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. coldxblooded
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Absolutely amazing game. its everything i had expected form the series and in my opinion its games like this that raise the bar for others. the only thing that sucks is the long wait for the next game in this series.
  2. Shekky
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    Excellent game only problem I have is the interface I absolutely do not like have to open up interface just to cast my restoration spell or some other spell then to have to bring out my swords again.
  3. 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
  4. boompow
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Fantastic fun game that does a great job immersing you into its world. It feels like it looks and I love the setting, coldy windy, norse mythology mixed with the deep story and background of Elder Scrolls. It rings familiar of Oblivion but the characters feel like real humans and while still not exactly pretty don't rip you our of the experience any longer. The simplified skilling systemFantastic fun game that does a great job immersing you into its world. It feels like it looks and I love the setting, coldy windy, norse mythology mixed with the deep story and background of Elder Scrolls. It rings familiar of Oblivion but the characters feel like real humans and while still not exactly pretty don't rip you our of the experience any longer. The simplified skilling system is perfect for me because i dont want to get my calculator out and permanently worry about messing up my "build". I can understand if you liked that part of the previous games you might be dissapointed by that. For me it balances out to a great value and I look forward to a long winter in Skyrim. The PC version needs some fixing with some glitches here and there like followers dissapearing but overall its the best RPG i have every played and I have been doing this since the first Baldurs Gate.… Expand
  5. Clai
    Nov 15, 2011
    6
    Although Oblivion has amazing atmosphere, an engaging storyline and awesome world design, it fell short of basic industry standards in terms of pure gameplay. The combat, physics and animations were dated on release, and the proudly touted "Radiant AI" did not extend well beyond basic townsfolk interaction. Oblivion's successor, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has reportedly set out to improveAlthough Oblivion has amazing atmosphere, an engaging storyline and awesome world design, it fell short of basic industry standards in terms of pure gameplay. The combat, physics and animations were dated on release, and the proudly touted "Radiant AI" did not extend well beyond basic townsfolk interaction. Oblivion's successor, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has reportedly set out to improve on it's predecessors flaws.

    Who knew improvement was such a marginal process? Skyrim suffers from the same incredibly lacking combat system that Oblivion is well known for; there is little and often no indication of damage (outside of an HP drop) when attacking an enemy and there is no complex timing or visceral response during fights. Instead, players choose whatever weapon/spell combination most suited to the enemy in question and flail about until one of the combatants falls. The improvements made to the combat system that allow for easy dual wielding and equipment management are completely wasted on a system that maybe would've been accepted in a 2.5d game in the 90s. Is Daggerfall the cause of this?

    This archaic system is even further compounded by poor animations and very simple world physics, both of which work hard to pull you from the immersion presented by the amazing world. Skyrim introduces "death blow" animations that are nothing more than randomly occurring cosmetic distractions that are so poorly made and prone to glitching that it's a mystery as to why they were ever included. Third-person gameplay has been improved marginally, but the canned walking animations and glitchy keyframed attacking/rolling/jumping actions that often do not correctly flow into one another will have you switching back to first-person in no time, a shame considering the extensive character design system and excellently crafted armor sets.
    If that was not enough, a constant bevy of glitches and bugs will assault you at every turn. The game presents amazing scenes and story, only to promptly snatch the awe away with another glitching background model or a man butting into to a conversation about the safety of the city with a mention of his fruit prices.

    But it's an RPG, right? Combat and presentation should come second fiddle to the freedom and variety of open-world gameplay, right? There sure are a lot of stats missing in this "Apple-inspired" UI, no quick way to check on equipped items and their individual stats, no indication of the worn location of an item until selected, whereby a simple armor rating comparison is made and nothing else. No equipment degradation, simplified stats, and the quick-switch/hot-key wheel has been replaced with a time-stopping favourites menu. Whilst a fight in Oblivion could be played out in real-time, Skyrim has the player pausing the game with each swap of equipment. Outside the Magic and Items menu (both of which draw from the same inspiration), the Skills and Map menus are both functional and simple.

    What Skyrim does best is present an amazing world full of life and motion, something Bethesda shows mastery in time and time again. Wind blows trees and bushes; Water flows down streams, crashing against rocks as salmon jump upstream; Rain and snow falls, sometimes softly, sometimes ferociously. This game has a ridiculous amount of atmosphere and style, and Bethesda's attention to detail shines in every nook and cranny. The opportunity to get lost in one of the in game books or listen in on the conversations of bandits rewards the player with a rich fantasy story with uncountable facets. The new quest system allows some quest items and objectives to be approached in different locations depending on where the player has already been, meaning dull excursions are rare in an already breathtaking world.

    It's a shame then, that the world alone is not enough to remedy Skyrim's flaws. It appears that Bethesda has learned nothing from their previous projects on the Gamebryo engine; Skyrim suffers from many of the flaws present in it's predecessors. At the core of the issue, it seems both Bethesda and their fans are unaware of the ageing gameplay, numerous bugs and lacking presentation aspects that plague the otherwise amazing world of The Elder Scrolls. It remains to be seen if many of these problems are patched or modded away (either by Bethesda or it's enthusiastic modding community), but in it's current state, Skyrim is an old game wearing new clothes.    … Expand
  6. Fortune
    Nov 15, 2011
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pretty good game, if you like hack 'n slash or dungeon crawlers but don't like in-depth character customization or RPG elements. The storyline is good, the combat is great, and everything is simple.

    Unfortunately, the game is really easy (even on master, I hit a wall around level 20-25, but once I got past that I haven't found anything really challenging and can solo named dragons without trouble).

    *spoiler*The guild quests are way too simple and streamlined. One "entry" quest that takes 5 minutes to do and requires little to no effort, then you're in and everyone trusts you.The mage college quest was literally two quest lines, then you're the arch-mage.*/spoiler*

    If you're looking for a fun action-RPG with a decent storyline, this is the game for you. If you want an in-depth RPG with a lot of customization and great side-quests, hundreds of hours of play, etc., you may want to look elsewhere.

    All in all, Skyrim is to Oblivion what Oblivion was to Morrowind. Streamlined, features taken out, nothing really added except a new storyline, and turned easy. Still very fun for what it is, but don't buy it thinking that it's something else.    … Expand
  7. 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
  8. OmeNu
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    i dub thee 8 out of 10. why because it has so much greatness with no eyefinity/surround support. and glitches galore. but it sure is a darn fun game

    come on Bethesda works. even Oblivion worked well with triple monitor. on a side note. how much better would it of been if you added directX11 tessellation. them rocks and dragons would look INSANE!
  9. TheSleeve
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    There are several shortcomings in Skyrim that keep it from reaching its full potential. First, the UI... It is painfully obvious that this game was designed to target the X360, and the PC version suffers as a result with a clunky user interface. Second, AI issues... I have played through the intro sequence only twice, and the second time through, there was a serious bug where my ally frozeThere are several shortcomings in Skyrim that keep it from reaching its full potential. First, the UI... It is painfully obvious that this game was designed to target the X360, and the PC version suffers as a result with a clunky user interface. Second, AI issues... I have played through the intro sequence only twice, and the second time through, there was a serious bug where my ally froze in place and left me to fend for myself. Third, the controls... It seems that very little care or caution was put into the PC control scheme, with awkward keyboard-only navigation of some menus, and Y-axis mouse sensitivity that scales with frame rate. - [][] - These three shortcomings aside, Skyrim excels in just about every thing it sets out to do. The main plot line is NOT the main attraction here. Skyrim is truly the spiritual successor to earlier games in the series such as Daggerfall, in the sense that it lets you simply exist in another world. Bethesda has created a virtual space for us to explore, experiment with, and spend time in, and it excels at keeping us entertained. - [][] - The character advancement system is interesting to explore, and the perks you can obtain are very satisfying. This system allows you to craft a unique set of skills for your character, and prevents you from simply from becoming all-powerful. - [][] - The difficulty scaling is implemented far better than it was in Oblivion. Everywhere you go, you get a sense that there are real threats to your safety, which keeps you in a constant state of alert. The perks, on the other hand, still give you a satisfying feeling that your character is constantly progressing. As a result, there is absolutely no reason to feel the need to level grind. I recommend playing the game on the hardest difficulty for maximum satisfaction. It's kind of like Left 4 Dead in that regard... playing on anything less than Expert is just boring... - [][] - I would like to give Skyrim a higher rating, but its shortcomings are difficult to forgive, especially considering how long this game has been in development. A great game, yes, but I kind of feel like PC gamers got the shaft, big time. I will therefore give it an 8.… Expand
  10. Bradmasi
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    The new addition to the The Elder Scrolls saga continues strong in Skyrim. Much of what makes the Elder Scrolls games what they are remains intact while enough innovation is included to assure you this is a growing series.

    The graphics for the first few areas may not seem like much of an improvement but the visually stunning vistas of the cloud-covered mountains and the snow billowing    The new addition to the The Elder Scrolls saga continues strong in Skyrim. Much of what makes the Elder Scrolls games what they are remains intact while enough innovation is included to assure you this is a growing series.

    The graphics for the first few areas may not seem like much of an improvement but the visually stunning vistas of the cloud-covered mountains and the snow billowing off the ice caps to the north truly waylays any ideas of out-dated graphics. While the voice acting does feel stilted and clunky at times the fact that NPC's do recognize more of your actions helps create a more believable world that in previous installments.

    The combat is more fleshed out this time around with the ability to actively block and shield bash if you're using heavy armor, or make the decision to wield multiple spell types at the same time as a caster via dual-casting abilities. While there are still balancing issues there are enough advancements here to keep you interested without much of the fatigue associated with repeated visits to dungeons in a single play session as found with Oblivion.

    This game is not without glaring flaws however. It seems the game was designed with a controller in mind. Keyboard and mouse is fine for combat and exploration but clicking items in your inventory or selecting dialogue options has often followed at best with a frustrated sigh and at worse with a cry of outrage as I accidentally select the wrong option and sent a companion back to town or angering a guard without meaning to.

    You have to be so precise with the mouse pointer that when at a vendor if you click slightly off the screen it closes the window and you have to reselect the vendor option. And while none of this is game-breaking I find myself avoiding interaction with other players due to the exasperation it can cause.

    All negativity aside though, this is a game that offers hundreds of hours of content with fresh vistas everywhere you go. The dungeons are more adequately designed and combat is a blast. If you like fantasy adventure and didn't get enough from Dark Souls this is one game to pick up.    … Expand
  11. workingpixels
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    all we can do is wish for EVERY sandbox electronic creation to be just like this GAME. beacause this is GAME. vast experience. feels like those neverwinter times when atmosphere and journey was your favourite companions.
  12. JamesJr
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    I have been playing Skyrim for around 25 hours and I have to say it gives me that good old feeling I used to get from game playing that I have not experienced since World of Warcraft came out. Sure the interface is not great but it is servicable after a bit of time with it. The lure of this game is this large living and breathing world that you get to explore and interact with. I amI have been playing Skyrim for around 25 hours and I have to say it gives me that good old feeling I used to get from game playing that I have not experienced since World of Warcraft came out. Sure the interface is not great but it is servicable after a bit of time with it. The lure of this game is this large living and breathing world that you get to explore and interact with. I am having a blast exploring all that this world has to offer, reading every book, gathering materials, talking to everyone I meet, and just appreciating all the effort that the developers put into this game. It baffles me when people say the graphics are not great, are they even playing the same game? To me the graphics are outstanding and I have stopped many times to view the beauty of certain scenes. If you enjoyed Oblivion or Morrowind I can't see how you would not love this game.… Expand
  13. timetravel
    Nov 15, 2011
    1
    Massively disapointed in this game. Horrible UI (obvious and awful console-port), if you haven't played the previous games you will be completely lost attempting to do many things--they are not explained at all. The graphics are bad, characters all look like unwashed creepy meat-puppets. 20h in, the story still hadn't done anything to grab me. And the combat, good lord the combat. WorstMassively disapointed in this game. Horrible UI (obvious and awful console-port), if you haven't played the previous games you will be completely lost attempting to do many things--they are not explained at all. The graphics are bad, characters all look like unwashed creepy meat-puppets. 20h in, the story still hadn't done anything to grab me. And the combat, good lord the combat. Worst I've played in an rpg...ever...maybe as bad as Witcher 2's, but it's basically the same so that's probably why. 1st person rpg sword-slashing simply Does. Not. Work. Playing a mage was slightly less annoying, but still wholly un-compelling. I gave it a 1 because the mountains are pretty. So there's that...… Expand
  14. Hanseshadow
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    -- Skyrim has a large world, tons of content, and excellent quests. A compelling story makes you want to not stop playing. The graphics are top notch, the audio is great, and most of the animations are good. If you want a game that will give you many hours (40 hours in and I'm still not done, but I like to see and do everything) and you like fantasy single-player role playing games,-- Skyrim has a large world, tons of content, and excellent quests. A compelling story makes you want to not stop playing. The graphics are top notch, the audio is great, and most of the animations are good. If you want a game that will give you many hours (40 hours in and I'm still not done, but I like to see and do everything) and you like fantasy single-player role playing games, this is a game for you.

    Now, the detractors:
    -- 1) The interface on the PC is poor. The interface for the PC looks like it was an afterthought from controller based consoles. The largest detractor is the reliance on a favorites menu to select items to equip. There isn't a favorite item equip hot-swap system, which causes you to scroll through menus repeatedly to switch between magic and weapons. Standard PC RPG elements are missing, such as a minimap, hotbar, backpack, etc. The biggest detractor is the hotbar and customizable keys for specific spells and equipment.

    -- Information on the interface is scarce. You cannot see most of the information you need at a glance, such as what all the map locations you've visited and cleared (you must highlight each one). I haven't seen a note interface for the map, either.

    -- 2) Movement system is extremely poor.

    -- You can jump, walk, and run with movement keys. You cannot tell if something is too steep to run up, aside from sliding back or stopping. There isn't a climbing system, contrary to statements of "you can climb everything" prior to the game's release. If you are slightly sliding, you cannot jump. This leads to getting stuck for a bit while you figure out how to get out of the predicament you got yourself into. You cannot vault over fences or rocks, if your jump is inadequate. You cannot pull yourself up onto a ledge, if it is 1 centimeter higher than your jump height.
    --
    -- 3) Graphical glitches such as frame rate drops and texture issues on models exist with my system (core i7-950 with nvidia 560). Crashes occur without details. Since launch just occurred, I'm hoping for patches that will eventually solve these problems. My solution is to save often and restart, when textures do not render and frame rates drop to 1 per second.

    -----

    -- With the size of the world, the huge amount of content, and the well done quests, dialog, books, combat, and many other interesting aspects to the game. I give this game a realistic 8. It would be a 9 with a better interface. It would be a 10 with a solid movement system and interface for PC.    … Expand
  15. AngryDragon
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    People hell-bent on giving Skyrim an extremely low score should consider how few major pc games are released these days, Back in the so called hayday of pc gaming we only dreamed of a game like Skyrim, And all games were a nightmare to run. Skyrim needs a few tweaks here and there but it still the best pc game I've played. I hope its not the last great pc RPG.We need to give credit where its due.
  16. holtafd
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    The PC version of Skyrim is no doubt on of the most beautiful and sprawling worlds ever imagined. The game is so open in class development and how the player can interact with the world. However there are many problems with the user interface that prevent this game from true greatness. This game, is perfect for any RPG fans as it has been in the past.
  17. G00SEy
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Game is amazing, nothing more to say. Immersion factor 10. I am trying to avoid the game at this point because I wont do anything else. A few ruff edges here and there, but be prepared to not have a girlfriend, sign some divorce papers, lose your job, or any other negative thing that comes with being lost in a game.
  18. kiwicube
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Overall, 14 hours of gameplay... without cheats so far... its a beautiful game, works well, VERY realistic, love the weird glitches that appear occasionally (after all it wouldn't be elder scrolls if there wasn't crazy NPC bugs).
    I LOVE THIS GAME!!!!! plan to spend many many many more hours on it. BEST GAME OF THE YEAR!!!!
  19. Masamune91
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    The game is incredibly immersive. As soon as you start up you will have entered another world filled with lore, interesting characters and beautiful scenery. The quests are interesting and engaging and the combat is fun and feels a lot more real than Oblivion. It feels as if Bethesda really listened to the community for this game adding several features that were mods for Oblivion likeThe game is incredibly immersive. As soon as you start up you will have entered another world filled with lore, interesting characters and beautiful scenery. The quests are interesting and engaging and the combat is fun and feels a lot more real than Oblivion. It feels as if Bethesda really listened to the community for this game adding several features that were mods for Oblivion like werewolves, a great crafting system and a new game engine that really shines for performance.

    I'm also happy that the game has key mapping and windowed mode which seems like a crazy thing to be happy about but with all of the console ports these days its nice.

    This is a game that is enormous and boiling over with content. I could spend months and months going through everything it has to offer and perhaps even longer with the quest generators in the game. The fact of the matter is that Bethesda has really taken a step up with this edition of The Elder Scrolls.

    My only complaints are the obvious console centric UI which can be difficult at times with some insensitive menus and some broken key functions. I could not use the favourites menu because I could not set any items as favourites. If you change the movement keys from default you might have issues. Also, at times my NPC companions would block me into small rooms which can be frustrating and there are very minor graphical glitches at certain moments.

    However, the few issues I have with the game do not change my overall experience as they are just small problems. I love the game. Love it! I plan to enjoy it for a long, long time. I recommend it to anyone who loves RPG's and entering a world ready to be shaped by your imagination. OUTSTANDING!    … Expand
  20. MattC
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    Graphics: While some of the up close textures may be a tad blurry, and you might get some pop in; this game looks absolutely wonderful with a decent PC rig with all the settings on ultra. For a game with environments this vast you are going to see some hiccups, but overall the level of detail is remarkable.

    Sound: With some old ES favorites mixed into an original score, the music in    Graphics: While some of the up close textures may be a tad blurry, and you might get some pop in; this game looks absolutely wonderful with a decent PC rig with all the settings on ultra. For a game with environments this vast you are going to see some hiccups, but overall the level of detail is remarkable.

    Sound: With some old ES favorites mixed into an original score, the music in this game is top notch and comes to a crescendo during high action parts, yet drops off to a soothing melody as you walk around towns. The ambient sounds are also top notch and brings another level to this world when played through a surround sound system. Gameplay: In previous ES games I always found that the combat was rather lacking and got very stale after a while, especially melee characters. While Skyrim doesn't exactly implement a brand new combat system, they have however, refined their combat system into a much more enjoyable experience. It seems Bethesda has taken a page out of the Bioshock book, because in Skyrim your character now can dual wield weapons, magic, or in the case of my character one of each. Many magic spells can be combined to create a much more powerful version of which ever spell you are dual-wielding. Melee still feels a bit flat when compared to the dual casting magic system, but with the inclusion of gruesome finishing moves and the ability to wield two one-handed weapons, as well as a more effective sword and board style, melee combat feels much better than in previous iterations of the ES series.

    Leveling up in Skyrim has also been streamlined, (i know i know many construe streamlined as being "dumbed down", and I assure you it's not) which in my opinion was a very welcome addition. It still follows the "level up by doing" formula of previous games in the ES series. but instead of trying to divide 10 points into 50+ skills, you now choose to put points into Magic, Health, or Stamina every time you gain a level. In addition to choosing a base stat to boost, you also get a perk point every level, which you can than put into a specialty area, such as destruction/restoration/illusion if you use magic or one-hand/two-hand/shield for people who like to hit things. Menus/UI: While these are serviceable for PC users who use a mouse and keyboard, it is very evident that these were designed with controllers in mind. I also don't like that the ability to bind different keys is restricted. While I can still remap certain keys I can't assign my number keys to various potions, abilities, magic, etc. which is a bit of a let down. That being said, the menus themselves have a very slick look to them, especially the skills menu where you spend your points once you level.

    Playability/Re-playability: This area is where Skyrim really shines. The amount of quests in this game is absolutely staggering, and many are in places that you might not think to look. For example I was reading random books in a random dungeon, and one of the books gave me a quest to find an ancient sword. I'm not sure if that one book is the only way you can get the quest, but it goes to show that you should leave no stone unturned when it comes to exploring. Skyrim also continues the ES tradition that ensures that no player will experience Skyrim the exact same way as another. Now the main quests are the same, but the game leaves it up to you in how and in which order you want to tackle each one. Another interesting aspect of the Skyrim quest system is that it will continue to spawn random kill/search/rescue/deliver quests that will in theory keep you going forever.

    Bugs/Glitches: For any of you familiar with the ES or (new)Fallout series you know that these games can be full of bugs from something as simple as textures not loading to something as game-breaking as a corrupted save file. Skyrim seems for the most part to be game-breaking bug free, but still has a few annoyances such as NPCs caught in a loop, or wooly mammoths being launched hundreds of feet in the air. Luckily the auto save feature in Skyrim activates each time you enter or exit a new area, so if you are unfortunate enough to experience a major bug that requires a reset, hopefully it won't set you back to far. Another issue worth mentioning is that Skyrim can crash randomly, and while I haven't experienced it first hand, my roommate has had a few.

    Overall: Skyrim is the pinnacle of the ES series, it remedies many issues of the past games, and presents you with an open world experience unparallelled in the RPG realm. The quests are fun and engaging, the world feels alive as npc's walk around and do their day to day chores, the combat has been tightened up and feels much better, especially as a melee character. If you have never played an ES game before and are looking for an open world rpg than this game is for you, and if you are familiar with and enjoyed previous games in the ES series Skyrim will blow you away.    … Expand
  21. MasterT
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is another great addition to the serie. It is everything a fan would expect. The story is incredible, the lenght of the game is awesome, you have plenty side-missions and you are left with a lot of different ways to play the game. The 2 main problems why this game doesn't deserve a 10 are the fact that the graphics are way out-dated, they look just likeThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is another great addition to the serie. It is everything a fan would expect. The story is incredible, the lenght of the game is awesome, you have plenty side-missions and you are left with a lot of different ways to play the game. The 2 main problems why this game doesn't deserve a 10 are the fact that the graphics are way out-dated, they look just like Oblivion. It sucks that games nowadays are stuck having to develop with 5yo consoles. I think they should've done what bf3 did which is make the game on PC with ultra graphs possibilities and release an xbox/ps3 version which can run only at medium graphs. The second thing is the skill tree really isnt computer friendly, we can clearly see that it was made for console and it sucks. Of course there's also a few minor bugs, but nothing that will ruin your gaming experience. Overall this is a must buy for any rpg fans and even for people who never played any Elder Scrolls!… Expand
  22. WarViking
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    One of the greatest games of all time. Takes a crap on both Oblivion & Morrowind. It is what Oblivion wished it was. With all the improvements and added content that Oblivion left out. Skyrim is a complete game.
  23. 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
  24. Bertman
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Like Oblivion and Fallout 3, this brilliant game is already being patched, fixed and improved by the modding community at SkyrimNexus. Bug fixes, improved textures and graphics, and more can be found and are released on a regular basis. Don't miss out.
  25. 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.
  26. quitmyjob
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    While there are bugs with the game and there are problems with the combat system, Bethesda has made significant improvements to leveling and other areas that were lacking in Oblivion. It's important that they keep improving these games but the sheer scale of this thing alone is incredible. They've greatly improved the dungeons over Oblivion and added a lot of side quests which will keepWhile there are bugs with the game and there are problems with the combat system, Bethesda has made significant improvements to leveling and other areas that were lacking in Oblivion. It's important that they keep improving these games but the sheer scale of this thing alone is incredible. They've greatly improved the dungeons over Oblivion and added a lot of side quests which will keep you busy. Despite playing for hours, I've only seen one bug and it wasn't nearly as bad as some of the ones in Oblivion. The game has stunning graphics, even on my low-end computer. The best thing about the Bethesda games is that you can just wander if you want or blaze through a quest line in a few hours. That's their strength but also their weakness. Some people hate that style of game play. That's okay but they can't complain when they get a game that does that. I don't like the fact that the combat seems to have become more like Fallout's in that there are slow-motion portions when your character finishes off the enemy in some cases. That said, this game is still fantastic.… Expand
  27. Waddles
    Nov 15, 2011
    9
    Its the next elder scrolls game. so what do you expect? does it feel like the others? gamplay wise yes, not a bad thing. Lore and setting no, its all feels fresh and new. and being set 200 years after TES 4 there are alot of nice lore tid bits for fans who got in to the story. The land of skyrim its self is massive, its what you expect from bethesda. the faction quests and man story arcsIts the next elder scrolls game. so what do you expect? does it feel like the others? gamplay wise yes, not a bad thing. Lore and setting no, its all feels fresh and new. and being set 200 years after TES 4 there are alot of nice lore tid bits for fans who got in to the story. The land of skyrim its self is massive, its what you expect from bethesda. the faction quests and man story arcs are tight and much more story driven that in previous Elder Scrolls games and the world is littered with dungons that promote exploration while on other tasks. if anything the content is overwhelming. the Npc's are simple but feel some what genuine. you realy feel these people are strong and vikeing like but not uniform in there personalities. The PC interface is clunky to say the least. while the "Q" quick change menu would work for a few things. there are to many things (even worse if you play a mage type) such as shouts, wepons, potions, etc. you want to use. And while you can key bind things for most of the game when gear or item rewards are failrly constent and ungrades frequent its more trouble than its worth. a breif text pop up out of sight at the top left of your screen is the only warning you get if your character is in realy harm from spells or effects. otherwise you need to constent cheek your "active effects" tab... in your magic tab... in your overall menu tab... by pressing tab. on the bright side inventory is still 'i'?

    then you have the famous bethesda launch bugs. Alot of people are dealing with memory leak issues that is causeing crash to desktop issues and vanishing textures. Bodies with floating eyes and teeth now haunt my dreams. and to play through a major event with one of the characters as a purple skinless mesh was a little sad.

    So why a 9? well.. 8.5 isn't posable. and if the launch bugs were fixed this game would be a solid 9 - 9.5 yes it has issues, but nothing that stops the game elements of this game from being the most fun and rewarding elder scrolls to date. and hopefully once a few of these issues are fixed it could deserve the 9.5 I would want to give it.    … Expand
  28. manabog
    Nov 15, 2011
    4
    I just made a account to review this game , played 5 hours of this game but no more !!!Will never play this game in my life i thrown the copy away ,never will i but a bethesta game first day !!
    Enterd the game for the first time i got blown away and not by the average graphics but by the thought of playing another Elder Scrolls ,loved oblivion ,fallout 3 all dlc's and new vegas. but this    I just made a account to review this game , played 5 hours of this game but no more !!!Will never play this game in my life i thrown the copy away ,never will i but a bethesta game first day !!
    Enterd the game for the first time i got blown away and not by the average graphics but by the thought of playing another Elder Scrolls ,loved oblivion ,fallout 3 all dlc's and new vegas. but this game is full of bugs .
    the game recomanded settings were medium , the game ran at 40 fps i really liked it ,then it droped down to 20 ,turned everything on low it runs at 80 fps but after a while it gets down to 24-30 WTF?!!?
    sometimes game crashes without any error whatsoever,searched the web and found out i was not the only one experiencing this .Technical issues made this game simply unplayable for me .Save yourself the headache and buy the 360 version please,on pc this is the lazyest port i've seen in 3 years. Leaving all the pc unplayable version, this game is pretty good,open world ,intense fights,lots of weapon models,lots of exploring,lots of quests , great nordic setting. The core gameplay is utter garbage for a AAA game the sequel to tes oblivion and morrowind,a multi million budget game, the gameplay is nothing more of garbage every swing feels floaty you dont know if u missed to hit ,i always look at enemy hp to see if i hit him ,when u hit someone it feels like u hit air ,collision detection is off and very bad,Please bethesta elarn from that INDIE developer that developed ZENO CLASH or the one who developed Dead Islands . I feel bad that people rate this game so high only because it's a TES this only encourages lazy console porting. bad bad game it deserves a 4 maybe a 6 or 7 without the tehnical problems.    … Expand
  29. 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
  30. Contemptible
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Fantastic game. It deserves GOTY in my opinion. It does has some bugs and limited dialogue but everything else seems great to me. It is heaps better Morrowind and Oblivion which I didn't like at all. Give it a chance and it can be an addictive and highly enjoyable game.
  31. 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
  32. Sargul
    Nov 15, 2011
    6
    I've really waited for the release of Skyrim but in the end this game turns out be just average.

    The graphics look like a lazy console port with textures flickering in the distance. I have to admit that there's a lot to do in Skyrim (with a huge number of side quests and things to explore) however the main story remains boring and very predictable. The skill system looks nice at the    I've really waited for the release of Skyrim but in the end this game turns out be just average.

    The graphics look like a lazy console port with textures flickering in the distance. I have to admit that there's a lot to do in Skyrim (with a huge number of side quests and things to explore) however the main story remains boring and very predictable. The skill system looks nice at the beginning however I'm missing the feeling that the character improves on a level up.

    It seems that this is Oblivion 1.2 with slightly improved graphics and an enhanced skill system.    … Expand
  33. Vigidis
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim -> ~50â
  34. HardCoreGamer15
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    This game was entertaining for up to about a total of 5 to 6 hours but then after that it just didn't feel the same so I ended up getting bored of it and just started playing other games instead. If your gonna make a massive environment then make sure the Gameplay is really ADDICTING because if if gets boring then you've just gone an annoyed heaps of people who were expecting so much more
  35. KentuckyWindage
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Hard to give anything other than a ten for a game I have already put over 40 hours into. The only grumble I have is with the UI which is console friendly but there will be mods released if they have not done so already to rectify this. Next time though Bethesda should make a little bit of effort to do a separate PC UI. Other than that Skyrim is utterly engrossing and to call the game bigHard to give anything other than a ten for a game I have already put over 40 hours into. The only grumble I have is with the UI which is console friendly but there will be mods released if they have not done so already to rectify this. Next time though Bethesda should make a little bit of effort to do a separate PC UI. Other than that Skyrim is utterly engrossing and to call the game big is a massive understatement. I have only scratched the surface and I have not even joined one of the guilds yet as I have yet to find them. If there is one game worth the money then this is definitely it. Literally hundreds of hours of game play is here so be prepared to say goodbye to the outside world.… Expand
  36. UNOCK
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    A great game by all standards, but struggling with allot of flaws. The Elder Scrolls universe only grows with Skyrim, and it's great storytelling. Like it's predecessors, there is so much more than the main storyline to experience. There's a world to explore, and something that is waiting to happen around every bend, and over every hill. However, the game struggles in some areas.A great game by all standards, but struggling with allot of flaws. The Elder Scrolls universe only grows with Skyrim, and it's great storytelling. Like it's predecessors, there is so much more than the main storyline to experience. There's a world to explore, and something that is waiting to happen around every bend, and over every hill. However, the game struggles in some areas. Explanations for how certain stories got to end up in skyrim are lacking, and feels like they were put there for a convenient link to the past games, rather than as a new and thrilling story for you. The game also struggles from several techincall problems. Quests that can't be completed, and things flying left and right because you brushed past them. Still, this game is definitely the RPG of the year, and after 30 hours of gameplay, I've barely scratched the surface of the games full potential. Some patches, and this game will be a solid game, that can be enjoyed for years yet.… Expand
  37. randombanana
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    I wish i could give this game the 10 it deservesl The problem is that an awesome concept is hold back by the same thing that hold back oblivion. And i refuse to give it more credit as its predecessor when it has not improved on these basic things. This is why i will take on all the bad parts first. I am talking about game breaking bugs (found at least 1 in the main quest), dragons flyingI wish i could give this game the 10 it deservesl The problem is that an awesome concept is hold back by the same thing that hold back oblivion. And i refuse to give it more credit as its predecessor when it has not improved on these basic things. This is why i will take on all the bad parts first. I am talking about game breaking bugs (found at least 1 in the main quest), dragons flying through solid mountains, NPC's floating around and way more. Then there also is the console designed menu thats horrendous on PC, slow loading textures and generally pretty bad texture work from up close. But now the good part. The game may have some bad textures from up close but the environment is beautifull, you will be stunned by all the amazing views this game has to offer. There is an insane amount of fun to be had while not even following the main story and i think this counterweights all the bad parts of this game. Dragonfighting is **** awesome and most of the times there will be some epic situation like finding a blood dragon attacking a village of enemies and another dragon joining in on the fun. I personally like the dragon shout system although i find it hard to find a good use for some of the shouts like frost breath that does allmost no damage but has a long cooldown. all in all good game but if you plan on buying it wait till it got some bug fixes by bethesda or the community.… Expand
  38. kjc001
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    It's not perfect, but it's close. I'd actually go 8.5 even. I'd like to see more skills, I particularily miss acrobatics. Some staff melee couldn't hurt either. With all that you can interact with in the game, I was a little disappointed I couldn't use the boat to cross the lake as well. I'm over that, though. Maybe in the next title. ha
  39. velvetmeds
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    Wasn't a big fan of Bethesda; their games had freedom but lacked in having a interesting world. It always felt too fake, too "plastic", too bland. Basically, wasterd potential. But they have finally done it, an amazing world to explore, crazy amounts of content, in a more polished package than they've ever put out. Finally their potential has been accomplished; it's one of the best gameWasn't a big fan of Bethesda; their games had freedom but lacked in having a interesting world. It always felt too fake, too "plastic", too bland. Basically, wasterd potential. But they have finally done it, an amazing world to explore, crazy amounts of content, in a more polished package than they've ever put out. Finally their potential has been accomplished; it's one of the best game ever, get it.… Expand
  40. YellowBelly
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    In my opinion this is the best game of the series of scrolls. Graphics up to date. Huge options for the main character. I hope for large-scale additions.
  41. DameLCFC
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    By the 11-11-11 AD, simply the best game ever written, the best story, the best graphics, simply huge playing area.
    I have been gaming for over 25 years since the Atari 2600. Despite the most minor of irratables (worth taking 10 points off by idiots, not worth an entire point in truth) this is as close to perfect as gaming has come this far on this planet!
    A masterpiece, for anyone to    By the 11-11-11 AD, simply the best game ever written, the best story, the best graphics, simply huge playing area.
    I have been gaming for over 25 years since the Atari 2600. Despite the most minor of irratables (worth taking 10 points off by idiots, not worth an entire point in truth) this is as close to perfect as gaming has come this far on this planet!
    A masterpiece, for anyone to enjoy not just hardcore RPG'rs.
    Everyone should buy this game as it IS the new standard all other games will live and die by.
    I    … Expand
  42. Legitopinion
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    A lot of these reviews contain complaints about the UI. Don't get stuck on small issues like this. Ya its built for consoles but despite that, this game is great. The graphics are not the best, especially after we all played BF3, however the actual world is stunning and beautiful. I like all the new combat mechanics seen in this game. I don't think I will ever get tired of sneaking up onA lot of these reviews contain complaints about the UI. Don't get stuck on small issues like this. Ya its built for consoles but despite that, this game is great. The graphics are not the best, especially after we all played BF3, however the actual world is stunning and beautiful. I like all the new combat mechanics seen in this game. I don't think I will ever get tired of sneaking up on someone and slitting their throat. The quest literally go on forever. The world is huge. You have complete power on how you experience this game. That is why skyrim is a great game. Yes there are some glitches but I don't those into account when reviewing games anymore unless they are game breaking. What release doesn't have glitches anyway? All in all if you like rpg's and you like to play the game your own way then buy this game! The content is massive, the detail is nothing short of amazing, and the experiences are just plain fun. Definitely my choice for game of the year.… Expand
  43. megavolkan
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    People should understand that this is not a game you can critic by complaining "outdated" graphical elements, minor glitches or what ever you can find in other games of the genre. This is an Elder Scrolls game and a Bethesda product. For many people this is a title which promises hundreds of hours game play, exploring, fighting even if you never touch the main story at all. In 99.5% ofPeople should understand that this is not a game you can critic by complaining "outdated" graphical elements, minor glitches or what ever you can find in other games of the genre. This is an Elder Scrolls game and a Bethesda product. For many people this is a title which promises hundreds of hours game play, exploring, fighting even if you never touch the main story at all. In 99.5% of other games you even cannot think about it. This is a game you just climb on top of a hill just to watch the sun rise which you know something made of CGI. This is a game with some flaws (some minor some serious) which sometimes makes you crash your head into your monitor. But every single person familiar with this title, played previous Elder Scrolls games will not care about those. Because they know bugs will be patched, graphics will be heavily modded and lots of other fun elements will be added in time. This has been in the past and this will be in the future. After all we will have a game, a real game which has a sole purpose of making gamers feel like you are walking in the shoes of a mighty wizard, powerful warrior or even a sneaky assasin. If this is not what you want then you can get back to your "modern" games which are nothing but the graphic makeup. Hope you have fun. Meantime we will be playing and enjoying for what we have paid for...… Expand
  44. BriTisH
    Nov 14, 2011
    8
    IM not a rpg guy got no were in oblivion but for some reason this game has me hooked , defiantly game of the year even with its random bugs pc performance is decent .
    grfxs are nice not amazing it has its good moments and its ehhh moments.
    Story .. i don't care i play games to do and see cool stuff skyrim delvers
  45. Highwind_Hiatus
    Nov 14, 2011
    4
    This game doesn't deserve all the credit it gets. It's got some real issues that hold it back. Granted, It's leaps and bounds better then its failure of a predecessor, the game is held back by horrendously poor AI, graphic issues, interface issues with the mouse, bad unit collision detail and melee combat that is lacking. The saving grace for this game? The graphics are above average ifThis game doesn't deserve all the credit it gets. It's got some real issues that hold it back. Granted, It's leaps and bounds better then its failure of a predecessor, the game is held back by horrendously poor AI, graphic issues, interface issues with the mouse, bad unit collision detail and melee combat that is lacking. The saving grace for this game? The graphics are above average if run on max settings, its demands aren't very high, so that's an easy reach for most PC's. But even still, the game's graphics are too dark to really shine anywhere. I guess the only fun I had in this game was cheating with console commands; decimating the cities, running my horse up a 90 degree mountain cliff and beating the AI out of fair fights with abusing the smallest of obstacles. It's definitely not worth full price. Wait until it drops to the 20 mark.… Expand
  46. Rime
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    If you're whining about this game not running or working on your PC, your computer is garbage. Go out and buy a decent computer before you downgrade this game and criticize it. I play it on full ultra, at 1920x1080, and it runs smooth like butter. Perhaps if you can't play this game you should go buy a console, instead of downgrading the metascore? I know you are frustrated and sad, butIf you're whining about this game not running or working on your PC, your computer is garbage. Go out and buy a decent computer before you downgrade this game and criticize it. I play it on full ultra, at 1920x1080, and it runs smooth like butter. Perhaps if you can't play this game you should go buy a console, instead of downgrading the metascore? I know you are frustrated and sad, but please, leave the REAL gaming to us people who can afford to play a game meant to be played on a real rig, not your crappy $400 Best Buy PC.

    For real, guys, quit down-rating it because it has graphical glitches. If your computer could handle it, you'd not see them. It's your own fault for buying a junk computer.    … Expand
  47. thomish
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    Ok....I've never written a review for a game but I was trolling around over Skyrim and felt compelled to throw in my 2 lousy cents after playing it about 20 hours. First off, a review of 0 is simply inaccurate. When I was in high school I turned in a paper on a book I read and the teacher didn't appreciate my position (I said Lenny from "Of Mice and Men" was an alien and tried to validateOk....I've never written a review for a game but I was trolling around over Skyrim and felt compelled to throw in my 2 lousy cents after playing it about 20 hours. First off, a review of 0 is simply inaccurate. When I was in high school I turned in a paper on a book I read and the teacher didn't appreciate my position (I said Lenny from "Of Mice and Men" was an alien and tried to validate it) I got a 0. I wrote a 3 page paper. I should of at least gotten a 1. A 0 implies NOTHING. It's like rating a game that never existed, like you opened the box and it was empty. I mean even a disc and a manual should warrant a 1. 0 means nothing mathematically so any game with any content deserves at least a 1. On to the game. The game is actually pretty damn fun, it has bugs but it's fricking huge so I imagine that things like that happen. It does have a few frustrating bugs at that. Every issue I've found so far though was easily mitigated with a few tweaks so I don't really care too much, but it's where I took a point away. Bethseda should do better on QC.

    I like the game, I like how there is sort of a quasi-historical feel to the Elder Scrolls games and I like how much of the world can be taken and made into something to use. The graphics weren't cutting edge but I don't think it's fair to say it looked anything like Oblivion, heavily modded or not. I'm glad I spent my money on Skyrim, it is fun and has a great playability for your buck.    … Expand
  48. RAWRFACE
    Nov 14, 2011
    0
    The face animations bother me, the voice acting is terrible. I played this game for 10 minutes, I could not stand the graphics. They are terrible, it is sad do they just not think to update their textures for pc?
  49. lostintime
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    This game is awesome. I was a big fan of Fallout New Vegas so a lot feels familiar which I like. I can see myself wasting a good 100+ hours on this one which in my opinion makes it worth the purchase price.
  50. 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.
  51. Hovis
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Personally I think that Skyrim is the best game ever made. Nothing else has created even a fraction of the depth and texture in the game world. I'm forty hours into it now and still not really feeling like I've so much as scratched the surface. It's just so damn good and so damn deep and there's so much of it, it's just mind blowing to play. I've never played anything like it. It is aPersonally I think that Skyrim is the best game ever made. Nothing else has created even a fraction of the depth and texture in the game world. I'm forty hours into it now and still not really feeling like I've so much as scratched the surface. It's just so damn good and so damn deep and there's so much of it, it's just mind blowing to play. I've never played anything like it. It is a staggering work of art, a masterpiece, a feat of game design that is utterly unmatched, in my opinion.

    One day somebody will make a game better than this. But at this moment, I don't think anybody has.    … Expand
  52. Egger3rd
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    This game redefines what games can be. Morrowind and Oblivion tried to do this, but they failed in execution. The numerous shortcomings and wonkiness that plagued Morrowind and Oblivion have been revamped, and this game is a polished and amazing beacon of hope for the gaming industry in general. This is the closest I've come to playing a perfect video game. It is an open-ended fantasyThis game redefines what games can be. Morrowind and Oblivion tried to do this, but they failed in execution. The numerous shortcomings and wonkiness that plagued Morrowind and Oblivion have been revamped, and this game is a polished and amazing beacon of hope for the gaming industry in general. This is the closest I've come to playing a perfect video game. It is an open-ended fantasy world RPG Action Adventure game and simulator. I love this game.… Expand
  53. RascalNag
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Absolutely astounding. Definitely the best game I have ever played. The atmosphere is perfect. The scenery is beautiful. I almost can't believe what Bethesda has pulled off here. Everything just seems right, it's a perfect blend of traditional medieval style and fantasy elements. The combat is much more varied than Oblivion's, and far more fun to take part in with the shouts, dual wieldingAbsolutely astounding. Definitely the best game I have ever played. The atmosphere is perfect. The scenery is beautiful. I almost can't believe what Bethesda has pulled off here. Everything just seems right, it's a perfect blend of traditional medieval style and fantasy elements. The combat is much more varied than Oblivion's, and far more fun to take part in with the shouts, dual wielding and improved handling of weapon skills. The work stations in the game are a great addition ,adding a sense of accomplishment; for example when you craft yourself the weapon of your choosing. Dungeons no longer feel exactly the same anymore, and I often stumble upon little but entertaining side quests in them while searching for new words for my shouts. Though there are bugs, it's far better in terms of just working than recent Bethesda games. Though challenging, battling dragons is extremely enjoyable and I have many times hoped that I would be found by a dragon while traveling to spice things up a bit. I couldn't be more impressed with this game. It's a 10 for sure. Definitely deserves Game of the Year, too.… Expand
  54. donkeygravy
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    I am not an RPG player at all - but this game converted me. It is amazing just how huge the world is. I have been exploring now for 40+ hours and have not even touched the main story line. I just want to keep on poking around through dungeons and forests. The alchemy system is fantastic. All the issues I had with the game - the UI- were fixed the first day. I made a gamble and bought thisI am not an RPG player at all - but this game converted me. It is amazing just how huge the world is. I have been exploring now for 40+ hours and have not even touched the main story line. I just want to keep on poking around through dungeons and forests. The alchemy system is fantastic. All the issues I had with the game - the UI- were fixed the first day. I made a gamble and bought this over MW3 and I have never been more happy about a purchasing decision. Skyrim proves you can have a very long lived series that constantly ups the bar and exceeds expectations each time a new game gets made. Imagine if COD got 1/100th the effort Bethesda put into Skyrim.... You need this game in your life. It is amazing.… Expand
  55. elfelixg
    Nov 14, 2011
    8
    Out of 10:
    Graphics: 8 - not the very best, at times I feel they could have done better, I have a high end PC and even though it looks nice I wanted a longer draw distance. Sometimes up on the top of the mountains the surrounding lower areas go grey.
    Sound: 8 - music is superb. Overall sound is good. There are a few sound failures such as a dog just feet away from you sounding like its on    Out of 10:
    Graphics: 8 - not the very best, at times I feel they could have done better, I have a high end PC and even though it looks nice I wanted a longer draw distance. Sometimes up on the top of the mountains the surrounding lower areas go grey.

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

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

    Lasting appeal: 8.5 It is a single player game, but so far, I have been playing the hell out of it and I still have a ton more to do. Game feels like it will take a month to finish.    … Expand
  56. 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
  57. JackBurton
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Amazingly addicted and fun. Massive and gorgeous. My only negative is the controls on the PC can be tricky and take a bit of getting used to. Once you get going after a few hours you hardly notice the controls though and it becomes pretty fluid game play.
  58. zigmovezig
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    As of this post, i have 51 hours of playtime in Skyrim. This game deserves every 10/10 review it can get.
    I haven't been this engrossed in a game ever, period. For those of you who are unsure due to the 0/10 reviews, allow me to point out the BS.
    Common complaint number 1, the UI - Yes, the UI was based for a console game. But its honestly not that big of a problem so long as you (and let    As of this post, i have 51 hours of playtime in Skyrim. This game deserves every 10/10 review it can get.
    I haven't been this engrossed in a game ever, period. For those of you who are unsure due to the 0/10 reviews, allow me to point out the BS.

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

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

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

    Common complaint number 5, Quests. This is where i start wondering exactly how many times some posters were dropped on their heads as a child. The quests in this game are amazing. Sure you have your minimal side-quests of fetching and kill this. But those are the "well, i need money.. may as well do a few quick quests" they arent the meat of the game by a long shot. Each of the larger quest chains could be a stand-alone game by itself. And there are a few of them, trust me. if you dont believe me check out the Dark Brotherhood, Mage College, and Thiefs Guild chains (Oh, and the Daedric Artifact quests when you find them) Then tell me quests in this game are crap. Some other random people just never bothered to read the booklet for the game, or open a single options menu with feeling the need to rage-face all over any review site they can.    … Expand
  59. Aekero
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    Alright so I've actually never gotten into an Elder Scrolls game before, I'm going to date myself and say I actually bought Daggerfall. :p, and I also bought Morrowind...but I never actually _played_ either for more than a couple of hours, because of one reason:

    First person, I like fps', but for some reason I hate it with a sword/shield, just feels bleh, I was reading over the review for    Alright so I've actually never gotten into an Elder Scrolls game before, I'm going to date myself and say I actually bought Daggerfall. :p, and I also bought Morrowind...but I never actually _played_ either for more than a couple of hours, because of one reason:

    First person, I like fps', but for some reason I hate it with a sword/shield, just feels bleh, I was reading over the review for Skyrim and someone mentioned it had 3rd person view, so I thought "why not?"

    Glad I did, I had none of the hype built up, just going off of my previous experience with ES games, and I'm really liking it so far.

    I'm going to do a quick comparison with another game I absolutely loved this year, The Witcher 2.

    Graphics-

    Witcher 2 - I actually run max settings on both games minus ubersampling on tw2, which is ridiculous, but even then the Witcher 2 looks a bit better. Better textures and whatnot, more vibrant feeling world. Skyrim - Hey, 2nd isn't bad, this still looks awesome on max, to be honest the gear etc looks a bit drab...but then again it's probably more realistic. Also the world view (i.e. when you're running across the world and can see for 10 miles in every direction) is awesome, I really feel like I'm in a "world" vs a few zones like I did with the witcher.

    Voice Acting -
    Skyrim - it's not bad, honestly I felt like they did things like interruptions better in Skyrim than in tw2.
    Witcher - more flavor, yet not as seamless

    Story -
    I guess it depends on what you like, Skyrim feels _way_ more open, vs the Witcher felt somewhat open but mostly linear.

    Combat-
    Tw2 has skyrim beat imo, Skyrim has a better selection of skills/trees, but TW2 combat feels a little more skill based, why isn't there any sort of dodge mechanic in Skyrim?

    Out of the gates - I've heard people complaining about performance issues with Skyrim, but man it's nothing compared to TW2 at launch. I was getting 20fps in TW2, and it took about 10 different tweaks before I could run it at max fps (with the same graphic settings), I shouldn't have to do all that myself!

    All in all this is a solid game, coming from someone with really no previous bias/expectation. I had huge expectations for TW2, and the game fell a little short, but even then I'd say they're about as good. TW2 has better graphics, better combat, and better voice acting. Skyrim makes you feel like you're in the world much better, is more open, and does everything decently. I'm glad I picked this up, this was a very nice surprise.    … Expand
  60. Astrel
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    Yes Skyrim has bugs. Yes Skyrim isn't everything everyone wanted. Yes the textures are a bit low res. Hang on its Bethesda! Oblivion had bugs, Fallout 3 had bugs, they all had crashes galore. People need to know that Bethesda is known for this and they fix a lot of them, plus if you want higher res textures wait for the modding community to get a rollin'. God damn.

    Now. The game is great    Yes Skyrim has bugs. Yes Skyrim isn't everything everyone wanted. Yes the textures are a bit low res. Hang on its Bethesda! Oblivion had bugs, Fallout 3 had bugs, they all had crashes galore. People need to know that Bethesda is known for this and they fix a lot of them, plus if you want higher res textures wait for the modding community to get a rollin'. God damn.

    Now. The game is great I love it, it deserves a 9/10. Would give it a 10 but it keeps crashing and I keep loosing my saves ):    … Expand
  61. frostrocks
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    The negative critics are rating the game off of **** You rate the game off of what it is and how the producers than brought that to life. It's like you're asking for a good steak from TGIF. 10/10 easy.
  62. ssjscottt
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    pure, beautiful, immersion with a solid, SMOOTH release from Bethesda. and the freaking sidequests... they feel significant enough to feel less like side-quests and more like it's just part of the main story. I've put in over 30 hours already, and i cant wait to put in more!
  63. lolfactor1000
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    First i would like to say that if you don't like this type of game don't play it. second don't say it looks worse then Morrowind, if you play on PC like you should and have it set to ultra this game makes everything else look like crap. now that i have the rambling out of the way lets get to the game itself. This game is amazing! I couldn't believe my eyes looking on the vast and beautifulFirst i would like to say that if you don't like this type of game don't play it. second don't say it looks worse then Morrowind, if you play on PC like you should and have it set to ultra this game makes everything else look like crap. now that i have the rambling out of the way lets get to the game itself. This game is amazing! I couldn't believe my eyes looking on the vast and beautiful of Skyrim. Everything has be greatly upgraded from Oblivion. The only reason i couldn't give this a 10 out of 10 was because of the poor scripting of the kill scenes. Half of the time your sword wouldn't even be touching the enemy. But besides that the game is perfect. can't wait to see what DLC comes out for it.… Expand
  64. jst68
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Wow! This is really what I was hoping for. Great game. Excellent story with interesting characters. A significant improvement over Oblivion. You can also see that it pays off to not fall into a yearly schedule like Dragon Age.
  65. HoosTrax
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    After feeling some disappointment with Oblivion, the previous installment in the Elder Scrolls series, I'm glad to see Skyrim return to what made Morrowind so memorable. While Oblivion had the open-ended gameplay that forms the core of TES, it lacked that magic of exploring an exotic setting, with its been-there-done-that high fantasy medieval setting. In Oblivion, you also could not helpAfter feeling some disappointment with Oblivion, the previous installment in the Elder Scrolls series, I'm glad to see Skyrim return to what made Morrowind so memorable. While Oblivion had the open-ended gameplay that forms the core of TES, it lacked that magic of exploring an exotic setting, with its been-there-done-that high fantasy medieval setting. In Oblivion, you also could not help but feel like you were playing second fiddle to the true star of the game, Martin Septim, to whom you served as an errand boy and supporting actor. Thankfully, Skyrim returns to the days where you take on the role of someone preordained by destiny to play a critical role in the fate of the world, and this is reflected by the unique abilities bestowed upon you during the course of the story.

    Not all is well however, as the clunky controls simply cannot be ignored and prevent Skyrim from getting a 9.5-10.0 score in my book. The oversized text and menu navigation / organization point to a clearly consolized UI that was ported to the PC with no changes, and with no thought to usability. Mouse navigation is imprecise and laggy, and doing something as simple as checking your inventory or viewing perk trees is made unnecessarily cumbersome and sluggish.

    While in almost all other respects, Skyrim is a step forward in the TES franchise, the UI is a sore point and is effectively a regression from Morrowind's UI, which was vastly more usable. Other than the incredibly obtuse journal system in Morrowind, there was very little else that needed to be changed. One can only hope that Bethsoft takes heed of the complaints and does not continue the slide toward unnecessary consolation of things that should not be consolized in a PC version of a game.    … Expand
  66. Ansatsu83
    Nov 14, 2011
    8
    First and foremost I am giving this game a fair and opinionated accurate review. I am a Morrowind Fanatic, Oblivion was a let down to me in terms of everything but combat. Skyrim is acceptable, it is not as good in terms of world/storyline/etc as Morrowind. Keep in mind I have beaten the game and I will not provide spoilers but I will explain some things regarding the end of theFirst and foremost I am giving this game a fair and opinionated accurate review. I am a Morrowind Fanatic, Oblivion was a let down to me in terms of everything but combat. Skyrim is acceptable, it is not as good in terms of world/storyline/etc as Morrowind. Keep in mind I have beaten the game and I will not provide spoilers but I will explain some things regarding the end of the storyline.

    Skyrim has an amazing world, brilliantly created in many ways, a few anatomy related errors, mainly the horses and glitchy animations at times. The combat has been refined from oblivion quite a bit but the melee feels like a cross between oblivion and dark messiah. The bows are also a lot more balanced and spell casting is not bad at all.

    Here is the bad news (which is why it gets a lower than perfect rating). 1. lack of athletics and acrobatics skill, this is self explanatory and Bethesda should be ashamed of not adding it. 2. The storyline ends up feeling too much like Eragon the movie (not the books). 3. Anti-climatic end boss fights. 4. Main storyline quest is obviously someones bad acid trip (e.g. the dwarf underground area). 5. Melee combat still feels a little clunky. 6. There seems to be a lack of places to explore similar to oblivion or Morrowind, and even when you do find a ton of them they tend to be a lot smaller than the other two games. For an elder scrolls game, this is a problem. 7. About three epic moments earlier on in the game that make me feel pride or honor but after that, nothing at all. Game just becomes a bad mash-up of cliche and horribly predictable plot-lines. 8. End boss made me feel unfulfilled when I beat him, its common for games these days to make the second to last boss more difficult than the last one. I am not sure why, but as a fellow game developer this is offensive. 9. The sound volume is extremely low for any given game, I have to turn my speakers up to almost max to be able to hear anything, if I try to play music in the background all game sounds are canceled out and I just get a soundless game. 10. Console to pc port. This is a mistake that I simply cannot look past. Since the game uses steam for Authentication and its a console to pc port, I would be very surprised if they actually have a large mod community which any TES and Fallout series of game ends up relying on at some point, more so for the TES games, though.

    Now for the good:

    1. The enchanting system is well done, I personally like it better than oblivon and morrowind. 2. Crafting is a good thing, this was long overdue and its not done too poorly. 3. Dual wield 4. Better graphics (I do factor in graphics as part of a review, I use the system from the early 90s)

    Here is the end rating:

    Graphics 9 out of 10
    Sound 7 out of 10
    Gameplay: 8 out of 10
    Longevity: 9 out of 10 (compared to other games in todays market)
    Fun Factor: 8 out of 10

    What would I personally set a value for what the game is worth?: $40.00 (usd)

    This game gets an 8 out of 10, it has a lot of issues that can easily be worked out with patches, but there are just some things I cannot get past. Oddly while I prefer Morrowind more I end up giving it a lower rating based on the early 90s rating system due to the horrible graphics it had out of the box. BTW this rating is all out of the box and for the game before its patched, please keep this in mind.    … Expand
  67. 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.
  68. Tyrant_T100
    Nov 14, 2011
    8
    I preordered Skyrim hoping it to be better than Oblivion that was a flawed but fun game from Bethesda, in its own right it was good but compared to Morrowind from 2003 it was poor.
    After playing over 20 hours of Skyrim since the 11/11/11 I can say they have done a great job and Skyrim surpasses Oblivion and sits shoulder to shoulder with Morrowind.
    Many of the complex themes in Morrowind    I preordered Skyrim hoping it to be better than Oblivion that was a flawed but fun game from Bethesda, in its own right it was good but compared to Morrowind from 2003 it was poor.
    After playing over 20 hours of Skyrim since the 11/11/11 I can say they have done a great job and Skyrim surpasses Oblivion and sits shoulder to shoulder with Morrowind.

    Many of the complex themes in Morrowind such as the politics have returned and Skyrim is a better game because of it, the soundtrack is good but doesn't stand out as anything special. The game looks lovely graphically and the art direction is top-notch it avoids the ugly problems of Oblivion and Fallout 3.

    The game gets an 8 however due to occasional crashes that I'm sure will be patched as well as occasional memory leaks and fps drops. The game overall is excellent and feels like a true sequel to Morrowind.    … Expand
  69. ge2dachopa
    Nov 14, 2011
    2
    I cannot believe the average critic rating for this is 96. It's just sad that such a flawed game can receive a score 4 points away from absolutely perfect. In some places, the graphics even look inferior to Oblivion (such as lack of properly rendered textures, so reflections of light on walls don't happen, animation is just as awful, objects don't reflect or shine anymore) I've beenI cannot believe the average critic rating for this is 96. It's just sad that such a flawed game can receive a score 4 points away from absolutely perfect. In some places, the graphics even look inferior to Oblivion (such as lack of properly rendered textures, so reflections of light on walls don't happen, animation is just as awful, objects don't reflect or shine anymore) I've been playing for almost 20 hours now and am amazed that supposedly reputable review sites would be so generous to a game that is ridden with bugs, glitches and design problems. Movement is SLOW. Very slow - get a horse and it's barely any faster - sure you can sprint but the horse runs out of stamina, and if it gets hit it runs away and sometimes disappears entirely (one of the many weird glitches). You can get companions to follow you around, but they walk at a snails pace and get in the way when you're in dungeons. Combat is exactly the same as Oblivion, just point at the enemy and spam the button. You'll have read about the awful UI. Yes, on the PC it really is that bad. Good luck scanning through a massive inventory - it was better on Oblivion, at least you could view your character. Yes, in this game you cannot even see your character when setting up equipment and there's no way of sorting items. The graphics really do look like something from 4 years ago (and I have a decent rig, it's even rubbish on ultra). Textures are so poor they look like PS2 at points. The music is okay but nothing memorable. The quests are nothing more complex than standard WoW stuff (go here, talk to this guy, bring me that object). Recent RPGs have been pretty bad, so this is going to do well because it's something to play, but much I wanted to like this, it's a poor effort. I'm stunned that the reviewers have rated this so highly.… Expand
  70. Pacoglen
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Amazing game if you're a fan of Oblivion and Fallout 3. This is a huge immersive world. Love the new art style, UI design and perks. Very addicting gameplay.
  71. tater
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Absolutely worth the wait. I fully expect it to take GOTY honors which it absolutely deserves. Improved graphics, combat system, menu navigation. Great story lines and another brilliant soundtrack. Have had the game freeze up twice in about 3 solid days of playing. A couple of graphic glitches here and there and some AI issues... Nothing that has diminished the experience for me.
  72. Johnman
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    I've only played Morrowind and Oblivion before this, and I feel as if they know what I hated about them and fixed it. I've played ~40 hours of this game and it still feels like the first day, I want more (and I usually get bored rather quickly). The game world feels dynamic and the music and sound is just fantastic. The storyline is not award-winning, but it is certainly engaging, and theI've only played Morrowind and Oblivion before this, and I feel as if they know what I hated about them and fixed it. I've played ~40 hours of this game and it still feels like the first day, I want more (and I usually get bored rather quickly). The game world feels dynamic and the music and sound is just fantastic. The storyline is not award-winning, but it is certainly engaging, and the best of all is it just takes you in the way a book does. I don't know how to explain that better. The graphics are more than fitting, but I really don't care about those. There are bugs, but not as many as there have been other games released lately. Nothing serious. Regarding the user interface, it's obvious it's a compromise from a game that is intended for both consoles and PC, although nothing else has been compromised. The controls feel really good and load times are a breeze. If all "console ports" were like this I'd gladly buy them.… Expand
  73. DZ302
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    If you are an idiot who can't figure out how to shortcut hotkey items and spells in Skyrim, please refrain from rating this game, sell your PC and go buy an Xbox 360.
  74. mattycakes13
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    In what other game could you be fighting off two polar bears on an ice cap in the far north only to be interrupted by a dragon which swoops down, picks up one polar bear, flies 100 feet in the air and drops it on the other and then attacks you but loses because you are Dovahkiin.

    That's what I thought
  75. Alcapwn
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Yes the game is buggy, has outdated graphics, and a pretty bad weapon/spell switching system that feels like it was designed completely for consoles with no thought of pc in mind.........The question is, does any of this matter when I'm running around dual wielding flames of death? Or turning into a werewolf and biting the heads off my foes? Does it matter when I'm running for my life fromYes the game is buggy, has outdated graphics, and a pretty bad weapon/spell switching system that feels like it was designed completely for consoles with no thought of pc in mind.........The question is, does any of this matter when I'm running around dual wielding flames of death? Or turning into a werewolf and biting the heads off my foes? Does it matter when I'm running for my life from a pack of wooly mammoths and the angry giant herders? Do you think a crappy interface matters when I call down a dragon to snatch up that very same giant and drop him from 500 feet in the air? Do you think the tiny bugs really matter when I'm exploring a huge underground area that has a town full of enemies and pretty glowing mushrooms? You still don't know????? WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU GO BUY THIS GAME.… Expand
  76. Lutojar
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    when game was only announced my only hope was that it will be on same level as obsidian's New Vegas (that was good enough game). But now I can honestly say, Skyrim is better. It even better than Morrowind an even Daggerfall (my previously best game in TES). Bethesda fixed most mistakes of their Oblivion and Fallout 3 and deliver us, in my opinion, best RPG at this moment. I don't wantwhen game was only announced my only hope was that it will be on same level as obsidian's New Vegas (that was good enough game). But now I can honestly say, Skyrim is better. It even better than Morrowind an even Daggerfall (my previously best game in TES). Bethesda fixed most mistakes of their Oblivion and Fallout 3 and deliver us, in my opinion, best RPG at this moment. I don't want describe all new features - new great dialogues, non-linear quests (that really on close level to witcher 2) all these aspects made on very high level, so you just need to play and enjoy. But there three main themes that people are afraid of: simplification of rpg system, graphic and one I called "It is the same oblivion". I don't understand people who blame skyrim about this. New RPG system is not simplified - it become more variate and more organically fits into gameplay. Yes there are less skills but I like it very much (in spite of me as big fan of most hardcore system as it was in Daggerall). Graphics... all who say that graphics is bad and same as in oblivion, first I advise play in Skyrim couple hours then asap play in Oblivion (without graphic mods) to compare. Second I advise to understand - it is ONE HUGE WORLD, where you can't just make fake stage where game strictly controls you - where you can see and where not (like COD, Uncharted and even Witcher and ME sometimes). BUT even with all this difficulties game looks great on consoles from 2006! Also if you play on good modern PC there are lots of additional graphic options like additional shadows, Ambient occlusion etc., that make picture even better. My main poit is - this isn't "same as Oblivion", it is BIG step forward in all aspects and best game in TES for me now. This game shows what other series like DA, ME of Witcher can't - big really living world… Expand
  77. Arvelayne
    Nov 14, 2011
    8
    For reference I've played 22 hours this weekend, and am level 17.

    Graphics In some ways they are better then Oblivion (although I haven't finished my little comparison screenshot project yet), but I side with those who say that Bethseda have slacked here. I think the modelling is better, but the textures are somewhat lacking. I also think the spell effects look cracking. Sound    For reference I've played 22 hours this weekend, and am level 17.

    Graphics In some ways they are better then Oblivion (although I haven't finished my little comparison screenshot project yet), but I side with those who say that Bethseda have slacked here. I think the modelling is better, but the textures are somewhat lacking.

    I also think the spell effects look cracking.

    Sound and Music

    Because sound is so important in a game like this, I deliberately went out and bought myself new speakers (a set of Creative T10s). This is was a damn good move, and it made a huge difference.

    The music I've heard so far is good. There are, however, some issues with characters talking over one another during conversations.

    The voice acting is fine, although some accents are a bit comical. Because of the scale of the game it is impossible to have every single character individually voiced, but it's certainly a lot better than Oblivion.

    Interface

    I actually like the new system. It's certainly a lot more usable than Oblivion, although very buggy. Container crash anyone? I like the favourites system, but I still haven't worked on number key bindings yet. Bethseda have slacked and should have opened up keymapping so that people could go the whole hog though.

    One thing I would also like to see is the ability to create sets of items, which could be named and accessed from favourites.

    Levelling, Skills and Perks

    I like the new system for levelling. I tried playing Oblivion three times (yes THREE), always got lost trying to min/max my stats. Simple is better in this case.

    The perks system is straightforward, and the reduction in the number of skills helps.

    Combat

    Again better than Oblivion, although I do get lost easily in close melee. Strafing is god where you can get space, as is line of sight, especially against hard/multiple opponents. I agree that it feels a bit detached at times though.

    Some mobs are ridiculously OP in melee, and can one or two shot you no matter what you try. It means that you have to adjust your play style, and run away or sneak more. It's just annoying to have to bounce back to the last save.

    In the end if you really want to kill something that's hard, turn the difficulty down.

    Magic

    The magic system is the same sort of thing as before, a tried an tested formula, although I disagree that a lack of custom spells is a bad thing. It makes you think about what you're doing, rather than power levelling (see later).

    I haven't gotten to the more complex spells so it does all seem a little samey right now, but I suspect things will improve.

    Also someone complained about the simplicity of the spells in another review. What were you expecting? Magic rabbits firing rainbows at unicorns? Or a Summon Bridge spell? Crafting/Enchanting

    Seems like a good system, although I haven't had much experience of it. I like that you have to destroy items to get enchants, which is fairer than the spellcasting based Oblivion system.

    Quests

    In general it's the normal type of thing. You're usually sent to the far side of the map from where you are (at least for main quests), but then that just allows you more reason to explore. I haven't had any experience of the new random quest system yet, but in general no complaints.

    Exploring and Dungeons

    Lots to see, and I like the placing of stuff just in sight of something else (at least if you have a long view distance), so you're always running off to check something. Someone complained about the lack of mobs between places, but to be honest there are some that are just OP in melee (see above), so I'm glad of the rest. Dungeons are generally fine, and I like that you seemingly have to wait 30 days for them to respawn rather than 3, which is much more sensible than the 3 days in Oblivion. Summary and Fixes This is a good game. It's not perfect, and it needs some work to make it brilliant. Bethseda need to get the really big Bug Squasher (tm) out quickly to make sure that their audience gets the attention it deserves. Patch 1.2 had better be out by the end of the month at the very latest if they don't want to alienate people. That also goes for the graphics as well, although at least part of the blame should lie with AMD, who have slacked on getting Crossfire and performance drivers out. One up for NVidia, and a pity I don't have NVidia graphics cards. DLC is coming, but I don't know when. Right now I think Bethseda have at least till Xmas before people start to get gnarly, although you'll always have the hardcore that finish it in days. But then you could release new content every other day and they'd still be complaining about it not being fast enough. I believe that the overall score at present (8.5) is fair, as it would all kind of balance out. It would increase to a 9 or so if all the actually bad bits were fixed, or at least alleviated.    … Expand
  78. Monger923
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    I am around 20 hours into the game now playing it on expert difficulty. The game is truly amazing me. The dungeons I have been in so far are great. Playing on expert is hard. I like this thou. It forces you to use all the abilities of your character and be smart about how you do things. Using the Q key is a must and works quite well once you understand it. The new stat sytem works muchI am around 20 hours into the game now playing it on expert difficulty. The game is truly amazing me. The dungeons I have been in so far are great. Playing on expert is hard. I like this thou. It forces you to use all the abilities of your character and be smart about how you do things. Using the Q key is a must and works quite well once you understand it. The new stat sytem works much better than Oblivion or Morrowind. I still wish you would get exp for completing quests, but that has never been done in a TES game. I am a RPG fan, and have played all kinds of them. This might be the best ever, will see in another 100-300 hours of gameplay. The game is well worth the money, highly recommend it.… Expand
  79. Loque
    Nov 14, 2011
    7
    The game is "good" or "very good" depending on your expectations and system configuration. Compared to other RPG games, Skyrim offers a lot of stuff to do and many little details that can make you feel "deeply involved" in the game. Example: if you drop a piece of armor on the ground in any town, a random npc could stop and ask "you don't need this, can I grab it?". If you agree, the npcThe game is "good" or "very good" depending on your expectations and system configuration. Compared to other RPG games, Skyrim offers a lot of stuff to do and many little details that can make you feel "deeply involved" in the game. Example: if you drop a piece of armor on the ground in any town, a random npc could stop and ask "you don't need this, can I grab it?". If you agree, the npc will pick the gear piece and wear it, then walk away. In that sense, Skyrim offers lots of "wow!" situations. So why am I giving 7/10? Because reviews don't mention anything about bad graphics, bad animations, bad physics and bad npcs. Yes, they are good "overall". But the amount of inconsistencies, small bugs in pathfinding, ai, answers, dialogues, physics, ... is really too much to give a full 10/10 to the game. Jsut a small example: are you afraid of giants? No problem: just fight while above something (a rock, a small hill, a log, ...) and they wont be able to climb with you. These kind of "path-problems" is quite common and pretty easy to come across.… Expand
  80. fabiowitt
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    One of the best games i have ever played. I just thank God Bethesda is alive to bring games like these to us. Games that try to change our reality during our game-play. From the music to the magnificent scenario and landscape (even with those odd textures), it is just too good. It is a game that no only provide a great experience, but many more since you can replay as many time as you wantOne of the best games i have ever played. I just thank God Bethesda is alive to bring games like these to us. Games that try to change our reality during our game-play. From the music to the magnificent scenario and landscape (even with those odd textures), it is just too good. It is a game that no only provide a great experience, but many more since you can replay as many time as you want and you still see different things over and over again. One of the best ROLE playing game that i have had the opportunity to play.… Expand
  81. Tornero001
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    It's a great game whitout mods (in fact my GOTY regarding BF3 and Deus EX). And surely better with future mods & official/non-official patchs. Few bugs appear but like all other games.
  82. dimgl
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Reading over some of the mixed and negative reviews that have been submitted, it's disappointing to see how the current generation of gamers expect perfection from ambitious games and spoon-fed gameplay.

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

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

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

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

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

    I haven't dived into professions yet, but I look forward to enchanting and smithing soon. Basically, this game is incredible. The story is immerse, the environment is realistic enough to be believable, and fighting dragons is by far one of my favorite experiences in gaming. I am thoroughly pleased with my purchase and I would recommend this game to anyone.    … Expand
  83. GamerHGF
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    The best game I have ever yet played, nothing more to say.
  84. Korkenzieher
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Skyrim macht durchwegs alles richtig. Die Grafik und der Sound sind absolut stimmig, das Spieldesign ist hervorragend und der Umfang ist gigantisch! Bitte mehr davon! Ein absolute Kaufempfehlung!
  85. spinn72
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Skyrim improves on all the shortcomings of Oblivion -- the combat system feels a bit more involved, with melee combo's being a key focus, but the main improvement has been in the way magic plays out. The options are limitless and leaves the player with the ultimate choice of how they would like to play the game. Levelling system is a direct reflection of this too! This is a completelySkyrim improves on all the shortcomings of Oblivion -- the combat system feels a bit more involved, with melee combo's being a key focus, but the main improvement has been in the way magic plays out. The options are limitless and leaves the player with the ultimate choice of how they would like to play the game. Levelling system is a direct reflection of this too! This is a completely different game to the woeful Oblivion.… Expand
  86. xan781
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    I have played all of the previous elder scrolls, and Skyrim if a fine addition. One of the most engrossing games, I've ever played, the combat feels fresh. I'm always busy, and drowned with quests. Never do i stop. Sitting here, and writing this review, only makes me want to get back in Skyrim. Environments are beautiful, and the skies looks gorgeous. Characters are vivid, and monstersI have played all of the previous elder scrolls, and Skyrim if a fine addition. One of the most engrossing games, I've ever played, the combat feels fresh. I'm always busy, and drowned with quests. Never do i stop. Sitting here, and writing this review, only makes me want to get back in Skyrim. Environments are beautiful, and the skies looks gorgeous. Characters are vivid, and monsters fights are tense. I've experienced few glitches, but it doesn't detract anything from the game. Rarely does a game such as this come by, a MUST PLAY.… Expand
  87. Yoshiwol
    Nov 14, 2011
    6
    Overall this game has a great story and engrossing and believable fantasy world that looks and feels great, but the gameplay is lacking and unless you can take enjoyment at exploring just the world and meeting the people, there is little difference to this title than there is to Oblivion. Why people liked Oblivion so much is beyond me, it was a minor improvement over Morrowind - in fact IOverall this game has a great story and engrossing and believable fantasy world that looks and feels great, but the gameplay is lacking and unless you can take enjoyment at exploring just the world and meeting the people, there is little difference to this title than there is to Oblivion. Why people liked Oblivion so much is beyond me, it was a minor improvement over Morrowind - in fact I enjoyed Morrowind more. The combat by now should be far better than what it is, and so should the stealth. The fact that it has been 8 or so years since Morrowind was released and the combat still feels the same really lets this game down, alongside the A.I being poorly pathed and difficulty settings poorly scripted, it makes the game feel more like a highly interactable novel, but not a great novel that you enjoy reading and recommend to friends, more a novel you might hear about in reviews and buy if you saw it in a charity shop.

    This game is hardly due of the attention it currently receives and I think it's mostly due to the mindset of the people wishing to review. Most hardy gamers, who throw themselves at fantastical franchises get too engrossed in the fact that it is as close as they can come to a living breathing fantasy world that they can explore, engage in and conquer. What they seem to forget, is the "as close as" part. While the game does draw out an epic fantasy adventure that feels unscripted and organic, where every small action seems to have consequence to larger actions and where the depth of the world is at times mesmerising there are many flaws. And the reason these shouldn't be overlooked - is that the same flaws were present in Oblivion as are present here.

    When I see this game getting so many 100 reviews it almost makes me sick that such a game is garnering such attention when so many of these flaws have existed for almost 6 years. Floating NPC's and objects STILL in the game since Oblivion. Poor A.I pathing, STILL in the game since Oblivion - including the very annoying friendly units getting in the way. The clunky and shallow combat system STILL in the game since MORROWIND. Melee combat is still shallow and lives a bitter taste in the mouth, it is tiresome and dull and the reason for this is its not exactly easy, but at the same time provides no satisfaction. The difficult settings in the game STILL shallow, they do nothing but bunk up stats for the enemies and for the most part makes fighting them near impossible. Taking 5 hits to die against an opponent on adept? Them taking 10 to fel? Stick it up to Master and watch as they kill you in 1 or 2 hits while they take possibly 50 sword strikes to take down. That's not an exaggeration either. The A.I don't get smarter, they just get more stats, which makes the already tedious combat more lengthy than it should be. Alongside that, if you ever get companions, they seem to believe themselves the hero - and will always block your shot with spell or arrow, or your swing with sword, axe or mace.

    Instead of engaging in combat that is natural, you feel like you are part of an unrehearsed college drama, swinging plastic swords at each other while you all forget at which point you are to act dead.

    HINT BETHESDA - Why not use certain animations and gameplay mechanics that other stealth games use, like Splinter Cell or Metal Gear or Assassins Creed, or even GTA IV that have all copied ideas from each other and other mainstream titles like Gears of War. Make combat more fluid and natural, and more with the times, take ideas again from games like Assassins Creed, where swords can actually clash, and the strength of enemies felt to a degree

    With all those points aside though, it has made improvements on Oblivion - I would have given Oblivion a 3, a 4 at best, but this definitely deserves a 6. It has potential, the story is much better this time around and it is much easier to get engrossed in the world and really enjoy the depth of everything to explore and do. There are certainly many hours to enjoy, whether you play them is up to you, and many of them are not really hours of fun but instead follow the grindy nature of RPG games - such as collecting ingredients, or deciding what you should and shouldn't loot from dungeons (which can be painfully lengthy due to the menu systems).

    The game is clearly not designed at all for PC, the mouse has different sensitivities based on x or y, and the menu system is very uninformative and difficult to manoeuvre. I play using a USB xbox360 controller I bought for racing games and it feels odd but it is far less odd than the mouse and keyboard. The game also suffers greatly from consolitis, some of the graphics are stellar, and really evoking, while others remind me of the PSX and even the SNES.

    Conclusion is at the top.    … Expand
  88. E_K_H
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Overall the best game I have ever played. Great game-play, very beautiful graphics, and a good solid storyline. The guys at Bethesda has really outdone them self this time. However I have experienced a few bugs in the game, mainly game crashes. I have played around 25 hours, and the game has crashed approximately 10 times. Not a big problem, but annoying.
  89. Zeusbot48
    Nov 14, 2011
    8
    A solid title offering beautiful, if inconsistent, graphics, tons and tons of content, a surprisingly fun combat system and fantastic storyline(s). However, the game is plagued by bugs and terrible AI. NPCs will walk into walls, get stuck, get in your way, and clip on stairs and terrain. The quest and item mangement interfaces could use some work too. You get one category for all theA solid title offering beautiful, if inconsistent, graphics, tons and tons of content, a surprisingly fun combat system and fantastic storyline(s). However, the game is plagued by bugs and terrible AI. NPCs will walk into walls, get stuck, get in your way, and clip on stairs and terrain. The quest and item mangement interfaces could use some work too. You get one category for all the quests that aren't part of the main storyline, and it will fill up with a daunting list of dozens of mix and match objectives, but very little useful info on where to go to complete them. If you zone out for a second during the dialogue (easy to do as you usually have to listen to someone drivel on for 5 minutes until they tell you where to go next) you are going to have to google it and pray. As for items, they are broken up into categories in your inventory, but when you put them in the storage chest in your house, they are no longer split up by category. Get used to scrolling through hundreds of items to find the Tiger Balls you need for that potion. The graphics are mostly magnificent, but I did find myself underwhelmed at times by areas that weren't as well polished. The game generally plays like Fallout 3, but with a much more satisfying and amusing combat system. Overall: if you can look past the bugs and minor quibbles (and you probably will) a magnificent RPG that will provide many many hours of entertainment.… Expand
  90. Frokkels
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    I live RPG's. This makes me blind to the problems that most of them have. Games like the Gothic series(before the Arcania abomination), Morrowind and Oblivion. Risen etc... They all had problems. I still loved them. I think games are like works of art. Some are unique and others are just plain commercial. If you give people what they want then you are making a commercial game. When II live RPG's. This makes me blind to the problems that most of them have. Games like the Gothic series(before the Arcania abomination), Morrowind and Oblivion. Risen etc... They all had problems. I still loved them. I think games are like works of art. Some are unique and others are just plain commercial. If you give people what they want then you are making a commercial game. When I bought this game the salesperson asked me if I was aware of the system requirements as all good salespersons should do. Then right after he said that perhaps it was a stupid question as people that bought this game knows what it is about. Perhaps this says more about the game than anyone can. This game is an unique piece of art. So was most of the other RPG's I have mentioned. I don't compare this to any of the other RPG's. If did that then I would not have bought this. I bought this because I yearned for a new story. For a new adventure. Judging by how satisfied Morrowind and Oblivion left me feeling I knew that Bethesda would not disappoint. Trying to keep the masses happy with this game was a tough job that I think Bethesda did well. Not only do they have grand impossible and bloody combat against creatures much larger than the character but a lot of smaller more cerebral things to do. Creating a living world within the confines of a PC/Console that performs well and "lives" seems impossible given the limited resources available on all the platforms. It is a fresh outlook on Tamriel that seems very different to the other Elder Scrolls games. Six hours I can not account for when I fired it up and I am thinking of restarting because it seems to me that I made a mistake on one of my choices. The world to me now seems "wrong" and I must fix it. LOL Giving it a high score is only right. We did not get a perfect game. We did not get a well tested game. I don't think most Artists are happy with their final product anyway. That still does not make their masterpieces any less enjoyable. Most of the bugs in this game will probably be fixed. The nice thing about the PC version is that the community of players usually step up and try to get it close to perfection. The more Mods a game has the more I think people loved it. The only reason why I don't give a 10 is because I agree that perhaps there is no real sense of accomplishment in completing some of the faction story lines. That could also be that I have yet to explore everything in the game and have just not found out everything about the factions.… Expand
  91. Godmodder
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Okay. So to me, this game is near enough perfect. The things that are getting the bad reviews are as follows; Bad textures, bugs, No feeling of epic, and the good old favourite, the menu system. Let's start with menus. I had absolutely no problem with the menu's. At all. Not once. What I do is, I read. And umm occasionally I click. It's amazing really. Honestly I don't get what the problem is, frankly they've done a great job in creating a system which works well on PC AND consoles, the only way I could see you having a problem with this is if you're sitting literally looking to hate it. So I've put a solid 42 hours into this game now, and literally the only bug I've encountered was my companion continuing to fight someone who stopped. But as soon as the character fell to their knees, she stopped and everything was nice again. I've had 2 crash to desktops, but frankly I'm running very slightly above minimum, so it's expected of any game of this standard. I get that there are and will be other bugs, but frankly a single bug every 13 hours or so does me just fine, that's a lot better than most games and a LOT better than any other Bathesda game. People saying the graphics are the same as oblivion or morrowind are just naunces, they really are. I don't remember the last time I read such **** I'm playing on low graphics settings and it's /beautiful/. I'll get to see what Ultra is like this weekend and I'm sure I'll be stunned. Super sharp textures wouldn't work well in a game like this anyway, there needs to be a certain level of blending so that everything sits together in the world, as opposed to having some standalone Mammoth who would just look like a cartoon. As for epicness, I can almost see where that's coming from, but when I sit back and think about it, it makes sense that you're not being rewarded for absolutely everything. So what? I helped General Tullius take Windhelm, if it weren't for him and Legate Rikke I'd have no idea what I was doing. He's the general, I'm just a soldier; why would I get all the fame? Maybe the game should play so that you DO deserve it, but people DO recognise you for it, it's just more realistic. The best killers in our world don't go about getting worshipped now, do they? I DO understand that however, that might be the one thing Oblivion done right. In any case this game is astonishing. It's honestly brilliant in every way imaginable. The detail Bathesda have went into is unbelievable, a real masterpiece. Don't listen to the whiny little **** giving this game 0's, they're talking pish. Get this game.… Expand
  92. Lionhearte
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Beautiful graphics and high resolution textures, easy-to-navigate user interface which operates smoothly for the PC, combat is fluid and dynamic, the new perk trees are fun and unique, and the details put into this game are what make it so amazing, from tiny ants crawling on a rock, to being able to use the lumber mills; just for fun.

    Ignore the trolls who rate this anything lower than a 3/10 while only listing one or two superficial reasons. If you only buy one game this year - buy Skyrim. Nothing is more fun than killing dragons, or unleashing your fury on a group of bandits as a Werewolf, and the new Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild questlines are nothing short of magnificent. Game of the Year All Years.    … Expand
  93. Tipjar
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Since it was first announced I was very pessimistic about Skyrim after the dry taste Oblivion left in my mouth, having to return to Morrowind to make myself feel good again about the state of the Elder Scrolls. Since then I avoided all media and news related to it, besides the negative rumours such as it still using Gamebryo, etc. I got suckered into getting it with a friend and afterSince it was first announced I was very pessimistic about Skyrim after the dry taste Oblivion left in my mouth, having to return to Morrowind to make myself feel good again about the state of the Elder Scrolls. Since then I avoided all media and news related to it, besides the negative rumours such as it still using Gamebryo, etc. I got suckered into getting it with a friend and after grudgingly starting it, I realized it was early morning and I had put aside nearly all my work for that day. I was blown away by literally everything that I saw, it felt like a return to my favourite Morrowind and more. I lost myself in the landscape and sounds of Skyrim, while thinking to myself if this was actually a real game. I've only done the very intro quests to the main storyline and since then I have spent about 16 hours only in and around the area of Whiterun and Riften. I'm so glad that Bethesda got past the trend it was having with Oblivion and Fallout 3, I'm very confident that I will be playing Skyrim for a long time especially when mods show up. I was also completely blown away by the game's low size and requirements for such a full and gorgeous game.… Expand
  94. mjas
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    I'm 25 hours into Skyrim so far and I still enjoy it, now this game has a bit of everything in it and almost everything in Skyrim is nothing less than amazing. Now don't think that it's perfect because it's not there are some bugs but nobody / nothing is perfect! I do feel that the quests are a little short and you could feel a bit more important in this world a lot of things you do inI'm 25 hours into Skyrim so far and I still enjoy it, now this game has a bit of everything in it and almost everything in Skyrim is nothing less than amazing. Now don't think that it's perfect because it's not there are some bugs but nobody / nothing is perfect! I do feel that the quests are a little short and you could feel a bit more important in this world a lot of things you do in the end don't give a lot of "Yeahhh I'm a badass!!" kind of feeling. All in all I give it a 9/10 good job Bethesda! (Also I see a few people saying you can not key bind on the pc version! WRONG you can! 1-8 which can also be remapped with your mouse, simply put a spell or a item that you want key bound on your favorites list then open up the list (Q button) and highlight it with your cursor and press 1-8 tada keybinds! yes I know it's not the best ever but it works. =) )… Expand
  95. Jaman
    Nov 14, 2011
    6
    Loved Morrowind, Oblivion and Fallout 3. I find Skyrim to be more of the same. Some people will like that. Clearly a huge effort has been spent in creating the beautiful world to explore and the storyline, but the game really falls down in gameplay mechanics, which have barely changed and are as clunky as ever. Melee combat is unacceptably bad (c'mon now folks). I fail to see how characterLoved Morrowind, Oblivion and Fallout 3. I find Skyrim to be more of the same. Some people will like that. Clearly a huge effort has been spent in creating the beautiful world to explore and the storyline, but the game really falls down in gameplay mechanics, which have barely changed and are as clunky as ever. Melee combat is unacceptably bad (c'mon now folks). I fail to see how character interaction has changed - they hype suggested that this would be an area for improvement but the characters are still as dumb as ever. I went for the PC version because of the amazing modding community. It runs fine for me on highest quality, but I took it down a to medium to prevent my GPU from frying. It still looks good and plays even smoother. Yes there are noticeable and annoying glitches - YMMV.

    Based on the commercial release, the quality control team should be fired. I enjoyed the20+ hours I spent in skyrim, but it has now become extremely tedious and I have no desire to invest more of my time there.

    Shame that so many people blithely give a 0 or 10. It's not that bad, neither is it that good. Users should try to be more objective with their reviews otherwise companies like Bethesda will not feel compelled to make the necessary improvements to gameplay. In this day and age, gamers should be more demanding. That's how we progress.

    The gaming press has been bought.    … Expand
  96. Stormcrow666
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Fantastic~!!!! Great Graphics(ultra of course). Amazing story with an almost unlimited amount to do and see. I have been playing for a few days it just keeps getting better. The side quests are original and fun with twists and turns~! I am a die hard RPG guy and this might beat my favorite all time; Baldur's Gate, for the new best game title~! Well done Bethesda. Well done.
  97. DigitalVeil
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Absolutely mind-blowing masterpiece. I have yet to find anything even remotely close to being a fault. Do yourself a favour and go buy this. This game brings me to tears it's so good.
  98. ripplechip
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Everything I could ever want in an RPG. Absolutely stunning visuals, great combat, amazing voice acting and story. This game is the complete package, and a must-buy for any fan of Bethesda RPG's.
  99. TidWop
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    While I could ramble about how ridiculous certain "reviewers" are being, I'll simply state my opinion. Skyrim is essentially exactly what I wanted from the next installment in The Elder Scrolls series. What exactly dictates that? Basically, a polished, improved Oblivion. Being a huge fan of Oblivion, this game is pinpoint accurate on returning to the formula I love, while also sprucing itWhile I could ramble about how ridiculous certain "reviewers" are being, I'll simply state my opinion. Skyrim is essentially exactly what I wanted from the next installment in The Elder Scrolls series. What exactly dictates that? Basically, a polished, improved Oblivion. Being a huge fan of Oblivion, this game is pinpoint accurate on returning to the formula I love, while also sprucing it up, and adding more in. To start, those who say this isn't a visually appealing game is diminishing two factors.; the first that it is certainly a step above Oblivion, and that it is a role playing game. While playing, I have all the details on Ultra, and I'm running it at a constant 60 frames per second. Needless to say, it looks fantastic. Even out of the context of it being a role playing game, it still looks great! People simply look for anything to pile onto their rage-reviews. Next, the sound. At first, I was skeptical about the new soundtrack Jeremy Soule laid out for me. I was a huge fan of Oblivion's soundtrack, so Skyrim's soundtrack was important to me from the introduction. While initially I wasn't too impressed, it definitely hit perfectly after the first few hours. The Nordic choruses, the compelling drums, the serene tavern backdrops, it does just as Oblivion did. It creates a soundtrack that handsomely compliments the immersion factor of the world around you. I suggest that anyone who appreciates a good musical score to edit your audio values, and turn the "music" bar up a notch; it truly makes the gameplay better. Lastly, the combat system that lets your dethrone dragons, and bash in skulls of unsuspecting (or foolish) bandits, and the like. Bethesda outdid themselves when it comes to innovating their combat system. While I enjoyed Oblivion, the fighting was robotic, and repetitive. Quite opposite of its older brother, Skyrim redefines how you take down your foes, or friendly citizens (yes, we all occasionally go on questionable rampages when we get new weapons.) From finishing moves, to spell casting that isn't sluggish, the new combat system is perfect for Skyrim. Casting fire while swinging with an enchanted sword is satisfying, to say the least.

    While I could continue to write an explicit review, I'll stop myself, and end with this. Skyrim is undoubtedly a role playing game experience all fans should experience. While it sticks to the same formula while revamping itself all the while, why should that be a bad thing? If you loved Oblivion, you'll adore Skyrim. (This isn't a console port either, people just love to whine. The controls are just fine, and the visuals are a half step above consoles.)    … Expand
  100. jeffreybar
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    This game definitely has its flaws: magic that doesn't scale well, a clumsy UI (use a 360 controller if you have one -- it's much better), and its fair share of bugs, to name a few. But it is also, without doubt, the most ambitious, beautiful, and detailed game I've ever played. By comparison, Oblivion is downright bland. The world is full of hidden nooks and crannies and quests andThis game definitely has its flaws: magic that doesn't scale well, a clumsy UI (use a 360 controller if you have one -- it's much better), and its fair share of bugs, to name a few. But it is also, without doubt, the most ambitious, beautiful, and detailed game I've ever played. By comparison, Oblivion is downright bland. The world is full of hidden nooks and crannies and quests and fun things to discover. It's honestly overwhelming. It's hard to imagine how even a large team could have created something like this in 3 years...and it's hard to imagine that Bethesda will manage to ever top this. I don't disagree that there are nits to pick here, but if you're focusing on nitpicking rather than killing dragons, picking flowers, catching butterflies, delving into dwemer ruins, hunting elk, and checking out the aurora over Whiterun, you have no soul.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Feb 29, 2012
    90
    Unfortunately, Skyrim trips and falls on its own (most probably, to make the cool-sounding deadline of 11-11-11) and just before it reaches perfection as the ultimate specimen of its genre, it self-destructs in a crucial aspect of game design: the interface and the peripheral components (inventory, journal, map, etc)... but that is not to say that Skyrim is anything but a truly majestic, epic RPG that will suck you right in its cosmos.
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  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.
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  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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