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6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 2852 Ratings

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  1. Jan 28, 2015
    5
    Finally reviewing skyrim after all these years. Well i cant possibly give it a high score because it wasnt playable on release and i personally didn't think it ran well till patch 1.7. It was the only unplayable game i ever tried to play. I do have a love for this game.I have put 100s of hours into it. None the less only quality merchandise for me.
  2. Jan 23, 2015
    10
    I love this game, a platinum trophy prove it. The atmosphere, the world, the epicness are awesome, some of the main missions are so enjoyable.

    In the other side I dont like the combat system it feels superimposed, the attack is the same whether you succeed or fail and often can not tell if you guessed right. The relationships are very impersonal, there are many repetitive missions and
    I love this game, a platinum trophy prove it. The atmosphere, the world, the epicness are awesome, some of the main missions are so enjoyable.

    In the other side I dont like the combat system it feels superimposed, the attack is the same whether you succeed or fail and often can not tell if you guessed right. The relationships are very impersonal, there are many repetitive missions and side missions are very similar, the load times are very long.

    Still it is one of the best games I've played.
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  3. Jan 1, 2015
    10
    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is epic in scope. Customization options are terrific, and within the framework of the game are only limited by your time investment. Exploration is remarkable, with numerous memorable locations.
  4. Dec 31, 2014
    10
    Skyrim is a game that should be bought by everyone the game lets us have world to explore and gives you freedom and most games don't do do that I think that all those hours of gameplay aren't wasted time. the game has so much in store and like side missions areas to explore shops to to buy things houses to buy plus there there are a couple hours of additional content.Like I said thisSkyrim is a game that should be bought by everyone the game lets us have world to explore and gives you freedom and most games don't do do that I think that all those hours of gameplay aren't wasted time. the game has so much in store and like side missions areas to explore shops to to buy things houses to buy plus there there are a couple hours of additional content.Like I said this game should be bought by everyone if you haven't played it I recommend you buy this game. Expand
  5. Dec 27, 2014
    9
    FUS RO DAH!!!!!!!!!!!! Words can describe the love i have for skyrim! each play through is different you can play a mage and join the collage of winter hold or be a warrior and join the companions! the main storyline is OK. not that good! side quest are amazing! you can be walking along a a dragon start to attack you or a village! then a then you might get a letter and start anotherFUS RO DAH!!!!!!!!!!!! Words can describe the love i have for skyrim! each play through is different you can play a mage and join the collage of winter hold or be a warrior and join the companions! the main storyline is OK. not that good! side quest are amazing! you can be walking along a a dragon start to attack you or a village! then a then you might get a letter and start another mission! there is so much to do its unbelievable! the lag sometimes is really noticeable but goes away! ive put over two hundred hours in and there's still more to do! WARNING: SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR LIFE! Expand
  6. Dec 16, 2014
    8
    Not as good as Oblivion, but a pretty great game. The key is only autosaving every 10 to 15 minutes when you bring up the circle button menu. Saving takes a long, long time, and if you do it too much most of your time in game will be spent on saves. My other major trouble is the inability to respec as monsters and the like keep getting tougher with your level (that automaticallyNot as good as Oblivion, but a pretty great game. The key is only autosaving every 10 to 15 minutes when you bring up the circle button menu. Saving takes a long, long time, and if you do it too much most of your time in game will be spent on saves. My other major trouble is the inability to respec as monsters and the like keep getting tougher with your level (that automatically increases) but the skills you've decided to use might not match - yes you can adjust the difficulty, but that approach is like a sledge hammer quickly becoming too easy or too hard. Additionally, Magic is too hobbled. Swords and armor aren't skill restricted, that is you can pick up an Iron axe and wield it just as easily as an Orcish mace - as it should be. Your ability to access those weapons is determined most by your ability to craft them, challenging but not difficult. However all magic is directly restricted to your skill number (not how many points you place in the tree) meaning you have to be really dedicated to grueling your way through magic if you want to be a primary spell caster since using melee weapons and arrows is so flipping easy. There are a few bugs, but most are recoverable (I have 14 saves allowing time for a bug to present itself so I can reload) and I've only experianced 2. 1 in a "werewolf in jail" quest which in my first playthrough was almost unrecoverable because I went to the DLC before reaching white run (so don't do that). And one was in a Moth palace where a gate wouldn't open after I killed the enemy before he could come through it. Very enjoyable over all however, a lovely game that I highly recommend to everyone. Expand
  7. Dec 5, 2014
    10
    This would be the most succinct way to describe this game - it's easily the best game I've ever played. I LOVE this game - I cannot wait for the next installment to come to PS4. The game is enjoyable, always entertaining, the story is fantastic, graphics are excellent. I cannot even think of a criticism for this game. It's also one of the few games that every one of my friends and I canThis would be the most succinct way to describe this game - it's easily the best game I've ever played. I LOVE this game - I cannot wait for the next installment to come to PS4. The game is enjoyable, always entertaining, the story is fantastic, graphics are excellent. I cannot even think of a criticism for this game. It's also one of the few games that every one of my friends and I can agree on really liking. Expand
  8. Nov 30, 2014
    9
    It's almost 2015 and the bugs seem to have been resolved. This is a great game, but for some reason, I can't finish it after playing from the beginning 3 times. I get close to finishing, but if I take too much time off from the game, I forget where I am and the immersion is gone. It's also too easy after about mid game. It's a massive game, but most of the terrain is in the same coldIt's almost 2015 and the bugs seem to have been resolved. This is a great game, but for some reason, I can't finish it after playing from the beginning 3 times. I get close to finishing, but if I take too much time off from the game, I forget where I am and the immersion is gone. It's also too easy after about mid game. It's a massive game, but most of the terrain is in the same cold mountainous region. I know it's Skyrim, but it's a dreary setting everywhere unlike Oblivion which is more mixed.

    Despite these minor complaints, Skyrim has a huge world and I'm proof that you could spend years exploring it and still not see it all. If my PS3 still worked, I would look forward to trying yet again from the beginning in a few months.
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  9. Nov 30, 2014
    5
    I am The Destroyer. I will break games, complain about the littlest detail, and tell you whether or not you should buy this game. A lot of things to say but can't due to the 5000 character limit.

    We are on the final patch of this game, and the game is still frustrating as hell! Did Bethesda fix the bugs? No! Is it still crashing every 30 minutes after 80 hours of gameplay? Yeah! Do
    I am The Destroyer. I will break games, complain about the littlest detail, and tell you whether or not you should buy this game. A lot of things to say but can't due to the 5000 character limit.

    We are on the final patch of this game, and the game is still frustrating as hell! Did Bethesda fix the bugs? No! Is it still crashing every 30 minutes after 80 hours of gameplay? Yeah! Do quests get bugged to the point where they don't proceed? Pretty soon no ones going to give a **** about what Bethesda makes any more. No ones gonna wanna buy their products because they can't program their games correctly, especially not for PS3. Skyrim should never have come to this console!!!

    1. Story
    The story is set in the province of Skyrim, where the dormant dragons are suddenly returning. The end days have been prophesied and only Dragonborn can stand up to it. You begin the game a prisoner in Helgan, where you get to customize the visuals of your character. Destined for the chopping block, a dragon attacks & destroys Helgan, and you managed to break free. What happens next is up to you.

    2. Voice Acting
    Finally, a Bethesda game where voice acting can be phrased! From small conversations to large meetings, they are filled with rich detail has you are believing every word they say, even if they don't always lip-sync correctly.

    3. Graphics and Visuals
    One thing I noticed about Skyrim is that there is a lack of emotion on most of the characters faces. They all just look downright neutral all the time. But as for the attack visuals, magic, scenery, and everything else, the graphics are as good as it's going to get for this generation.

    4. Gameplay
    Gameplay refers to the Battle System, Customization & Level Up, and various areas you explore within the game. Put it all together and it's awesome!

    -Battle System-
    There are going to be a lot of battles in this game, and you'll be given many different ways on how to deal with the situation. You have your choice of Axes, Swords, Daggers, Greatswords, Shields to an extent, Magic, and many more. The Role-Playing element in this game is mostly gone and leans towards more of an Action element, but that doesn't mean that the battles aren't fun.

    -Customization-
    Despite it's variation, the customization doesn't feel right. You can essentially become a god in this game once you max out Smithing, Alchemy, and Enchantment. It feels unbalanced. Aside from that, you can wear any armor piece you want, use any weapon, it's all there. Some things are done right, other things are done wrong. The average fan will be satisfied with this result...

    -Exploration-
    Easily the best part about this game! You actually want to explore because it feels interesting, and there's a lot of areas to look around in. Dungeons don't ever feel generic either despite some having the same artwork. But the enemies for the most part are swapped up, which further adds to the experience.

    5. Soundtrack
    The music feels rich and high quality, almost as if it set itself up to be put in a game that would be for the ages. It's a shame because these tracks deserved to be in a better game or at least a game that's safe from bugs.

    6. DLC
    Don't even think about it! Anyone who buys DLC is an idiot because you gave into Bethesda's master cash-in plan! The promised to fix the bugs, but instead they added DLC. They have not earned the satisfaction to take our money with additionals when they couldn't even deliver us the original product. And even if you do download them, your playing time gets chopped in half! Your files will begin crashing & bugging much earlier.

    7. Bugs & Glitches
    Oh my god... The amount of bugs that flood this game is ridiculous! Your game will begin to crash randomly after 80 hours of gameplay, and you will get stuck on loading screens even before then. Quests don't proceed properly or come to a halt by picking the wrong actions. It's just a nightmare.

    8. Personal Enjoyment
    Even without bugs and glitches I realize this isn't a perfect game. How do I put this without giving away spoilerd... hmmm... In the Civil War questline, it's all offence and no defense. Both the Thieves Guild questline and the College of Winterhold questline have an unsatisfactory aftermath. The game does have some fun moments, but isn't worth what happens after.

    9. Overall Verdict
    Bethesda might have promised to fix some of the bugs, but that still doesn't excuse how the game was at release, and how it took over a year for them to fix some of the issues. And instead of fixing them all, they added DLC. The damage has been done! No one should play the PS3 version of Skyrim. The overall verdict is a 5 out of 10. The sour experience drops the epic down to an average game.
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  10. Nov 20, 2014
    9
    An Immersive, outstanding RPG and one of the best ever made in its genre. Laughable that any 'review' could give it any less than 9/10.

    Good - Huge, beautiful and immersive world with almost limitless role play possibilities and gameplay choices. Like all truly great games, you can sink hours into Skyrim without really doing much in the game. The main story, while not as well suited to
    An Immersive, outstanding RPG and one of the best ever made in its genre. Laughable that any 'review' could give it any less than 9/10.

    Good - Huge, beautiful and immersive world with almost limitless role play possibilities and gameplay choices. Like all truly great games, you can sink hours into Skyrim without really doing much in the game. The main story, while not as well suited to all players races as Oblvions is excellent and fits perfectly into the land of the Nords. The overall gameplay is far superior to any scrolls game that has come before. JUst a great, great game with potentially thousands of hours of gameplay.

    Bad - Yes there are some bugs that persist even today and some can be frustrating. Lore wise its just not as open ended as oblivion; if you care about such things as I do, you would never choose a Dragonborn to be anything but a Nord or maybe Imperial, anything else would be stupid.

    Verdict - Any game of this scale is going to have bugs, some smaller ones have never been fixed, but that doesn't stop Skyrim from being a truly great game and possibly the best rpg ever made. 9/10, FACT.
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  11. Nov 6, 2014
    10
    My late review.
    First of all i want to say many people have rated this a bad game because of the bugs, mission structure, unexpected issues affecting story and NPC behavior which for the most part i understand... but how in the world can you take that and compare it to all the amazing and ground breaking things present here and give the game a 0? you know that is just over complaining.
    My late review.
    First of all i want to say many people have rated this a bad game because of the bugs, mission structure, unexpected issues affecting story and NPC behavior which for the most part i understand... but how in the world can you take that and compare it to all the amazing and ground breaking things present here and give the game a 0? you know that is just over complaining. Take away these problems and the game is pretty much the same on the 360, STOP BEING SPOILT AND THINK OUTSIDE WHAT THE DEVELOPERS MAKE FOR YOU, there is an outstanding game there.
    You have to use your imagination sometimes for this game because the last gen consoles could not handle more space which should be expected. The immersion, music, character customization, accurate portrayed themes, presentation and lore is the best i have seen in any game in years. You could play this game for hours and hours without getting bored because there is so much to do, both making up your own stories and playing the developed side missions.
    Everything is just done SO well, the combat has its issues, some people hate it but the combat to me is using the landscape to your advantage, taking your time with hits, choosing the right potion for the right weapons and utilizing the shouts when the timing is right.
    The music is the best i have heard in any game, the immersion is just too spectacular here almost perfect, the feeling that you are in a living breathing world is done like something out of a 5 star movie, exploring the underground caves and dungeons to the vast open grasslands and densely packed forests and the freedom of movement is remarkable, looking far as the eye can see, just knowing you can walk over their and explore that far away point in the distance is something truly special.
    You just feel like everything has a point... whether it is roaming the lands at night as a vampire looking for foolish bystanders too feed on or a hero deciding to go out and put a stop to the corrupt and rich or any plain thief that you may wander near to.
    I really do not have much issues with this game except that some towns and cities are vastly lacking with people and feel way too small (lacks immersion), of course the bugs, some missions drag you straight into things you do not want to do then you have to load back to a previous point, jumping over rocks and climbing is a pain, the things people say are annoying, repetitive and stupid, the sneak mechanic does need fixing and the main missions are too short.
    I could go on and on but i have limited space to work with, honestly one of the best games ever made 10/10.
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  12. Nov 1, 2014
    4
    First let me start with saying that Skyrim's combat is sh*t. It takes away the feeling that you are developing a character, that you help contribute to your character, that this is Your character. I am talking about investing points into Agility and seeing your character hit more often, those sort of things that create attachment to the game. Skyrim lacks the attachment part because asFirst let me start with saying that Skyrim's combat is sh*t. It takes away the feeling that you are developing a character, that you help contribute to your character, that this is Your character. I am talking about investing points into Agility and seeing your character hit more often, those sort of things that create attachment to the game. Skyrim lacks the attachment part because as long as You have the skills, You can do anything (from picking master locks, to hitting every time with the bow) which leaves you without a reason to care for this world, no attachment...

    In Skyrim earlier perks completely say 'FU' to the difficulty and the need of finding better gear by giving you more damage, less mana requirements for spell usage (some perks are good).

    Why Morrowind is better: from finding your own way via reading the journal, to more interesting architecture, more diverse and interesting locations, better made dungeons, better weapons, armor and loot, loot with value (for example glass or daedric loot was nearly impossible to sell due to its high value (1 daedric bolt is 4000 gold!)), more diverse and interesting magics, better and deeper stories, harder and more interesting puzzles (lockpicking was level based and if your Security skill was low forget about lvl100 Master locks unless with a magic scroll), harsher consequences for your actions and therefore more choices (you can kill anyone for example plot characters rendering the main plot impossible to complete unless you reloaded a save or found some other way; also NPCs were interesting because you could do more with them - if you were to increase the disposition of an NPC and your Personality was high enough you might find newer quests for example and new dialog. NPCs would offend you if they didnt like you and shopkeepers wont barter with you if you had items they disapproved like Skooma; if you had no stamina and were under attack you would fall to the ground unable to act until some stamina comes back).
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  13. Oct 24, 2014
    7
    Back at launch i had interest in this game for its atmosphere, but i delayed it due to some of the problems of the PS3 version. So i recently bought the Legendary Edition on PS3 and gave it a try. I needed to came here to do my personal and fast review because 3 years have passed since launch and guess what: most of the technical problems are still there. I am ~30h into the game and thereBack at launch i had interest in this game for its atmosphere, but i delayed it due to some of the problems of the PS3 version. So i recently bought the Legendary Edition on PS3 and gave it a try. I needed to came here to do my personal and fast review because 3 years have passed since launch and guess what: most of the technical problems are still there. I am ~30h into the game and there are so many technical problems that make me unsure if i want to continue this mess.
    First thing: the game. The atmosphere of the game itself it is what makes this game unique and is what can keep us playing despite the technical/performance problems: Ice Age+Viking atmosphere. The concept is a 1st/3rd person generic openworld WRPG with lots of freedom, with a nice overall upgrade character system. There are giants, mammoths, saber-tooth tigers, etc, etc, etc, DRAGONS, many character races, lots of quests, lots of caverns, lots dungeons, many distinct cities, etc, etc, etc, lots weapon/items upgrades/creation, nice skill trees, lots of skills/magics/summons, etc, etc, etc. I personally think the level up system and skill trees/perks/skills is a huge change from last games. It is a super plain and simple system and it is the best i have seen in ages in a game of this genre. If you like lots of freedom in a game, a nice level up system, this kind of atmosphere, many quests, DRAGONS, this game is for you.
    Second thing: technical execution (of the PS3 version). For the ones who want still give it a try, at least in this version, you can count on frame rate issues, some breaks, some freezes, game late response to the gamepad, random dead dragons in the world and you can do nothing to them, random items bouncing like crazy on tables, floor, water, etc. So far even some quests had bugs like you can't talk to people you should to to progress the mission... I also had to turn off all of the autosaves because the game froze 6 times in 20 minutes of gameplay, and that was the way to stop that.
    Another note: when you start the game for the very first time, the first autosave is bugged. It won't let you save the game any further and the autosave system will not work. You must ignore that and start the game again with another save file without deleting that very first autosave.
    Come on... Was this game finished/optimized ready to launch on consoles?

    Pros: incredible atmosphere, the freedom, many cities, many dungeons, many caverns... and... DRAGONS!
    Cons: technical side of the game. This is a complete mess of optimization of this version. What a shame.
    Another cons is that some of the caverns seems to be a copy of each other, with different paths... And there could be more enemy variation, but its fine as it is in these two aspects.

    If i could play the game normally on my PS3 i would gave it a 10/10. So i take 3 points due to the technical mess that is this version.

    What i can conclude once more, now after the launch of The Evil Within, is that in Bethesda there are extremely good guys in the design/artwork side of the company but they have poor guys in technical/optimization side.
    If you want to play Skyrim go to the PC version at least to avoid the major visual/performance problems.

    I am now glad that in most official reviews of the new games the reviewers add some criticism to the technical side of the game so people can count on what to really expect from a game.
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  14. Oct 15, 2014
    10
    Negative reviews do not reflect the game. It is an absolute masterpiece. I recommend this game for hardcore gamers. Twitch players may get bored.

    Good: First person rpg at its best. Outstanding graphics, great gameplay, fun quests and story. I have 100+ hours into this game. Bad: detailed game creates memory issues. I personally keep my ps3 virtually empty and have t had any issues.
    Negative reviews do not reflect the game. It is an absolute masterpiece. I recommend this game for hardcore gamers. Twitch players may get bored.

    Good: First person rpg at its best. Outstanding graphics, great gameplay, fun quests and story. I have 100+ hours into this game.

    Bad: detailed game creates memory issues. I personally keep my ps3 virtually empty and have t had any issues.

    Overall: value for dollar for this game is fantastic. Years after the original release i still go back to play it. Cant wait for bethesda game works next release. Great job guys... You keep my faith in the gaming industry.
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  15. Oct 5, 2014
    10
    This is just a huge Game that i think has no ending, it is just the perfect game. Skyrim brings a well done universe to the maximum it can go to and gives players one of the best experiences yet. Skyrim basically lets you finally be the Dungeon raider, Adventurer, or villian you want to be. Skyrim is the best western Role playing game of all time.
  16. Sep 24, 2014
    1
    I gave his a 1 instead of 0 for the sake of the eyecandy and various cool thematic elements. I could give no higher score because relative to other games on this console the graphics do not excel and furthermore no amount of aesthetic cool can fix a broken game. I am a student of game design and it is my pre-professional opinion that this is probably the worst designed, highest praised,I gave his a 1 instead of 0 for the sake of the eyecandy and various cool thematic elements. I could give no higher score because relative to other games on this console the graphics do not excel and furthermore no amount of aesthetic cool can fix a broken game. I am a student of game design and it is my pre-professional opinion that this is probably the worst designed, highest praised, best-selling game of this generation. I have not played any other Elder Scroll games, nor will I. There are many more thorough reviews concerning the sheer awfulness of the game, so I will mention just a few elements which effectively "break" the game.

    1. Enemy Scaling. No matter how many hours spent grinding to improve your character, the enemies scale to meet your level (within some limitations). This removes the primary incentive to level up. When you once enter a dungeon, the enemies therein are scaled to your level. You can button mash your way through or simply leave the dungeon, power up, and come back and destroy everything. Option one turns the game into a never-ending grind. Option two is a "dominant strategy." An auto-win, if you prefer. This obvious flaw effectively takes the strategizing out of the game. Which makes it a game of pure button-mashing skill. The only incentive for which is more eye-candy, and after your very repetitive umpteenth dungeon, umpteenth dragon slain, etc. The eye "candy" loses it's sweetness.

    2. Very linear, static world under the guise of an "open world" concept. Just because you can run around in any direction you want doesn't make it "open." It's just 3-D. So what. The game has many plot threads, but the threads do not meet anywhere. They form not a tapestry, just a bunch of loose threads. You can pursue them in any order, (is that what makes it "open world"?) and because of the scaling improving yourself in one area (such as completing the warrior guild plot thread) won't actually help you complete any other plot thread. Every thread has one outcome and one outcome only. You either choose to finish it or not. Want to complete the thief guild thread? Hope you weren't trying to be a "good guy."
    One thread does not effect any of the other threads. You can literally beat the tar out of a character in one and then marry the same character in another. Wow. Feels so real. Your character is simply railroaded along. Want to "unlock" all the content? Simply grind along. None of the choices you make have any real impact.
    Furthermore, The main story line? The imminent Dragon invasion? Well, don't worry, the dragons will hold off so long as you choose not to advance that story thread. You will continue to encounter random dragons throughout the campaign, which are incredibly easy and disappointingly anti-climactic, since so much is done to build up the threat. Actually the giants are much more difficult (they are one of the few enemies that doesn't scale) and have no associated plot line. They just quietly herd their Mammoths and make their cheese, hardly disturbing anyone unless provoked, as you systematically commit genocide against their race.

    3. Ok, just one more thing which I already mentioned. This game is incredibly repetitious. At first (especially I think if you haven't played any other Elder Scroll games) It feels very fresh and interesting, with lots happening, tons of options, different character types available, etc. Maybe the worst part of this game is how many hours I spent grinding away improving my character, finished a few plotlines, saw some cool eyecandy, and really became enthralled with the best part of this game, it's "high concept" and the associated elements before I I realized how much time I had wasted. Frankly, I already knew how the game ended. Boredom and frustration crept in slowly enough, and the "addiction level' (its pace of work to reward) was just right to keep me plugging away.
    The dungeons and sites are all essentially the same. There are just a handful of "types" of challenges and sites. The dungeons are even more linear and repetitious then the thin plot threads. They all, almost entirely without exception, and the exceptions I encountered were minimal, have one path to the end, dungeon bosses all exectly the same, simply scaled differently, and they all without exception have a simple exit out the back door after the boss is laid low. How convenient.

    4. Don't even get me started on the inventory system.
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  17. Sep 22, 2014
    0
    Unkillable NPCs. Unkillable NPCs. Unkillable NPCs. Unkillable NPCs. Unkillable NPCs. Unkillable NPCs.

    Score Breakdown: Unkillable NPCs -100/10, Total Score 0/10
  18. Sep 16, 2014
    10
    A really awesome action rpg. The world is huge, the main story and side quests are fitting and the characters are interesting. Important remark: I played the "Game of the Year Edition". The original release PS 3 version is full of bugs and nearly unplayable. The graphic is good and the soundtrack is awesome. The battle system is optimized. It is better than ever and a reference for futureA really awesome action rpg. The world is huge, the main story and side quests are fitting and the characters are interesting. Important remark: I played the "Game of the Year Edition". The original release PS 3 version is full of bugs and nearly unplayable. The graphic is good and the soundtrack is awesome. The battle system is optimized. It is better than ever and a reference for future action rpgs. The job and stat system from previous Elder Scroll games is gone. It is more streamlined. I am uncertain if it is an improvement or not but it is done well in this game. Overall this is an awesome game. Still cannot decide if Skyrim or Morrowind is the better Elder Scroll game. Expand
  19. Sep 13, 2014
    10
    The PS3 got the worst version of Skyrim, but even so, I can't give it anything less than a 10. Skyrim is a masterpiece, and one of the greatest pieces of entertainment ever created.

    I don't have to tell you how amazing the world of Skyrim is, you'll have to live it. Even the few quirks (and glitches) of the game are overwhelmed by how well everything else was done. The attention to
    The PS3 got the worst version of Skyrim, but even so, I can't give it anything less than a 10. Skyrim is a masterpiece, and one of the greatest pieces of entertainment ever created.

    I don't have to tell you how amazing the world of Skyrim is, you'll have to live it. Even the few quirks (and glitches) of the game are overwhelmed by how well everything else was done. The attention to detail is amazing. There are a few things I wished it would have done better, like the frequency of the dragon fights. Once you've slewed your 20th dragon, the sense of wonder is gone. Still, I don't think I've ever played a better videogame.

    As for the PS3, while the graphics have been downgraded dramatically as updates go by, the main ruiner of the game's experience is the ridiculous load times. I think I have spent at least 15% of the time I've played this game staring at a loading screen. When this time adds up to hundreds of hours of gameplay, it becomes staggering. Hope you didn't forget anything important once you open that door, because to get it back, you'll have to wait a few minutes.

    Yes, the PC version is the gold standard, but I like that in the console where you are not allowed to tinker with the game, it retains its purity. At the time of this writing, I hope Skyrim makes it to the PS4, and improves over the PS3.
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  20. Sep 3, 2014
    10
    This game is a masterpiece! I played it so much and I still haven't done everything in it, and I don't know anyone who has either. The Game is Beautiful, The Characters are good, the Role-playing features are so good and there's so much more good about this game I cant even fit it in my Review box! Seriously if you haven't played this game go too your local store, and get it! It's so worthThis game is a masterpiece! I played it so much and I still haven't done everything in it, and I don't know anyone who has either. The Game is Beautiful, The Characters are good, the Role-playing features are so good and there's so much more good about this game I cant even fit it in my Review box! Seriously if you haven't played this game go too your local store, and get it! It's so worth the amount of money you pay for it! Expand
  21. Aug 22, 2014
    7
    I bought this after the patch came out that fixed the save issues for the PS3 version. I will only shave 1 point off the final score for that. It would probably have been more, but I had no issues other than having to wait forever to play it. The game itself is as good as it has always been. It doesn't really add much to what was already done in Oblivion. A few minor tweaks here andI bought this after the patch came out that fixed the save issues for the PS3 version. I will only shave 1 point off the final score for that. It would probably have been more, but I had no issues other than having to wait forever to play it. The game itself is as good as it has always been. It doesn't really add much to what was already done in Oblivion. A few minor tweaks here and there, but that is about it. The complaints I have- Killing dragons by hitting them in the leg because they were dumb enough to land was pretty ill-conceived, Every NPC in the local taverns are all voice-acted by the same dude or broad, and none of the other minor annoyances too numerous to mention haven't really been addressed. Essentially it's an Oblivion HD remake or something along those lines. Expand
  22. Aug 17, 2014
    9
    Beautiful experience. So much to do in one of the biggest open worlds I've ever seen, even without the expansions of the game. Also there are more interesting tales besides the main one. The variety available while you're creating your character is really deep and goes beyond imagination. A hell of a game, at least you should have 50 hours of good playing time secured.
  23. Jul 24, 2014
    10
    It took me awhile to get use to this game because i was a FPS fan. at first i didn't like it because well i thought it was boring.... i was wrong. very wrong. it now my most played game by far and its even better with the dlc.
  24. Jul 14, 2014
    10
    By far one of the greatest games I've ever played.even if it had lag issues on ps3 the fame itself is among my top list...how can u rate 0 an elder scrolls game. I've spent like 200 hours on ps3...and 200 more on pc nodded...
  25. Jul 1, 2014
    7
    OH lordy help me with this game ik im late to review it but atleast i know what i need to be doing.
    first of all skyrim is not as bad as some other elderscroll games and all the people tht hate on it giving it a zero are probably the people who dont understand much about how a game is supposed to aim at a certain consumer.
    Skyrim is aiming at one of the highest demographics of consumers
    OH lordy help me with this game ik im late to review it but atleast i know what i need to be doing.
    first of all skyrim is not as bad as some other elderscroll games and all the people tht hate on it giving it a zero are probably the people who dont understand much about how a game is supposed to aim at a certain consumer.
    Skyrim is aiming at one of the highest demographics of consumers ever KIDS and teens ranging from 10-11
    small numbers right
    EXACTLY u fools its supposed to make tht little kid who is sitting down in his/her room sitting down in their room on tht HD tv NOT THINK!
    WITHERFANG UR A STUPID BECAUSE WHY WOULD THEY DO THT.
    the average ten year old now screams at someone who keeps killing them at cod how to u expect them to think where treasure/thief/contract/etc... they made the game simple with lots of gore isnt tht something u look for in an action game.
    the map of skyrim is ok its not the best nor the worse the mountains can be tedious but where else would they put a cave. in the ground like a rabbit hole.
    The combat is the a factor tht people themselves act like a 10-11 year old.
    ok now listen in the menu when u press start/esc. it has a setting called DIFFICULTY turn the game to expert u whore and see how easy it is then with ur deadric items AY!
    when i first bought skyrim i had the same opinion boring tedious a chore. tht didnt even effect me.
    ok ok ok i need u to be the listener.
    DO WHAT U WANT AND GET THE DLC.
    the dlc is gorgeous but this is about vanilla skyrim.
    YES some a lot of the quest is rinse and repeat but it doesnt mean u hv to rinse and repeat.
    next time try to sneak.
    next time try to use a two handed weapon.
    next time go FREAKING NAKED.
    IF THE GAME IS TOO EASY THEN SPICE IT UP!!!!!
    really its a joke everytime i hear someone say skyrim is toooooooo easy.
    now to the story. 0_0 u tried to hv a good story but all together it was u know predictable kill alduin yadda yadda hooray!
    thts why its not a ten.
    the combat is very innovative itself like oblivion and marrowind. if i do recall when u press both r1 and l1 button u do a double strike so combat is an A.
    voice acting robot mechanic thing. ok they could of done better even with the face animation because the character may sound sad but all u see is a robot face but they have tried with the emotions.
    now the little subplots like LIST
    companions
    darkbrotherhood
    forsworn
    blades-ish
    college of winterhold
    thieves guild
    bards college-useless
    empire
    stormcloacks
    if i missed any put them in the comments.
    now for me to cut some cake the bugs!!
    now they r annoying and some catch u and it breaks ur game we cant fix tht everygame has bugs this 1 just has a ittle more.
    now if i went into every little detail this review itself wold probably end up on ign or something so ima stop there thx for reading if u hv any further coments or concerns put them in the comment section
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  26. Jul 1, 2014
    10
    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is less a product of creativity than an act of creation. The accomplishment on display is without equal, but it’s the sublimation of those efforts into a deeply personal experience that is the lasting effect and elicits the compulsive desire to consume more and more of what it has to offer. Playing it, I could recall getting the first Nintendo system andThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is less a product of creativity than an act of creation. The accomplishment on display is without equal, but it’s the sublimation of those efforts into a deeply personal experience that is the lasting effect and elicits the compulsive desire to consume more and more of what it has to offer. Playing it, I could recall getting the first Nintendo system and sitting down with my brother to play Super Mario Brothers. Upon reaching the subterranean level 1-2, the dramatic aesthetic shift awakened us to the giddy thrill of realizing that we had no idea what the game had in store ahead, and our excitement became an uncontained rapturous exaltation. Eighty hours into Skyrim, I’m still feeling like that 11-year-old. Expand
  27. Jun 15, 2014
    4
    Even if I ignored the extreme framerate issues, Skyrim would still be a huge disappointment when compared to the previous Oblivion. Just about all of the gameplay mechanics that made that game outstanding have been outright taken away or extremely dumbed down. For example, even though it was somewhat confusing for some players, in Oblivion you had total control over you character'sEven if I ignored the extreme framerate issues, Skyrim would still be a huge disappointment when compared to the previous Oblivion. Just about all of the gameplay mechanics that made that game outstanding have been outright taken away or extremely dumbed down. For example, even though it was somewhat confusing for some players, in Oblivion you had total control over you character's attributes, allowing you to create a superhuman character with maxed out health, speed, magic, and so on. In Skyrim however, you are now forced to choose between an increase of only health, stamina, and magic at each level up, which makes it impossible to create a "jack of all trades" character. This, combined with the addition of a fatigue meter which prevents you from sprinting indefinitely may be more realistic, but it's nowhere near as much fun. Hell, you can't even jump in this game! In addition, the fighting in general has been watered down severely. In terms of weapon combat, you no longer have the flashy directional power moves which you could use to disarm and stagger enemies, and in general the sword fighting just feels slow and clunky. This is even more detrimental because you can't sprint in all directions, which makes it virtually impossible to tactically move around to the side or rear of enemies during a battle.

    The story has also taken a dramatic fall from grace. Quest lines such as the Mages and Thieves guilds are short and bare bones with no real surprises, and once completed, they leave you with almost nothing interesting to really show for it. I can't even recall a single NPC ever mentioning my new status as leader of these factions. In fact, NPCs never really have any interesting tales or conversations amongst themselves, making the world feel even less lively than it's predecessor, even with the expanded roster of voice actors.

    In closing, I think that if Skyrim had been developed as a PC game first and then ported to consoles, many of these new design choices wouldn't have been introduced. But since the younger generation PS3 and Xbox owner were more of a primary focus this time around, many sacrifices had to be made, and a lot of the magic was lost in the process.
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  28. Jun 13, 2014
    6
    Skyrim isn't a bad game, but it is, in my opinion, the most overrated game in the history of gaming w/o another game sniffing 2nd place. Sure, there's lots to do, but the ridiculous amount of bugs, glitches, frame rate drops, tearing & freezing leave me wanting to play anything this. People call this one of the best games ever made -- how? It's not even the best Elder Scrolls game ever made...
  29. May 29, 2014
    9
    People are saying they hate this game and there are people saying they love it, then there are those oddballs in between that like it, but say it has flaws. Then there's ME, who is between the love and in-between nonsense. I really do love this game, it has an AMAZING and **** BEAUTIFUL world, it's just got so many things you could waste time on, and is an amazing addition to the ElderPeople are saying they hate this game and there are people saying they love it, then there are those oddballs in between that like it, but say it has flaws. Then there's ME, who is between the love and in-between nonsense. I really do love this game, it has an AMAZING and **** BEAUTIFUL world, it's just got so many things you could waste time on, and is an amazing addition to the Elder Scrolls series! That said, it does have it's flaws, but those are super small bugs and glitches that can be easily overlooked, 9 out of ten, easily! Expand
  30. May 21, 2014
    10
    Absolutely amazing game! Hopefully Bethesda follows up with another ES that is just as good. Great game if you love to explore new places and are into the medieval thing. The dragons themselves are another good reason to pick this up. Multiple difficulty levels are available, so that you get the right amount of challenge.

    For the haters rating low due to lag: The PS3 version is NOT
    Absolutely amazing game! Hopefully Bethesda follows up with another ES that is just as good. Great game if you love to explore new places and are into the medieval thing. The dragons themselves are another good reason to pick this up. Multiple difficulty levels are available, so that you get the right amount of challenge.

    For the haters rating low due to lag: The PS3 version is NOT "broken". Did you have the auto-save option on for traveling and waiting? I'll bet you did, because I had the same issue. The fix for your lag? Turn that option OFF. If you don't, the save file will become massive and freeze the machine. Don't be stupid and knock a game for an easily-fixable issue. Try Google next time. :p
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Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Official PlayStation Magazine Benelux
    Jan 2, 2012
    97
    This is a game full of emotions for gamers who are willing to embrace it. A beautiful fantasy land that makes loading times a thing of the past and is full of surprises. Not only do you get a lot of variety in the locations, the gameplay offers a lot of different experiences as well. [December 2011, p.66]
  2. Dec 28, 2011
    90
    I enjoyed Skyrim and I look forward to the DLC that we know is inevitably coming. If we looked at this honestly, though, this game probably should have been pushed back a month or so for more polish. It needed it and it still does.
  3. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Dec 17, 2011
    100
    Skyrim is a gorgeous production that truly does justice to the words "roleplaying game." It doesn't just tell us a story, it gives us the chance to tell a story of our own. At its best, that's what an interactive art form should be all about. [Jan 2011, p.73]