The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1001 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 691 out of 1001
  2. Mixed: 121 out of 1001
  3. Negative: 189 out of 1001
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  1. Captiosus
    Jun 11, 2015
    5
    I knew, from prior reviews of the original PC version and from word of mouth of friends who played the PC version at launch, that TESO was a very love-it-or-hate-it kind of game. I've played MMOs for more years than I care to admit so I figured I would at least give it a try when the console version came out, especially since I like the Elder Scrolls franchise. The short summary is: II knew, from prior reviews of the original PC version and from word of mouth of friends who played the PC version at launch, that TESO was a very love-it-or-hate-it kind of game. I've played MMOs for more years than I care to admit so I figured I would at least give it a try when the console version came out, especially since I like the Elder Scrolls franchise. The short summary is: I should have listened to my PC playing friends who told me to take a pass...

    I had really hoped Zenimax had learned from the months of the PC version and addressed the key shortcomings of the game but, sadly, they really did not. The biggest shortcoming of all is the fact that the game is a tedious slog. I don't mean that in the "the game devolves into a grind" sense because all MMOs fall victim to that. I mean this game is tedious from the word go. You spend more time reading or listening to voice overs than questing. A fetch quest might take a minute or two to complete but entails several minutes of dialog before AND after. It ruins any kind of natural flow the old Elder Scrolls series used to have. I don't mind only being able to roam level appropriate areas as they're sufficiently big enough to not feel limiting, but the standard of "find NPC, read tons of quest text, do fetch quest, return to NPC, read tons more quest text" just doesn't fit the old Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim molds very well.

    Graphically the game just looks dated on PS4. Lots of muddled textures, lots of pop in, frame drops, screen stutter, and jagged edges. I won't say it looks like a PS3 game because it would look a LOT worse on the PS3 but I will say it definitely doesn't look great. The gameplay is kind of a hybrid of Elder Scrolls and action RPGs where you can buy lots of different talents (as you level) but can only equip a limited number in your action bar. It works, most of the time, but feels a bit clunky compared to games which use similar face-button action functions (e.g. Diablo).

    So far the story is passable (I'll include my class/race/level/faction at time of typing at the end of the review for reference) but it feels like they're trying to shove too much stuff into one package. As a result, story arcs often feel like meaningless leveling filler to get players into new areas. Maybe they'll all connect later down the line, but I have my doubts.

    Music is, as always, amazing and sets a great tone. As do sound effects. It's just a shame those effects are tied to such mediocre graphics and clumsy gameplay. The good news is the Crown Store appears to be very well thought out and is, in fact, ENTIRELY cosmetic items that don't create a pay to win situation.

    Ultimately, while I like the Elder Scrolls franchise, I find myself ACTUALLY yawning most of the time I'm playing the game because the down time is too frequent and the action simply isn't that fulfilling. Exploration isn't rewarded nearly as much as it is in the main Elder Scrolls franchise and crafting is a shell of what it once was. The social aspects are clumsy on the consoles and area voice chat leaves a LOT to be desired.

    Since it's buy-to-play, I'll continue playing off and on but I can't see this being something I'd get into like other MMOs. I have no motivation to really care much about Tamriel or its fate. Certainly not enough motivation to ever spend real money on Crowns for the game. I'd strongly advice giving this a solid rental before dropping the $60 on it to see if it's something you could see yourself playing for the hundreds of hours they're going to want you to invest.

    (Character info at time of typing: Level 13 Khajiit Sorcerer of the Aldmari Dominion)    … Expand
  2. Bobbytheb
    Jun 9, 2015
    5
    I was a little hesitant to buy the game after hearing about the terrible launch it had on PC. But I heard several people tell me that it's like an entirely new game now and that it's great! So I caved in and decided to get it. So far I'm very disappointed in it. The game doesn't run very smoothly right now, you'll notice lots of tears, frame rate drops, and very poor hit detectionI was a little hesitant to buy the game after hearing about the terrible launch it had on PC. But I heard several people tell me that it's like an entirely new game now and that it's great! So I caved in and decided to get it. So far I'm very disappointed in it. The game doesn't run very smoothly right now, you'll notice lots of tears, frame rate drops, and very poor hit detection while in combat. The quests are incredibly dull, there is poor voice acting, and some pathetic dialogue. I found myself just skipping all the dialogue because of how uninteresting it was. You'd spend 5-10 minutes talking just to go out on a 2 minute fetch quest that wraps up the mission. I've played for about 5 hours now and still have yet to do a quest that was actually interesting. As of right now I seriously do regret buying the game. I'll spend a few more hours to see if it improves at all, otherwise I'm just going to trade it in.… Expand
  3. cargUlet
    Jun 10, 2015
    5
    The story is regular, not epic. Graphically is a ps3 game, with 20-25 fps max. Frequent fps drops to 10-15 fps.
    Voices for npcs are boring and flat.
    The game in general is ok, but only because of the lack of games in this "new generation".
  4. CaptnObvious
    Jun 9, 2015
    5
    Less a review and more an observation, but there's something wrong with the user review system when 1 of the top ten reviews is telling you guys there's 600 hours of content on RELEASE DAY. Thank you for the honest review, traveler from the future.
  5. Dukemang
    Feb 13, 2016
    6
    Elder Scrolls Online really left me disappointed when I first purchased this. I originally played it on PC (didn't like it then), but I bought it for my PS4 thinking they might have fixed the issues I had with it onto console possibly. Sadly, nothing really changed. The main quests are quite bland and it doesn't give you that "elder scrolls feel" to it, if you catch what I'm saying.Elder Scrolls Online really left me disappointed when I first purchased this. I originally played it on PC (didn't like it then), but I bought it for my PS4 thinking they might have fixed the issues I had with it onto console possibly. Sadly, nothing really changed. The main quests are quite bland and it doesn't give you that "elder scrolls feel" to it, if you catch what I'm saying. Obviously, Bethesda was tackling something they haven't done before, which is making a successful MMO, and they just couldn't get it all down. Aesthetically the game is great, but it's gameplay is honestly boring and the story didn't really stick to me. I'm sure if you're a huge MMO or Elder Scrolls fan you might enjoy this, but I would say it isn't worth buying.… Expand
  6. CraigEchols
    May 18, 2017
    7
    I really wanted to like this game more. Especially since I'm torn between it and Neverwinter. I am a big fan of Bethesda and admire the effort they put into their games, but I think the struggled a bit with this one.

    For starters, it is a good MMORPG and the number of subscriptions will agree with that. The world is HUGE and there is lots to do. If you have played any of Bethesda's open    I really wanted to like this game more. Especially since I'm torn between it and Neverwinter. I am a big fan of Bethesda and admire the effort they put into their games, but I think the struggled a bit with this one.

    For starters, it is a good MMORPG and the number of subscriptions will agree with that. The world is HUGE and there is lots to do. If you have played any of Bethesda's open world titles, you will transition very easily. This game also has some of the best dungeons I have played in since FFXIV. The enemies are a bit too predictable, but they provide a nice challenge. Everything you'd expect from a MMORPG is done here. Weapons, dungeons, lore, content, etc. Its all done very well. The combat also in line with the other Elder Scrolls games so that also made for an easy transition. While their is a bit of lag, its not inhibiting in any way and the world is beautiful and for the most part really smooth.

    For the bad news though, the real issue is it feels like an open world game more than an MMORPG. While the number of subscribers is high, the overall social level is pretty low. I think the lack of a chat bar really hurts this game in that regard in that you can't really tell some of the players from NPCs. When I play, I feel like I'm genuinely on my own unless I am doing something social, such as a dungeon or a group effect activity. i'd like to try to engage players, but unless they have headphones, it really doesn't work out and not every player is comfortable with headphones.

    Another problem as someone before mentioned, it can be really boring. If not the cut and paste fetch quests, the time it takes to get to them. One fetch quest leads to about 3 and those three lead to 3 more and so on. This wouldn't be so bad were it not for the lack of social interaction in the game because you could conquer it with other players, but that's where it starts to feel like a open world game again.

    I'm not much for PvP so I won't get into that. I prefer to have a comradery with my fellow players and this game left me a bit wanting in that. It really should be called Elder Scrolls IV.5: Tamriel. I'm willing to wait for the Morrowind expansion to see if there is any drastic change.    … Expand
  7. sefrabu
    Sep 15, 2016
    6
    Like most of the disappointed players I expected something more Skyrimish and less mmoish. There's a good deal of storytelling, and the music is great, but the gameplay is utterly boring, and the graphics don't impress that much. Stay away if you expect an Elder Scrolls game. If you're a fan of the series, grab a discount like I did, it's actually worth a few bucks - but not more.
  8. Optimus-Prime
    Jun 28, 2015
    7
    I have spent over a 100 hours in this game so far and I am thoroughly enjoying it! The best thing about the game in my opinion is the PvP, I have never played anything like it and playing with friends just makes it all better. DO NOT go into this game thinking its skyrim online otherwise you will just be disappointed. Instead, think of it as a new MMO on consoles and keep an open mind. TheI have spent over a 100 hours in this game so far and I am thoroughly enjoying it! The best thing about the game in my opinion is the PvP, I have never played anything like it and playing with friends just makes it all better. DO NOT go into this game thinking its skyrim online otherwise you will just be disappointed. Instead, think of it as a new MMO on consoles and keep an open mind. The graphics are nothing special but each area is huge and the variety of scenery makes questing interesting although some side quests may feel repetitive at times. The lore is detailed and voice acting makes quests a little more interesting than other MMOs ive played and taking the time to read a few of the details does give some perspective to my characters role in the grand scale of the game. The class system really does shine in this game as I never feel limited to a specific role and working out which skills and loot best suits my playstyle is a joy. This game would get a 8/10 from me if it wasnt for the awful server issues. I understand most MMO can have this problem shortly after launch so hopefully it will be sorted but nothing breaks immersion more than staring at a loading screen for 20 minutes when all you want to do is get right back into the action then you get kicked to the title screen, not acceptable. Good game with huge amounts of content at a reasonable price, unlike most games on the market today, that can appeal to all sorts of players.… Expand
  9. SyrusMatrix
    Sep 18, 2015
    5
    While the game play was fun, it got old extremely quick. The story was just absolutely dull. Nothing like a real Elder Scrolls game. I had a hard time even getting to the end-game because the questing becomes so monotonous that I could barely stand to start a new map and just run to 50 different little things, do one or two quests and move on. Eventually, you just stop caring...
  10. Lazlo21
    Jul 17, 2015
    6
    DISCLAIMER: I am definitely not one for online games. If you want talk about the online and cooperative features of the game, look elsewhere. Instead, I will be looking at it as just an average elder scrolls game.

    The elder scrolls online: tamriel unlimited is not necessarily a bad game. That's not to say it's good either. While I did find myself having fun at most times, I also felt    DISCLAIMER: I am definitely not one for online games. If you want talk about the online and cooperative features of the game, look elsewhere. Instead, I will be looking at it as just an average elder scrolls game.

    The elder scrolls online: tamriel unlimited is not necessarily a bad game. That's not to say it's good either. While I did find myself having fun at most times, I also felt fairly dissapointed.

    Now, the first thing that I think of when I hear "elder scrolls", and I'm sure most can agree, is a big, sprawling open world, with many creatures and characters. While this is certainly present in tamriel unlimited, i found this one more boring than most elder scrolls games. The characters didn't seem as rich and 3 dimensional as background characters in, say, skyrim or oblivion. Another thing that I didn't really see happening as much, is just walking around and discovering some random location, a thing that made exploring worthwhile. But, the soundtrack is amazing, as with most elder scrolls games, which makes exploring still feel like an amazing trek.

    The story, while not as great as it honestly could have been, was still engaging enough to make me put many, many hours into the game. I can also say, that some of the characters are really well voice acted. On the other hand, some are really badly acted. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the plot that they weaved. Also, like any elder scrolls game, there are hundreds of side quests to participate in across the map. But, unlike skyrim, these consist of either go fetch something, or go beat up a group of people, sometimes both. I only did these to gain extra experience.

    The gameplay is the same as it ever was. Pick a weapon, and spam that weapon as you run around like a madman. It's not much different, but it works. I personally enjoy attacking from afar with a bow and arrow, being stealth-like. Those who know me personally know I love stealth, and that's pretty much how I went about the game. For me, it never gets old. Overall, gameplay is the same as ever, very good.

    While I did not enjoy everything about ESO, I still very much had fun most of the way through. 6/10    … Expand
  11. owenrw89
    Sep 30, 2017
    5
    To me, it feels like a child's game. The world graphics are pretty sweet (seriously, just stop every now and then to look around, some of it's breathtaking) but the NPC and smaller world (caves, houses etc) are a bit, meh, I felt like I was watching/listening to a 'fun' educational video...Most NPC's look the same and the voice acting and overall dialogue feels really juvenile. The combatTo me, it feels like a child's game. The world graphics are pretty sweet (seriously, just stop every now and then to look around, some of it's breathtaking) but the NPC and smaller world (caves, houses etc) are a bit, meh, I felt like I was watching/listening to a 'fun' educational video...Most NPC's look the same and the voice acting and overall dialogue feels really juvenile. The combat is pretty basic (I.e. For kids) for the most part and each battle feels identical and boring. Also, however "open" the world is suppose to feel, the overall lack of choice feels restrictive (I.e. Opening a wardrobe will give you maybe one mediocre item based on your level).
    The smithing, enchanting etc systems are over complicated and no fun at all.
    The map system is terrible. Trying to find your way within a region is quite easy, but when you're trying to travel across Tamriel using a quest marker, you're screwed.
    Some quests are really good, but lots are either super long and FULL of dull dialogue, or they're short and beyond boring. I very much liked the fact that available quests are shown clearly above NPC's, and generally finding something to do is pretty easy.
    Although the casting system is clunky, the fact your can still cast and use weapons at the same time was also a good choice.

    All in all, it's not a BAD game, it's just mediocre and a very dumbed down. It's massive, it'll keep you occupied and it's mostly gorgeous to look at (unless you're talking to an NPC).

    DO NOT EXPECT THIS GAME TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED UNTIL THE ELDER SCROLLS 6. It'll mostly just frustrate and concern you. Seriously, just play Skyrim again. I played ESO for a long time, then went back to Skyrim. You'll fall in love with it even more when you return there after ESO.    … Expand
  12. Jedaii_Knight
    Jun 12, 2015
    6
    I knew I needed a mount. Figured for $15 go with ESO Plus. Get the 1500 crowns on top of 10% bonus leveling perks and gold. Only thing was ESO Plus wasn't offered at the time so paid for 1500 crowns to buy my mount. Next day ESO Plus is offered. Damn.

    So far so, repetitive bland quest after quest is becoming boring and tiresome. Is anyone else reading the conversation choices when    I knew I needed a mount. Figured for $15 go with ESO Plus. Get the 1500 crowns on top of 10% bonus leveling perks and gold. Only thing was ESO Plus wasn't offered at the time so paid for 1500 crowns to buy my mount. Next day ESO Plus is offered. Damn.

    So far so, repetitive bland quest after quest is becoming boring and tiresome. Is anyone else reading the conversation choices when accepting and turning in quests? I'm not. Too busy running to the next quest. There are plenty more ahead.

    If you're fortunate enough to play with a friend or make new friends in the game to co op with, it does help a little to break the dullness and repetitiveness.

    Need more group quests to make the game more interactive, social and fun. Too many simple solo quests. Gonna be a long grind to 50. Ugh!    … Expand
  13. Schuback
    Sep 19, 2015
    6
    I am huge fan of the Elder Scrolls series. I love the lore and everything about it. When The Elder Scrolls Online was first announced, I was very sceptical. Paid subscription hell no!! A year down the line it got released for the PS4 and the subscription fee was scrapped. Still wasn't interested because I've been hearing so much negatives. But due to extreme boredom on PS4 I finallyI am huge fan of the Elder Scrolls series. I love the lore and everything about it. When The Elder Scrolls Online was first announced, I was very sceptical. Paid subscription hell no!! A year down the line it got released for the PS4 and the subscription fee was scrapped. Still wasn't interested because I've been hearing so much negatives. But due to extreme boredom on PS4 I finally brought myself to get it. So first off, let me list what's negative about the game that still exist with the PS4 version.

    Cons:
    - Graphics are pretty dated. More like PS3 graphics. And no you listen, graphics do matter!!!!
    - Overall feel is very generic. NPCs and environment are bland, lacking in personality, absolutely nothing that stands out really. Most characters and places look the same.
    - Playing quests as a group is a huge facepalm. Grouping simply means, you are not playing in that same quest but instead, you and other players are playing your own solo quests at the same time same place.
    - Lots of uninteresting and fetch quests, and it's very likely you may get lost or not entirely understand the story as there is a lot to take it. You can't possibly remember everyone or everything. In the end you'd probably don't care.
    - Finding ingredients is very difficult and tedious. They are sparely spread out and I just don't have the patience.
    - Earning gold isn't easy and in the end there's nothing worthwhile to buy besides a mount, or pack capacity. No houses to buy, no nice outfits etc, nothing =(
    -the crown store is way overpriced. $10 for a dress? (that comes with no perks)

    So...then... why do I play this game daily for over a month now and loving it??? Well, as I said, if you're big fan of the series, get it!! Like if you're a fan of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, you'd get the Dynasty Warriors series. If you're willing to look past the cons I've mentioned, the game has lots to offer. Hundreds of hours of gameplay. The map is huge and levelling up as you explore/complete quests across Tamriel is so fun and addictive. You'll be unlocking new skills which allows you to make the ultimate character of your choice and liking. Character creation is quite detailed and you can create good looking characters (unlike in Skyrim/Fallout). The game is being updated constantly with new contents, so there's lots of potential here. Zenimax Online, please don't be afraid to try out new ideas and be creative. And try not to screw us over with ridiculous BS pricing. If your content is worth it, then I'll gladly pay for it. Otherwise, your game will never excel.

    Anyway, overall I'm freaking addicted to this game. If you're not a super fan of the series, get it during a sale. Otherwise, you owe it yourself to try this game out!!! =)

    Alright, I'm going back to playing.    … Expand
  14. Bertoflyingfox
    Jul 4, 2015
    6
    Pretty much the usual MMO fare here. Talk to characters, do their fetch/kill quests, talk to characters again. I will say it's great to have an MMO where you can freely experiment with different weapons/skills. As a mage, you arent restricted to staves and spells, you could wear heavy armor and use swords if you prefer.

    But it feels much more grindy if you arent an ESO Plus subscriber,    Pretty much the usual MMO fare here. Talk to characters, do their fetch/kill quests, talk to characters again. I will say it's great to have an MMO where you can freely experiment with different weapons/skills. As a mage, you arent restricted to staves and spells, you could wear heavy armor and use swords if you prefer.

    But it feels much more grindy if you arent an ESO Plus subscriber, since a lot of progress is slowed way down. The in-game price for a mount is absurdly high, I guess that's why the Crown Store was put into play. Text chat would've been nice to keep in the console versions as VOIP is a hassle to get working and also not everyone likes using microphones, especially when a lot of what's asked of you in this MMO doesnt require much strategy.

    My biggest gripe would have to be the very limited action bar, it just sucks to relegate myself to a few spells/abilities because my bar is full. At level15 you get a weapon swap mechanic that gives you a second action bar to work with, but the weapon swap feels completely unreliable during combat and it just becomes another hassle.

    Overall, a mediocre MMO.    … Expand
  15. rapology
    Jun 14, 2015
    5
    There are a number of features of this elder scrolls game that let the series down and in my opinion, make for a very mediocre online game.
    The game world is congested with ubiquitously irksome precipitous knolls and high ranging mountains, melee type enemies that can land a hit on you with a scimitar while you are at a distance and the problematic inability to guard against ranged enemy    There are a number of features of this elder scrolls game that let the series down and in my opinion, make for a very mediocre online game.
    The game world is congested with ubiquitously irksome precipitous knolls and high ranging mountains, melee type enemies that can land a hit on you with a scimitar while you are at a distance and the problematic inability to guard against ranged enemy attacks by using your surroundings.
    Other features which let this game down include the glitch prone quests, such as key quest characters appearing invisible, quest marker failing to guide you to quest objectives, random game crashes and long server queues log in's.
    Annoying nuances such as repetitive damage to armour after falling in battle and the lack of mobile repair kit drops, requiring constant traversal to town merchants to purchase repairs, make for poor game design.
    The upgrade system is not too bad and gives the feeling of rewarding the player, while the quests when fully operational, play out to engage the player and enthuse the player to continue playing.
    Online features such as playing quest's co-op dish out an average experience, but one that works to an extent nevertheless, with the exception of a co-op bug that makes quest characters invisible that should be addressed with future updates.
    All up if your an die-hard mmo fan and a fan of epic fantasy adventures this may be the game for you, if you are after a more polished and infallible mmo experience, this is one game to avoid.    … Expand
  16. Barhota
    Jun 11, 2015
    7
    So far I like the game its the first of its kind to hit PS4. Maybe those used to the PC MMORPG games expect more but honestly a 0 really? None of you are helping anything.
  17. sf808
    Jun 13, 2015
    7
    An okay game, but personally feel would be better if they had included the option to turn of the "MO" part of "MMO". you have to run through each mission as quickly as possible to try to negate the ceaseless enemy respawning triggered by the other players - it ruins any kind of immersion the game might have by having the boss you have just killed pop back into existence right before yourAn okay game, but personally feel would be better if they had included the option to turn of the "MO" part of "MMO". you have to run through each mission as quickly as possible to try to negate the ceaseless enemy respawning triggered by the other players - it ruins any kind of immersion the game might have by having the boss you have just killed pop back into existence right before your eyes. I may come back to this game in a year or so, when it is less populated - and i can enjoy it as a more single player orientated game.… Expand
  18. Jaypeace
    Jun 24, 2015
    5
    So I have played the game for over 6 hours And I'm not impressed. The game has been marginally fun at times but for the most part has been pretty dull. Most of what i have done is run around the map and clicked through dialog. I heard you have to warm up to it but I haven't felt any warmth at all. The quests for leveling up are just so boring. A few of the missions are fun but most of themSo I have played the game for over 6 hours And I'm not impressed. The game has been marginally fun at times but for the most part has been pretty dull. Most of what i have done is run around the map and clicked through dialog. I heard you have to warm up to it but I haven't felt any warmth at all. The quests for leveling up are just so boring. A few of the missions are fun but most of them are not. There aren't constant story missions to go through like most MMOs, instead you do a bunch of side missions then occasionally do a story mission. And playing with friends is pretty difficult. Unless each of you play with each other at the exact same time and pick up the same missions, you will end up doing different quests than your friend and you will be split up. The little bit of PvP I have tried doesn't seem to be skill based. I ended up fighting against players level 30+ when I was level 10. This is just an average game all around. Average graphics, gameplay, voice acting, and it's an average MMO.… Expand
  19. ravenclaw77
    Jun 25, 2015
    5
    Such a disappointment. Long time fan of the Elder Scrolls, and this game is one of the worst I've played on PS4.

    The combat is very bland, boring, and frustrating. They did a good job with immersion, but at the expense of playability -- I need to know what status effects are on myself, my allies, and my enemies. The game is pretty short for an MMO, there's not much to do once the    Such a disappointment. Long time fan of the Elder Scrolls, and this game is one of the worst I've played on PS4.

    The combat is very bland, boring, and frustrating. They did a good job with immersion, but at the expense of playability -- I need to know what status effects are on myself, my allies, and my enemies.

    The game is pretty short for an MMO, there's not much to do once the story is over. PvP is imbalanced and there's really no other end game. The guild system is pretty messed up and not having a proper auction house is inexcusable. Good luck forming new guilds down the road, everyone's going to want to be part of the biggest possible, to have access to trading.

    The crafting levels painfully slow and the gear you can make is obsolete by the time you can make it (like most, but not all MMOs). Ridiculous amount of recipes for trivial items no one wants, needs, or even has access to buy and sell.

    Personally, I'm going back to DC Universe Online, the only PS4 MMO where combat is fun.    … Expand
  20. Bigsolo
    Jun 13, 2015
    7
    This game was very disappointing to begin with and I actually removed it from my drive and put the disc on ebay before a friend convinced me to stick with it a little longer. Upon playing further in the game does actually start going and now I have hit level 10 things are becoming more fun. The combat also gets better as the fights become harder. I still think the graphics are not up toThis game was very disappointing to begin with and I actually removed it from my drive and put the disc on ebay before a friend convinced me to stick with it a little longer. Upon playing further in the game does actually start going and now I have hit level 10 things are becoming more fun. The combat also gets better as the fights become harder. I still think the graphics are not up to much and the frame rate drops are really bad and need fixing ASAP. Hopefully this game will gain an even higher rating as I get more drawn in as on release day I hated it completely...… Expand
  21. AnimeKing
    Jul 31, 2015
    5
    the game starts off good and promising but once you get to the next area which is like a nights play. you'll be forced to level other skills. if your ok with lvling skills from 1 to 20 or so thats alot of time, killing, or just getting hit for armor classes. so lvling is a HUGE time waster in this game.
    I played a dungeon with and without mic and I got to say mic was way easier but when    the game starts off good and promising but once you get to the next area which is like a nights play. you'll be forced to level other skills. if your ok with lvling skills from 1 to 20 or so thats alot of time, killing, or just getting hit for armor classes. so lvling is a HUGE time waster in this game.
    I played a dungeon with and without mic and I got to say mic was way easier but when your on the world map and running through town you can hear other players mic going off to loud background noise.
    it's not fun running through when you hear a vacum going off while he's right next to the dam repair merchant.
    dungeon themselves where a challenge but fun.
    I didnt pvp
    story wise never really payed attention except when you have to. it's an ok story from what i know but nothing new so far.
    A big deal I dont like, other then lvling, was the quests even the main story. ill start the main quest but then it'll just stop. so inessence they want you to just do ALL the quests. while that is good i really dont want to at times.    … Expand
  22. Businessupfront
    Jul 6, 2015
    6
    How this game has received all of the high scores I will not know. This game has so much wrong with it 5000 characters is not nearly enough. Questing with friends is frustrating since gathering quests and bosses basically need to be done twice if you're playing with a friend because the game only finishes the quest for the killer of the boss forcing your companion to fight the boss alone.How this game has received all of the high scores I will not know. This game has so much wrong with it 5000 characters is not nearly enough. Questing with friends is frustrating since gathering quests and bosses basically need to be done twice if you're playing with a friend because the game only finishes the quest for the killer of the boss forcing your companion to fight the boss alone. If you're looking forward to having a horse to ride through the dull and empty lands of Tamriel you'll be disappointed since bosses and some enemies will drop 1-3 gold but no worry, Zenimax was kind enough to allow you to pay them more in order to get more gold with godd*** microtransactions. The games one saving grace is it's pvp and faction battles which are really fun. That is the only reason that this game barely got a 6 out of 10 in my opinion along with decent and fun pve too. I wouldn't waste the $60 on this game but instead go out and buy Skyrim or Fallout which are 100x better than this terribly mmo.… Expand
  23. bodyjob
    Jun 20, 2015
    6
    So I just put a good solid 12 hours of gameplay on my ps4 and I do not like this game. I am a huge fan of Skyrim and Dragon age Origins and the new Elders Scroll tries to be both and in my opinion it has failed.

    The graphics are great, no argument there. For as far as I got, the story is good but where it loses me is the online game play, utter chaos and confusion. The pros about    So I just put a good solid 12 hours of gameplay on my ps4 and I do not like this game. I am a huge fan of Skyrim and Dragon age Origins and the new Elders Scroll tries to be both and in my opinion it has failed.

    The graphics are great, no argument there. For as far as I got, the story is good but where it loses me is the online game play, utter chaos and confusion. The pros about wandering around with strangers is that they can be of benefit if you happen to need assistance in a battle and someone else is wandering around at that same moment you are fighting and they join in.
    Where it gets odd is when out of no where they (online players) appear bouncing around and basically acting the fool therefore taking away the serious nature of the gaming experience. It is also not just once or twice but always, non stop, doesn't end. I find it very cheesy and distracting.

    Where this game really annoys and angers me is the detailed, if not all out complication of my inventory. ie: weapons, clothing, food, potions ect. Really, could you make it just a little more confusing and complicated!? How about weapon assignment and button selection,..really! It does not make any sense whatsoever!

    Another annoyance was the battle melees. So I'm crouched down attempting a sneak attack with the bow and after a shot or two I want to switch to my shield and sword. Well I cant, it says I cannot switch weapons in battle. So now I'm running backwards trying to defend close range with a long range weapon. Then there are the enemies that appear out of thin air when you are not properly equipped for the battle and when you go into your inventory to choose, the enemy can still attack and do damage, serious damage. It does not go into a pause attack mode or give you a fair chance to re-equip.

    The money situation is also a head scratcher. In battle your equipment also takes damage making it less effective and it costs to have it repaired but the cost is way to excessive for what you get out of it. I could not find a way to repair myself and therefore all the money I collected was used to repair my equipment or hope to always replace the equipment with new finds. What I found was that if I liked a certain look or garment, I was spending all my money just to repair it and I could not invest in anything new.

    I have more complaints but overall I would rate this game a 6.2 as it is not in anyway, shape or form Skyrim and has only some resemblance to Dragon Age Origins. Anyone thinking they are getting Skyrim 3 do yourself a favour and save your money. The most recent Dragon Age Inquisition was good but still, nothing compares to Skyrim. For me, this game was a complete waste of my money and I can only hope the developers get their act together a produce something as clean, exciting and beautiful as Skyrim

    I have package my game up and I am returning it to the store I bought it from. I wont get my money back but they will give me an in-store credit on something else that I'm sure will be better than this waste of time.    … Expand
  24. RealTime
    Jul 15, 2015
    5
    This review is short because I lost interest in this game after about an hour of game play, and here's why. It is not because the game play was slow, it was because I found a huge hole in the game that renders its core game mechanic pointless. After I escaped the prison, I wandered around and killed random creatures, and after about 30 minutes, I found that I leveled up four times withoutThis review is short because I lost interest in this game after about an hour of game play, and here's why. It is not because the game play was slow, it was because I found a huge hole in the game that renders its core game mechanic pointless. After I escaped the prison, I wandered around and killed random creatures, and after about 30 minutes, I found that I leveled up four times without even noticing. That is when it hit me: if I can level up this fast just by prancing around with the other million people in the world, what is the point of having quests to complete. I know that I am not the only one leveling up this quickly because I found that my friend was up to level 40 after about a week. Unless he had been playing non-stop the entire time, I find the leveling system to be somewhat offset. Sure there is some fun game play if you get into it, but I just find no point to this game.… Expand
  25. ropeyprune
    Jul 29, 2015
    5
    All I can say is this is a very mundane game and tends to be buggy at times.
    I've played worse games but after Oblivion and Skyrim this is quite a let down.
  26. qqbearz
    Jul 30, 2015
    6
    Elder scrolls started out as being one of the most hyped games of the past year which got me really excited to try a new MMO other then WoW that i have been playing for 10 plus years. That being said i had my doubts, how would it compare? so after finally obtaining a ps4 instead of upgrading my terrible PC it was time to cancel my blizzard subscription and focus on other games for once.Elder scrolls started out as being one of the most hyped games of the past year which got me really excited to try a new MMO other then WoW that i have been playing for 10 plus years. That being said i had my doubts, how would it compare? so after finally obtaining a ps4 instead of upgrading my terrible PC it was time to cancel my blizzard subscription and focus on other games for once. Let me start by saying i think this game looks incredible, the music, the areas etc. but one thing right off the bat made me disappointed. The health bars, the experience bar all the bar placements in this game are horrible, where is the small map? to make questing a sinch rather then constantly having to pop up the map on the screen. Questing is terrible way to much text, i understand they want the user to be in to the story but come on, id almost rather the usual go kill 10 boars in the field and collecting plants. Theres a very simple formula to games like these and i understand each one wants to have there own identity, but there should be some rules they must follow. The screen isnt even cluttered the interface could have been way better. And wheres the dungeon ques? or group que questing? how about inspecting other players? im sorry im not trying to make this the new Warcraft but they could have easily used that as a good reference tool this game is just to bland. When i see other high level players thats the only thing that makes me want to get further in the game, getting awesome looking gear. So it might be just worth it. I will continue to force myself to play, i dont mind that i spent the money to play i already had a psplus script so ill see how this pans out a couple months from now.… Expand
  27. star777
    Aug 8, 2015
    6
    I was hyped up for this game, but I've stopped playing it after only a few days. Theres too many things I didnt like.

    No chat box. I thought this could be an issue - and its a way bigger problem than I thought. I had to turn off voice of other players because, like in any mmorpg, theres trolls running around being annoying. Or blasting music or other random sounds. Graphics are ok. I    I was hyped up for this game, but I've stopped playing it after only a few days. Theres too many things I didnt like.

    No chat box. I thought this could be an issue - and its a way bigger problem than I thought. I had to turn off voice of other players because, like in any mmorpg, theres trolls running around being annoying. Or blasting music or other random sounds.

    Graphics are ok. I expected better but their not too bad. Vegetation doesnt look too good. Having said that, I knew that going in. As far as mmorpgs go the graphics are really good relative to other mmorpgs, so I give eso credit here. Bethesda made skyrim and skyrims graphics are way better. You can do a lot more with single player games then u can with mmorpgs graphics wise.

    Dungeons - All the random people going in and out of dungeons sort of kills the experience for me. Its different running dungeons with a party set up beforehand entering dungeons with a maximum set on the number of players that can enter dungeons. But, with all these random players running in and out and all over the place, I didnt really have much fun in the dungs.

    The abilities are really fun, I enjoyed that part of it. I was playing a nightblade and I think they made that class really well.

    I picked up this mmorpg so I could enjoy the game with other people. But with the game being limited to voice chat, its just annoying, so I decided to play solo but then realized I might as well play a solo game like witcher 3 or something that has way better graphics, and doesnt have random players all over the dungeons Im doing.

    Still a huge fan of Bethesda :D loved oblivion and skyrim!    … Expand
  28. DarthPreamp
    Dec 10, 2015
    7
    A disappointment at best. Every mediocre game I have ever played is awesome in the beginning but then fails in an epic way when the game passes its own introduction. The Elder Scrolls Online is exactly this way. A lot of fun until just after level 10. After level 10, the game slows down your progression and rewards for finishing quests, so you can't level up as fast. This is in order toA disappointment at best. Every mediocre game I have ever played is awesome in the beginning but then fails in an epic way when the game passes its own introduction. The Elder Scrolls Online is exactly this way. A lot of fun until just after level 10. After level 10, the game slows down your progression and rewards for finishing quests, so you can't level up as fast. This is in order to coerce you into their fee structure. If you pay their monthly fees, you will level at an appropriate pace to have access to the game. This is annying and under handed. I mean, hey, if you want to make it a 'pay to play' structure, go ahead. But pretending it is not a 'pay to play' structure, when in practical terms, it is a pay to play MMO, this is really really mean, and greedy. The game itself, until level 10, is a good game with good stories, but it is wrapped up in a fee structure that is disingenuous. It is similar to Star Wars the Old Republic in that both espouse a free play model, when in fact they are not free. In order to really level up enough to have access to the world and its stories, you must pay the monthly fee. So to sum up, if you want to pay to play , then this game is good and quite fun. However, if you aren't willing to pay into the Bethesda/Zenimax coffers on a monthly basis, don't waste your time with it.… Expand
  29. Bejjano
    Dec 14, 2015
    6
    For leveling, it isn't only about questing, which is nice. You can do the story missions, explore, and pvp to get to the end very quickly. For me, the issues started rolling in at level 50. That's where veteran ranks come in (16 of them), and you do even more questing or PvP along the way. The problem with pvp at max level is the imbalances. You will get annihilated by veteran rank 16sFor leveling, it isn't only about questing, which is nice. You can do the story missions, explore, and pvp to get to the end very quickly. For me, the issues started rolling in at level 50. That's where veteran ranks come in (16 of them), and you do even more questing or PvP along the way. The problem with pvp at max level is the imbalances. You will get annihilated by veteran rank 16s while you're sitting at around 1-4 veteran rank.

    It is painfully difficult to find groups for the dungeons and trials. The group finder tool does not work for dungeons, and not many people on console are attempting to do the trials (equivalent to raids in WoW) on console. You are level with that struggle as well as an annoying crafting system that time gates you on incredibly long research for end game gear, where it'll literally take at times 30+ days to finish one item research.    … Expand
  30. Ryskim
    Jul 1, 2016
    7
    It is a good game. With many hours of gameplay. Lacks text chat, forcing you to either learn how to speak other languages in voicechat or play silent -what mostly happens-. All in all, a text chat will be released in August and even though a classless system would've been much better as in previous games of the franchise, there are lots of combinations and no armor or weapon restrictionsIt is a good game. With many hours of gameplay. Lacks text chat, forcing you to either learn how to speak other languages in voicechat or play silent -what mostly happens-. All in all, a text chat will be released in August and even though a classless system would've been much better as in previous games of the franchise, there are lots of combinations and no armor or weapon restrictions at all. No playable necromancy is a big let down for me, as I've been a Necromancer in both Oblivion and Skyrim. But we're talking about PS4 version so I'll say excellent controls -this game was made to play with a controller clearly- and bad framerates in certain areas. I played even the Beta in the PC version and still some animations are really awful like sprinting and some spellcastings. Didn't they have enough time to rework the animations?… Expand
  31. SMNT999
    Mar 18, 2016
    7
    First I loved this game. Now I just hate it. Although it is good the download insanity destroys any fun. Such a pain must be punished. So I only give 7 Points.
  32. WEBZPINNER
    Oct 8, 2015
    5
    Graphics and music are great, but doesn't do much if you cannot get on the game. I finally sold the game, I was so put off with the constant server maintenance and repeated kick-offs.
  33. TMath
    Jan 20, 2016
    6
    MMO? not really...horrible pve. very very very lazy quest. good combat and leveling system. combat is fluid and dynamic pvp is fun too. everything els is bad. glitchy af. horrbile co-op(its a **** MMO!) and underwhelming quest with poor immersion
  34. valkyrie247365
    Feb 3, 2016
    7
    I love this game. I played Oblivion and Skyrim, its the perfect prequal. It is very similar to other MMORPG's such as Everquest, Ultima Online, or World of Warcarft. There are a few things that are irritating though. In order to access all of the world, you either have to purchase the additional expansion via 'crowns' or pay a monthly membership which gives you crowns. While you get 1,500I love this game. I played Oblivion and Skyrim, its the perfect prequal. It is very similar to other MMORPG's such as Everquest, Ultima Online, or World of Warcarft. There are a few things that are irritating though. In order to access all of the world, you either have to purchase the additional expansion via 'crowns' or pay a monthly membership which gives you crowns. While you get 1,500 crowns monthly its much cheaper to spend the extra $40 and just get both expansions, which gets pricey considering that you not only pay for you console multiplayer access but the game!!! Pretty much everything else that is in game can be found in the game. If you find yourself totally lost, feel free to look up the guild Vera Causa. Lots of us can help!… Expand
  35. JamieMcConville
    Jun 7, 2016
    7
    Have a friend to play with if you want to buy this, without one it's pretty boring. The combat is decent, solid physics all round. The story is pretty good but compared to skyrim or oblivion it's weak. It has but one MAJOR flaw, Time. The amount of time needed to play is too much for the average console gamer, bethesda should have knew this, but they went ahead and put out a game onHave a friend to play with if you want to buy this, without one it's pretty boring. The combat is decent, solid physics all round. The story is pretty good but compared to skyrim or oblivion it's weak. It has but one MAJOR flaw, Time. The amount of time needed to play is too much for the average console gamer, bethesda should have knew this, but they went ahead and put out a game on console highly favouring the lifeless in pvp and a game that puts off any casual that buys it because of the time needed to sink into it. Don't buy if you don't have a free week the get to at most to a level were you can get 5 hit by a veteran rank 16 player. Pvp at level 10 to 40 is extremely unbalanced.… Expand
  36. compaysegundo
    Jul 16, 2016
    5
    I have played ESO from the launch to this day with several breaks. The first impression of the game is beautiful. It's a bit like Skyrim, with the same good crafting system, a pretty actionorientated combat which also is a bit like in Skyrim, pretty good graphics and a dense fully voiced storyline.

    So why only 5 points? The game is a mix of Skyrim and an MMO, for an MMO it is too much    I have played ESO from the launch to this day with several breaks. The first impression of the game is beautiful. It's a bit like Skyrim, with the same good crafting system, a pretty actionorientated combat which also is a bit like in Skyrim, pretty good graphics and a dense fully voiced storyline.

    So why only 5 points? The game is a mix of Skyrim and an MMO, for an MMO it is too much singleplayer based, for a singleplayer game the story and landscape are too repetitive and boring after a while. Technically it is far away from the stability of an MMO like i.e. FFX14.

    Since 2 years the company "invents the game ever new", means doing nothing for a while, then change everything, with new and old bugs and many unbalances coming up. Then again sits there and does nothing, while trying to invent ESO new if playerbase goes down again. This game does the company since launch while ESO became more and more instable and a technical desaster.

    If you see ESO in a special offer for like 9.95 give it a try. For some time it will sure be entertaining and it is absolutely playable without Sub or buying anything else. But i fear most people will be disappointed after playing for a while....    … Expand
  37. hknyrbkn
    Oct 16, 2019
    5
    I and my boyfriend have been playing this game since it came out, first on PC in 2014 and later on PS4. It is the one and only MMORPG we're playing. Even though we are playing it intensely from time to time, we both think it deserves much less and it is overrated. It is boring. Quests are boring. World design is ugly and shallow. Everything in the game consumes your precious time. ButI and my boyfriend have been playing this game since it came out, first on PC in 2014 and later on PS4. It is the one and only MMORPG we're playing. Even though we are playing it intensely from time to time, we both think it deserves much less and it is overrated. It is boring. Quests are boring. World design is ugly and shallow. Everything in the game consumes your precious time. But somehow it catches you in its web, making you want to create just another character, this time a witch elf, this time a burglar khajiit. If you are not an MMORPG fan, and just love the world of TES, don't play it. An addictive waste of time.… Expand
  38. NazgulzLegacy
    Apr 15, 2022
    5
    No directions they can easily end up sending you to quests that are way too hard but you only figure it out by failing it just send me where im supposed to go
  39. ZXSth
    Mar 13, 2023
    5
    *This review may be revisited in the future

    So far, it feels as though Elder Scrolls Online is something I manage to tolerate in short bursts. Its combat is simplistic and uneventful; its quests and narrative fail to engage me; and overall, it is something that I just can't get fully invested in. There is something here that I really want to get into, but overcoming the aspects I just    *This review may be revisited in the future

    So far, it feels as though Elder Scrolls Online is something I manage to tolerate in short bursts. Its combat is simplistic and uneventful; its quests and narrative fail to engage me; and overall, it is something that I just can't get fully invested in. There is something here that I really want to get into, but overcoming the aspects I just mentioned make doing so a major slog.

    I love the potential for individuality when it comes to building a character in ESO. There are very few limitations when it comes to individualizing each class to your desired play style, and there is absolutely no barrier to entry in terms of difficulty. But truly, ESO is the very definition of mundane. I keep hoping against hope that something will grab me, and am consistently met with disappointment.

    This is not "Skyrim online." This is a mediocre facsimile of not just better Elder Scrolls games, but also better MMOs. Though it is not intolerable, it has, thus far, failed to deliver a gripping experience.    … Expand
  40. NighteBondo
    Aug 20, 2020
    5
    Anything that isn't single player has become about having meta builds. So if you dont like making out exelsheets figuring out how to optimize your build, and want to do multiplayer content, this game is not for you.
  41. RedDragon1240
    Mar 14, 2021
    5
    I am a long time fan of ES lore since Morrowind. This is not an ES game, period. Gamplay mechanics are repetitive, quests are repetitive and dull.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2015
32
#32 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. games(TM)
    Aug 16, 2015
    80
    A couple of lines of dialogue can often be all you’re given before being plunged into whatever mundane task is expected of you; rare are the significant characters and even rarer are the ones you care about. It just doesn’t maintain the same depth of exploration or profundity that the series is known for, leading to a much quicker-paced Elder Scrolls experience.
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  2. GamePro Germany
    Aug 12, 2015
    86
    Even simple quests cause a chain reaction of new incidents and it's possible to see how the player affects Tamriel. But if you expect something like Skyrim with coop-mode you still have to wait for another game.
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  3. Gamer.nl
    Aug 3, 2015
    65
    This is a nice RPG and a bad MMO. The game is playable without subscriptions and it offers a lot of content to explore. Playing together with other gamers still is not really working properly. It is too bad this game does not impress, even though the development system for characters and the PvP are fun.
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