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. Kastory
    Dec 3, 2022
    10
    It's one of the best RPG ever! I love the atmosphere of the Middle Aged Scandinavia.
  2. applecookie
    Dec 11, 2022
    10
    I finally did the main quest and watched the ending

    I understood why the game is called the pinnacle of the Open World RPG
  3. DVDProjerkLGBT
    Dec 20, 2022
    10
    A Classic Legendary Game by Bughesda! You can be anyone you want in this game! Geraldo Del Rivero for example or johnny Silverpunk. It just works!
  4. Giero
    Jan 4, 2023
    10
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  5. AndreSeijas
    Jan 15, 2023
    10
    Absolute masterpiece but release the fckng 6th game I'm going to chop my balls off.
  6. Ultravioletewha
    Jan 31, 2023
    10
    Hey! This game is recommended by your favorite purple Whale, this game is a must play!
  7. nejnej55
    Feb 3, 2023
    10
    This game is amazing, I never believed I would like it as much as I did but I found almost everything about it super fun. The quests are really fun, the main quests are also really good. The dark brotherhood storyline and thieves guild is good at times but also a bit dissappointing. The "cities" don't even look like cities if you compare it to Oblivion for example where the cities actuallyThis game is amazing, I never believed I would like it as much as I did but I found almost everything about it super fun. The quests are really fun, the main quests are also really good. The dark brotherhood storyline and thieves guild is good at times but also a bit dissappointing. The "cities" don't even look like cities if you compare it to Oblivion for example where the cities actually were big and not just 3 houses and 1 bigger house. But the good and fun parts outweigh the bad by a LOT.… Expand
  8. Asparz
    Feb 10, 2023
    10
    It is skyrim nothing more to say, amount of hours you can put in this game and still not finish it and the mods community makes the game hours multiply.
  9. Homs
    Feb 25, 2023
    10
    This is just a really nice RPG and personally I've not encountered that myn bugs in ~300 hours of playtime.
  10. George_K
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    A must play for everyone amazing soundtrack, great gameplay, absorbing combat great story and also great side missions, I love the world and the freedom of gameplay also the adition of mods make the overwhole experience even better has some bad things like creation club, mods with money but it is not a reason to give this game a bad review cause the experience is wholesome
  11. SpillzYT
    Feb 28, 2023
    10
    This is the absolute best game you could ever play I mean astronomical you get to kill dragons absorb their souls and eventually kill an immortal dragon I will stand by this point for so long I’ve been playing this game since the day it came out.
  12. MrLumbago
    Aug 15, 2023
    10
    This game is honestly my favorite game, I have been playing for over a decade and still am discovering new things. Every new save feels like a new experience.
  13. TianLong1
    Mar 31, 2023
    10
    Immersive and beautiful open world in first person, no other game can provide you with such a great feeling of adventure and freedom in a medieval fantasy world. The game is even better with mods and has infinite replayability.
  14. Evil_MC
    Apr 2, 2023
    10
    The best world to explore and a game I came back to play for years. This is not a 10 hour play and never touch the game again type game!
  15. wenas
    May 17, 2023
    10
    Absolute Masterpiece. I like all the "features" in it and have so much fun every time I return to playing it after a while 10/10!
  16. Stancake
    Aug 18, 2023
    10
    I've ben playing Skyrim since 2016,and to be honest its my best game in library, i have 1200+ hours in the game and still i haven't conpleted every quest because i always repeat the game from begining... I have finished main quest for about 7 times, and still it isnt boring. Great job Bethesda!
  17. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    10
    Absurdly replayable, an enormous map full of content to explore. Character progression is massively dumbed down but this time its the realm of skyrim thats the main attraction. Its full of mysteries and quests and politics and is fascinating to explore. Its a beautiful game overall and the DLC is still excellent.
  18. tonberry_ftw
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    Fallout series was great, but this was easily the best game from Bethesda Game Studios
  19. Dimocracy
    Jul 6, 2023
    10
    Here you can listen to Todd Howard - buy Skyrim. Just do it, you won't regret it.
  20. ThunderArs
    Jul 17, 2023
    10
    more than 1000 hours without mods, so many stories, deep memories. Amazing world, atmosphere, characters, possibilities to role-playing
  21. FPGamer
    Jul 18, 2023
    10
    Skyrim is an epic open-world RPG that has become a classic in the gaming industry. The game offers an immersive and engaging experience with a vast world to explore, filled with interesting characters, rich lore, and a seemingly endless amount of quests and activities. The game's graphics and design are impressive, with a breathtaking landscape and realistic character models. The gameplaySkyrim is an epic open-world RPG that has become a classic in the gaming industry. The game offers an immersive and engaging experience with a vast world to explore, filled with interesting characters, rich lore, and a seemingly endless amount of quests and activities. The game's graphics and design are impressive, with a breathtaking landscape and realistic character models. The gameplay is also well-crafted, with a deep and customizable skill system that allows players to create their own unique playstyle. Overall, Skyrim is a must-play for any RPG fan, offering countless hours of exploration and adventure.… Expand
  22. Jaxonator
    Aug 4, 2023
    10
    Run from dragon. Explore for 100 hours. Kill dragon. Accidently kill kids in orphanage. Kill everyone in whiterun for fun. Kill all the jarls for fun. Explore for 100 more hours. Never touch the game for another few months. Repeat. 10/10
  23. kucky7576
    Aug 9, 2023
    10
    This one was masterpiece for me, so much to discover, so much to do, (*so much to steal*)!
    collecting different unique weapons or going to be the best smith in the world!
    Awesome, that was a hell of a game for me!
  24. Mune
    Aug 14, 2023
    10
    Skyrim is one of those games that you come back to every year to remind yourself how amazing it is, especially when modded
  25. Poodlefish
    Aug 17, 2023
    10
    one of the best games I have ever played. expert world building and immersion.
  26. roozbehjs
    Aug 28, 2023
    10
    the best rpg game you can play .
    It has a very big world that you can explore and do different quests, there are different characters that you can interact with, different items and different weapons are also in the game.
    Skyrim is truly a masterpiece.
    Be sure to test his mods.
  27. Critizen
    Sep 3, 2023
    10
    Immersive Adventure with Unforgettable Freedom and Soundtrack

    Rating: 10/10 Skyrim, the legendary open-world role-playing game from Bethesda Game Studios, deserves a perfect 10 in my book. Let me guide you through the reasons why this Nordic epic deserves a special place in the hearts of all video game enthusiasts. Immersive Atmosphere: From the moment you step into the world of    Immersive Adventure with Unforgettable Freedom and Soundtrack

    Rating: 10/10

    Skyrim, the legendary open-world role-playing game from Bethesda Game Studios, deserves a perfect 10 in my book. Let me guide you through the reasons why this Nordic epic deserves a special place in the hearts of all video game enthusiasts.

    Immersive Atmosphere: From the moment you step into the world of Skyrim, you are immersed in a captivating and lifelike atmosphere. Bustling cities, ancient temples, and mountainous landscapes are infused with an ambiance that makes you feel a part of the world. The realism and attention to detail in every corner of the game are astonishing and draw you deeply into the experience.

    Unforgettable Soundtrack: Skyrim's music deserves special recognition. The soundtrack, composed by Jeremy Soule, is a masterpiece that adds a deep emotional dimension to the story and exploration. Each melody evokes a range of feelings, from the majesty of the landscapes to the tension of combat. It's one of those soundtracks that will stay with you long after you've put down the game.

    Absolute Freedom: One of Skyrim's greatest achievements is its ability to let you be whoever you want. You can be a noble knight, a stealthy thief, a powerful mage, or even a ruthless bounty hunter. This freedom to shape your character and your destiny is exceptional. Your choices affect not only the main story but also side stories and relationships with characters. The sense of control over your fate in Skyrim is great.

    Conclusion: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is more than a game; it's an experience that captivates you from the very beginning. Its immersive atmosphere makes you feel like you're living in a fantasy world, its soundtrack is a perfect emotional accompaniment, and its freedom to shape your character and story is exceptional. No matter how many years have passed since its release, Skyrim remains an undisputed classic of PC gaming. Dive into this epic world and discover the magic of Skyrim for yourself. You won't be disappointed.    … Expand
  28. DaveRobC67
    Sep 7, 2023
    10
    Possibly Bethesda's greatest game so far. Times have moved on since Morrowind, this is a fun, engaging game with hundreds of hours of content. It is my most played RPG of all time.
  29. RaphaelFranco
    Sep 9, 2023
    10
    Bethesda at it's best! I keep geting back to this game from time to time...
  30. Aemony
    Dec 10, 2011
    9
    Skyrim is almost everything you'd want in an open free-roaming world. There really isn't a correct way of playing the game and it's up to the player in how he want to approach the game. Do you want to be like a Demigod were every enemy encounter is a breeze? Or do you want them all to be challenging? There are a lot of ways of playing this game, and I'd wager for the most fun the playerSkyrim is almost everything you'd want in an open free-roaming world. There really isn't a correct way of playing the game and it's up to the player in how he want to approach the game. Do you want to be like a Demigod were every enemy encounter is a breeze? Or do you want them all to be challenging? There are a lot of ways of playing this game, and I'd wager for the most fun the player shouldn't be afraid to vary his gameplay style. Imposing your own artificial limitations can go a long way of making the game more enjoyable, such as don't use Fast Travel, don't use the Compass to navigate, don't focus solely on maxing out Enchanting or Smithing first, et cetera.

    That said, the game is a masterpiece were the sum of its part far outweigh the parts itself, which shows. The voice acting is the best in the series so far, but it doesn't really say much. Voices are still repeated on a regular basis, which some might feel breaks the immersion. The main quest feels empty and boring, as does most of the quests of the guilds. Overall, the feeling of being "special" and treated as such is too obvious. Regardless of what line of quests you want to do, you'll pretty much end up being labeled as SPECIAL early on, and an early non-worthy prize awaits you after a few simple quests. Gone is the struggle of advancing through the ranks of a Guild in order to succeed.

    Discussing were the elements of the game fails can take all day as Skyrim contains a lot of very different elements, which all feels lacking in one way or another. Yet this doesn't stop the game from feeling like a masterpiece. It's fun, it's immersive, it allows players to customize their gaming experience and offers an extremely high level of freedom. The attention to detail in the world is amazing, and it's a wonderful experience just exploring the world in your own pace. Is Skyrim a GOTY of 2011? Yes, I truly think so. Though is it a 10/10? No, while it's great, it isn't perfect. There's A LOT of faults in the game, though while frustrating or disruptive at times, these doesn't stop you from enjoying the rest of the game.    … Expand
  31. dosse91
    Nov 24, 2011
    9
    this game is great. i mean, don't get me wrong, it's far from perfection but it's great: the story is interesting, the graphics are good (most of the time) and it doesn't have many bugs (for bethesda's standards). exploring skyrim is simply fantastic, going through woods, finding caves, towns, side quests. simply amazing how HUGE this game is, it takes hours to explore the whole gamethis game is great. i mean, don't get me wrong, it's far from perfection but it's great: the story is interesting, the graphics are good (most of the time) and it doesn't have many bugs (for bethesda's standards). exploring skyrim is simply fantastic, going through woods, finding caves, towns, side quests. simply amazing how HUGE this game is, it takes hours to explore the whole game world. the soundtrack is also kick ass. fighting dragons is fun, and most fights provide a good challenge even on normal difficulty. i also love how they didn't use the usual point-and-click controls typical to rpgs like wow, dragon age, etc., IMHO, those are the worst controls ever. speaking of control, skyrim has a huge defect: it has no quick keys. seriously? even console ports like mass effect have them! it's a waste of time that i have to go through my whole inventory or favourite list just to use a potion or change weapon/spell! another drawback typical to most rpgs is that you can accept quests and start playing them with no clue that your character is not enough skilled to complete the quest: that's a real pain in the ass, you can literally go fight dragons with a level 1 character, and get killed in 2 microseconds. most of the times, of course you have no idea what you're gonna fight, it's like "can you get my sword back?", and then the cave has bears, trolls and giants in it.
    in conclusion, i'd give this game a 8.5, rounded up to a more realistic 9 because the good aspects of this game really compensate the bad ones    … Expand
  32. Chupwn
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    Pure awesomeness. Wish the dragons put up more of a fight though. The graphics are a big improvement over Oblivion, and the game is running crash free on my Intel/AMD PC.
  33. Olly
    Nov 12, 2011
    9
    I've been playing this for about 14 hours, and I'm very, very addicted and immersed into the game world. Looking at the low scores, I can't be entirely sure what people were expecting. I suppose Bethesda showed screenshots that made the game look its best (this happens with every game I would add), as the graphics tend to favour rendering rocks and clouds into the distance over water andI've been playing this for about 14 hours, and I'm very, very addicted and immersed into the game world. Looking at the low scores, I can't be entirely sure what people were expecting. I suppose Bethesda showed screenshots that made the game look its best (this happens with every game I would add), as the graphics tend to favour rendering rocks and clouds into the distance over water and shadows, and as such looking at a vista gives you a jarring sense of beauty and dire ugliness at the same time. Not only that, character animations still are stiff albeit an improvement. In fact, let's get all the negative stuff out the way now; the controls for PC are awful, amazingly awful considering Bethesda's PC menu's have always been fine before now. It feels very much like they didn't think about making the interface work on PC (perhaps they ran out of time committing to 11/11/11), so expect your first few hours to be an exercise in getting used to then perfecting the controls as best you can.

    So what's good? Well, despite shading issues and water in the distance, the weather effects and mountains will frequently make you want to just stop and stare at a view, Bethesda have truly outdone themselves on that front, and it makes the graphical flaws more acceptable when you're playing. You will NEVER have a lack of quests after the first handful of hours, and as such you will have tons of reasons to go and explore all of Skyrim. And given the properly designed dungeons, they're well worth it. That is the major reason I feel this is such an improvement over Oblivion, where dungeons used to be boring and nigh on pointless, they're more focused experiences that genuinely will give you something worthwhile for plumbing its caverns/halls/chambers (and handily when you've got out of a major dungeon and looted it all, it will be marked as cleared on the map).

    But the big thing is that despite people's complaints about combat, Skyrim is a massive improvement on Oblivion. It could be even better for sure, but the slickness of dual-wielding spells and quickswitching to a bow and arrow, before delivering a cinematic finishing blow with your sword and shield will certainly leave you more impressed than you were with Oblivion. The levelling system is also infinitely easier to keep track of and improve your skills with.

    I think I've covered most of what I've thought so far while playing. This is an altogether more beautiful and slicker (apart from the controls) Oblivion, absolutely worth your time as long as you're ready to wrestle with the controls. If you're patient, it may well be worth your while to wait until various issues are fixed or some good mods have come out to try and improve them though (8.5).    … Expand
  34. Fr0s7y
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    At its core, this game is absolutely fantastic. The amount of content available to the player is staggering, I'm about 11 hours in and feel like I haven't even began to scratch the surface of what the game has to offer. The only thing stopping me from giving this game a perfect 10 is that the graphics notably suffer from having to accommodate consoles, most noticeably in the characterAt its core, this game is absolutely fantastic. The amount of content available to the player is staggering, I'm about 11 hours in and feel like I haven't even began to scratch the surface of what the game has to offer. The only thing stopping me from giving this game a perfect 10 is that the graphics notably suffer from having to accommodate consoles, most noticeably in the character shadows (which appear very pixelated up close, even on ultra-high settings). The way the menu is set up reeks of lazy console port as well, but it's easy enough to get used to after awhile.… Expand
  35. Deific
    May 25, 2012
    9
    Bethesda have created a fantastic game, an immersive and expansive world, and a strong piece of fantasy fiction storytelling. More importantly though, they've created a near-perfect base for endless customisation and creation by the gaming community. I simply can't put into words how much of a success this game is in terms of appeasing the modding community and creating both an epicBethesda have created a fantastic game, an immersive and expansive world, and a strong piece of fantasy fiction storytelling. More importantly though, they've created a near-perfect base for endless customisation and creation by the gaming community. I simply can't put into words how much of a success this game is in terms of appeasing the modding community and creating both an epic vanilla game and a highly versatile experience for any gamer. Will keep me busy for a very long time indeed. (and I was someone highly dissapointed by Oblivion - so no fanboy).… Expand
  36. rucknrun
    Dec 17, 2011
    9
    Amazing game. I run into some crashes on the PS3 on occasion but the game plays well and looks great. I spend half my day at work emailing friends about what they got into in game. An improvement over Oblivion.
  37. 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
  38. M_Alex
    Aug 29, 2013
    9
    Oblivion bored me. So I ignored Skyrim successfully for some time. Then I decided to give it a try. Boy, was I in for a surprise. The game is great. Whereas Oblivion got boring after some 30 hours, this one leaves you wanting more. You can see why actually. First of all, questing no longer involves going to a dungeon that looks almost exactly like the previous 20 or 30. True, some types ofOblivion bored me. So I ignored Skyrim successfully for some time. Then I decided to give it a try. Boy, was I in for a surprise. The game is great. Whereas Oblivion got boring after some 30 hours, this one leaves you wanting more. You can see why actually. First of all, questing no longer involves going to a dungeon that looks almost exactly like the previous 20 or 30. True, some types of dungoens are similar, but not to the extent that would make it tedious. This rule applies to other fields, and you can see the developers paid more attention to minor details. No more irritating rules, like buying a new alembic etc everytime you get a better rank in alchemy etc. Although such things may seem minor, they really make the whole experience much better. Also, the main quest is much more well-written than that in Oblivion. And much more fun. I'm on my 120th hour and I's still enjoying it.

    So, basically, the bottom line is: if you still haven't played this cause you think oblivion sucked, play it. Much better.    … Expand
  39. jadeia
    Nov 30, 2011
    9
    This game defines a genre and is without question, the best RPG gaming experience currently available to human kind.

    Although I will deduct one point for a long list of bugs and the ongoing CTD errors :)
  40. Sideline
    Mar 7, 2012
    9
    This game is amazing! Incredibly immersive and fun. The graphics are nice, even more so if you download the hi-res texture pack on Steam. The weather effects are amazing and the snow looks so real! The main walkthrough is not very long but there is so many side quests and those are a lot of fun, not just fetching quests. Dragon shouts are a nice addition to your arsenal and a lot ofThis game is amazing! Incredibly immersive and fun. The graphics are nice, even more so if you download the hi-res texture pack on Steam. The weather effects are amazing and the snow looks so real! The main walkthrough is not very long but there is so many side quests and those are a lot of fun, not just fetching quests. Dragon shouts are a nice addition to your arsenal and a lot of fun to use. The game is a bit too easy though, dragons are not really challenging so playing the game on the hardest difficulty will give the more hardcore players a better experience.
    The only thing that really bothered me was the fact that some NPCs become invincible at a certain point, for example: I completed all the Dark Brotherhood quests but after that I didn't want anything to do with them anymore so I tried killing all the members and I found out there was no way to kill them and get rid of the Dark Brotherhood. To me that's a minor inconvenience but it would be nice if Bethesda could find a way to eliminate situations like these... I know! Designing such a huge open world game is very hard and some compromises have to be made. Once again great game and I can't wait for a DLC!    … Expand
  41. Ultan
    Nov 16, 2011
    9
    First impression was very good, game did not crash for 10 hours playing and was stable. After the next day the game started to get crashes to desktop and lag issues. For this reason i give it a 9. The game has improved alot from the other games, graphics and story wise and the fun factor in combat. Alot of detail in the melee department, able to chop of heads and stab mobs inFirst impression was very good, game did not crash for 10 hours playing and was stable. After the next day the game started to get crashes to desktop and lag issues. For this reason i give it a 9. The game has improved alot from the other games, graphics and story wise and the fun factor in combat. Alot of detail in the melee department, able to chop of heads and stab mobs in fun/interesting ways. Some extra fun with casters on how magic is used, able to duel wield and combine magic with interesting magical effects. The world itself is just breath taking, from the night sky to the lush trees and grass you walk on. Very well done in this area. Dungeon traps are fun and make you jump unexpectedly and add a twist of fear when exploring them. Characters models did improve from the last game and from reading the reviews with some people here, i think they just expect alot more or too much now days.… Expand
  42. MitchC9
    Feb 6, 2012
    9
    This review gives a different take on the bugs, glitches, and mishaps associated with the PC version of Skyrim. Many people are complaining about the lack of PC optimization, in addition to things like the UI clearly being only ideal for console users and textures not being high-res enough. While it is very unfortunate that this is the case (the game was not designed ideally for PC), whatThis review gives a different take on the bugs, glitches, and mishaps associated with the PC version of Skyrim. Many people are complaining about the lack of PC optimization, in addition to things like the UI clearly being only ideal for console users and textures not being high-res enough. While it is very unfortunate that this is the case (the game was not designed ideally for PC), what is fortunate is that Bethesda had the logic to give us OFFICIAL MOD SUPPORT for PC. Don't like the UI? Download a mod that changes it. Don't like the low-res textures? I've already downloaded over 3GB of higher res textures. Don't like the optimization? It gets better with each and every patch. While the PC version is not perfect, it's surely good enough for a 9/10 rating.… Expand
  43. theshonen8899
    Jan 16, 2012
    9
    A startling amount of content in a beautiful package. The environments and the soundtrack blend beautifully to create a world you really want to get lost in. And with so many quests to do, you can easily pour over a hundred hours into this great game. Though there are bound to be glitches in a game of this magnitude as well as a lack of a fully substantial story, Skyrim still offers theA startling amount of content in a beautiful package. The environments and the soundtrack blend beautifully to create a world you really want to get lost in. And with so many quests to do, you can easily pour over a hundred hours into this great game. Though there are bound to be glitches in a game of this magnitude as well as a lack of a fully substantial story, Skyrim still offers the most immersive and enormous world for gamers to explore.… Expand
  44. Q8eZy
    Oct 17, 2012
    9
    Epic, beautiful, and a true single player game...absolutely wonderful. I also love the fact that there isn't really a main quest, there is nothing to 'finish'. It is like the real world insofar as even when you finish your quest line, the world keeps turning and nothing truly changes. I know there is the whole "Dragonborn" thing, but the game never forces you to finish that line, orEpic, beautiful, and a true single player game...absolutely wonderful. I also love the fact that there isn't really a main quest, there is nothing to 'finish'. It is like the real world insofar as even when you finish your quest line, the world keeps turning and nothing truly changes. I know there is the whole "Dragonborn" thing, but the game never forces you to finish that line, or even mention it if you don't kill that first dragon. So you are free to built your archer or wizard or assassin or thief or whatever it is you want to. It is also great that, with some mods, you can really push your hardware and have a truly beautiful world to explore. I ran 2 680 classifieds 4gb. I spent $1400 on videocards for this game and I have no regrets. And massive thanks to Beth for authoring official mod tools and opening up their game, which is a very rare thing today. My favorite game since Fallout: New Vegas.… Expand
  45. CyberAngel
    Aug 20, 2012
    9
    I became bored with Skyrim after about 140 hours. While some may object that it becomes boring after some time, I myself know plenty of games that started to bore me after a FEW hours at most! There is a ton of things to do in Skyrim and while it starts to look all the same after some time, you certainly can't deny that it takes you weeks of real time (140 hours = 35 days/4 hours a day)I became bored with Skyrim after about 140 hours. While some may object that it becomes boring after some time, I myself know plenty of games that started to bore me after a FEW hours at most! There is a ton of things to do in Skyrim and while it starts to look all the same after some time, you certainly can't deny that it takes you weeks of real time (140 hours = 35 days/4 hours a day) till it does.
    Great music, graphics and some storylines, exciting combat... what more could you wish for? Complex magic system in Morrowind style? Never really used it. More complex dialog options? It would help. PC friendly menus? Absolutely.
    Certainly almost everyone will think of something that would be great if added to this game, but come on! There is so much stuff in this game, let's keep it real and say that there is far more than in any other game for a "mere" 50    … Expand
  46. DoctorFox
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    An overwhelmingly wonderful installment to the Elder Scrolls series. While playing, the player will delve into stunning graphics, engaging quests and relationships, incredible architecture, and a refined combat system built to impress. This is not to say that there were no issues, as there were. NPCs move strangely, voices don't always line up with mouth movements, and crashes to desktopAn overwhelmingly wonderful installment to the Elder Scrolls series. While playing, the player will delve into stunning graphics, engaging quests and relationships, incredible architecture, and a refined combat system built to impress. This is not to say that there were no issues, as there were. NPCs move strangely, voices don't always line up with mouth movements, and crashes to desktop happen. As it has become the industry norm to release unrefined games, Skyrim is no exception. However, it is one of the best unrefined games released to date. 9/10… Expand
  47. 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
  48. cryhax
    Nov 17, 2011
    9
    This game is definitely worth your time. It doesn't contain the ingenuity of portal 1 but it's a welcome change from the constant stream of perpetually disappointing releases emanating from the offices of Activision and EA. There are some fairly obvious visual glitches and the UI is a bit clunky but it hardly takes away from the fun of this game.
  49. 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
  50. Vauhn
    Nov 12, 2011
    9
    Skyrim...An amazing open world non-linear dragon slaying NPC mudering bundle of enjoyment. This, is quite possibly the best elder scrolls game so far. Ruined only by the occasional bug or two which will most likely be patched and fixed. Great story, the dragon fights are amazing, and randomly scripted events. I had to muster allot of effort to rip myself away from it long enough to getSkyrim...An amazing open world non-linear dragon slaying NPC mudering bundle of enjoyment. This, is quite possibly the best elder scrolls game so far. Ruined only by the occasional bug or two which will most likely be patched and fixed. Great story, the dragon fights are amazing, and randomly scripted events. I had to muster allot of effort to rip myself away from it long enough to get some food. Buy it, Dovahkiin commands you!… Expand
  51. 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.
  52. HerHavuzun
    Nov 20, 2011
    9
    Catching butterflies, diving after fish, hunting deer in the wilderness. And the athmosphere. The wind, the weather. The noises, the colors. The smoothness of movement. Nobody best BETHESDA!
  53. Trashware
    Nov 19, 2011
    9
    After eleven hours of gameplay I'm starting to really like Skyrim. But it's not without it's faults, so let's go over these before the praise.

    On the whole the game Skyrim feels a bit rushed out on the market. There are a lot of rough edges that should have been worked out, but somehow weren't. That's a shame, although I'm sure patches and the modding community will take care of these.    After eleven hours of gameplay I'm starting to really like Skyrim. But it's not without it's faults, so let's go over these before the praise.

    On the whole the game Skyrim feels a bit rushed out on the market. There are a lot of rough edges that should have been worked out, but somehow weren't. That's a shame, although I'm sure patches and the modding community will take care of these.

    To begin with, The main menu looks uninspired and put in at the very last minute. Morrowind had this right, Oblivion had this right, Fallout 3 even better. So why not Skyrim? It's like wrapping Lord of The Rings in recycled toilet paper and calling it a book cover.
    It took me over two hours of googling and tweaking the .ini files to get the optimal amount of detail out of the graphics. While I like tweaking and the results are quite impressive now, I don't understand why this hasn't been integrated in the launch menu; yes there is a ultra mode, but the water still looked blocky when selected. Why present such underwhelming results as 'ultra' while the real ultra *is* out there?


    But when fully optimized Skyrim looks really pretty. The outer world seems a bit too barren for my taste at some points. Not enough grass or dead trees, but I guess that's something a mod could take care of later on. Inside the caves it's a different story though. Huge amounts of detail and pretty atmospheric lights, and lots of interesting loot, traps and enemies to keep you occupied. The engine runs smooth on my system so far, which is very good. I do think the running is a bit too fast compared to Oblivion or Morrowind, kinda makes me wonder what I would need a horse for anyway. Also I wish the combat system would be a bit harder. Spells or shouts don't seem that special to me when cast so easily, and I seem to have quite powerful arrows already. Maybe things will get tougher later on though, I don't know about that yet.


    So far the story goes well and I quite like all the hundreds of sidequests found in books or talking to people. The scripting could have done with some refining though, as people sometimes just start to talk at the same time, or people act like I've already talked to them before while I haven't. But on the whole it's an enjoyable experience.

    Skyrim is a great game that could have been awesome. To me it's still a 8 right now, but I'll rate it a 9 in advance, for I trust the bumps will be smoothed out either way or another in the near future.    … Expand
  54. Naiboss
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    Having racked up hundreds of hours of gameplay in both Morrowind and Oblivion I was looking forward to the release of a new Elder Scrolls game. However, as the release date got closer and they still weren't really talking about the PC version of the game, I started to get a little nervous. When the game turned up, I found that the result was mostly good...

    The game itself, is fantastic.    Having racked up hundreds of hours of gameplay in both Morrowind and Oblivion I was looking forward to the release of a new Elder Scrolls game. However, as the release date got closer and they still weren't really talking about the PC version of the game, I started to get a little nervous. When the game turned up, I found that the result was mostly good...

    The game itself, is fantastic. The world is huge and amazingly detailed. And, while you still get a fair amount of repeated dialogue from passing NPCs, it's not nearly as bad as Oblivion. The locations are quite varied and the levels of the enemies are far more balanced... you'll still run into the odd low level bandit in the higher levels while giants will continue to squish you for looking at them funny from level 1 till quite a way into the game (they're tougher than dragons!).

    This is probably the first Elder Scrolls game, since Daggerfall, that I've actually WANTED to do more of the main quest! I've played Oblivion for over 200 hours and still haven't got round to doing the main quest. In fact the choices of quests can sometimes be a little overwhelming. This is certainly a game that intends to give you value for money.

    Sadly, the PC version doesn't really take advantage of the platform. It's still a DirectX 9 game, so no advanced graphics features and it's still restricted to using 2Gb of RAM (although this can be 'fixed' with a mod). The UI is less that perfect, requiring a lot of necessary scrolling and clicking to find out some of the most basic information (although I rather liked the new skill page... I know a lot of people don't). It doesn't help that mouse location and clicks within the menu tend to be a little hit and miss as well. Is it something that will stop be recommending the game? No, definitely not, but it needs mentioning. Also.... press to exit out of containers (or click on the very left of the screen)... a somewhat annoying 'feature' that seems to have caught a few people out. No idea why they didn't allow to be used as well.

    Already the mod scene is hard at work creating even better textures and improvements to Skyrim. Hopefully, once Bethesda release a couple of patches (and maybe a DirectX 11 update to really take advantage of the PC) it'll be worth 10 out of 10. Either way... buy it!    … Expand
  55. Dougeye-Master
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    First off Epic!! is an understatment. What Bethesda have done here is everything they said they would, nothing more and nothing less, people seem to forget this and had too high expectations. Since the game was announced Todd Howard has been clear in interviews etc that the game graphicly would still be dx9 with a few improvements! The approach of improving what you already know has provedFirst off Epic!! is an understatment. What Bethesda have done here is everything they said they would, nothing more and nothing less, people seem to forget this and had too high expectations. Since the game was announced Todd Howard has been clear in interviews etc that the game graphicly would still be dx9 with a few improvements! The approach of improving what you already know has proved to be successful rather than trying to rush out a game this big with new tech, so what it hasnt got dx11 graphics and massive textures!! I still looks good and means you can have an absolutly massive world on one disk!! aside from this, radient story = win characters = win new unique looking and sounding races = win epic views and scenery = win even the damn horses have been sorted out! and oh did i meantion dragons are absolutly epic!!!, dont get me wrong there are a few tiny little flaws like npcs gettign stuck etc in the game but compared to what they have achieved and the scope of this emmense emmersive world they fade into Oblivion!! Right im going to loose a week of my life playing it now lol… Expand
  56. LonelySheep
    Feb 18, 2012
    9
    Without writing an essay, most of you know what to expect from Skyrim so i'll skip all that and just say that this game loses two points for two reasons to earn 8/10 and they are:

    1.Too many bugs to poke a stick at (can recall having to reload earlier saves at least twice due to game-breaking glitches). 2. An extremely primitive combat system, especially by today's standards. Besides    Without writing an essay, most of you know what to expect from Skyrim so i'll skip all that and just say that this game loses two points for two reasons to earn 8/10 and they are:

    1.Too many bugs to poke a stick at (can recall having to reload earlier saves at least twice due to game-breaking glitches).
    2. An extremely primitive combat system, especially by today's standards.

    Besides these, Skyrim is a beautiful, rich and very immersive game that one should take their time to fully absorb its content.    … Expand
  57. Pampalini
    Dec 5, 2014
    9
    Really good game, there is a hundreds things to do and hundreds things to explore. It might get little bit repetitive at the end but anyway stil AAA RPG game.
  58. auptyk
    Mar 30, 2012
    9
    Needless to say this game is awesome... I gave it a 9. Let me just list off a few of the issues I have that kept it from a perfect 10: Money System: Once you can Smith and Enchant money loses all worth. No weapon, no enchantment, no armor you find in the real world can compare what you can make and enchant yourself. This means if you are an item whore like me and sell your crap you areNeedless to say this game is awesome... I gave it a 9. Let me just list off a few of the issues I have that kept it from a perfect 10: Money System: Once you can Smith and Enchant money loses all worth. No weapon, no enchantment, no armor you find in the real world can compare what you can make and enchant yourself. This means if you are an item whore like me and sell your crap you are sitting on 500,000+ gold. Why? Because there is nothing to purchase. If there is a DLC they need to add some "store bought items ONLY" to the shops. And GOOD items. Make having money worth something. Just a few to many fetch quests. "Travel clear across the world to drop off this paper and come back" happens too often. Lastly during the main quest final fights... you will see A LOT of enemies simply render into the world. This is the PC... we have GPUs, CPUs and RAM to render more than 10 enemies on the screen at a time. Render 50 enemies and lets have a fight. Other than those nitpicky things which keeps it from a perfect 10 the game was great. And those can really be overlooked and have no real smash on the quality of the game.… Expand
  59. Siegfriedm
    Dec 9, 2011
    9
    Bethesda, as always, make a great game with many bugs. It's so strange that a game with so many bugs is also so great! Honestly, I never had many bugs with the game, maybe I was lucky. Now with patch 1.3 things are also better.
    I suggest to everyone to make this experience! This game is infinite. You have realy many many things to do and the main story is much better than that of    Bethesda, as always, make a great game with many bugs. It's so strange that a game with so many bugs is also so great! Honestly, I never had many bugs with the game, maybe I was lucky. Now with patch 1.3 things are also better.
    I suggest to everyone to make this experience! This game is infinite. You have realy many many things to do and the main story is much better than that of Oblivion.
    After the disappointment of Dragon Age 2, I was feared that also this could disappoint me, but I was happily wrong :) Buy it!    … Expand
  60. Enshia
    Nov 18, 2011
    9
    Seems that Bethesda has learned from the past especially with Oblivion and Morrowind. The game itself takes good points from both, removes the rather broken leveling system from Oblivion, and fixes the story. Adding the scale and scope from morrowind, and leaving you to do your own thing. Before I had started the main quest, I'd already picked up 10 other main quests and had nearly 30Seems that Bethesda has learned from the past especially with Oblivion and Morrowind. The game itself takes good points from both, removes the rather broken leveling system from Oblivion, and fixes the story. Adding the scale and scope from morrowind, and leaving you to do your own thing. Before I had started the main quest, I'd already picked up 10 other main quests and had nearly 30 misc quests in my log simply from meeting and exploring. Graphics on it's own, are breathtaking. The combat system has been changed, some may like it, others may hate it. That doesn't mean there aren't flaws. Some textures are low res, blood, overlays for snow, there's a few problems with FXAA, quest failures because it can't find voice files(rare), but can be fixed by extracting the BSA. The AI is smarter than in previous games, but will still do silly things. Like keep a ward up for a long period if you charge a spell. There are some curious bugs, like CTD's if you're using a higher sound output than 24bit@41k, and some people report TDR problems with nvidia cards. On ultra high, performance wise on a 965x4 w/evga 560, is very good. Lots of light sources can cause it to choke, so can shadows. Though the difference between high and ultra shadows is minimal. The UI is very consolish, hopefully some folks like DaRN will fix that soon. If I could give partial points I would. The game is more of an 8.2-8.75 than a 9.

    As it stands now I have nearly 60 hours in gameplay, and am still enjoying it.    … Expand
  61. Haon
    Nov 30, 2011
    9
    I was sitting around last night and I finally realized why I like Skyrim so much. It reminds me of backpacking. You don't go backpacking to win the war or save the damsel; you go to wander the countryside and see the sites and pick up cool sticks. Skyrim realizes this goal better than any other game, period. There are three reasons why: quests, dungeons, and the visuals. The questI was sitting around last night and I finally realized why I like Skyrim so much. It reminds me of backpacking. You don't go backpacking to win the war or save the damsel; you go to wander the countryside and see the sites and pick up cool sticks. Skyrim realizes this goal better than any other game, period. There are three reasons why: quests, dungeons, and the visuals. The quest structure is loose enough to give you freedom but well written enough to inspire you to continue. I love getting the push out the door to go to place X, but not being punished if I get sidetracked to place Y. The dungeon structure is incredible. There is a slight amount of similarity simply to retain realism, but each dungeon I've been in is dramatically different than others. Long gone are the cookie cutter aelid(?) ruins and gateworlds of Oblivion. The variety is simply stunning. Finally, the visuals are great. Not just good, and not super-fantastic, but well done indeed. More than the simple graphical rendering is the way Bethesda realized the world and the ecosystems. All you need to do is watch Planet Earth to grasp that "tundra" does not equal "barren wasteland," and the designers have created a vibrant land that does Northern Europe proud. Along the same lines is the cultural ambience of Skyrim. There is racism and tension over who should rule the land, and both come off as very real. Some of the comments by the peasantry is a little goofy, but do yourself a favor and listen to the jarls talking with their minions. Absolutely stunning dialouge. Now, to the more generic topics... Combat is well done. It seems to me that combat in Skyrim is as interesting as you want to make it. Want to be a guy w/ heavy armor and no mobility that can take it and blast it? Go ahead. Want to be the guy (me) who dances around in combat? Want to snipe? Want to... You get the idea. My advice is to pick the play style you like, though. Skyrim will let you do whatever you want, but if that bores you, it doesn't care... The sound also deserves mention. A pro reviewer (sorry for the lack of the cite!) said something along the lines of "when a dragon lands on you and the soundtrack starts playing, you WILL pee your pants." Man were they right. Mute the sound, meh, another fight. Have the music and flame effects blaring and your begin to appreciate why games are called multimedia... (Side note: I've got the song running through my head as I write this. Nice...) Finally on my list of total awesomeness is the load times. I'm playing on a laptop w/ decent specs, and this game runs on High visuals and almost NO load times. I'm talking 5 seconds tops. For such a huge world that looks great, this is flat out unbeliveable. In fact, it essentially nullifies my biggest gripe, which is......... CRASHES! Yep, they're there, but because I can reboot the game and get back to playing in 30 seconds flat, it much easier to treat them as a reminder to move around in real life than as game breaking issues. My second biggest gripe is the lack of, hmmm, how about epicness with regards to the supposedly high-level characters in the game. If you're one of the top dogs in the Companions, why are you dressed in steel armor and not Ebony? Why aren't the jarls weilding souped up versions of weapons? "So you can't get their stuff early" just doesn't seem good enough. Bethesda, try a little harder next time, please. To be fair, though, the rest of the world levels MUCH better and more realistically than in Oblivion/Fallout 3. Lastly, this game really shouldn't win any awards for storylines. This isn't really a slam, because they are nice enough, but a Witcher 2/Mass Effect/Dragon Age this is not. If you're SOLELY in a game for the storyline, you might wait a bit for this one. Or not, and read the tons of books lying around in the game... Lastly, I'd like to make a comment about the PC interface: I can't comment. I went into the game knowing I'd be playing with a controller, and it's quite well done (plus you can still quicksave on the keyboard! Yay!) If you're dead set on using a mouse/keyboard, just remember to check the modding community; they've got some nice fixes. All in all, this game is the best exploration/open world game to date. It is freedom, exploration, and fun bundled up and delivered to your computer. Enjoy the hike!… Expand
  62. Chaozzak
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    Same engine like they use on Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas. I dont care about this, graphics looks nice. Many locations, wpns, spells and great character customization. Good story (3 hours game time). Gameplay is really great, especially if you got spells in one hand and wpns in other one. Thats really fun. But what is the mind-blowing in Skyrim? I have to say that is a atmosphere. ISame engine like they use on Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas. I dont care about this, graphics looks nice. Many locations, wpns, spells and great character customization. Good story (3 hours game time). Gameplay is really great, especially if you got spells in one hand and wpns in other one. Thats really fun. But what is the mind-blowing in Skyrim? I have to say that is a atmosphere. I didn't like Fallout 3 much, but there was this kind of catching atmosphere too. If you are in open world and just exploring land or when you find some dark cave and spend one hour there just with torch and one-hand sword. That's great. I want to give it 10, but i can't. Simply because it's a port of console and controls are not so good. You can "favorite" wpns/spells so you can quickly change them, but you can't just bind them to 1,2,3 etc. Last think - menu and abilities management is not "transparent", for me it is a little bit confusing. But that's just it, after all i really like this game and looking forward to see more.… Expand
  63. Gladio77
    Dec 9, 2011
    9
    To my big dismay i have no other option than changing my previous 9 to a zero.

    I was very impressed with this game until it got a mandatory update through steam. Since then the game is unplayable. Errors and performance issues( had none of these problems) Even the update 1.3 to cancel the effects of updatge 1.2 did not work. So a shame really but a well deserved zero for a game that    To my big dismay i have no other option than changing my previous 9 to a zero.

    I was very impressed with this game until it got a mandatory update through steam. Since then the game is unplayable. Errors and performance issues( had none of these problems) Even the update 1.3 to cancel the effects of updatge 1.2 did not work. So a shame really but a well deserved zero for a game that does not work anymore.    … Expand
  64. jb0nez
    Mar 31, 2012
    9
    tl;dr: Incredible RPG, best I've ever played, large and immersive world (150 dungeons!) great dragon combat, beautiful graphics, flawed only by the interface.

    I'd give this game 10/10 if not for the interface. First about the game -- this is the most immersive, detailed, and just plain fun RPG I've ever played. The graphics are astonishingly beautiful in some places -- picturesque even.    tl;dr: Incredible RPG, best I've ever played, large and immersive world (150 dungeons!) great dragon combat, beautiful graphics, flawed only by the interface.

    I'd give this game 10/10 if not for the interface. First about the game -- this is the most immersive, detailed, and just plain fun RPG I've ever played. The graphics are astonishingly beautiful in some places -- picturesque even. On my core7-860 at 2.8ghz with a 5850 I can run at 1900x1200 with antialiasing and all settings to ultra and still get 47-60 fps (60 is my refresh rate so I'm not sure if I had 120hz I would be getting more). Plus there's a VERY active modding community, they gave out their Creation Kit to PC users who have done all sorts of things to improve it.

    The game is very addicting and like I said has a tremendous world with hundreds of quests. I've put 150 hours into it and still haven't beat it. The view distance is amazing, standing on a mountain top on a clear day (yes there's dynamic weather) you can see the whole land stretched out beneath you and even the distant cities. The dragons are amazing, in fact all character animations are fluid. Even the lips of the npcs move in sync with the words they are saying! The NPCs for the most part are very aware of your character and say all sorts of cool things that are appropriate to the situation (do a major quest and you'll hear people talking about it in another city for example). All in all creates incredible immersion.

    The only ding is on the interface. It's CRUDE. Made for consoles. No way to group your items. I did download a mod called SkyUI that does a lot to improve it, at least then it's broken down into "weapons" "wearables" "potions" "scrolls" etc, but still no way to group them. When you have 12 rings in your inventory that you regularly swap between it becomes a huge hassle as they are listed with armor and amulets.

    Another plus is access to the console. The horses tend to die easily and I like being able to resurrect my horse (and I don't consider it cheating, personally, since the horses are flawed to begin with; they also tend to disappear and I use the console to bring it back to me). Of course there are multiple mods that enhance horse functionality as well. I've hit one or two quest glitches, nothing that couldn't be fixed using instructions online. I don't understand how the reviewers who gave this a low rating can justify it.    … Expand
  65. FozzyTheForger
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    Yes, there are some serious issues with this game on PC. Quite obviously, the new take on controls was created with primarily (console) gamepads in mind, not the classic PC keyboard & mouse combo. In the first 40 hours of gameplay, the game crashed three times and glitched out on me two times - but, compared to, say, Fallout 3, that means there was obviously some sweat and tears andYes, there are some serious issues with this game on PC. Quite obviously, the new take on controls was created with primarily (console) gamepads in mind, not the classic PC keyboard & mouse combo. In the first 40 hours of gameplay, the game crashed three times and glitched out on me two times - but, compared to, say, Fallout 3, that means there was obviously some sweat and tears and brainmatter involved in updating the engine and bring it to modern times, I'd say they've done a great job. Seeing as graphics cards meanwhile feature five to ten times as much video memory on average and systems (not just dedicated gaming rigs) are generally much more capable than 2006, when the predecessor Oblivion was released, I have to say I am amazed at how well this game scales to different sets of hardware. Sure, the console roots show, and some bits of the controls just feel clunky, unwieldy and not too clever, but since this is the first real RPG offering in quite a while (Dragon Age 2 wasn't really a keeper, or even a proper RPG, mind you), I was eagerly looking forward to get my hands on this one. I personally think that the PC version looks and feels best, and the levelling system, which at first seemed to be pretty confusing, random and annoying started looking rather beautiful and well thought out at around level 30. While I intended to visit the world of Skyrim as a rogue, my player character has turned out to be a sneaking, lock-picking, dual-wielding master of destruction and conjuration, and while I never liked the ocd-grade professions in World of Warcraft, being able to create and improve equipment actually feels good in Skyrim. I still hope there will be a comeback, a modern incarnation of the "classic" fantasy role-playing game, but Skyrim is a neat and wonderful trip. At times, the limitations of the engine do show, but compared to the many, many hours of exploring, sneaking, battling, setting things and creatures on fire and trapping their souls for later use, I would say Skyrim is a remarkable title and a job well done. Yes, after having watched some amazingly perplexing online video footage of people playing the game, I can imagine that Skyrim is, to a significant extent a very individual if not downright unique journey, but for the veteran role-playing gamer who does not like World of Warcraft and despises Dragon Age 2 and given time and understanding spouses, this should be considered a must-buy, must-have, must-play.… Expand
  66. Amstaad
    Dec 28, 2011
    9
    This game provides an excellent sand box experience and on the PC the addition of mods turns the game from an eight to a nine. The game also provides a lot of single player value which is rare in most modern games. By modern standards the game is excellent. However the story telling is not going to blow you away, the AI is crappy and it can be buggy (like pretty much all of Bethesda'sThis game provides an excellent sand box experience and on the PC the addition of mods turns the game from an eight to a nine. The game also provides a lot of single player value which is rare in most modern games. By modern standards the game is excellent. However the story telling is not going to blow you away, the AI is crappy and it can be buggy (like pretty much all of Bethesda's games). Despite it's flaws Skyrim is still far and away one of the best games I've purchased and well worth a buy.… Expand
  67. Kootness
    Dec 26, 2011
    9
    What's amazing about Skyrim: exploration (beautiful and well-crafted world, great dungeons), new perks, new smithing system, better combat mechanics, towns and people seem real (but its still a video game, guys), shouts add a really fun character advancement mechanic that encourages dungeon exploration. Companions work well in this game

    What's not great about Skyrim: In some ways, feels    What's amazing about Skyrim: exploration (beautiful and well-crafted world, great dungeons), new perks, new smithing system, better combat mechanics, towns and people seem real (but its still a video game, guys), shouts add a really fun character advancement mechanic that encourages dungeon exploration. Companions work well in this game

    What's not great about Skyrim: In some ways, feels more wide than deep- main storyline not incredibly intriguing (its a Bethesda game, people), and faction quests, while fun, don't deliver as well on story as they did in Oblivion. Game offers little choice, in comparison to say, Fallout or Dragon Age; most "choice" comes from character development. A lot of side quests lack creativity, made up for in part by varied and interesting dungeons (many side quests are: go to said dungeon, kill this guy/grab this thing). Interface is wonky, mods help.

    In the end, this is still an amazing, open-world fantasy RPG. If you want an RPG with an intense story and thought-provoking moral choices, look elsewhere. But I think most people know what they're getting with this game- A beautiful and interesting world with great character development and decent combat.    … Expand
  68. SuperJ
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    This is my first Elder Scrolls game that I've actually enjoyed. To be honest, its the first one I've truly played and not quit after the first hour. You won't like this game if you are looking for action only. This is not an FPS, this is not an RTS. This is a game where the interactions and story outweigh the weapons, armor, and fighting tactics. Making the choice that you think is rightThis is my first Elder Scrolls game that I've actually enjoyed. To be honest, its the first one I've truly played and not quit after the first hour. You won't like this game if you are looking for action only. This is not an FPS, this is not an RTS. This is a game where the interactions and story outweigh the weapons, armor, and fighting tactics. Making the choice that you think is right in a situation is more important than what weapon you choose to fight with. If you don't like that, don't come crying on here saying "its boring, nothing to do" "Where do I go? There's no direction!" The point of this game is to literally "become" your character, in a sense where your reactions to other people in the game mirror your own reactions to the same situations in real life. This is done superbly, flawlessly, and impressively.

    The graphics are impressive, and not *as* high quality as say, BF3, but given the size of the world, I think they are phenomenal. If you are really not having the same expereince, if your computer can handle it, turn on the Antisoptric Filtering and Anti-Aliasing. It will make the textures and world really pop and come to life. The weather effects and fog are so amazing, they really breathe life into this game. IMHO, its the shining achievement of this game. It brings to the table what most games lack and what makes them feel like you are staring at a screen holding your mouse instead of actually being in the game fully.

    The quests as always are great, and I love the system of genuinely discovering a new place without direction, where you can run into anything and anyone.

    The AI interactions without user interference are very immersive, you can literally stand around in a pub while AI have 5 minute long conversations about things, walking around drinking, eating, cooking etc. I could go on and on about the features and achievements that this game has accomplished, but what I really have to say is that it IS a complete experience. Take it as a "slice of life" from a distant land, where you are set in someone shoes and must decide what to do going forward from where you begin. Many of those saying its just like an offline MMORPG and that its bad for this or bad for that have lost focus of what this game is about. Its about making CONSTANT decisions, truly simulating being someone else in a different situation. All the NPCs are vastly different, all of them are truly unique. Its true, there will probably be a great amount of bad reviews from old and new players alike, either they got tired of the series and forgot the point of it or have grown out of it, or a newcomer doesn't really like the genre and wishes it was different.

    Point: Take your own opinion of it. Don't let others decide what you like and don't like. This game can be great or it can be terrible in your eyes, depending on what you think you should be getting out of the experience and if you are OK with that.    … Expand
  69. jik77
    Mar 27, 2013
    9
    I'm on my 2nd character. I have played 500+ hours, and I'm still enjoying Skyrim. The vanilla game on PC is a good RPG, but the modded Skyrim is much better. Even with the mods, and all of the graphic settings being maxed out, my frame rates are still good. That being said, I'm now going to comment and rate the game, solely, on the original game including patches, but without the DLC andI'm on my 2nd character. I have played 500+ hours, and I'm still enjoying Skyrim. The vanilla game on PC is a good RPG, but the modded Skyrim is much better. Even with the mods, and all of the graphic settings being maxed out, my frame rates are still good. That being said, I'm now going to comment and rate the game, solely, on the original game including patches, but without the DLC and mods. I didn't mod the game until I was 100 hrs. into the game. So, I did play quite a bit of the vanilla in the beginning. Anyway, I liked exploring the large open world, and completing the abundance of main, side, and miscellaneous quests with my customised character, but I didn't like the unorganised UI that Bethesda used and that the graphics could've been better. If it weren't for that, I would've given this game a 10. It was fun to play, and runs well. I got more play time out of it and experienced no game breaking bugs tlike in the previous TES games. I can hardly wait to get a glimpse of and play Bethesda's next TES release.… Expand
  70. Kranitoko
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    I've only played Skyrim for two hours now. I will admit that I hated Oblivion. Couldn't stand it. I even trolled Skyrim for 3/4ths of the year, but I decided to give Skyrim a try... and I will say so much that this game is really really good. There are a few bugs, but so far, they're not ones that may annoy the heck out of you. While there are still character models that tend to look theI've only played Skyrim for two hours now. I will admit that I hated Oblivion. Couldn't stand it. I even trolled Skyrim for 3/4ths of the year, but I decided to give Skyrim a try... and I will say so much that this game is really really good. There are a few bugs, but so far, they're not ones that may annoy the heck out of you. While there are still character models that tend to look the same, and voice actors that tend to be the same too, this doesn't happen all too frequently. The textures may not be the best out there, they certainly aren't the worst, and from a distance, they blend into the environment really well. I don't know what people are talking about in terms of dodgy controls. You have WASD to move, space to jump and so on. I think the only things that are dodgy using PC controls is that to use your left weapon, you need to click the right side of your mouse, and the same the other way around. But honestly: You can change that around in the control menu. I mean is that really hard? It takes 5 seconds. The other thing about naff controls is lock picking. While using a controller, you can slowly turn the lock, while pressing "A" on a keyboard in lock picking turns the lock real fast, so you could break the pick pretty fast, so you need to be careful. All in all, I cannot wait to spend my weekend on such a surprise. I would also recommend you buy on Steam because by the sounds of it, the retail version sounds like it's broken for the time being.… Expand
  71. TheangryOne
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    When The Witcher 2 first came out, I said that Skyrim couldn't possibly be better; well, ladies and gentlemen, I was wrong. Very,very wrong. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim takes everything you loved about the previous titles and doubles it. Where to start? Oh, how about the world itself. Remember how big Oblivion and Morrowind were; in Skyrim, you could put both worlds into this game andWhen The Witcher 2 first came out, I said that Skyrim couldn't possibly be better; well, ladies and gentlemen, I was wrong. Very,very wrong. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim takes everything you loved about the previous titles and doubles it. Where to start? Oh, how about the world itself. Remember how big Oblivion and Morrowind were; in Skyrim, you could put both worlds into this game and STILL have so much more to explore. Some say the quests and fighting is boring, but trust me, none of the quests are what they seem. There's a suprise waiting around every corner, and even finding a missing child or travelling to a village throw twists that would make M. Night Shyamlan say "Damn!" There are many games out there that just say "Do this, hero." without really giving your character any motivation at all. Well, if you want inspiration to be the strongest, toughest, smartest hero in all of Tamriel, just look up. I talk of course, about the dragons. As most of you know, your character is a dragonborn. I don't want to go into too much detail about it, but suffice it to say that the dragons are majorly pissed at you, and will sometimes attack you completely at random. Not bad enough? Sometimes you'll just be walking along with some peasants or hill giants, all of you just minding your own business, and then suddenly "BAM!" random dragon attack. These encounters are not only intense, but very rewarding. You see, each time you kill a dragon, you gain its soul. These souls are used to activate certain dragonian power words that are not only insanely powerful, but require absolutely no magika at all, just a set cooldown after each use. This also gives you plenty of inspiration to go exploring dungeons. At the end of caves or dungeons, there are a myriad of rewards. They could be an exotic weapon, a f***load of gold, or best of all, a new dragon power word to learn. So how will you go about doing all this awesome stuff? Will you sneak around like a shadowscale? Fight like a Blade? Or throw spells like a crazed Enchanter? Well, with the new dual wield and skill system, you can fight however you want. With dual wield, you can put any weapon in either hand (staff/sword, heal spell/fire spell, dual daggers, etc.) to make your own special combination. At first glance, the skill system looks almost the same, and yes, it even levels the same too, but it has been rewritten and is now far mor versatile than ever before. In fact, at the beginning, you only pick your race (the usual lot), and the rest develops along your own playstyle. The only really significant times the game ever forces you to play in one particular style is when you fight dragons, but otherwise I can't really complain too much. This brings up a few flaws in the game. First, as everyone had mentioned, the textures in the game do feel dated and rigid, and things can get a little repetitive. Though the conversations are suprisingly 3 dimensional, the NPCs still look stiff and akward when speaking. I will not mention the glitches of this game because there have been none that I've found, that do more than make you ask "WTF" for a second, and the few that still exist are probably just the result of "First Week Syndrome", so I won't take off for them. All in all, this game is a masterpiece of storytelling, action, and exploration that make the Witcher 2 look like Contra. Get this game, and you will never regret it.… Expand
  72. 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.
  73. Duderoth
    Feb 24, 2012
    9
    If you compared Skyrim to any game, you could label it as fantastic. If you compared it to its predecessor, Oblivion, you might as well label it the be-all-to-end-all. I've been playing for months now and I just can't stop coming back. The quests, graphics, gameplay, and character gen are so much improved over Oblivion it still makes me a bit giddy when I step back and take it all in.If you compared Skyrim to any game, you could label it as fantastic. If you compared it to its predecessor, Oblivion, you might as well label it the be-all-to-end-all. I've been playing for months now and I just can't stop coming back. The quests, graphics, gameplay, and character gen are so much improved over Oblivion it still makes me a bit giddy when I step back and take it all in. Now that I've mentioned character gen, here is one thing I cannot stand. I cannot stand people who say this game is generic and classless!!! That is completely unfair. Skyrim has probably the best class creation system I have ever seen in a game. The way it functions? Your class is created as you play, instead of predetermining a class at the beginning of the game. Simple. Elegant. Genius. In fact it's so much so that the way previous TES games did class creation seems ridiculous to me now (although I still enjoy the crap out of Morrowind). If you read my Oblivion review, you'd know another one of my gripes with that game was how bland the world proper was. Not so in Skyrim. Back again is the feeling Morrowind had where every dungeon was carefully considered and designed, and the locale themes are fluid, sensible and beautiful. Continuing on with dungeons, I have never seen a world map so utterly packed with dungeons and locales to visit. There is an insane amount of dungeons and I have enjoyed every one I stepped in (I think about 100 at this point.) Bethesda has also continued their tradition (except for Oblivion's main quest) of outstanding quest writing. Although the faction quests in Skyrim are quite short, as is the main quest, they are all very interesting, and very cool, and add a lot to TES lore. They added some really subtle details here and there that really contributed to the immersion of the faction quests as well. So if this game is so perfect, why a 9? Well the UI for PC isn't as good as it could have been. It's definitely manageable and I have grown accustomed to it, but it could have been better. I'm also taking off a little for some of the questlines being a *bit* too short and some very weird texture bugs I have run across. Overall, however, this is a stunning and gorgeous game with fun, fun, fun gameplay, great characters and an epic story to be had. Well done, Bethesda, well done. (Especially after that sh*tstorm Oblivion, sorry but I just can't let it go.)… Expand
  74. DeadlyJoe
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    Love or hate Bethesda's RPG's, you can't help but appreciate these absurdly massive sandbox worlds that they create for us to play around in. Skyrim presents a truly spectacular landscape filled with wildlife, lore, and quests. Although I've only played the game for about five hours, I can already tell that this iteration of the series will become my favorite. That said, I am a bitLove or hate Bethesda's RPG's, you can't help but appreciate these absurdly massive sandbox worlds that they create for us to play around in. Skyrim presents a truly spectacular landscape filled with wildlife, lore, and quests. Although I've only played the game for about five hours, I can already tell that this iteration of the series will become my favorite. That said, I am a bit disappointed that they haven't improved on the user interface. Bethesda decided on a rather utilitarian and minimalist UI with a menu-driven inventory system. Therefore, I suspect that some of the first mods that people make will probably be UI mods. And although the companion system is great, I was a tiny bit disappointed to discover that you can't easily outfit your companions with the gear of your choice (either that, or I don't know how to do it). But since the main focus is your own character, the somewhat sketchy companion system actually doesn't take away from the game's enjoyment much at all. I'm having a lot of fun with my female Barbarian "Red Sonja" look-alike! Hey, I wonder if I'll run across Kalidor? :)… Expand
  75. coldchaos
    Dec 3, 2011
    9
    Despite a few minor hiccups this game is near flawless with content overload everywhere, there is literally nowhere you can go on the map that won't have a farm/mine(with quests to boot) or towers/dungeons to clear, or caves to explore, or mountain passes to traverse. The character animations are vastly improved over Oblivion with much better handling of rendering.

    Only reason I'm giving    Despite a few minor hiccups this game is near flawless with content overload everywhere, there is literally nowhere you can go on the map that won't have a farm/mine(with quests to boot) or towers/dungeons to clear, or caves to explore, or mountain passes to traverse. The character animations are vastly improved over Oblivion with much better handling of rendering.

    Only reason I'm giving it a 9/10 is because they didn't release TES Construction Set with the game(re-texturing being fully supported though, and awesome). Anyone giving this game less then a 7/10 probably don't even own it or suffer from a severe case of PEKAC.    … Expand
  76. 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.
  77. kurleykyew
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    Great game, though the controls are a bit awkward because it's designed for the console. Visually speaking, it's about as good as it gets with stunning and well-designed locations/creatures.
  78. isthatabigknife
    Jun 1, 2012
    9
    i'm still playing this EPIC game since the date of release... and i got to say.... this game is simply EPIC. the history is great, graphics are very good, and you can do anything! Also, is way better than ps3 and xbox360 because of mods! actually there are a LOT of mods to install, items, missions, etc. for me, its a bit better than oblivion. First time, the game has a bunch of annoyingi'm still playing this EPIC game since the date of release... and i got to say.... this game is simply EPIC. the history is great, graphics are very good, and you can do anything! Also, is way better than ps3 and xbox360 because of mods! actually there are a LOT of mods to install, items, missions, etc. for me, its a bit better than oblivion. First time, the game has a bunch of annoying bugs that made the game very hard to play, but now the great BETHESDA are releasing patches, and now the game is almost perfect!!. Simply a masterpiece. waiting for dlc!… Expand
  79. Monte28
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    Stop busting their balls about the graphics! The game has low texture quality but everything else is awesome. Even though my game crashed twice now...its still crazy good. The graphics are only bad wehen you walk really close to the object, and because its optimized fights can range from you and one enemy, to you, 10 companions, and 20 enemies! Hell even higher but i havent seen it yet.Stop busting their balls about the graphics! The game has low texture quality but everything else is awesome. Even though my game crashed twice now...its still crazy good. The graphics are only bad wehen you walk really close to the object, and because its optimized fights can range from you and one enemy, to you, 10 companions, and 20 enemies! Hell even higher but i havent seen it yet. All in all the game is an instant classic and to not buy it or say it sucks cuz the graphics arent the greatest its just wrong. The content is slowly fed to you. There is alot there, you just wont see it all at once. Every hour i find something new and unique. But the story is kind of boring. Overall it has GOTY written all over it!… Expand
  80. Bazah
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    Although the graphical capabilities of the engine used in the game are quite lacklustre especially in in terms of certain textures, the feel and atmosphere of the game is spot on. So much detail has gone into the game, and the quests feel handcrafted to me for the majority. I can't think of any other games which have more handcrafted quests. Of course the randomly generated kill banditAlthough the graphical capabilities of the engine used in the game are quite lacklustre especially in in terms of certain textures, the feel and atmosphere of the game is spot on. So much detail has gone into the game, and the quests feel handcrafted to me for the majority. I can't think of any other games which have more handcrafted quests. Of course the randomly generated kill bandit leader ones are quite bland. The music is absolute top standard, and the game is very stable. Just about every single one of my steam friends is playing this game, and I'm hearing of a small number of crashes but that is it. I'm thinking some of the people facing graphical issues probably haven't updated their drivers. I'm happy to for people to have different opinions to me regarding this game but some of the people giving low ratings are absolute morons. The game does have a console feel to it at times, but one person complained that you can't assign numbers to items. This is absolute bullcrap as I have all my number key assigns to weapons and spells, and it's pretty sad that people are rating the game lower just because they are a bloody dumbarse that can't even work out the controls!… Expand
  81. shintsurugi
    Nov 23, 2011
    9
    TLDR: Skyrim > Oblivion, buy it, play it, quicksave. Awesome.
    I'm just gonna put it out there. Skyim is awesome. As for why, well, that's a much longer statement.
    This game does not need my praise as it's gotten overwhelming support from game critics and the community, but I'm gonna put my own two cents out there anyway. To be upfront, I did not like Oblivion. Something about how that game    TLDR: Skyrim > Oblivion, buy it, play it, quicksave. Awesome.
    I'm just gonna put it out there. Skyim is awesome. As for why, well, that's a much longer statement.
    This game does not need my praise as it's gotten overwhelming support from game critics and the community, but I'm gonna put my own two cents out there anyway.
    To be upfront, I did not like Oblivion. Something about how that game began, the lack of direction, the clunkiness of the combat and the bugginess of the game engine put me off three separate times.
    Skyrim fixes a lot of those issues. I feel the start of the game is stronger than Oblivion's (if you remove Sir Patrick Stewart from the equation)., in that it remains fast-moving and gives you a good primer on many of the systems (although some more explanation about magic and the favorites system would be nice). I found the town of Riverwood much more inviting than the monstrosity that is the Imperial City. My own personal preference of course. Some people complain about the compass and the plot arrows, but I think they're a great addition from the Fallout series of games. They may make things a bit easier, but they just add to the wanderlust you get going through the immense world of Skyrim. Also, I don't know about other people, but I don't like to get lost, so having a convenient plot arrow is a bonus in my book.
    To be honest... I can't really tell you what's different about Skyrim's combat from Oblivion's. It's still swinging a sword, backpedaling and blocking every now and then. Maybe the animations are smoother, or the timing is looser (or maybe it's just those awesome kill animations...), but I really do enjoy the combat in Skyrim. Not the game's strongest suit, but when has that ever been Bethesda's strong point? And it's definitely not a weak point in this game.
    I am proud to say that Skyrim has only crashed on me once during my 60-odd hours of gameplay (apparently it didn't like a chest I looted). A massive improvement over Oblivion's constant instability. I can't speak to the graphical improvements, as I have it turned all the way down to the ass-end of the spectrum because my laptop is, well, a laptop. But the environment design is more varied than you'd expect from a winter-y continent and some of the dungeon designs are just flat out awesome.
    I feel like I don't need to speak too much about the story, other than it's pretty sweet. Bethesda remains strong in this respect and every side quest is given just enough attention to make you feel like you're not doing yet another side quest for yet another sum of gold and XP. Speaking of XP, the leveling system. Oblivion's leveling system was... weird. The scaling brought all sorts of craziness to your character's performance, which put off a lot of people, including me. Skyrim simplifies the leveling system a bit further than an RPG-geek like myself would have wanted, but I feel like I still have a good amount of control over the direction of where my character goes (except for leveling Restoration to 40 to get that damned perk...). Everything in it is fairly intuitive and almost every time you level up, I feel like you get a tangible benefit.
    Oh, right, one more thing. The interface. It's obviously been designed from a console perspective, which would normally annoy me, but that also means almost every menu can be navigated through WASD and E, which I personally find a helluva lot more accurate than using a mouse pointer. Favorites are an interesting idea, if a bit hard to get used to. Reading the manual helps. Scrolling through items gets tedious at times, but something akin to that issue probably would remain regardless of the interface. The one complaint I do have (and this is horribly nitpicky) is that you should be able to select OK with E and not the mouse. Consistency, people.
    All in all, again, Skyrim is awesome. It's the best game Bethesda's put out so far, and despite its few flaws, it remains an immensely enjoyable experience all the way through. (Just keep quicksaving!)    … Expand
  82. Fanonymous
    Nov 17, 2011
    9
    Skyrim may be my favorite game of 2011 to date, and that was after I had waited for Batman: Arkham City with the greatest anticipation. Skyrim beat Arkham by enough that I may have to finish the Batman game next year. Something to look forward to.

    Gameplay has improved significantly over Oblivion. Where Oblivion's skill based system was often confusing and complex, Skyrim has made it very    Skyrim may be my favorite game of 2011 to date, and that was after I had waited for Batman: Arkham City with the greatest anticipation. Skyrim beat Arkham by enough that I may have to finish the Batman game next year. Something to look forward to.

    Gameplay has improved significantly over Oblivion. Where Oblivion's skill based system was often confusing and complex, Skyrim has made it very straight forward to understand. The best part is you don't really have to create a character "class". Instead you can simply choose your own play style and your skill will level up appropriately. I love the freedom of play style this offers.

    Unlike the seemingly barren landscape of Oblivion, the land of Skyrim is vast and filled with adventures at every turn. I've wandered for hours and not reached an obvious border, though I know they are out there. And this game encourages exploration like no other game before it. Just heading back from one quest I ran into a new village and three new dungeon areas and finally had to call it quits for the day even though I was constantly tempted to look around "just one more bend in the road."

    NPC's are a treat as well. Instead of the cardboard mannequin's of Oblivion, the NPC's in Skyrim are alive. You can sit, watch and listen as they go about their daily business. And they react to your presence even if you don't approach them. Sometimes a new quest line will be opened up by an NPC who approaches my character asking for assistance. The entire experience is incredibly organic. Nothing like the silly "look for the exclamation mark over the NPC's head" of the MMO world. The graphics of Skyrim do have issues. While it is easy to tweak the game to get good performance, the textures often look better at a distance than they do close up. Of course, I spend so much time gazing off into the distance looking for that next adventure, I am never bothered by the few muddy textures around me.

    There are glitches. Skyrim is not just a computer game, it is a great big computer game with a vast complex environment and interactive items everywhere. So to expect it to be perfect is unrealistic. The flaws never are significant enough to destroy my immersion. I'm know there are obsessive types who will examine every brick and bristle with the occasional NPC that gets stuck in a conversation loop. Frankly if the immense amount of content and imagination that Skyrim has to offer on the plus side does not make up for the rare problems, you probably won't be satisfied by a video game released this year.

    I honestly think that Skyrim is the game to play in 2011 if you can only play one.    … Expand
  83. pnoozi
    Apr 29, 2012
    9
    Skyrim is an amazing game. PROS - The main quest has an interesting story (for an RPG). The game runs really smooth on PC while looking fantastic. The scenery is just... awesome. The combat is pretty good (again, for an RPG). Skyrim does some things well that previously turned me off RPGs. CONS - Unfortunately... this game is a straight console port. Skyrim is best played with a 360Skyrim is an amazing game. PROS - The main quest has an interesting story (for an RPG). The game runs really smooth on PC while looking fantastic. The scenery is just... awesome. The combat is pretty good (again, for an RPG). Skyrim does some things well that previously turned me off RPGs. CONS - Unfortunately... this game is a straight console port. Skyrim is best played with a 360 controller, I found it more enjoyable that way. I did run into some technical issues early on (flickering water, shadows, textures), but they seem to have been fixed mostly by now, and Nvidia has released new drivers which increase performance. Also, some of the story elements are kind of lame, like the made-up words and such, kind of made me cringe.… Expand
  84. DudasDrakaan
    Nov 29, 2011
    9
    Overall, Skyrim is fantastic. For 2011, I cannot say that there is a better RPG, and definitely not one which combines the openness, superior storyline, attention to detail, and availability. This is a game that can be picked up by practically anybody and enjoyed -- so long as you have the countless hours to devote to it. ______ With that said, I feel that -- while this is an excellentOverall, Skyrim is fantastic. For 2011, I cannot say that there is a better RPG, and definitely not one which combines the openness, superior storyline, attention to detail, and availability. This is a game that can be picked up by practically anybody and enjoyed -- so long as you have the countless hours to devote to it. ______ With that said, I feel that -- while this is an excellent game that is worthy of its predecessors -- it still does not implement many of the improvements fans of Oblivion had been asking for. While things from Fallout 3 were incorporated into Skyrim that improved the gameplay (followers for one, enemies that are not ungodly difficult to kill when you level up in the 50s is another). Common things you would expect of a sequel of Oblivion are not incorporated. Horse combat does not exist. The AI is just as stupid as it was in Oblivion. The physics system is out of control (I stepped on a pot and it killed me at max health). Random dead bodies will merge out of the ground. Occasional lag spikes will occur if the distance on object detail is turned up past a certain point regardless of system. And did I mention bad AI? Out-of-sight, out-of-mind is all I can say, that and arrows flying past your face are "Probably nothing." ______ With that said, Skyrim is still a great game. The duel-wielding system is great, though some issues pop up where dyssynchrony occurs. The voice acting is more diverse (though not as much as it should be probably, especially with your followers' inventory command). But the main thing is that it is fun. $60 is a fair price for something that can entertain you for over 300 hours. And more, if you are one to spend the time creating multiple characters for different "builds." Minor bugs, like corpses emerging from terrain, can easily be fixed by patches. But, honestly, I find these bugs a little entertaining and the rest can be modded by the community to fix them. ______ Still, many of these things -- such as bad AI -- should have been fixed by now. Horse combat should be present. And freedom of movement in combat, such as doing slides, rolls, ripostes, etc, would, one think, be added to the game by now with influences such as "Brink" on the sidelines (aside: the ability to roll is in the game, however it is glitched and also only usable in sneak mode as a faster means of movement; it's ability to provide dodging against the AI is minimal). And, of course, any comp user would like to have a control format that allows him to use a setup other than WASD without error. ______ So, all said and done, this great game is still great. It is still worth your money. But keep in mind it is not perfect. And hopefully Bethesda will work on giving their games at the polish that has been demanded by fans for several years. I give it 9 Shouts of **** YES!" out of 10.… Expand
  85. Nightmare69
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    I have a modern day gaming machine and this game runs like crap, i can max out games like BF3 without any problems yet this game even on low my fps drops below 30. The visuals are ugly, even on max they look like someone smeared crap all over the objects. Skyrim is a unoptimized cheap console port, do no buy it.
  86. thebrock
    Feb 1, 2012
    9
    Excellent game, good storyline, and interesting levelling system. This is what I was expecting from skyrim. The graphics it points where mindblowing, saying that I was playing the game with the graphics maxed out on ultra setting on my pc. Beautiful game that makes you want to just explore, its like a world in itself. Now the disappointing part, the storyline compared to previous elderExcellent game, good storyline, and interesting levelling system. This is what I was expecting from skyrim. The graphics it points where mindblowing, saying that I was playing the game with the graphics maxed out on ultra setting on my pc. Beautiful game that makes you want to just explore, its like a world in itself. Now the disappointing part, the storyline compared to previous elder scroll games was a little weak, I didnt feel as if I had a real urgency to go out there and save the world. For example in oblivion you felt important and there was a real sense of urgency in what you had to do within the game, skyrim was missing this piece of magic. I also felt the levelling system was dummed down and extremely disappointing compared to previous elder scroll games.

    All in all a game well worth playing. Ime on my second playthrough just now. Bit of advice, play this on a gaming machine on ultra settings if possible. I done my first playthrough on the xbox 360 and am now playing my second run on my pc. This game is MUCHHHH better on pc.    … Expand
  87. Talos84
    Nov 12, 2011
    9
    this game is so awesome. great improvements all around. yeah a few bugs but i am sure the bugs will be worked out. such an awesome game. love the new combat and crafting system
  88. 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
  89. IrishChai
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    This game is incredible. I first played the Elder Scrolls series with Morrowind and thought it was mediocre. I just couldn't play or enjoy anything about Oblivion. It felt incredibly boring and uninspired after trying to get in to it a dozen times, so I gambled with getting Skyrim on the first day after watching a couple of the live streaming sessions online. It looked too good to pass up,This game is incredible. I first played the Elder Scrolls series with Morrowind and thought it was mediocre. I just couldn't play or enjoy anything about Oblivion. It felt incredibly boring and uninspired after trying to get in to it a dozen times, so I gambled with getting Skyrim on the first day after watching a couple of the live streaming sessions online. It looked too good to pass up, and my gamble really paid off. Skyrim is way better than the last two, and I've never felt so truly immersed in an RPG like this before. I didn't experience a single bug or crash with the game, although there were minor flickering or clipping issues graphically. However, everything else from the sound and atmosphere, to the quality voice-over work and options of stuff to do and directions to go has redefined my interpretation of excellent game design for a true sandbox RPG. The only negatives leading me to rate it down to a 9 is for those who enjoy a linear story and direction, as I admittedly sometimes prefer also. The way it drops you at the end of the prologue/tutorial is pretty abrupt, but I had no problem just wandering off in a random direction and seeking out adventure. It found me as it turned out, allowing me to go in a few different directions depending on my whims, but for some it might not come as easily. Everything else is top notch and well worth the price of admission.… Expand
  90. Aviod
    Mar 18, 2012
    9
    Great game, I enjoyed it... I thought the graphics looked low detail, but i heard they released an HDR pack for PC users. I haven't played it since it first release though November of last year but with all the PC Mods hopefully to come out, its very likely i will return to play it. Any problems that skyrim experiences or a need for any tweaks such as shadow rendering etc etc can be doneGreat game, I enjoyed it... I thought the graphics looked low detail, but i heard they released an HDR pack for PC users. I haven't played it since it first release though November of last year but with all the PC Mods hopefully to come out, its very likely i will return to play it. Any problems that skyrim experiences or a need for any tweaks such as shadow rendering etc etc can be done and usally done by Mods..… Expand
  91. 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.
  92. dreambob
    Nov 20, 2011
    9
    Lots of fun and awe.
    A well crafted world, the environments are so believable, that (unlike your character) you can almost feel the cool Mountain air.
    On the down side, some of the voice acting are a bit to redundant.
  93. Pomornik
    Dec 3, 2011
    9
    Best RPG i have ever played, and i've played plenty. Its superior to morrowind and oblivion in almost every possible way. It would be easily a 10/10 if it wasn't for the fact, its a console port, and it shows. First of all, the interface is... not very good, it was obviously designed to be used with a gamepad, but you can get used to that. The bigger problems are the technical issues.Best RPG i have ever played, and i've played plenty. Its superior to morrowind and oblivion in almost every possible way. It would be easily a 10/10 if it wasn't for the fact, its a console port, and it shows. First of all, the interface is... not very good, it was obviously designed to be used with a gamepad, but you can get used to that. The bigger problems are the technical issues. Horrible, blocky and flickering shadows, random crashes, and not so great performance even on a good machine. I wont mention smaller bugs, since they are but a minor annoyance, and nothing gamebreaking.
    Still its worth to get through all that, because the gameplay itself is next to perfect. The combat is great, there is no boring quests, dialogues and voiceactors are top notch, envitorment is just beautiful. As in case of all Bethesda titles, there is a strong support for mods, which will definetly help keeping the game alive for many years.    … Expand
  94. Soulgraph
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    First off, yes the graphics are not what they were hyped to be but my biggest disappointment was more in that Bethesda claimed to be using an "all new" game engine, when clearly this is an overhauled gamebryo under the hood. That said, I'm finding this game much easier to get immersed in than Oblivion. The last two games have started out like a lullabye & only after I had picked up on muchFirst off, yes the graphics are not what they were hyped to be but my biggest disappointment was more in that Bethesda claimed to be using an "all new" game engine, when clearly this is an overhauled gamebryo under the hood. That said, I'm finding this game much easier to get immersed in than Oblivion. The last two games have started out like a lullabye & only after I had picked up on much of the in game literature, giving me the backstory, did I begin to appreciate the world around me. In Skyrim, the pacing is vastly improved, right out of the gate. For me Fallout 3 was a highpoint in gaming so far (Putting aside any debate on its worthiness as a PC game). The world was dirty, grittier & just felt right. I spent hundreds of hours in the post-apocolyptic world Bethesda created and loved every minute of it. Skyrim, while still an Elder Scrolls game seems to share what worked so well in FO3, the seems grttier, dirtier & just plain old better than Oblivion and Morrowind as well. My biggest disappointment has been to see the return of bad detail on distant lanscapes. That they didnt even try to hide this with DOF in overkill mode or some other graphic "trick" was needless to say disheartening, this combined with some relatively low rez textures on npc clothing & some of the buildings and landscape shows the developers unfortunate need to scale back for the console versions. Take note also that shortly after release there is a problem with shadows looking bad & requiring high resources to render anything past "low". Since I havent had 300+ hours played in game so far (about 20), please take my opinion with a grain of salt but if you can look past the hype and the hang-ups this game will make a real world hermit out of you for the next few months.… Expand
  95. Topster
    Feb 15, 2012
    9
    The only reason this does not get a 10 from me is because of how blatant the limitations are for this game because it wasn't developed on the PC. This game is great, but it could have been *excellent* if they took advantage of modern technology rather than develop this game on a system that's 7 years old. I love the changes to combat, I love the setting, and I love the new skill system.The only reason this does not get a 10 from me is because of how blatant the limitations are for this game because it wasn't developed on the PC. This game is great, but it could have been *excellent* if they took advantage of modern technology rather than develop this game on a system that's 7 years old. I love the changes to combat, I love the setting, and I love the new skill system. Really, everything hat made Oblivion great has been made better in this game.… Expand
  96. 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.
  97. StavrosDim
    Dec 26, 2011
    9
    Skyrim is a sequel to Oblivion which was a very nice game.
    In comparison to Oblivion,Skyrim manages to upgrade many features but completely misses some other.
    Skyrim has better lighting effects,nice death cutscenes,and the biggest improvement is the dungeon design. Skyrim's dungeons feel more unique in their design than Oblivion which makes exploring them more interesting.What are not so    Skyrim is a sequel to Oblivion which was a very nice game.
    In comparison to Oblivion,Skyrim manages to upgrade many features but completely misses some other.
    Skyrim has better lighting effects,nice death cutscenes,and the biggest improvement is the dungeon design. Skyrim's dungeons feel more unique in their design than Oblivion which makes exploring them more interesting.What are not so interesting though are side-quests.The majority of Skyrim's quests follow a pattern that gets recognizable very quickly,and the pattern is (person X sends you to dungeon Y to retrieve item A,and in return he gives you item B or Gold).There is not much variation in them like in Oblivion where there were quests like Paranoia where you had to speak and reason with people without moving to a dungeon at all,and thus side-quests in Skyrim get dull and boring relatavely fast. Overall the game is somewhat simplified and feels more like an action-adventure and less like a classic RPG derived from pen and paper Dungeons and Dragons.That might be a good point or a bad one regarding your taste.Technically wise Skyrim is the most stable game from Bethesda I have played,but still has a number of bugs and glitches.My hasn't crashed even once unlike Oblivion and Fallout 3 that crashed very often,but there are times in Skyrim where an important npc doesn't allow you to enter his house and complete a quest,or a horse flies in the air awkwardly and vanishes through the rocks of a mountain.. But these are not happening so often so it's not that damage.What we can criticize for the PC version of the game is that it has a very bad UI that is almost unplayable with keyboard and mouse.The game is obviously made to be played with a xbox360 controller and thus if you don't have one the experience you will get if you try to play Skyrim traditionally with Keyboard and Mouse will be worse than playing with a controller.Another bad thing on the list is Skyrim's engine or to put it more right how it is pre-setted. I couldn't imagine playing the game without tweaking the ini files of the game and some basic mods.. Some options that are considered basic are only changable through the ini files while they should be on the menus of the game,and a player shouldn't be bothered with the chore to search the web to find out the right ini tweaks and then do all that tweaking himself..Another thing that needed more work is balancing difficulty and variety.Difficulty is unbalanced if I die from random mages within seconds and I have to loose about 5-6 lives or more to beat them,and at the same time I can beat the Final Boss of the game in a single try without loosing any life at all.Variety-wise while Skyrim has more unique creatures and armors/weaponry than Oblivion,they are set to appear in such way that the game feels it has less. That is because many of the creatures only appear as parts of quests and thus exploring dungeons randomly most of the time you will only meet about 3 different enemy types.(draugr,spiders,bandits). But while Skyrim has all of these negative points the huge modding community that supports the game make up for them.The Elder Scrolls series has the largest modding community and that means that in time all balance and gameplay issues will be fixed,graphics will be updated to modern standards,and new content like cool armours and weapons will be in huge variety for free.Taking in mind that Skyrim has the chance to become anyone's dream game with the appropriate mods I will overlook some of its current problems and give it a better rating.I would give this game a 7 if there weren't mods,but with all the possibilites this game can turn through modding I will give it a 9.    … Expand
  98. Sambora
    Apr 27, 2012
    9
    Great: the world design, the attention to details, the character models and animations, the creatures, the sense of adventure and exploration. Good: the quests, the dialogue, the Nords culture and politics, the professions and diversity of builds by perks. Bad: the guilds and their quest lines, the lack of attributes and birthsigns, the lack of racial distinction. Music is divine!
  99. twentyfumble
    Feb 14, 2012
    9
    Best RPG I played in a lot of time.

    Pros: great immersion, vast world, accurate in all the small detauls, tons of characters, tons of quests, tons of locatons, tons of everything. Main story is good, main quests are also excellent. Combat is nicely done, graphics and sound are excellent. A lot of awesome mods, console commands, great community support. Cons: some bugs here and there,    Best RPG I played in a lot of time.

    Pros: great immersion, vast world, accurate in all the small detauls, tons of characters, tons of quests, tons of locatons, tons of everything. Main story is good, main quests are also excellent. Combat is nicely done, graphics and sound are excellent. A lot of awesome mods, console commands, great community support.

    Cons: some bugs here and there, controls are clearly console-ported and not optimized for pc (but there are mods to fix that), too easy after the first 20-25 hours (see below).

    An advice to new players: the difficulty level is fine for the first 10-15 levels, then the game becomes way too easy. To avoid this problem either raise the difficulty when you reach level 15 or, even better, don't improve your weapons/armor ! Improving your armor and weapons is unbalanced because after few hours you will already have super items that are better than everything you can find in npc and dungeons loot. What I do is I only use items I find in loot, or items I buy from shops, or items I craft myself, but I never improve them ! Enchantment is ok, but don't improve items, your immersion and gameplay will be 10x better. Otherwise you will find yourself insta-killing most of enemies and game will become boring.    … Expand
  100. wardialer
    Nov 18, 2011
    9
    only about halfway done (i'm guessing) but so far the game is awesome. metacritic user scores are usually more indicative of the quality of a game, and this time (i believe) both critics and users have reached a consensus. the open world is gorgeous... especially the northern lights, characters look good enough (much better than long-faced ugs in previous elder scrolls), movement andonly about halfway done (i'm guessing) but so far the game is awesome. metacritic user scores are usually more indicative of the quality of a game, and this time (i believe) both critics and users have reached a consensus. the open world is gorgeous... especially the northern lights, characters look good enough (much better than long-faced ugs in previous elder scrolls), movement and physics are good, attention to detail is huge. the game's just really engrossing and sucks you in every time. load times are almost non-existent and the interface seems really polished and well thought out. bethesda got it right. you really get a sense that everyone on their team was at their best and cared about the final product.
    truly epic.
    i almost forgot... epic soundtrack as well.    … 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

All reviews »
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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