I haven't been this engrossed in a game ever, period. For those of you who are unsure due to the 0/10 reviews, allow me to point out the BS.

    Common complaint number 1, the UI - Yes, the UI was based for a console game. But its honestly not that big of a problem so long as you (and let me stress this to the morons out there who didnt bother to even look at the options menu) TURN OFF 360 CONTROLLER in the options menu. this allows for the use of your mouse inside the interface and makes looking for things much easier.

    Common complaint number 2, the graphics. Certain textures in the game are low-res and kind of crap. But you really only notice this when you plant your face into the nearest wall and stare at it. While you are moving around and doing other things they blend together and look great. With as much content as is in this game, the lack of high-end top of the line "Good god my eyes are bleeding from awesome" can be overlooked very, very easily. Common complaint number 3, The "Its not morrowind its oblivion" crap. And thats just what it is, crap. This game is far closer to Morrowind that it is to Oblivion, it just is. I loved (and still do) Morrowind for how it allowed you to do whatever you wanted without complaint and the sheer amount of things to do inside of its world, Oblivion made a step back from that, as well as turn the world into a fast-travel debacle with cut/paste environments and the like. Fast travel does make a return in Skyrim, but once more, its optional, and with the environments being worth seeing and far from copy/paste its worth forgoing the fast-travel. I could go on about this point, but seriously. Game is more like Morrowind. Deal with it.

    Common complaint number 4, glitches, issues etc.. First off, this is a Bethesda game, if you expected a bug-free game... wtf are you on? They make huge worlds that makes it really hard to find alot of the bugs. So minor ones are found sometimes. Horses are however, a bit buggy in this game. Unless you get one of two horses in the game that are.. well, not average. Game crashes and the like do happen from time to time, but you really wont lose much. Worst case you start over in the room of the dungeon you were in. Big deal. You also need to have a machine that can handle pc-gaming to play a pc-game. Ive seen people posting low-end machine specs complaining about issues with Skyrim, bottom line. If you cant run it, dont complain like its Skyrims fault.

    Common complaint number 5, Quests. This is where i start wondering exactly how many times some posters were dropped on their heads as a child. The quests in this game are amazing. Sure you have your minimal side-quests of fetching and kill this. But those are the "well, i need money.. may as well do a few quick quests" they arent the meat of the game by a long shot. Each of the larger quest chains could be a stand-alone game by itself. And there are a few of them, trust me. if you dont believe me check out the Dark Brotherhood, Mage College, and Thiefs Guild chains (Oh, and the Daedric Artifact quests when you find them) Then tell me quests in this game are crap. Some other random people just never bothered to read the booklet for the game, or open a single options menu with feeling the need to rage-face all over any review site they can.    … Expand
  75. RascalNag
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Absolutely astounding. Definitely the best game I have ever played. The atmosphere is perfect. The scenery is beautiful. I almost can't believe what Bethesda has pulled off here. Everything just seems right, it's a perfect blend of traditional medieval style and fantasy elements. The combat is much more varied than Oblivion's, and far more fun to take part in with the shouts, dual wieldingAbsolutely astounding. Definitely the best game I have ever played. The atmosphere is perfect. The scenery is beautiful. I almost can't believe what Bethesda has pulled off here. Everything just seems right, it's a perfect blend of traditional medieval style and fantasy elements. The combat is much more varied than Oblivion's, and far more fun to take part in with the shouts, dual wielding and improved handling of weapon skills. The work stations in the game are a great addition ,adding a sense of accomplishment; for example when you craft yourself the weapon of your choosing. Dungeons no longer feel exactly the same anymore, and I often stumble upon little but entertaining side quests in them while searching for new words for my shouts. Though there are bugs, it's far better in terms of just working than recent Bethesda games. Though challenging, battling dragons is extremely enjoyable and I have many times hoped that I would be found by a dragon while traveling to spice things up a bit. I couldn't be more impressed with this game. It's a 10 for sure. Definitely deserves Game of the Year, too.… Expand
  76. Egger3rd
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    This game redefines what games can be. Morrowind and Oblivion tried to do this, but they failed in execution. The numerous shortcomings and wonkiness that plagued Morrowind and Oblivion have been revamped, and this game is a polished and amazing beacon of hope for the gaming industry in general. This is the closest I've come to playing a perfect video game. It is an open-ended fantasyThis game redefines what games can be. Morrowind and Oblivion tried to do this, but they failed in execution. The numerous shortcomings and wonkiness that plagued Morrowind and Oblivion have been revamped, and this game is a polished and amazing beacon of hope for the gaming industry in general. This is the closest I've come to playing a perfect video game. It is an open-ended fantasy world RPG Action Adventure game and simulator. I love this game.… Expand
  77. quitmyjob
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    While there are bugs with the game and there are problems with the combat system, Bethesda has made significant improvements to leveling and other areas that were lacking in Oblivion. It's important that they keep improving these games but the sheer scale of this thing alone is incredible. They've greatly improved the dungeons over Oblivion and added a lot of side quests which will keepWhile there are bugs with the game and there are problems with the combat system, Bethesda has made significant improvements to leveling and other areas that were lacking in Oblivion. It's important that they keep improving these games but the sheer scale of this thing alone is incredible. They've greatly improved the dungeons over Oblivion and added a lot of side quests which will keep you busy. Despite playing for hours, I've only seen one bug and it wasn't nearly as bad as some of the ones in Oblivion. The game has stunning graphics, even on my low-end computer. The best thing about the Bethesda games is that you can just wander if you want or blaze through a quest line in a few hours. That's their strength but also their weakness. Some people hate that style of game play. That's okay but they can't complain when they get a game that does that. I don't like the fact that the combat seems to have become more like Fallout's in that there are slow-motion portions when your character finishes off the enemy in some cases. That said, this game is still fantastic.… Expand
  78. holtafd
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    The PC version of Skyrim is no doubt on of the most beautiful and sprawling worlds ever imagined. The game is so open in class development and how the player can interact with the world. However there are many problems with the user interface that prevent this game from true greatness. This game, is perfect for any RPG fans as it has been in the past.
  79. OmeNu
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    i dub thee 8 out of 10. why because it has so much greatness with no eyefinity/surround support. and glitches galore. but it sure is a darn fun game

    come on Bethesda works. even Oblivion worked well with triple monitor. on a side note. how much better would it of been if you added directX11 tessellation. them rocks and dragons would look INSANE!
  80. Decoy1207
    Nov 16, 2011
    10
    The game is amazing! The world is massive like it should be there are tons and tons of things to do and explore. The people giving bad ratings are the ones that simply can't play because they are to dumb and don't know how a game works or their system is simply to outdated to run it properly. I've been playing this game for about 48 hours now and it looks and feels amazing. No complains onThe game is amazing! The world is massive like it should be there are tons and tons of things to do and explore. The people giving bad ratings are the ones that simply can't play because they are to dumb and don't know how a game works or their system is simply to outdated to run it properly. I've been playing this game for about 48 hours now and it looks and feels amazing. No complains on my side, neither did i find massive bugs some claim to have seen. (I've explored almost everything already). If you like RPG games this is a must play for you.… Expand
  81. CharlieAB
    Nov 18, 2011
    10
    Absolutely brilliant. I love Skyrim and I think this game is a master piece. I see some negative reviews, but generally I think they are from fans of a different genre/style of video games. Skyrim requires patience and a brain. This isn't Call of Duty here. PC was patched on Day 1, and I love that Bethesda is supporting PC. The scenes and natural world are amazing. The fights andAbsolutely brilliant. I love Skyrim and I think this game is a master piece. I see some negative reviews, but generally I think they are from fans of a different genre/style of video games. Skyrim requires patience and a brain. This isn't Call of Duty here. PC was patched on Day 1, and I love that Bethesda is supporting PC. The scenes and natural world are amazing. The fights and quests are really fun and I see that the devs put tons of time into every little aspect of the game. Skyrim represents a giant leap forwards in terms of video games, it will easily take GOTY imo.… Expand
  82. x__ENGAGE__x
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    i havent played a game this long since GTA IV came out? Beautiful, thats all i can say about Skyrim, is that its so beautiful... ..............................................................................................................................................................
  83. MattRT
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    Skyrim is far from perfect, at the point of writing. It has several bugs and glitches, but the key thing is, I don't care. This is still the best game I have ever played and the detail and depth of the world amazes me. This is the best way I have ever used £30 in my life.
  84. TazmanNZL
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    Skyrim is simply awesome and here is why.. I have to say that when I first saw the screenshots for this game I thought to myself "It doesn't look that flash, just another Morrowind". I then watched a video review of it over at gamespot. After seeing the video I simply had to have it!! The graphics are not pixel perfect but the world does look amazing. The UI is catered for console butSkyrim is simply awesome and here is why.. I have to say that when I first saw the screenshots for this game I thought to myself "It doesn't look that flash, just another Morrowind". I then watched a video review of it over at gamespot. After seeing the video I simply had to have it!! The graphics are not pixel perfect but the world does look amazing. The UI is catered for console but who cares, there is already a mod out there that makes it more PC friendly but I don't have any trouble with it myself. I've been playing it for over 20 hours and am loving every minute. Two things stand out in this game for me, the first being the Dragons. Best I have seen in any game. They are loud, fierce and are stunning to look at. Not only this but you will come across more than one! The second thing is the abillity to do anything you want in the game. I purchased a horse for 1000g only to lose it in a fight with a Giant. No matter though I found another horse standing next to the road so I just stole it :) I couldn't believe how easy it was to take. Only problem is that whenever you dismount the horse it keeps wanting to return to the spot you took it. You don't have to be a thief to be able to lock pick. There is so much to find and do in this game it will keep you entertained for hours :) The game has yet to crash on me. Of course there are some glitches in the game but they are not game breakers. The shadow glitch which happens in daylight (shadows flicker every 30sec or so) I managed to fix with changing the ini file. I found a fix for this searching in google. I thought my video card was on the blink, phew! Overall I was expecting a lot less from this game and was surprisingly impressed with it. Now I am having trouble keeping away from it :) If you love Dragons you simply must have this game. If you are on the fence check out the video review and also youtube for first impressions of the game. I'm sold on it! Simply amazing!!… Expand
  85. darkecharlie
    Nov 23, 2011
    10
    'I'm not gunna lie, this game is amazing, brilliant, outstanding, a masterpiece.'
    ^this :) is exactly how i feel about the game. now a few more characters :D
  86. fosuno
    Mar 6, 2012
    8
    TESV: Skyrim, at launch was a pretty shaky game with Bethesda bugs some players were unable to play the game for some part, however with the constant patching since then the game has stabilized and has become an actual enjoyable game. and with the release of the creation kit last month the PC has set its master race position in stone, by adding longevity to an already long game making it aTESV: Skyrim, at launch was a pretty shaky game with Bethesda bugs some players were unable to play the game for some part, however with the constant patching since then the game has stabilized and has become an actual enjoyable game. and with the release of the creation kit last month the PC has set its master race position in stone, by adding longevity to an already long game making it a must have if not for the vanilla game but for the modded game itself… Expand
  87. Hellfire44
    Dec 25, 2014
    10
    Normally PC games aren't as good as console ones but the elder scroll series is an exception! The base game is near perfect as it is...but with mods available only to pc users any small issues can be smoothed over for a perfectly tailored game for each individual.
  88. Czar
    Nov 20, 2011
    8
    When I started with Skyrim I was prepared for the worst. The UI is bizarre and certainly doesn't feel right on my PC. Why use Tab to close menus, what is wrong with escape? Also I did not enjoy the introduction. Looks great etc but having to sit through it was a pain, It felt very constricted and scripted. However, then the game started proper and I am blown away by the depth of detail.When I started with Skyrim I was prepared for the worst. The UI is bizarre and certainly doesn't feel right on my PC. Why use Tab to close menus, what is wrong with escape? Also I did not enjoy the introduction. Looks great etc but having to sit through it was a pain, It felt very constricted and scripted. However, then the game started proper and I am blown away by the depth of detail. Discovering the world, dealing with people mountain passes, exploring cities. Wow magical. I have put only about 5-6 hours into it but I am addicted. Just a bit longer, just search this area go over that mountain. Amazing stuff. I would gige it more points but I believe the UI sucks balls.… Expand
  89. Wisper7
    Jan 14, 2012
    9
    Amazingly huge game that, when compared to all other games out to date, deserves much better than many people are giving it the credit for. I mean, COME ON people, you whine and complain about how it's not perfect...well, has there EVER EVER been a game that was perfect? Absolutely not. Many negative reviews are from people who want something more, but they fail to realize this is aAmazingly huge game that, when compared to all other games out to date, deserves much better than many people are giving it the credit for. I mean, COME ON people, you whine and complain about how it's not perfect...well, has there EVER EVER been a game that was perfect? Absolutely not. Many negative reviews are from people who want something more, but they fail to realize this is a project that is way more than any other game out there. Yes, there are flaws, but they pale in comparison to its virtues. Pros: Amazing world, ALL dungeons are different, I'm not getting bored exploring them like in oblivion. Graphics are pretty good, although we still have people whining about that...it's Bethesda for gods sake! And overall hours and hours of possible gameplay. Quests are relatively interesting, with a good variety as far as i'm concerned. Overall, loving it.

    Cons: Menu system does suck, but mods are out (and coming out) already to improve it. Have gotten one crash...but compared to oblivion this is Mac versus Windows...    … Expand
  90. 0235
    Nov 19, 2011
    9
    ignoring all the bad stuff, the random crashes, the awful map and UI i can imagine that this is definately a game wortyh of the ederscrolls series. so far im only 30hours in so cant give a decent review but this game not only looks very nice (its no crysis or battlefield 3 but the graphics work) and the world is so intriguing and envolving that you can waste away hours in it.
  91. Andr9492
    Dec 8, 2011
    9
    I give this game a 9 because this is a great game. Not the best. But not the worst. It has some bad things like the UI but the overall feeling was fantastic. And it was certainly nice to get a good RPG after the mess that Dragon Age 2 was.
  92. justjj
    Nov 19, 2011
    9
    Fantastic gameplay/story. A lot of fun to play. I never feel like it is a grind, or I have to do/play a certain way. The only gripe I have, is the PC version UI, sucks. It is a console game pretending (and not pretending very well) to also be a PC game. If they had spent ANY time making the UI PC friendly, I would be giving it a 10.
  93. mrxdave
    Nov 30, 2011
    9
    Without comparing this game to any other game - it's great! It is an amazing achievement to make a game that is this open-ended, and yet each quest seems original. Many games promise a varied approach - Skyrim actually delivers. Aside from minor glitches, this game delivers on core game play and deapth. As usual, I'm a little confused by folks that have given the game a below averageWithout comparing this game to any other game - it's great! It is an amazing achievement to make a game that is this open-ended, and yet each quest seems original. Many games promise a varied approach - Skyrim actually delivers. Aside from minor glitches, this game delivers on core game play and deapth. As usual, I'm a little confused by folks that have given the game a below average score. I've played some HORRIBLE games in my time, and Skyim is NOT one of them.… Expand
  94. Forgoroe
    Nov 16, 2011
    10
    It's an amazing game that keeps you there playing it from beginning to end. Immersive, story, wonderful atmoshphere, plenty of quests (not boring) to undertake. It's a breathtaking game. It has its flaws, but they are greatly overcome by the features and awesomeness of the game itself. I hope bethesda learn to make their games a bit more polished and less buggier on launch though :)
  95. YuRown92
    Nov 19, 2011
    9
    I don't understand their critics, who gives to TES 5 mark of 10. Of course, it is a very good RPG, one of the best game of the year. This game has interesting story, different skills and many many other things. But... in Skyrim bad animation of persons, bad face animation. And it was in Oblivion. But developers said, that Skyrim will hasn't it.
  96. NickaPleeze
    Nov 18, 2011
    10
    Sweet Jesus what an amazing game. This is the first Elder Scrolls game I've played, but I'm already a fan for life. My only complaint is that there's no option to turn off the GODDAMN TIME MACHINE this game comes with. I swear I played for about a half hour the other day and six hours passed. Also, I'm a battle-mage werewolf that devours dragon's souls. Nbd. Incredible game, mind-blowingSweet Jesus what an amazing game. This is the first Elder Scrolls game I've played, but I'm already a fan for life. My only complaint is that there's no option to turn off the GODDAMN TIME MACHINE this game comes with. I swear I played for about a half hour the other day and six hours passed. Also, I'm a battle-mage werewolf that devours dragon's souls. Nbd. Incredible game, mind-blowing scope, and very deep character customization/crafting schemes. This is the first Bethesda game I've enjoyed and the first game I've ever given a perfect review. PS: I have not experienced the technical problems other reviewers have. I play on PC with a 360 controller and the UI/mechanics all work great. I have over 28 hours logged and I haven't experienced any noteworthy bugs either. The only problem I've had is rather minor--after many hours of continuous play (4+), some of the textures sometimes don't load properly, so sometimes I'll see a character running around with a bright purple breastplate or something. This only happens very rarely (twice so far), doesn't affect gameplay, and has been fixed every time I've encountered it by simply re-loading the game (which I should probably be doing more than once every 4 hours anyways lol). Get this game!… Expand
  97. NoVertigo
    Dec 4, 2011
    8
    As a true elder scroll fan, I can promise to any reader reading this review will not see a biased/unrelated/ranting review here. I was long looking forward to skyrim, after experiencing Oblivion I honestly thought Bethesda could not surpass this. After playing many hours of Skyrim I feel I can speak true to other fans, or any other gamer who seek an excellent FPRPG experience. Lets startAs a true elder scroll fan, I can promise to any reader reading this review will not see a biased/unrelated/ranting review here. I was long looking forward to skyrim, after experiencing Oblivion I honestly thought Bethesda could not surpass this. After playing many hours of Skyrim I feel I can speak true to other fans, or any other gamer who seek an excellent FPRPG experience. Lets start out visually; Skyrim I must say is stunning (if you have the power for it), even on a medium setting. What really strikes out is the atmosphere. You will see snow dust blowing, trees waving, beautiful water detail falling from cliffs and all sorts of wildlife running from and after you.. Skyrim honestly made me feel as if I was actually in the wild. The characters were mediocre, slightly better then those from oblivion with some flaws on texturing when they speak. Character creation, although very similar to oblivion, is very detailed as well, customizing everything from your nose, to the amount of dirt thats exposed on your skin. Now to gameplay; Skyrim has many different aspects to its gameplay that many gamers such as myself can pick out for a thorough review. First combat. I can definitely say that bethesda perfected combat in skyrim. No longer is it running around hacking and slashing. There are more fluid techniques one can use and it actually feels that you need to study your opponents moves. From using your shield to push them back to parrying them. Spells are excellent in which you now hold down to attack and dual wield. All in all the combat in skyrim is flawless. A huge draw back in this game is the character leveling. There are many perks one could use in this game but I feel there is alot left out. No matter if its a sword or mace, the mechanics only care if its one handed or two handed. Character strength and athletics no longer matter and any race can be a good spell caster if you devote your points to it. It feels that you can be anyone and excell in anything, which is fine, but it takes the fun out of being a character specific class. One thing I felt fell short was the GUI. The interface can be quite aggravating compared to oblivion which was much more organized. Some highlighted conversation selections will not work, the map controls are bit tedious to work with, and the inventory screen is quite bland. On to the story/quest/replay values. So far (I will not spoil anything) the story line is excellent. All the characters have a different personality, the voice acting is excellent, there are literally hundreds of quests and you will never become bored. AI town civilization is also greatly improved. Characters have better dialogue with each other and it feels like an actual simulation. To sum it all up, If you are an elder scrolls fan, Skyrim should not be an option just get it you will be satisfied. If you enjoy in depth RPG's that take on a more action style gameplay, Skyrim will satisfy you. If high replay value is what you are looking for, look no more. Skyrim, I can easily say, definitely meets expectations to a brand new Elder Scrolls title… Expand
  98. ardacakir
    Nov 19, 2011
    10
    If you search even on a video website, you can easily find a video that will show you how to design your keyboard numbers for your quick weapon/spell/shout change.
  99. AfroThunda
    Nov 15, 2012
    8
    I feel split in two over Skyrim. On one hand, its a beautifully crafted game, with hours of content that dwarf even what was on the earlier Elder Scrolls games. Combat feels smooth, the graphics are top of the line. Out with the glitches and clunky character models that were Bethesda's unofficial trademarks. And honestly, no company makes open world RPG fantasy games like Bethesda. Fans ofI feel split in two over Skyrim. On one hand, its a beautifully crafted game, with hours of content that dwarf even what was on the earlier Elder Scrolls games. Combat feels smooth, the graphics are top of the line. Out with the glitches and clunky character models that were Bethesda's unofficial trademarks. And honestly, no company makes open world RPG fantasy games like Bethesda. Fans of the earlier games don't need convincing, the games are huge time sinks. But on the other hand...

    Its almost a disservice to call the game streamlined, but just almost. First leveling. The leveling system from Oblivion has been cut in half; no more Strength, Endurance, Agility, and Willpower character stats. Only skills stats like Blocking, Destruction, and Sneak got to stay in. This has its plus and minuses. On the up side leveling is less of a hassle of trying to increase minor skills to up stats and all that hooplah. On the negative side, it strips away a huge part of character diversity, especially during early/mid game. To me the bigger offense is that all the races have essentially the same skills. No more jack of all trades Dark Elf, spell casting Breton, and warrior Orc. Of course, any race could be built anyway you wanted, but now race has been boiled down to an aesthetics choice. To gamers new to the series this is fine. To an Elder Scrolls veteran it means that this + no more stats simplifies the leveling system. Big time.

    Of course simplified doesn't mean simple. The game is complex enough to entertain me and mods alleviate most of the problems. Mods also solve my biggest irk, which is how ridiculously easy the game is (even the hyped up dragons), but I shouldn't have had to use a mod. Well, this comment makes the game seem like a let down but its not. I'm giving it an 8 because it has highlights that overshadow its negatives. And honestly, I feel like a new gamers coming in to the series would see most of these negatives as a relief from how inaccessible previous titles were.    … Expand
  100. Sindo
    Dec 17, 2011
    10
    I've been playing the game since it came out and so far have put in over 80hrs and I've still got a lot more quests to do! The game has its faults, the odd AI/graphical glitch and it occasionally crashes to the desktop, but these can be easily overlooked because its such an amazing game, the world, quests, graphics etc are very well done. If you don't have this game and like RPGs then goI've been playing the game since it came out and so far have put in over 80hrs and I've still got a lot more quests to do! The game has its faults, the odd AI/graphical glitch and it occasionally crashes to the desktop, but these can be easily overlooked because its such an amazing game, the world, quests, graphics etc are very well done. If you don't have this game and like RPGs then go out and buy it!!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 2011
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
2
#2 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Feb 29, 2012
    90
    Unfortunately, Skyrim trips and falls on its own (most probably, to make the cool-sounding deadline of 11-11-11) and just before it reaches perfection as the ultimate specimen of its genre, it self-destructs in a crucial aspect of game design: the interface and the peripheral components (inventory, journal, map, etc)... but that is not to say that Skyrim is anything but a truly majestic, epic RPG that will suck you right in its cosmos.
    Read full review
  2. Armchair Empire
    Feb 14, 2012
    100
    Skyrim is definitely one of the best games of 2011, but if the DLC holds out, it might just be one of the best games of 2012 as well.
    Read full review
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 19, 2012
    90
    Skyrim is the best open world RPG you can get. A true evolution of genre is not flawless but still it is the game you love to live in. [Christmas 2011]
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