The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

 PlayStation 3
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 2852 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,781 out of 2852
  2. Mixed: 302 out of 2852
  3. Negative: 769 out of 2852
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  1. kalidaze87
    Jan 9, 2012
    9
    My score is based SOLELY ON GAMEPLAY. Honestly, I haven't had as much of an issue with lag, that people are experiencing. Yes occasionally, but not as much as most people are claiming. To get straight to the point I love this game for a few reasons: 1. its sheer size and scope: beautiful land to explore and a vast amount of quest and tasks to complete. The graphics are excellent for a gameMy score is based SOLELY ON GAMEPLAY. Honestly, I haven't had as much of an issue with lag, that people are experiencing. Yes occasionally, but not as much as most people are claiming. To get straight to the point I love this game for a few reasons: 1. its sheer size and scope: beautiful land to explore and a vast amount of quest and tasks to complete. The graphics are excellent for a game this size. I can venture up a mountain, expecting to be stopped by the invisible wall most games have, only to get to the top and find a secret cave with some kind of mystical weapon in it.
    2. The leveling up system is superb, one the best i've ever seen. Not only are you forced to gain experience to move up certain traits, but you must also use those traits repeatedly in order level them up further. For example, to actually learn how to create stronger weapons, you have to create hundreds of weapons before you can create that ultimate piece.
    3. This game has a well designed story. A lot of thought was put into every detail of the game. When I say story Im not just referring to the main quest, Im referring to every interaction in the game. Every town, quest, side quest, guild and person has a story to tell (well almost). Ill never forget when I joined the companions and after a few missions in, found out they were a group of werewolves in the craziest way. And then to become a werewolf myself?! Amazing.

    At the same time there were things in this game that irritated the Sh*t out of me:
    1. Elder Scroll set the roleplaying bar high in regards to the level up system. But the COMBAT is lacking. I wish this game had a parry system or a role or something that felt like i can control the fight more. It needs something that makes combat require skill rather than the number of health potions you have at the time. If it had more of the combat Dark Souls has, then this game would be an easy 10 in my book. And I know Dark Souls is third person, but still. To top it off, other combat errors become increasingly irritating. YOU CANNOT attack while on your horse... at all. Not even with a Bow and Arrow. Very irritating. And you can easily permanently kill your partner. The computer dwindles their life down, after that all it takes is one blow from you (the main character) to end his/her life. And finally, almost every weapons is controlled the same as the last one. Every sword will swing the same as the next one no matter how strong it is. It doesn't matter if ones made metal and the other is made of glass, its still the same sword. Lame =/

    In Summary, all this game is missing is a funner fighting system. Combat is an important part of the game. It all starts here. If my character is wearing ninja gear and a holding a dagger, I want my character to damn near be as quick and nimble as a ninja. Rather than just being able to swing quicker and having access to a new power attack. If Combat was improved, this can EASILY be a 10. Other than that, this game is excellent and a great improvement to the roleplaying genre .    … Expand
  2. davenbettridge
    Dec 8, 2011
    8
    It's great that an RPG to take itself as seriously as Skyrim has been so successful as it will ensure that we continue to receive more epic RPG in the future. Skyrim's Nordic setting is good, the vast scope and the depth of the quests and skills are also compelling. The character skills, progression and the amount of things to do in the game are fun and rewarding which does make SkyrimIt's great that an RPG to take itself as seriously as Skyrim has been so successful as it will ensure that we continue to receive more epic RPG in the future. Skyrim's Nordic setting is good, the vast scope and the depth of the quests and skills are also compelling. The character skills, progression and the amount of things to do in the game are fun and rewarding which does make Skyrim value for money and worth peoples time. Unfortunately I found the main story fairly lame and I felt disinterested in most of Skyrim's characters and skipped over most of the dialog which should not be the case in an RPG. I found myself only completing quests for rewards rather than any story purpose which is a missed opportunity. I also did not like most of the character models in Skyrim, the humanoid faces were awkward to look at. As I played Skyrim on PC I was disappointed that the UI was very console friendly at the expense of much keyboard/mouse support, which is something that is inexcusable for a game originating on the PC. Overall Skyrim is an epic game and one that has a lot of depth, its a pity that the characters and overall story of the game are not better but it is what it is. Recommended.… Expand
  3. Wendigo2064
    Dec 3, 2011
    7
    It actually pains me to give "Skyrim" a higher score than "Dark Souls," particularly after being one of those snorty know-it-alls dismissing "The Elder Scrolls" and other Bethesda RPGs as bland excuses for a game. But I can't deny how INVOLVING this bland excuse for a game can be! Yes, the battle system is godawful compared to that wonderfully intricate hack-slash-block-dodge system inIt actually pains me to give "Skyrim" a higher score than "Dark Souls," particularly after being one of those snorty know-it-alls dismissing "The Elder Scrolls" and other Bethesda RPGs as bland excuses for a game. But I can't deny how INVOLVING this bland excuse for a game can be! Yes, the battle system is godawful compared to that wonderfully intricate hack-slash-block-dodge system in "Dark Souls." (Would it kill Bethesda to add a lock-on system so the fights don't feel like a floaty slap-fest somewhere three feet ahead of my player?) And yes, this game is as glitchy, if not more so, than "Dark Souls." (My personal favorite was a fight with a dragon who decided to fly right through a cliffside and kill some villagers on the other side like a sandworm.) Now here's what they did right with this game- they filled it, and I mean really filled it, with stuff to do. Confession - I've never been able to play more than five hours of a Bethesda/Elder Scrolls game before. Even "Fallout 3," one of the most critically acclaimed games of this generation, just felt like a whole lot of walking through the desert, talking to people who don't have anything interesting to say. In Skyrim, not only does every character have a hundred neat little quests to take on, they're actually DIFFERENT from each other. I got a fetch quest early on and had a sinking feeling I'd be collecting wolf pelt from respawning enemies WOW style for the rest of my life. But no. They really vary it up. And Skyrim,though large, is simply packed with unique moments. You can't walk for more than a minute before some new adventure begins. Admittedly, the game starts to gloss over after your 40th hour, but for once I can honestly say that my loss of attention was because of too much stuff to do, as opposed to samey grinding. I'm not giving it a higher review than 7, because the glitches really do ruin some of the immersion, and the battle system could do with a lot of work. But, unlike Dark Souls, none of the glitches felt game breaking. This is probably because it's practically impossible to do something wrong with your character, but hey. It's an adventure. You won't be challenged by this game, only immersed in it like a grand painting. And that's really not so bad.… Expand
  4. Wonky
    Dec 8, 2011
    10
    Yes, the game breaking bug was bad. Yes they shouldn't have released the game in such a state, but **** happens, and the main thing is they patched it. Buy the PS3 version safe in the knowledge that it is now entirely playable, and easily the best game ever released on the Playstation, it's THAT good.
  5. okamimiyazaki
    Nov 24, 2011
    10
    This game is amazing! Yes there are bugs, but that is to be expected with such an incredibly large game. I'm still in awe at how huge the world is, how many quests there are, and how much there is to do. There is so much life in this game and the detail is jaw-dropping; I didn't like Morrowind or Oblivion because their worlds felt dead to me and I was never inspired to explore or quest...This game is amazing! Yes there are bugs, but that is to be expected with such an incredibly large game. I'm still in awe at how huge the world is, how many quests there are, and how much there is to do. There is so much life in this game and the detail is jaw-dropping; I didn't like Morrowind or Oblivion because their worlds felt dead to me and I was never inspired to explore or quest... Skyrim is different. The dungeons are unique and creative, the boss fights are fun, and the quests are exciting! People interact with you constantly, making the world feel alive. On top of all of that you have the massive, beautiful environments plus all of the stuff you normally get with Elder Scrolls games (professions, great music, etc.) What am I doing even writing this review? I should be playing Skyrim!… Expand
  6. Railszach
    Nov 26, 2011
    10
    In my first 100 hours of this game I have joined a cult of cannibals, killed over 10 dragons, plundered countless dungeons, assassinated several political officials, became a werewolf, and became the head of a band of thieves.â
  7. Addicted2Games
    Nov 29, 2011
    9
    Skyrim, this is a game that will not let you live your life: you will be at work, thinking of this game, making out with your girl, Thinking of Skyrim. A beautifully crafted world, where you can almost smell the environment, If you do not own this game.. it is a must, not possible to just rent. I would give an in depth review, but there is no need.. because you just have to trust theSkyrim, this is a game that will not let you live your life: you will be at work, thinking of this game, making out with your girl, Thinking of Skyrim. A beautifully crafted world, where you can almost smell the environment, If you do not own this game.. it is a must, not possible to just rent. I would give an in depth review, but there is no need.. because you just have to trust the reviews on this one... Unless of course you don't like good games.. in that case, COD is the clear choice for you.… Expand
  8. 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.
  9. KerimBlue
    Nov 12, 2011
    10
    Magical is really the best word to describe this game. Sure, the close combat is not that great, but everything else is amazing. They really improved on the magic and I love that. The menu system takes a little time to get used to for those of us who have played Oblivion, but it's so simple once you do. The graphics are astonishing. You can tell they really tried with all the littleMagical is really the best word to describe this game. Sure, the close combat is not that great, but everything else is amazing. They really improved on the magic and I love that. The menu system takes a little time to get used to for those of us who have played Oblivion, but it's so simple once you do. The graphics are astonishing. You can tell they really tried with all the little details. There are some bugs, but what do you expect? Every game has bugs.… Expand
  10. et_phone_home
    Nov 19, 2011
    9
    Ps3 buyers deserved a better version. Like a programmer said "programming for the PS3 is what separates the good programmers from the bad programmers". So i don't need to say anything else.. Check this: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-13-skyrim-triple-format-comparison-gallery-comparison-gallery What a disappointment.

    Although the more you play the more you wanna play:)
  11. fatoldsun_98
    Jul 25, 2012
    10
    This game is still being played, however on a pc not the ps3 due to lack of support. It is still playable, but there are several broken quests that cannot be completed. This game is so huge it should be rated on a scale of 0..15 not 10. I would still give it a 15 out of 15 because of the sheer beauty of the game on the PS3. it plays a bit soft though, I'm playing at the highest levelThis game is still being played, however on a pc not the ps3 due to lack of support. It is still playable, but there are several broken quests that cannot be completed. This game is so huge it should be rated on a scale of 0..15 not 10. I would still give it a 15 out of 15 because of the sheer beauty of the game on the PS3. it plays a bit soft though, I'm playing at the highest level and am challenged somewhat but not the Demons Souls level of challenge.… Expand
  12. SonyFan
    Dec 6, 2011
    10
    This game is amazing. The graphics are good, and it's a lot of fun to play. I see a lot of people complaining about problems with the PS3 version, but I haven't seen most of it. My game started to stutter after 60 hours and a 9mb+ save file, and the patch fixed it. It's froze once in the whole time I've been playing, and I haven't had any broken quests or NPC's. The combat is a a lot ofThis game is amazing. The graphics are good, and it's a lot of fun to play. I see a lot of people complaining about problems with the PS3 version, but I haven't seen most of it. My game started to stutter after 60 hours and a 9mb+ save file, and the patch fixed it. It's froze once in the whole time I've been playing, and I haven't had any broken quests or NPC's. The combat is a a lot of fun, I love having magic in one hand and a sword in the other.… Expand
  13. MWesthoff
    Dec 1, 2011
    7
    Not a very ambitious game. There is nothing really clever or original about it. It's better than Oblivion but worse than Morrowind. The hand combat is really bad with annoying camera angles and the hit boxes for walls, rocks and hills often interfere with seemingly clear archery shots. The hot keys are clunky and will kill you more often than the difficulty of the game...especiallyNot a very ambitious game. There is nothing really clever or original about it. It's better than Oblivion but worse than Morrowind. The hand combat is really bad with annoying camera angles and the hit boxes for walls, rocks and hills often interfere with seemingly clear archery shots. The hot keys are clunky and will kill you more often than the difficulty of the game...especially with duel wielding. Most of the side quests seem like filler and will inevitably sent you through several doors with annoying load times, each load time for an entrance is about 15-30 seconds each way. Be prepared to spent about 10 hours looking at load screens if you plan on finishing the game and selling the loot along the way. The load screen flavor text gets stale real quick, after reading about trolls being weak to fire fifty times, I found myself pondering how and why some games get GotY awards and others don't. Also the game glitches out and freezes or flashes silver artifacts unless the machine is shut down about every 3-4 hours. I don't have internet at the moment and didn't really expect to download a patch for a game that doesn't even belong online. Thankfully it's not the best RPG that came out this year so maybe we won't have to put up with the mediocrity trend much longer. Long time MUD and UO gamer.… Expand
  14. Kr1sP
    Nov 20, 2011
    8
    Quite an awesome game, quite a few glitches and bugs but that's to be expected with such an expansive world. No t really worth the hype, I'm not sure where the hype came from, it seems like everyone is excited for Skyrim but doesn't know it's the 5 in a series. It i better than oblivion so it's a proper sequel but not a perfect game. Worth a buy for sure, contender for GotY but again, notQuite an awesome game, quite a few glitches and bugs but that's to be expected with such an expansive world. No t really worth the hype, I'm not sure where the hype came from, it seems like everyone is excited for Skyrim but doesn't know it's the 5 in a series. It i better than oblivion so it's a proper sequel but not a perfect game. Worth a buy for sure, contender for GotY but again, not the best game ever.… Expand
  15. vahn
    Dec 30, 2011
    9
    I played this game before the patch and then stopped for a while; then I found out the 6mb bug, loaded the patch, and played it again, so I'll say from the beginning that I had no major bug issues when playing this game. But to be fair, The elder scrolls series and fallout3 were somehow buggy all the time, but this is just personal. Now, what do we say about this? After playing it forI played this game before the patch and then stopped for a while; then I found out the 6mb bug, loaded the patch, and played it again, so I'll say from the beginning that I had no major bug issues when playing this game. But to be fair, The elder scrolls series and fallout3 were somehow buggy all the time, but this is just personal. Now, what do we say about this? After playing it for around 50 hours I can see lots of improvement over Oblivion: dungeons are FAR better than the previous game and not just a random place to loot your stuff. Some dungeons are filled with puzzles and traps, making them feeling more...dungeon-like! The quests are very interesting to do (not all of them, but most are) but you'll want to do all the quests you want because they're sometimes just fun to do. Characters looks more...human now and their dialogue is a lot more detailed (and the dialogue is also well voiced, and I played with Italian, French and English settings). The combat system is a lot more exciting and, let me tell you, I LOVE the dual wield feature: it gives a really good amount of tactics on which spells, weapons or shield to use; being able to shield yourself from a dragon's fire breath was the most impressive yet exciting thing ever. However...I really can't like the Perk system used in this game: TES was based on "being free", even on leveling your skills, and I just can't stand that you're limited to a certain amount of points for increasing your skills. Yes you can level any skill to 100, but you won't be able to get ALL of their perks and after playing morrowind and oblivion I just can't stand this choice. As I said also earlier, yes there are bugs in the game but except for having random crashes I really had no issues so I apologize if I missed some vital bugs. If I have to nitpick, i didn't like the 3d map (hard to control and not very precise); the inventory is very bland (you won't see your avatar either, unlike the morrowind and oblivion), and I personally found this game a "little" harder in comparison, making me play not higher than normal (Maybe I just suck, who knows?). Anyway, I'd say to give it a check: only those who hate Wrpgs or never liked TES before won't stand this; for everyone else it's probably one of the best RPG of the year.… Expand
  16. Iluvatar21
    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).    … Expand
  17. halo_on
    Nov 11, 2011
    7
    If you like rinse & repeat RPGs, Skyrim is for you. This is basically just a larger version of Oblivion with a different storyline. The graphics are terrible. The combat, compared to something like Dark Souls, is childish to say the least. But I can't deny how fun it is to just wander around and find things. That is the beauty of a game like Skyrim. There's just so much to explore! ButIf you like rinse & repeat RPGs, Skyrim is for you. This is basically just a larger version of Oblivion with a different storyline. The graphics are terrible. The combat, compared to something like Dark Souls, is childish to say the least. But I can't deny how fun it is to just wander around and find things. That is the beauty of a game like Skyrim. There's just so much to explore! But after playing Dark Souls and both games coming out within a month or so of each other, I can't give it more than a 7.… Expand
  18. SoopaSte123
    Nov 29, 2011
    10
    The only Elder Scrolls game I had played before Skyrim was Morrowind, and I hated it. Luckily, Skyrim is amazing and I love it. Immense world, limitless things to do, so many ways to play the game, good perk and leveling system, fun combat... so good. I played Skyrim for a week straight and still want more.
    My only complaints would be the few bugs and that the melee combat still feels too    The only Elder Scrolls game I had played before Skyrim was Morrowind, and I hated it. Luckily, Skyrim is amazing and I love it. Immense world, limitless things to do, so many ways to play the game, good perk and leveling system, fun combat... so good. I played Skyrim for a week straight and still want more.
    My only complaints would be the few bugs and that the melee combat still feels too much like you're just trading blows instead of stylishly fighting. Overall, amazing game. One of my favorites of all time.    … Expand
  19. newflesh
    Nov 19, 2011
    0
    Been playing for several days, about 10 hours in. For a first few hours everything seemed to be good, but then eventually I started to get really bored. I feel that Skyrim lacks the kind of magic that was in Oblivion for example. Also, while all the critics universally praised music in Skyrim, I think that Oblivion had much better and more beautiful music. Skyrim sounds doesn't evokeBeen playing for several days, about 10 hours in. For a first few hours everything seemed to be good, but then eventually I started to get really bored. I feel that Skyrim lacks the kind of magic that was in Oblivion for example. Also, while all the critics universally praised music in Skyrim, I think that Oblivion had much better and more beautiful music. Skyrim sounds doesn't evoke emotions in me as Oblivion did.

    And the main complaint I have is that the game has too little differences and improvements from Oblivion, I honestly expected much more. It's almost like MW2 and MW3. Yes, the map is new, but all other things are pretty much the same. Gameplay got Old, imo, staying the same as 5 years ago.

    Quests are mostly boring: go there, bring that, talk to him, kill dragon, learn the word, repeat x 100. When I look back on other Bethesda games, I come to conclusion that Fallout 3 is the best game they made. Skyrim gets 7 from me.    … Expand
  20. Tilet
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    This game really is amazing. They took everything that worked from oblivion, and made it stronger in every way possible. This is an incredible, huge and immersing game. If you have played Oblivion, Morrowind or any of the Fallout games - You need this. If you haven't ever played any of these games, now is the best time to start. Of course, Skyrim has it's minor glitches - but with a gameThis game really is amazing. They took everything that worked from oblivion, and made it stronger in every way possible. This is an incredible, huge and immersing game. If you have played Oblivion, Morrowind or any of the Fallout games - You need this. If you haven't ever played any of these games, now is the best time to start. Of course, Skyrim has it's minor glitches - but with a game this big, it would be impossible for it to not have them. 100% recommended buy.… Expand
  21. GreatreviewDmac
    Nov 23, 2011
    10
    I don't know where to start. This is one of those games where you can play for hours and still have more to do. The amount of content sets the bar for gaming. The game looks amazing with just a few pop ups but this is a HUGE game and I can't emphasize that enough. This game let's you choose your path it does it well and I would go as far to say it's GAME OF THE YEAR and more......... BESTI don't know where to start. This is one of those games where you can play for hours and still have more to do. The amount of content sets the bar for gaming. The game looks amazing with just a few pop ups but this is a HUGE game and I can't emphasize that enough. This game let's you choose your path it does it well and I would go as far to say it's GAME OF THE YEAR and more......... BEST GAME EVER MADE this is a hefty feat but it simply is a masterpiece there was a lot of work put into this game and it shows. BUY THIS GAME… Expand
  22. NoSaint
    Nov 17, 2011
    9
    If you love RPG games this one is the best at this moment!;) The only thing i didn't gave it 10 is that it's somethimes in cities get slower and laggy...;)
  23. Bloodtau
    Nov 17, 2011
    7
    I gave it a 7 mostly based on the PC version. Save your money and avoid the console port over crap and get it for the platform it was meant for, which is the PC. I'm not even sure why people get games like this for a console, worse graphics, dumbed down control's, no chance of modding and a HIGHER overall price.
  24. rcmiller
    Nov 18, 2011
    10
    This is easily the best RPG ever created. Period. The only complaint I have is that Skyrim is too good. I find it hard to hope that anything will come along that can beat it. Magnificent~! The Nordish world feels alive, vibrant, and not contrived. It would have been easy for Bethesda Soft to mimic LOTR. Instead they created a compelling world with wonderful content, awe inspiring magic,This is easily the best RPG ever created. Period. The only complaint I have is that Skyrim is too good. I find it hard to hope that anything will come along that can beat it. Magnificent~! The Nordish world feels alive, vibrant, and not contrived. It would have been easy for Bethesda Soft to mimic LOTR. Instead they created a compelling world with wonderful content, awe inspiring magic, and dragonborn "shouts" ! The music is tremendous. The graphical achievements are unparalleled. Only Oblivion compares to the scope and sense of non-linear adventure. The dragons, weather, and water effects are amazing... I have no complaints, only applause. A standing ovation for the Bethesda Soft team. I myself am a .NET software engineer. So, I know what time and effort must have went into this project. Bravo~!!!… Expand
  25. Naron5
    Nov 20, 2011
    7
    I am going to veer away from the technical bugs that this game contains as I have come across only a few and quite honestly, I expect that Bethesda will always ship games carrying a slew of bugs. We keep buying the games though so I am going to write this review with the assumption that there are a lot of bugs that will eventually be ironed out by downloading loads of patches that willI am going to veer away from the technical bugs that this game contains as I have come across only a few and quite honestly, I expect that Bethesda will always ship games carrying a slew of bugs. We keep buying the games though so I am going to write this review with the assumption that there are a lot of bugs that will eventually be ironed out by downloading loads of patches that will chew up much of my internet usage in the next 6 months.

    To the game, I have to say I think this is one of the poorer games that Bethesda has released of late for content. It is a massive open world but there seems to be too little to do in it. I tried really hard for the first uncountable hours to get loads of quests to do and what happened? I managed to get only two that were really side quests alone. Most of the quests in the game seem tied to the main plot line in so much as I went cold calling (travelling around looking for random dungeons etc.) I found several dungeons, cleared them out, only to find that they were areas the main quest needed you to clear out...

    And the dragons. Well, all the talk I have heard about fighting dragons and how cool it will be and how good they would look... So wrong. The first real dragon fight was like going on a picnic with a grumpy aunt and her children. We killed the dragon, who was less than awe inspiring in terms of AI, and there were no cheers or ecstatic reactions. The remaining soldiers just walked calmly around as if mulling around a water cooler trying to grab an extra minute away from the desk at work. The dragon animation was also atrocious. I sat on the watch tower and looked for the patterns, all ready to admire the animation of the huge fantasy beast. In a word... "unnatural" leapt to mid. The whole central theme to the game and it looked very average. When compared to Dragon Age 2 animation (and yes, a different style of game, but has dragons) Bethesda's dragons look rank amateur.

    What the game does have going for it though is a big improvement on Oblivion in the same area. First, the generic graphics (for example a dungeon) is filled with colour and beauty. The first dungeon I entered had me stop for a minute just to take in how much of a change had taken place. In Oblivion everything was same, same, same where everywhere you go in this world has points of difference and are essentially beautiful, engaging places. Complex layers of image and sound make this thoroughly engrossing. So much so that I am actually enjoying chasing alchemical ingredients for the very first time!

    Also, variety of creatures are really good now. In Oblivion you seemed to fight an endless stream of the same foes over and over through your levels, simply with adjustments being made to the stats of the creatures to make the fight more worthy. In Skyrim there are a wide variety of creatures now, that are all rendered really well and make for engaging battles. I especially love the giants who, when you come near your territory try to frighten you away rather than a direct attack. In fact the first time I came across this I kept approaching because I thought that if they did not attack immediately and just threatened perhaps I could parley and solve some of their problems for a while. What I found was that when I finally reached the giant area that they made kitty cat (as I am playing a Khajit) pancakes with their clubs in one well placed blow...

    Finally, the character development is greatly improved. Be who you want to be and specialise how you want to. You are not bound by class, only by skills that increase as you use them over time. Additionally, when you level up you choose either health, magika or stamina to increase and then can purchase a perk for your skills that give you a bit of variety when using the skill and makes your character a lot more useful. The interface for this is simple, but can be annoying if you want to move back to look at a different perk can take some getting used to. Apart from this, it makes the game complex when balancing perks, but less confusing for those who thought classes were so restrictive.

    I will play this game a lot. But I also know that the desolation of quests currently is probably to allow for much expansion with downloadable content (the quest for more money). Worth the money I paid for it? Probably not, but the game is beautifully rendered and solves some of the clunkiness of other games in the genre.    … Expand
  26. Xenugears
    Nov 23, 2011
    9
    Only about 20 hours in but Skyrim just keeps getting bigger and bigger. This is a staggering experience that will be in my game rotation for months to come. My only gripe is the cumbersome menu and load times.
  27. AuraGuider
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    At first, I was REALLY skeptical about whether or not Bethesda could live up to their promises. I played over 150 hours of Oblivion, and I was really absorbed into it. Long story short, once I heard that theme play on the main menu, I knew this game would be amazing. So far, I've put a lot of time into the game and merely scratched the surface. In my opinion, this IS one of the best gamesAt first, I was REALLY skeptical about whether or not Bethesda could live up to their promises. I played over 150 hours of Oblivion, and I was really absorbed into it. Long story short, once I heard that theme play on the main menu, I knew this game would be amazing. So far, I've put a lot of time into the game and merely scratched the surface. In my opinion, this IS one of the best games ever made. It took what Morrowind and Oblivion had added them together in a perfect package. Man, I feel sorry for those COD fans below. I spent longer exploring the world, ignoring the main quest than it took them to complete MW3's. Please, go back to playing your rehashed piece of garbage. I've got a whole world to get back to!… Expand
  28. Supermann
    Dec 2, 2011
    7
    The game's great, though it's really pretty bogged down by a load of glitches like flying mammoths and everything, and combat feels awkward and a little repetitive. But I guess it can be excused considering the game's size. The spells and everything add a cool touch and dragon encounters are FUN.
  29. ssp_87
    Dec 12, 2011
    10
    Still 0 lag after 60+hrs of play and a save file of 8MB+. Maybe all this QQ comes from outdated fail. This game is insane, the best game to date. A must buy.
  30. Fox-Adams
    Dec 15, 2011
    10
    I've never seen the Trolls so organized! Is this the beginning of the end for user reviews?

    A critical flaw for Metacritic... I'm saving my endearing review for 1up, who'll screen. This is clearly in the top 5 video games of all time. Minor flaws, who cares. So does your wife.
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PS3 Game of 2011
3
#3 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011
5
#5 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. 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. TotalPlayStation
    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.
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  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]
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