Battlefield 4 Review
Issue 50 • December 2013
1 • GameOn Magazine
Welcome
The Elder Scrolls Online Release Dates: 4 April, 2014 (Worldwide) - PC/Mac OS X Summer 2014 (Worldwide) - PS4/Xbox One The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
2 • GameOn Magazine
Welcome
H
ello there dear readers. The Elder Scrolls series has been one of the greatest gaming franchises of all time, causing the
masses to rant and rave about their incredible installments. Now the series is about to embark down a new path; the MMO. With the release of The Elder Scrolls Online but weeks, days even, away (and trust us we’re counting them) we decided to celebrate this wonderful event by releasing a Special Edition mag to mark the occasion. So if you can’t get enough of The Elder Scrolls, or MMOs for that matter you’re in for a real treat. Not only have we scoured our back issues to find some of our oldest reviews, previews and articles based on and around everything Tamriel, we’ve also thrown our hearts and souls into writing anew about this series that we love so very much. So make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the show. We recommend a leisurely reading pace and a hot beverage (and a cheeky biccie) to hand for maximum effect. Here’s to The Elder Scrolls, thanks for existing! You can find us on Twitter @TheGameOnMag and Facebook at Facebook.com/GameOnMagazine.
The Editor
Contributors
Chief Editor - Steve Greenfield Editor - Kris West Co-Editor - Emsey P. Walker
Games Critic - Jessica Greenfield Games Critic - Chris Standring Games Critic - Kevin Malone Games Critic - Emsey P. Walker Games Critic - Chris Wakefield Games Critic - Ryan Davies Games Critic - James Furlong Games Critic - Andy McDonald Games Critic - Mohamed Elsamahy Graphic Design - Steve Dawson Graphic Design - Kris West Research & Proofing - Emsey P. Walker
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3 • GameOn Magazine
Contents
74
20
68
About GameOn 6 About Zenimax Online 7 About Bethesda Softworks 8 The Elder Scrolls Online: The Reason I Cancelled WoW 10 Through the Eyes - First Person in The Elder Scrolls 16 The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
Looking Back: Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall 20 Looking Back: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind 24 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Preview 28 My Mishaps and Adventures in Skyrim 36 My Life in Skyrim 40 4 • GameOn Magazine
Contents 54
42
66
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An Interview with a Modder 42 Returning to Skyrim: Now With Mods! 46 PC Gamer Blues 50 The Elder Scrolls Online First Impressions 54 MMO Virgin Plays The Elder Scrolls Online 60 The Elder Scrolls III: The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
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Morrowind (GOTY Edition) Review 66 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (GOTY Edition) Review 72 The Elder Scrolls IV: Skyrim Review 76 The Elder Scrolls IV: Skyrim - Dawnguard Review 82 5 • GameOn Magazine
About
The GameOn Magazine
G
ameOn Networking Ltd was founded in 1997 with the aim of providing “lag free” gaming solutions for dedicated online gamers. Online connectivity in the late 90s was such that realtime gaming was beyond the reach of the average gamer, and so GameOn began hosting LAN parties throughout the UK. To date, GameOn has hosted almost 100 LAN parties. In August 2008, GameOn began producing GameOn Magazine, an online PDF magazine covering all aspects of gaming including reviews, previews, news and articles. The dedicated magazine staff also provided coverage at high profile gaming events such as E3 and gamescom. In February 2012, GameOn Magazine launched in ebook form on the Amazon Kindle marketplace in both the UK and US and has since developed from strength to strength. With the same quality coverage as always and dedicated writing and research staff the magazine has gained a loyal following and secured its position as one of the best selling gaming magazines on the Kindle store. Later in 2012, GameOn launched the colour version of the magazine via the Magzter store which is avilable on Android, iOS and Windows. For more information, please visit www.gameonmag.com
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6 • GameOn Magazine
About
Zenimax Online Studios
Z
eniMax Online Studios is a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media Inc. and was created to specialise in the development of massively multiplayer online games. Founded in 2007 with Matt Firor at the helm the company is based in Hunt Valley, Maryland as well as other offices in Galway, Ireland and Austin, Texas. With around 250 extremely talented employees, ZeniMax have formed a world-class online game development team dedicated to bringing the world of Tamriel to players in the MMOG format aptlytitled The Elder Scrolls Online. We have a dedicated, experienced team, who is working very hard to make the best MMOG of all time, and we’re committed to the idea that if you want to make a great MMO, you have to “go big or go home”. It’s a tough, competitive market - but we plan on making a big impact with Elder Scrolls Online, and we’re poised to do just that. - Matt Firor, Studio General Manager, ZeniMax Online. The parent company of ZeniMax Online Studios, ZeniMax Media Inc. has been around since May 1999 and is responsible for some truly great games over the years. With other subsidiaries like Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, Arkane Studios, Tango Gameworks, MachineGames and Battlecry Studios that should come as no surprise really. Game series like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout as well as others like Dishonored, Arx Fatalis and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic have been born from ZeniMax Media as a whole and we are most grateful indeed. For more information, please visit: http://www.zenimaxonline.com/
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
7 • GameOn Magazine
About
Bethesda Softworks
B
ethesda Softworks is a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media Inc. and since 2001 a publisher for some outstanding games and game series. Originally founded as Bethesda in 1986 in Bethesda, Maryland, moving to Rockville, Maryland in 1990 the company has had games across a number of different platforms, including the very first physics-based sports simulation (Gridiron!) in 1986 for the Atari ST, Commodore Amiga and Commodore 64/128. Probably the most well-known and notable series of games to come from Bethesda Softworks is The Elder Scrolls franchise. Starting with The Elder Scrolls: Arena in 1994, the series has had four subsequent (and direct) sequels, Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim, as well as three spin-offs; Battlespire, Redguard and The Elder Scrolls Travels series. The creation of this insanely popular world has led to the exciting release of new MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online this year (2014). Other big names from Bethesda Softworks include, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Brink, RAGE, Dishonored and Rogue Warrior to name but a few. As well as The Elder Scrolls Online release, the company has more potentially huge games coming out this year like Wolfenstein: The New Order and truly terrifying The Evil Within. They are also well known for their titles based on popular movie franchises. The Terminator, Star Trek and The Pirates of the Caribbean are just three such blockbuster tributes. One of the biggest names in the game industry, they are not stopping any time soon. For more information please visit: http://bethsoft.com
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8 • GameOn Magazine
About
Zenimax Online Studios
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Edition
9 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
The Elder Scrolls Online: The Reason I Cancelled WoW
The Elder Scrolls Online: The Reason I Cancelled WoW Emsey has always been a bit of a die-hard World of Warcraft fan, but here she tells us why she has already cancelled her subscription in favour of the new Elder Scrolls Online release.
By Emsey P. Walker
E
lder Scrolls, you have my attention. Having been a huge fan of both the Elder Scrolls franchise and MMOs in general, it was no surprise to find myself a little too excited when Bethesda announced we would be finding ourselves with a combination of the two in the not too far future. I believe my exact words were: “Holy fudgesticks I need this game yesterday” and every trailer or press release on the subject just cemented my determination to try it even more.
justify two monthly subs and I would have to choose between the two games. Of course, the decision making would come after I had had a chance to taste the offerings of Tamriel in all its massively multiplayer glory, and when I was accepted into the beta I was overjoyed that I would finally have my chance to try it. I knew I was going to love The Elder Scrolls Online from the second I got to the character creation screen. I poured my heart and soul into that process, spending nearly an hour and a half playing with all the different options to get my Khajit, Emsey (of course) perfect.
The kicker came though when I found out that it was going to be a monthly subscription, much like World of Warcraft, which I have had a fond affair with for a good ten years now. The problem wasn’t that there was going to be a monthly subscription, there After hitting enter and watching is no issue with that for me. No myself spawn in a dark dingy the problem was that I couldn’t cell, in classic Elder Scrolls The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
fashion, I felt a bit nervous. I had put this game up on such a high pedestal, how on earth would it meet my high standards? More importantly, would it be better than World of Warcraft? Then I heard the voice of the prophet and instantly a grin swept across my face with the most ridiculous speed. “Is that Dumbledore?” my partner asked from across the room. “OHHHHH YEAAHHHHH!” I replied, more enthusiastic than a child high on M&Ms finding a bouncy castle in their back garden. Despite the teething problems that you would expect in any game, let alone an early beta test, I found myself falling hard and fast. The first-person perspective made me feel more immersed, like the previous entries in the series and their superb success in this aspect. The plot is so well designed; every starting area and 10 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
The Elder Scrolls Online: The Reason I Cancelled WoW
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
11 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
The Elder Scrolls Online: The Reason I Cancelled WoW
The revered warrior race of Tamriel, the Redguard are fighters through and through. As children, the residents of Hammerfell are taught how to fight and how to survive; their final rite of passage involves a brutal journey through the merciless Alik’r desert, a land that the Redguard have forced themselves to endure. Although not originally from Tamriel, the warriors have earned a fierce reputation among other races for their unmatched skill in battle. Due to their suspicion of magic, their abilities with physical weaponry are legendary. They are athletic, skilled and genetically ready for battle. In-game, their numerous stamina boosts give them the edge over the competition, while their fighting ability is enhanced through shield buffs.
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race that I sampled was unique and interesting, easy to follow and did something that other MMOs often fail to do - take that boring grind out of those obligatory quests. So many times in other games of this genre I am sent from A to B, to escort this person to this place, to collect so many feral highlander toes or whatever junk it is that questgiver deems necessary to send me out to get. These sorts of quests can feel clunky and lazy and more often
than not I find myself skipping over the quest text, having no idea how it relates to the plot as a whole. This is where The Elder Scrolls Online excels (but is by no means the only area in which it does). Every single quest feels important, part of the story, necessary for my personal journey, taking the chore out of completing these tasks. Nothing feels beneath me, I am no one’s dogsbody here, which is probably the most liberating feeling I have experienced in an MMO in years. 12 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
The Elder Scrolls Online: The Reason I Cancelled WoW Unlike my precious World of Warcraft, combat here isn’t a case of just hitting the numbers on my keyboard, it’s a case of balancing my equipped weapon, my chosen skills, aim and real tactics, even just on a solo level. To be honest, it’s the most RPG I’ve come across in an MMORPG for a very long time and I am very impressed at the design and application that has obviously taken place to make that so.
have played World of Warcraft on and off for such a long time, hated and loved it (often at the same time) and now I have found something that not only competes with WoW but has the potential to blow it out of the water. I can only hope that the monthly subscription goes towards constant improvement and upkeep, although I have no doubt it will be kept at the highest of standards. That is why I have already cancelled my To become lost and swept away in WoW account: to be prepared a game where there are hundreds for the bomb of awesome that is of others playing around you is When it comes down to it, I The Elder Scrolls Online.
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a very rare experience, and one that should not be taken lightly. The minimalist UI replicating the likes of the hugely successful Oblivion and Skyrim goes miles and miles to helping with that. Every inch of Tamriel is begging to be explored, with surprises everywhere, and you can do so without any distracting scribbles or tooltips on your screen. You don’t need any mods to enhance your time in the game; in my opinion everything is just, well, perfect.
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Screenshots
The Elder Scrolls Online Beta
Issue 53 • March 2014
14 • GameOn Magazine
Screenshots
The Elder Scrolls Online Beta
Issue 53 • March 2014
15 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
Through the Eyes - First Person in The Elder Scrolls
Through the Eyes - First Person in The Elder Scrolls Ryan talks about the unique first-person perspective in some of the games of The Elder Scrolls series and how it affects the immersion levels of the RPG games.
By Ryan Davies
Sorry to say, I’ve never been a fan of role-playing games. I’m well aware that there have been some very, very good RPGs over the course of the past 30 years, but very few have piqued, let alone satisfied, my interest. I can’t give you some long-winded Freudian reason as to why I generally don’t enjoy the genre, purely because I don’t know. I’m a fan of fantasy settings, character-based stories and customisation; but for me that often gets lost behind seemingly endless stat screens
PS3. There’s one simple reason for this; unlike so many RPG games out there, the Elder Scrolls series allows the player to view the wonderful land of Tamriel in the first-person. It’s a simple design choice, yet for some players (myself obviously included) it makes all the difference. In my opinion the first-person viewpoint allows for a much greater sense of involvement; looking through
"It's a simple design choice, yet for some players it makes all the difference." and clunky combat. Despite this, The Elder Scrolls has held a place in my heart since I first played Oblivion in the early years of the The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
fan but despite this, it’s safe to say that I’m not a fan of FPS stories (give or take a couple of special examples). Third-person games have, generally, provided much better tales. Uncharted in the first-person is practically unthinkable but the difference here is that Uncharted is a story about Nathan Drake, watching his antics while playing is a key part of the experience. Games like The Elder Scrolls are less about the player character and more about the world in which they live.
So what’s actually better about seeing the world through your characters eyes? In The Elder Scrolls, there are a fair few things. The first, and probably the most significant, is the the eyes of the avatar, you not combat system. The combat in only feel more connected to TES has long remained one of the character, you also feel my favourite elements of the closer to the world. I’m an FPS whole game, contrary to general 16 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
Through the Eyes - First Person in The Elder Scrolls
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Articles
Through the Eyes - First Person in The Elder Scrolls
Before the Second Age, the Orcs were a nomadic and barbaric race feared and loathed across Tamriel. However, coinciding with the Daggerfall pact, the Orcs of High Rock have formed a new city named Orsinium, finally giving the Orsimer a place to truly call home. Emboldened by their new sense of being, the Orcs have entered the Daggerfall Covenant as one of the most fearsome races in all of Tamriel. Not only one of the largest physical creatures, the Orsimer are also the finest smiths across all the provinces; their armour and weapons are coveted by other races. Unsurprisingly, the Orcs have an advantage with heavy armour and their health is far superior to even the Nords of Skyrim.
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opinion on the matter. It’s pretty clumsy and not especially tactical, but it has a uniquely satisfying feel. The back and forth nature of the system is best experienced in first-person; only from this view can you feel the jarring effects of each sword blow, or the terror of a fireball hurtling towards you. Not to mention that you can play with a lot more precision and finesse; only in first-person can you truly grasp the subtleties of the TES combat system. Then there’s the stealth mechanic, almost impossible to use effectively in the thirdperson (in my experience, at least). However, I will admit that the third-person view is very helpful for cheating; swinging the camera around a corner to see what’s on the other side isn’t the most chivalrous of actions, but it sure is useful. Still, it’s much more realistic and a lot more fun to play through the eyes; it’s the only viewpoint that’ll make you feel like a true thief. There are plenty more smaller elements that are enhanced by the first-person viewpoint: archery is a joy from this view, and one of
my single favourite parts of TES. Pickpocketing is generally a lot easier, and it’s a much better viewpoint for comprehending the pure scale of many of the game’s larger elements. Aside from mechanical advantages like this, the firstperson view is also a much better way to experience the magical world of Tamriel. I’ve always struggled to launch myself into the brilliant worlds that the best RPG/MMO games develop; the third-person only nature of most of these games makes it that much trickier to feel connected with the world that you’re exploring. Plonk an Argonian right in front of my face and it’s much easier to understand the problems that the race has faced throughout the history of Tamriel; it’s also a good way to see how awesome they look. A Wood Elf high on Skooma? Much more hilarious when you can see him unravel directly in front of you. A dragon’s gaze? A hell of a lot more intimidating when he’s staring into your own eyes. For me, this isn’t a matter of debate. The first-person view is what makes The Elder Scrolls one of, if not the very best, fantasy game series of all time. George 18 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
Through the Eyes - First Person in The Elder Scrolls R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series is a prime example of direct viewpoints being used to incredible effect within a fantasy setting. By describing every section of the book through the eyes (and within the mind) of each character, we come to understand the world that much
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better. Just for the record, I’m aware that Martin uses thirdperson narrative, but I’d argue this has more in common with first-person in gaming than third-person. Regardless, using the first-person viewpoint in TES is very much similar. You may think that the two optional views
are very similar, but ultimately they make a literal world of difference. In my opinion (and I know that others share this view), Tamriel is a much more beautiful and interesting place when looking through the eyes of your far less beautiful and interesting character.
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Articles
Looking Back: Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
Looking Back: Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall Andy takes a look back at an earlier entry in The Elder Scrolls series, Daggerfall. Which parts does he remember most fondly, and what effect did it have on him as a teenager?
By Andy McDonald
I
was 14 when Daggerfall was released in 1996 and in many ways, playing it at that age helped define me as a gamer. It was the first PC game I can ever remember playing obsessively. Sure I had a SNES (still have it) and loved it but PC gaming and console gaming were even more different back then than they are now. I was not at all prepared for how Daggerfall was going to swallow up my life and pull me into its world of magical abilities, monsters and violence. The first time I stepped foot in Tamriel I was absolutely hooked. Nothing has changed 18 years later and here I am eagerly awaiting The Elder Scrolls Online and hopefully sometime soonish, The Elder Scrolls VI (Elsweyr, calling it).
to start the game with an ebony Tamriel and asked to choose a dagger if the right answers were race to play as, if I wanted to use given in the career creator, there a pre-made or custom class and was no stopping me. whether I wanted to alter the stats and career of my character, I have such fond memories of I felt a bit overwhelmed, yet still playing Daggerfall and at the risk excited. A few hours of play later of painting myself in a negative and having been slaughtered by light, some of my fondest are of the rats and bats of Privateer’s travelling to a city late at night, Hold several times, I was getting levitating myself and my horse the hang of things. Looking back, over the city walls, finding a I’m glad I had a basic knowledge jewellers to ransack and then of fantasy RPGs and Dungeons travelling back to whichever city & Dragons. Having played D&D I decided to call home to sell a fair bit (yes the actual physical my ill-gotten goods. It was that game) and games such as AD&D level of freedom which made Eye of the Beholder put me in a Daggerfall so intoxicating; never good position to get to grips with before had a game given me so the similar system in Daggerfall. much choice over how I lived my life and how I chose to behave in Once I was accustomed to the the game world. character creation and had tried I remember being somewhat out a few different character The size of the world in Daggerfall perplexed at the character builds I started to make some is actually bigger than in any of creation to begin with. After actual progress in the game, and the subsequent Elder Scrolls being presented with a map of once I’d found that it was possible games, featuring an area in the The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
20 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
Looking Back: Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
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Articles
Looking Back: Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
Northwest of Tamriel covering parts of the provinces of Hammerfell and Highrock called Iliac Bay; it is truly massive. Bethesda boasted at the time that the game world of Daggerfall is ‘twice the size of Great Britain’, and features more than 15,000 dungeons, towns and villages. It is still very impressive even by today’s standards. The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
Of course, the reason the world could be so huge was due to the fact that the vast majority of dungeons were procedurally generated. A random collection of pre-made hallways, rooms, traps and treasure and usually featuring a particular type of enemy all cobbled together to make a location. The same was true of most of the villages and towns.
I’m sure I’m not alone in being bothered by Bethesda’s choices in later Elder Scrolls games to simplify things such as the number of schools of magicka and a reduction in the number of armour slots as well as removing some things completely like the levitate and recall spells, spell creator and some armour types. Although I can understand the reasons for some of these choices 22 • GameOn Magazine
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Looking Back: Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall from a game design perspective, it seems some were done in an attempt to simplify the games, make them less intimidating and give the franchise more of a mass appeal. That said, I think the average gamer these days can handle it and I hope the next game has systems which are near the same level of complexity as those in Daggerfall. If I could get to grips with it all as a teenager, I think it’s safe to assume that it’s not too complicated for the masses. While Daggerfall was a monumental achievement by Bethesda and mostly a joy to experience, it was not without its problems. Terms like ‘glitchy’ and ‘buggy’ are understatements and
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I remember having to restart the game many many times because I found myself in a situation I could not get out of. Everything from game-breaking bugs in the main quest line preventing progress, to monsters spawning in the inaccessible void beyond the game world made playing Daggerfall incredibly frustrating at times. Restarting after investing many hours into a character only to get stuck in a pit and be unable to get out (no magicka and creatures nearby) was a disappointing experience to say the least but problems like these, however annoying, didn’t make me stop playing the game. I’d just make a new character of a different
race and class and start all over again. Within minutes I’d forgotten all about my previous character’s unfortunate demise and was focused on upgrading my armour and killing skeletons. Daggerfall featured several different endings, six in fact and despite the huge amount of time I spent questing and looting, I never saw them all. After a while I started actively avoiding the main quest line so I could just keep my life going and visit as many places as I could. Daggerfall was my PC RPG of choice all the way up until 2002 and the release of the superlative third installment in the Elder Scrolls Series: Morrowind.
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Articles
Looking Back: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Looking Back: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind For Andy, Morrowind was always going to have a lot to live up to after Daggerfall. In this retrospective look back he tells us why it was everything he could have dreamed of and more.
By Andy McDonald
T
he Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is one of those games which only comes around once in a blood moon. A game so good it raises the bar for an already excellent series to glorious heights that in my opinion, we haven’t seen since. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed both Oblivion and Skyrim, both brilliant games in their own right but there was something I felt while playing Morrowind which they could never rekindle, something they never quite reproduced.
and pretty much any other game I remember feeling totally awe- at the time that made it so very struck as I stood on the shore of impressive to those of us who a small stream, gazing into the played it. night sky and watching Nirn’s giant red moon Masser slowly The visuals in Morrowind look rise above my head. It was a decidedly dated now, but in gaming moment I’ll never forget 2002, when the game was and that’s part of what makes released, they were nothing Morrowind so special to myself short of stunning. Most striking and many other people. was the switch from 2D sprites to 3D polygons, literally fleshing Although there is always the risk out the world of Tamriel and of letting nostalgia distort one’s its inhabitants. However, the view of an older game, I think improvement over Daggerfall that Morrowind mostly deserves was apparent in every aspect of the game, not just in the graphics. The entire user interface was much clearer and well thought out, the tutorial, with built in character creation was more useful and the game world in general was much richer, more vibrant and detailed than before. The atmosphere which the game the reverence it receives. It was This switch from procedural conjured was incredible and because it was such a massive generation to carefully designed when I first played Morrowind step forwards from Daggerfall landscapes and buildings
"The visuals in Morrowind...were nothing short of stunning."
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Looking Back: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind made the island of Vvardenfell feel much more realistic than Daggerfall. The AI of the NPCs was also significantly better, with characters going about their lives, performing tasks and even getting themselves killed as opposed to merely standing in place or walking up and down a street. Together with the refined combat and magicka systems as well as a much more enthralling storyline, these improvements over Daggerfall really were
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something of a quantum leap for problem. For me, the music was The Elder Scrolls series and RPGs a perfect mix of the ambient and in general. the dramatic and really served to heighten my sense of immersion Morrowind’s soundtrack, and emotional attachment to composed by Jeremy Soule, the game. is a wonderfully stirring and beautiful piece of music. The There are only a few negative game did suffer some criticism things I can remember about over the short length of the score playing Morrowind, aside from and therefore how often players occasionally getting stuck in the were forced to hear it during terrain. The main problems I had play, but personally, that’s not with the game were the lack of something I remember being a quest markers and the limited
25 • GameOn Magazine
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Looking Back: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
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Looking Back: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind I’m not ashamed to admit that I found Morrowind to be a pretty difficult game to beat. It took me a long time to become powerful enough to take on Dagoth Ur and not be completely and totally destroyed in the attempt. However it was immensely satisfying when I did finally beat him along with the main quest of the game precisely because it was difficult. It really felt like a well-earned, fitting and epic conclusion to a long and arduous, but also captivating and engrossing, adventure. usefulness of fast travelling. There were more than a few instances where I found myself completely lost and unable to find the particular cave or creature I was looking for. The map was useful, but directions given by NPCs were often vague and difficult to interpret leading to many hours spent hopelessly wandering about the blighted landscape.
as the system went. If you were heading out to a Dwemer ruin on the other side of the map, fast travelling would only get you so far, the rest would have to done on foot. I shudder to think how many times I was harassed by annoying, squawking Cliff Racers as I was forced to trek across the island again and again.
For as long as I remain as passionate and sentimental as I am about gaming, Morrowind will always have a special place in my memories. It still sends chills down my spine and fills me with a nerdy warmth every time I hear the main theme. I hope that doesn’t change any time soon.
Fast travel in Morrowind was facilitated by giant flea-like creatures called Silt Striders which could be found at the entrances to most towns and villages. Paying the owner a small sum of gold would enable you to instantly travel to a selection of other towns but that was as far The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
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Previews
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Preview Release Dates
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: Bethesda Game Studios Genre: Role-playing Platform: PC, X360, PS4
11 November, 2011 (Worldwide) 8 December, 2011 (Japan)
By Chris Wakefield
environment seems as detailed and involving as ever with plants littering the sides of a mountain stream which even had fish swimming upstream in it. The lighting was also very impressive and the dynamic snow littering he Elder Scrolls series the rocky outcrops looked truly has an unprecedented amazing throughout the early pedigree in the RPG genre stages of the preview. and the last entry, Oblivion was one of the finest games of its generation. So, when a follow up was announced in 2010 the anticipation reached extraordinary levels. Bethesda Game Studios are undoubtedly feeling a huge pressure, so can Skyrim meet the expectations of Switching from first to thirdthousands of fans? person highlighted that there have been improvements to Our 30 minute hands-off character animation, with Havok demonstration began with a technology being implemented. truly jaw-dropping snowy vista The animations were particularly that was a perfect showcase fluid and lifelike, flowing for the brand new engine that seamlessly from running to the studio have created. The jogging. Early combat in the
Originally written in 2011 when we had the chance to see The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for the first time at E3, we have a look back at what it was like to see it in all its debut glory.
T
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demonstration involving these new movements really impressed us as the main character fought off a pack of rather vicious timber wolves. While battling the lead wolf of the pack a finishing move kicked-in showing the hero brutally stabbing it with an overhead blow. These dynamic camera sections are similar to
"The animations were particularly fluid and lifelike, flowing seamlessly" those introduced in Fallout: New Vegas and seemed to add a satisfying sense of closure to each tough encounter. Not long after the wolves had been defeated a small group of bandits started to rain arrows in the direction of the lead 28 • GameOn Magazine
Previews
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim character. Here the developers were keen to emphasise how they have tailored the combat skills to be much more relevant and useful to the player. Instead of dividing abilities between “Blade” and “Blunt”, as per Oblivion, now weapons are divided by handedness allowing people to favour long swords and maces rather than one or the other. Magic has also been given a radical overhaul with certain skill categories being culled entirely and their spells transferred to alternatives. Spells can now be assigned to different hands, allowing for you to wield a
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sword and cast at the same time making it immediately more relevant to characters with broader play styles. Two of the same spell can be equipped in both hands, increasing effects such as potency and duration, something that proved especially useful in dispatching the bandit archers.
Every item in the game has a fully rotatable 3D model when inside the inventory, which generally seems rather pointless practically but allows the artists to display their hard work. Rather worryingly one of the items that was shown was a Nirnroot but the developers remained rather elusive whether you’ll have to track down a hundred of these After the combat concluded the tricky plants again as part of a developers showcased the very quest. different menu system which has been streamlined and designed However, when looking at to be as user friendly as possible. documents and notes, this The inventory is divided up into function seems far more useful 4 key areas in a very different and can be used to read any manner to Oblivion, allowing of the 300+ books included in for easier item management. the game. These tomes won’t
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Dark Elves have a long history of warfare, having battled against both the raiding Akaviri and invading Nords for hundreds of years. The Ebonheart Pact has made the Nords their uneasy allies, but the Dunmer are a suspicious race who struggle to forget the sins of the past. There is little known about the origin of the Dark Elves, although their link with the Altmer is obvious. They are an initially cold people, but kind and thoughtful to those whom they consider friends. The Dunmer have become excellent all-round beings who can specialise in various types of combat, both offensive and defensive. They have incredible dual wielding capabilities, as is their custom, and are more than capable with magic.
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generally advance the story but will provide an additional layer of story for those that are interested. The developer tantalised the room by showing off a “Mysterious Note”, which simply contained a very sinister black handprint and the ominous text “We know”. It seems clear that Bethesda Game Studios are still providing a rich and highly detailed world full of things to discover Skills are shown to the player as constellations and are now accompanied by a progression tree where you can pick perks as you level up. This method seems like a fusion between Oblivion and Fallout 3 and seems far more understandable to the average player, although whether or not a degree of complexity has been retained remains to be seen. One thing the developers were keen to emphasise is that now every skill is useful and more limited ones including Acrobatics and Athletics from Oblivion have been omitted. The in-game map has also been overhauled and is now more 3D in nature showing the topography and terrain of Skyrim allowing you to plan walking routes more effectively. Fast travel returns, as
do horses, to enable you to move around the vast game world quicker than on foot. Towns are also still key locations and we were shown around Riverwood, a logging town situated high in the mountains. Walking around the settlement was impressive with people going about their daily lives chopping wood, sharpening axes and generally living. The inn in the town could be searched for gossip, leading to quests or you could go around and even sabotage the logging mill: a move that would sabotage the local economy. Dialogue functions differently from Oblivion and now takes place in real time. Conversation options are still present but the talking seems more streamlined and fluid. Leaving the peaceful tranquillity of the snowy mountain community, the main character began to ascend a perilously rocky outcrop where a snow storm began to appear. Checking the map, the developers guided the hero toward a nearby map marker. Bleak Falls Barrow is just one of the 150 dungeons present in the game and would be the location of the demonstration of one of the in-game quests: “The Golden Claw”. However, the character had to get into the cave 30 • GameOn Magazine
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
31 • GameOn Magazine
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim first which was easier said than done with a dragon standing in the way. This huge, fire breathing behemoth towered over entrance and immediately began to attack breathing a fountain of fire and snarling viciously. The animation of these creatures was truly
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astonishing and it is clear that down and allowing time for these enemies will be intensely some quick attacks. challenging opponents. The range of monsters that Heading through the early populated Bleak Falls Barrow areas of the dungeon, our hero was pretty diverse including a wielded two one-handed swords giant Frostbite Spider that would simultaneously, while utilising a certainly give arachnophobes new form of spell: “shout magic”. severe nightmares. This The central character of Skyrim eight-legged monstrosity was is “Dragonborn” giving them a eventually dispatched using a special form of magic that can flame staff and a sword. Other be used while wielding other beasties included Frost Trolls spells, weapons or shields. They which were equally vulnerable are upgraded through defeating to fire and a selection of undead dragons and absorbing their creatures known as Draugrs. souls, eventually creating These skeletal monsters were incredibly potent, devastating particularly tough and could abilities. The main shout power summon creatures from the that was utilised was one planes of Oblivion to help them. that used sound to push back However, the use of a chain enemies, knocking their guard lightning spell, which damaged
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
every enemy in a room, was new spell is “Clairvoyance” an enough to send them back to the ability that will provide you with grave. a glowing line, similar to Fable’s “Breadcrumb Trail” mechanic. The titular golden claw from the This seemed a bit of a needless quest’s title was recovered from inclusion, given the excellent the body of a traitorous bandit quest markers from Oblivion and and was essential for progressing seems to be a move to cater for through the dungeon. Skyrim those with short attention spans. will feature more puzzles than The highlights of both Morrowind before and the claw was actually and Oblivion were exploring and a key needed to solve a simple questing alone without handrotating symbol lock. Hopefully holding and excessive guidance the inclusion of some puzzles will to dilute the experience. provide some more variety than simply finding a particular key As the quest reached its for a certain lock, although how conclusion and the player complex these challenges will character emerged into an open get is currently unclear. A handy area there was a sudden roar The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
from above and the dragon from the entrance to the dungeon reappeared. Bethesda Game Studios highlighted that dragon’s have complex AI and can pursue the player if they decide to. Here an epic battle began, involving some of the local wildlife including a Giant and a herd of Mammoths. After a protracted and difficult battle with the beast, involving a range of different weapons and spells, the dragon finally crashed to the ground. As the creature collapsed its soul was absorbed by the Dragonborn protagonist, earning a special form of experience that can be spent on shout magic spells. This 33 • GameOn Magazine
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
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34 • GameOn Magazine
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was a surprisingly emotional and impressive display and once the soul was fully consumed, the only remnant of the dragon was a charred skeleton.
and approaching the writhing creature, the hero clambered on top and initiated a finishing move. As this monster’s soul was absorbed the demo came to a spectacular close which had However, there wasn’t a chance unquestionably showcased the to recover before another enormous variety in the game. dragon, clearly angered by the death of its fellow, swooped out Skyrim has an awful lot of of the sky and began to immolate expectations attached to it. For the landscape. Dashing to Bethesda to follow up Oblivion the relative safety of a nearby with something as successful and tower, the player temporarily complex is certainly going to be a took refuge while some guards difficult achievement. But on the attempted to take down the basis of this, admittedly limited, beast. This was not a smart showing at E3 it seems that move as one was toasted and they are handling this pressure the other savaged by the rows of admirably.Skyrim was without razor sharp teeth. Entering into doubt one of the highlights of the menu for a final time, the the show and the potential for protagonist utilised his dragon true greatness is clearly a very soul experience from earlier to real possibility. upgrade his shout magic to a particularly high level, unlocking a new storm-based ability.
Indeed, the only real worries are some of the simplifications that seem to have been implemented to help new players which may alienate some of the most ardent original fans. Similarly, the notorious reputation for bugs and glitches may well continue with this instalment, although hopefully with a November release there will be time to significantly reduce them. It’s difficult to fault the gameplay that we saw this week, as building on an already incredible model from Oblivion can surely only be a good thing. If you aren’t as excited as seemingly every gamer worldwide about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you might want to check your pulse. Otherwise, you might be a Draugr.
Climbing to the top of the tower and activating this new power, the weather suddenly changed and a massive thunderstorm loomed overhead. Suddenly huge bolts of lightning rained down from the clouds, crippling the dragon’s wings and causing it to spectacularly crash to the ground and in a cloud of damp earth. Jumping down The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
35 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
My Mishaps and Adventures in Skyrim
My Mishaps and Adventures in Skyrim Jess enters the world of Tamriel for the first time via The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and lets us join her for the ride. Buckle up though, because it’s a bumpy (read hilarious) one.
By Jessica Greenfield
I recently bought The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim during the Steam Holiday Sales, for a dirty cheap price; I thought that I had waited long enough, and for £3.74, it was practically a steal! Then came my decision to write a record of how I react, both in game and out, to the adventures that befall my character. Why? Because I tend to have peculiar and quite amusing experiences in games (some might put it down to my essentially nonexistent gaming ‘skill’). The idea arose when I recalled previous experiences of playing The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind when I managed to die a couple times by either accidently breaking into someone’s house or just picking up an item in a store, and they assumed I was stealing it. Additionally, people have remarked that watching me play a game is a ‘funny’ experience because it takes me ages to work The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
my confusion I tried to take in out what to do, and I tend to get as much of the story as possible. easily scared (I have been known When I finally reached the stage to scream whilst getting attacked where I could select my race and during a game of Team Fortress alter the looks of my character, I 2 because I wasn’t expecting an must have spent practically half enemy behind me). an hour perfecting them, like I
"Literally straight after starting my first Skyrim experience, I must confess, I was very confused." Literally straight after starting my first Skyrim experience, I must confess, I was very confused. I was just thrown into some storyline I had no idea about. I did also think I must have accidently skipped the selecting a class stage because I wasn’t sure if you could be a particular class or race, or have certain skills. So in the midst of
would do on The Sims. I know, it’s sad, but it gives me a sense of pride walking around Tamriel knowing that I’m a foxy-looking lady elf. After perfecting my character, the guards still concluded that I was going to be executed, which was fabulous to be honest. I mean, what better way to start a game? 36 • GameOn Magazine
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My Mishaps and Adventures in Skyrim By being executed, you know? So I went to lay my head down the executioner’s block and then – A DRAGON. “Great, now I don’t have to die at the hand of the guards for a crime I didn’t even commit; instead I can burn to death by dragon breath. This is going to be a short game.” Then I heard a voice, calling me over, and no joke, I was wandering around in an endless circle for at least five minutes trying to locate where the voice was beckoning me from. Seriously, if this were real life, (you know, because elves and dragons are so totally real) I would definitely have been dragon fodder. When I eventually found the man who was calling me, he whisked me through the crowds of panicking villagers and debris of buildings and led me away from this dragon who wished to compete with Smaug to see how much of a village he can destroy. I think it was pretty safe to say that any confusion I had before was amplified ten-fold.
going underground, collecting some weapons and gold and slapping some bitches along the way. We did encounter another woman along the way but she died in the next room we walked in to. She was a little useless, and come on, this is coming from me, Miss Useless of the Year. SHE DIED BEFORE I DID. Even I didn’t die in the tutorial (which is actually pretty good going for me). I also chose this point to become Sherlock and inspect everything and be a magpie and TAKE ALL THE THINGS. But then I
soon realised that I couldn’t take everything because I could only carry so much and this saddened me very much so. I mean where were all the merchants? It wasn’t like there was a massive dragon attacking or anyth- oh… On the point of the dragon, seriously, how long does it take to destroy an entire village? It can’t be that hard if you have FIRE BREATH. We get it, Smaug (the name of the dragon was not revealed to me so I shall name him/her Smaug), you are fire; you are death, blah, blah, blah.
I found a rebel (I’m still not completely sure what they’re rebelling against, but I thought I’d just go along with it) who was captured alongside my character and had also been freed in all the chaos, so we stuck together The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
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My Mishaps and Adventures in Skyrim
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My Mishaps and Adventures in Skyrim Now is the list of my brainless, 4. I couldn’t work out how to yet entertaining, coming-of-late slow walk until I accidentally realisations and reactions: nudged the shift key and went noticeably slower. I admit, there 1. I wish I was kidding when I is no excuse for this. type this but it took me half an hour of wielding a weapon, to 5. The first time I heard the level discover why I couldn’t hold up music, I thought that it meant a weapon and a shield at the someone was about to attack me same time. It turned out I was and I jumped. I’m easily scared, carrying a mace, and apparently okay? a mace is a two-handed weapon (it didn’t say it anywhere, that is 6. One part, I was incredibly stuck. my excuse) so it wouldn’t let me I was trying to work it out for ages hold a shield at the same time, and I only managed to grasp half but when I held a sword, which is of it. I gave up and just asked my a one-handed weapon, it would younger brother what to do, but let me hold a shield at the same honestly if I didn’t I would have time. I felt very silly after. been there for another hour at
"Spiders jumped out and attacked me, so needless to say, I screamed." 2. Spiders jumped out and attacked me, so needless to say, I screamed. I did gain a few funny looks from my family at the time. The fact I’m terrified of spiders kind of makes up for that, though.
least! But I must confess, I was ashamed of myself.
This has been a lot of…fun so far, to say the least, and I’m only a smidgen of the way through the game (even though I’ve got 6 hours on record of playing it. 3. I heard some wolves howling I like to take my time!). I think at one point…I did not jump at there will be more mishaps and all, no… adventures to come in future. The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
The most mysterious race in all of Tamriel, and one of the last remaining natives, the Argonians are a fascinating people and totally unique due to their reptilian form. Before the formation of the Ebonheart Pact, the Argonians were either individual tribes within the Black Marshes or slaves to the Nords and Dunmer. This history of slavery is arguably the biggest issue within the Pact, and it continues to wound the pride of Argonians and Humans alike. The brutal nature of their homeland has forced the Argonians to adapt to any surroundings; they are excellent scouts and strategists, but in direct combat they are weaker than most other races. They are much more able in water than other races and have a stiff resistance to poison. Their ability to heal is also unmatched.
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My Life in Skyrim
My Life in Skyrim Kevin has quite the history with the Elder Scrolls series. He divulges just how obsessed he has become and why he doesn’t see that ending any time soon.
By Kevin Malone
A
aside (such as the terrible menu system) I’m loving the series all over again.
Once again, Bethesda have created a world in which I allow myself to be totally ensnared by in Skyrim. Whether it’s wandering the snowy mountains or chipping firewood to sell for some quick money, I have allowed myself to get totally into a character and I’m playing the game as purely as I can and a few niggles
I’ve created a lot of characters so far, but the one I’ve stuck it out with is my namesake Nord, and together we’ve had a great time exploring his homeland. Main quest aside, I’ve spent upwards of 60 hours with this Nord and my favourite companion, Lydia. We’ve cleared cave systems of bandits together, discovered ancient shrines and protected I’ve spent a long time simply towns from vampires. gathering materials and ore to create myself new weapons and Rarely, though in games I allow armour, going hours without myself to become as immersed so much as seeing an enemy in a world as I have here. I bought character, and it still manages to my first home in a city called feel like time well spent. Despite Whiterun, and whenever I return her relatively useless AI, I’ve also home I’ll hang up my armour grown fond of Lydia. Finding and weapons on their racks and myself rather worried if I can’t do my business in the town in find her or I think she may have street clothes so I blend in with died somewhere – after all she
s a gamer, it’s often the case I’ll allow myself to be utterly immersed in a game world, but no series has managed that more than The Elder Scrolls. I briefly fell out of love with Bethesda as I didn’t like their treatment of my beloved Fallout series, nor was I the biggest fan of Oblivion. Before that, however, I got my introduction to TES from the second game in the series, Daggerfall, which still remains a firm favourite of mine, alongside its successor, Morrowind.
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the other civilians, where I’ll trade, discover new quests and interact with the locals. When I leave for a new adventure I’ll go back home and pick out the best weapons and armour for my current expedition. Usually it’d be a case of fast travel to town, grab a quest, sell some loot and fast travel back out, but doing that feels like it would be a disservice to the world they have created and I’m all too happy to indulge myself.
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My Life in Skyrim does have a rather silly tendency to walk right into traps. I look at it like she’s protecting me, it’s the best way, really.
arrows which I always carry but refuse to use, because they’re still a really rare thing for me right now.
Worrying about myself being a little too into the game and my companion aside, I could write for hours about the little experiences myself and Lydia have found while travelling. We’ve saved a stray dog from a cruel bandit who wanted to gut him, we’ve helped a woman who was being harassed by an unruly bard and we’ve gone right to the opposite end of the spectrum and slain dragons together. We’ve discovered some great equipment, among it eight glass
Little things like that help draw me into the world and have done nearly every day for the past week and it looks to show no signs of growing boring or tedious. Each dungeon myself and Lydia have raided has been a different experience, each mountain held different secrets and each time we encounter giant spiders I get a horrible feeling and look around my own bedroom convinced I’ll find a hideous beast sitting on my wall smiling at me.
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In short (I know, too late), Skyrim is one hell of an experience, and one I wasn’t too sure about with my dislike of the previous series entry. I was pleasantly surprised, and am happy to be proven wrong in my previous worries and complaints. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to get Lydia, get my armour and my bow and go hunt some deer so I can make some stew later on. P.S. Don’t let yourself get attached to Lydia, it’s frightening the things I’ve fought to try and protect her. I’m a bit worried about myself, really...
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An Interview with a Modder
An Interview with a Modder We sit down and have a chat with Konrad Trembath, aka [HM]Bomb about what it’s like to be a modder and why can’t stop building mods for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
By Emsey P. Walker
K
onrad Trembath is kind of a big deal in the modding scene. We were lucky enough to chat to him and find out all about his favourite hobby. Here’s what happened: First off, are you a fan of the series? Have you played any of the prequels to Skyrim? Well I love Skyrim, I hadn’t played any of the Elder Scrolls series before that, I tried Oblivion a few months after I bought TESV but didn’t spend a lot of time with that one. What drew you to modding in the first place? I wanted to turn one of my previous characters into an NPC that I could find in game, sort of an experienced adventurer that had seen and done it all before. I figured it would add a nice
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Original - fLokii -- Recent updates element to my overall game play - Vamyan if I could meet this seasoned # Apachii Sky Hair by Apachii veteran and get them to follow me around. What inspires you to create the mods you create? How long have you been modding for? I’m not sure, Sometimes I’ll just be wandering around in game I’ve been modding properly and think a certain area could for around 3 months, anything do with something extra or that before that was a simple 5 maybe I could make this NPC minute task. The mods I’m look nicer. Ideas just pop into making now take up weeks or my head and I go with them. months of my time, are far more in depth and require a far greater When designing a new mod understanding of what I’m trying what’s the first thing you have to do. to think about? What are some favourite mods?
of
your
Can I do it? Honestly, start off with something small and build up your knowledge, I learnt most That’s a tough one, but I’ll do my of my tricks from watching Best best. in Slot on YouTube and Using the # Elite Rogue Armour by anka 01 Nexus Wiki or Deck16.net for my # Eisen Platte Armour by NPR followers. Once I get an idea for # Ultimate Follower Overhaul by something, I normally watch a 42 • GameOn Magazine
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An Interview with a Modder
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An Interview with a Modder few videos or read a few guides just to refresh my memory and go over things I don’t know yet. Rushing into it headlong will usually end up in defeat I find. What tools do you use to mod the game? - Creation Kit - NifScope - Maya - TESV Edit
myself, sometimes I’ll be sitting at my desk for a good couple of hours wondering why it won’t compile properly before I realise I’ve added something wrong or I’ve typed something somewhere where it doesn’t apply and that becomes a real headache. Can you give some examples of the mods you’ve created?
How does it feel having had a super successful mod? It’s a good feeling, I didn’t think it would be a popular thing since the mods you get on nexus are absolutely breathtaking when you play them for the first time, many of them still continue to amaze me.
What would you say to - The Balumont Sisters (Formerly somebody aspiring to become Augustine’s Gift) a modder? What is the biggest challenge - Ysolda Cosmetic Overhaul when creating a mod? - Giselda - A custom voiced - Firstly, start off small and work follower (still in progress) up to your big idea. I think it varies from person to - Mage’s Retreat (Currently being - Save your work, seriously. person, I’m not a fan of scripting re-thought) Creation Kit is a very good
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44 • GameOn Magazine
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An Interview with a Modder
program, but it likes to crash a lot. Every time you do something, save! - Make your mods for you and not anyone else, if you like what you do then I can almost guarantee that others will as well. - Finally, release your mod when the main bulk of it is finished, I made the mistake of releasing The Balumont Sisters before it was anywhere near completion, so then it became a rush to release the rest of the content for it. Stress doesn’t play very well with mod making. The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
What’s your next big project? Miner’s Rest, a little village between Whiterun and Rorikstead. A place you can go to get ores from the mines for your smithing talents. There will be a market in the centre for trading and the village inhabitants will be fully voiced along with the village guards. Have you modded any other games?
last years Formula 1 Game but other than that, nothing. Would you eventually want to work in the games industry? I don’t think so, if I turned a hobby into a job I don’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I do now. Plus, I’m getting on a bit now ;) Konrad’s fantastic modding skills can be seen under the alias [HM]Kbomb on Steam and Konnierizzle1 on Nexus.
I’ve done some texture work for 45 • GameOn Magazine
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Returning to Skyrim: Now With Mods!
Returning to Skyrim: Now With Mods! Kevin talks about his return to Skyrim after a long break from the game and how the implementation of mods has changed and enhanced his world.
By Kevin Malone
I
t’s been a long time since I played Skyrim, Bethesda’s fifth entry in the Elder Scrolls series. I spent a lot of time with it when it was newly released, and don’t regret a minute of it, but after a while newer games arrived and it got lost in the shuffle. Recently, however, with Dawnguard - the forthcoming DLC - surely due for release soon on the PC, I decided to reinstall it and I was reminded by a big giant button on Steam’s Skyrim page that it now has access to the Steam Workshop; a wonderful place where mods can be installed by simply hitting the ‘Subscribe’ button then letting them download in the launcher. A new game started, I went on my newest life in Skyrim, this time, with mods!
the charred corpse down the road. This started a small quest which would tie in perfectly with the point you would exit the tutorial dungeon, but bypassing all the stuff you’ve seen before. A great start.
cut-scene you’re sent through a tutorial dungeon before you can finally wander the lands? Yeah, I got rid of that. Instead, using a mod called ‘Live Another Life’, which instead started me in a nondescript room with a statue of Mara, and a bed. On using Next thing I noticed was the the statue I was asked why I various weather effects as I was there, with various options wandered. I installed two mods
"Rain sounded better and looked better, but the snow was the most impressive upgrade."
ranging from being shipwrecked off the coast, to being a wanderer who was ambushed by bandits. With full intention of being an archer character, I chose to say I You know that really long intro was camping in the woods. After where you get carted slowly sleeping in the bed I awoke in my to Helgen, then after the initial new tent, with a quest to examine The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
called ‘Real Rain Basic’ and ‘Better Dynamic Snow,’ which funnily enough alters rain and snow respectively. Rain sounded better and looked better, but the snow was the most impressive upgrade; a snowstorm is now a proper blizzard, sometimes 46 • GameOn Magazine
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Returning to Skyrim: Now With Mods! leaving you struggling to see as you push forward. Just as it should be. The water was also clearer and the streams looked less - for lack of a better word fake, than they do originally; this was thanks to the ‘Pure Waters’ mod. So we’ve got a quicker start to the game and some
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more impressive natural effects. Dragon Loot.’ It does exactly Moving on... what it says on the tin, killing dragons is worth more than a Dragon time! While there are soul that you’ll forget to spend countless mods to re-skin now. Each dragon you kill drops a dragons, make them bigger, piece of enchanted armour or an make more of them spawn, I enchanted weapon/item. It’s not ignored all of that in favour of a as cheaty as it sounds though, descriptively named mod - ‘More as it could easily be something
47 • GameOn Magazine
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Returning to Skyrim: Now With Mods!
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Returning to Skyrim: Now With Mods!
like an enchanted mage’s staff; useless for my archer, but it is nice to sell and makes it all the more worth your while to kill them when you see them instead of groaning and running in the opposite direction to get rid of them.
be browsing the Workshop every few days to see if there’s anything new I can add, but I’ll be making sure it’s generally lore-friendly as I don’t want something that breaks the superb atmosphere in Skyrim. With Dawnguard hopefully releasing soon, the Workshop is as good a reason as Aside from that I’ve installed a So there we have it. A few mods, any to get back into it and start few other bits and pieces which and entirely new experience, at a new character to be ready for are just general quality of life type least for the start of the game, the DLC. affairs, like being able to whistle and I’m just getting started. I’ll The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
for my horse to come back to me if she wanders too far, and making ore deposits glow a little so they are easier to spot in the dark caves of the world. I’ll list all the mods I’m using currently at the bottom if you want to look for them on the Workshop.
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PC Gamer Blues
PC Gamer Blues Emsey is off on adventures again, this time in Skyrim. Unfortunately it’s not long before things take a turn for the worst and lets just say, it gets a bit tense.
By Emsey P. Walker
M
y heart pounds as I creep down the narrow, crooked stairs. It’s quiet in here, too quiet. What was once just flickering shadows cast by myself and my companion from the light of the entrance, is now complete darkness. It envelops us so wholly I begin to question whether I am not already dead and I draw my sword, the shimmering of Chillrend now the only thing slightly permeating the suffocating black. The feel of the hilt gripped in my trembling hand spurs me on. I am filled with a sense of confidence as I flex the fingers on my left hand and cast Magelight. The luminous orb of magical light floats upwards revealing a vast cavern as it ascends. It sticks to the ceiling, showing menacing stalactites threaten from above, making me feel like I am in the mouth of a savage creature,
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time, leaves my palm, hovering ready to lacerate me at any overhead, providing illumination given moment. “I’ve never seen as I head to investigate the anything quite like that!” echoes curious noise. from behind me, and I silently agree. The source of the slicing finds me quicker than I anticipate. A long I look around for where we corridor stretches out before me should be heading next, spying a with large swinging blades rocking gap in the rock on the other side to and fro like the pendulum of the cavern, and push forward, on an aged grandfather clock. venturing down into the belly of Renewing Candlelight, I pause,
"A sense of swaggering pride wells up within me for a moment before I hear an agonised cry somewhere in my wake" this beast. In the distance I start to hear a strange sound, like a kitchen-maid removing the heads of chickens with a knife before they’re prepared for eating. Another spell, Candlelight this
and hypnotise myself with the rhythmic swaying, preparing myself for my next feat. I focus inward and summon the Dovahkiin within, releasing a great Thu’um. “WULD...NAH... 50 • GameOn Magazine
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PC Gamer Blues KEST” erupts from deep in poor girl will follow me wherever my chest, hurtling my body I lead, the simple, loyal fool that forward to reach the other side she is. unscathed. When she is ready, we continue A sense of swaggering pride on our way, only to be interrupted wells up within me for a moment by a pair of unnervingly luminous before I hear an agonised cry eyes. The decrepit corpse somewhere in my wake. Lydia! lurches towards me and I quickly How could I forget to tell her to brandish Chillrend and decisively wait? I swing round to see her on slash the draugr’s throat, and bended knee, trying to stand but forcefully kick his lifeless shell being caught repeatedly by the to the ground. As his limp body sinister blades. I search around thuds against the rock, I hear desperately for a switch to halt a grating, squeaking sound, the trap. I see one embedded in like rusted armour rubbing the mossy rock wall facing me against itself. A chuckle bubbles and dash to pull it down. The unvoiced inside my throat. A noise stops and I rush to her side skeever approaches fast, and I as she regains her breath and lazily go to swing my sword to be fortitude. I note to myself that I his end. must remember to warn her, the
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
The most instantly recognisable, and arguably most famous, race in all of Elder Scrolls lore, the Khajiit are a feline force to be reckoned with. Their ancestry is a murky and uncertain business, but the desert lands of Elsweyr have long been their homeland. Shunned and distrusted in most regions of Tamriel, the Khajiit are often seen wandering the world. Their literal cat-like reflexes make them skillful warriors and experts in stealth, although their association with thievery is a large part of their negative image. Despite being rejected by much of Tamriel, the Khajiit are fierce and loyal warriors whose place in battle is often crucial. In terms of abilities the Khajiit are an all-rounder race, with health advantages, armour improvements, a stealth buff as well as critical hit multipliers.
51 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
PC Gamer Blues
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
52 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
PC Gamer Blues My arm however appears to have a different idea; remaining stationary and limp beside me. I attempt to swing again, and again as the skeever lunges at my throat, aiming instinctively for the gap between my helmet and chest piece. Why am I immobilised? Perhaps a spell will work? Nothing. I sink my head into my hands as I realise that I forgot to charge my pad. How could I have forgotten that? I jump up and begin to ransack the room to try and find my wired controller. Where did I put it? The noise of my desperate searching wakes my son and I glance over to the screen to watch myself slowly dying, helpless and pathetic.
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
Why hasn’t Lydia jumped in and right trigger furiously I hack at saved me? What’s going on? the skeever and kill him almost instantly. I become more frantic in my search and throw cushions A sense of relief floods over me across the room to see if I can and I spin around and catch a discover the kit underneath glimpse of Lydia running into them. “Where have you put a wall before the screen goes the controller, Jacob?” I ask my black. What? Wait? No. Please oblivious infant son. He looks no. Jacob looks up innocently as at me happily and continues to his removes his finger from the chew on my wireless pad. I finally once aglow button that is the find it, stuffed down the back power switch. I sink to the floor of the sofa, and run flustered in defeat, wondering when the to plug in it to the USB port on last time I saved was. As I decide my PC. A disgruntled altercation to call it a day on the Skyrim with my son as I try to remove front, I can’t help but think to the pad from his grasp, to stop myself, “This never would have him swallowing the rubber, happened if I’d just used a means that by the time I finally mouse.” get everything sorted, I have a slither of health left. Pressing the
53 • GameOn Magazine
Previews
The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online First Impressions Release Dates
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios Genre: MMORPG Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4
I
would like to start by saying, I don’t play a lot of MMOs. When I do play MMOs I feel like a small fish in a huge pond, except all the other fish are a higher level, have better gear and would find it entertaining to murder me horribly. This is a feeling I think a lot of people have when diving into massive online communities without any prior knowledge of the game and its mechanics. But why is it only really MMOs that seem to have such a huge wall around them? Guilds, Epics, tonnes of
4 April, 2014 (Worldwide - PC) June 2014 (Worldwide - PS4, Xbox One)
By James Furlong
lore and characters you have no idea about; they can be a scary place. So I hope this gives a fresh view on what MMOs feel like to someone who isn’t a hardcore WoW or EVE player.
in the previous games. So not being one to break a habit, ever, I chose Argonian. I have to say I felt suitably impressed by the customisation options and eventually went for the largest horn I could find to attach to my characters’ head. This was also my initial impression of the way the game looks; I must say I was struck by how much it resembles Skyrim.
Let’s start at the beginning, that’s usually best. First I had to create my character. Now I’ve played Elder Scrolls before and always go with the Argonians as I feel I associate with being a lizard... okay, no I don’t. I just really The only difference from Skyrim like the way they look and their are some slight stylistic choices ability to breathe underwater to make the game run better, one would assume. Bolder colours, to give an almost faux cel shaded look, manage to keep the game looking good yet very Elder Scrolls. My PC is a higher end machine and so I expected the game to run well, luckily it really felt really solid on my machine and I had no real input lag or slowdown of any kind.
"I have to say I felt suitably impressed by the customisation options and eventually went for the largest horn I could find" The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
54 • GameOn Magazine
Previews
The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
55 • GameOn Magazine
Previews
The Elder Scrolls Online
The High Elves are the oldest race in Tamriel and are generally regarded as the original settlers. Their own lore claims that they are descended from the Divines, the gods of Tamriel. They brought the common tongue to the land, the language that most races speak across the provinces. Sophisticated, intelligent, some might say arrogant, the High Elves are a once prosperous race that have fallen on some harsh times; the growing power of men being the key to their troubles. In-game the Altmer are strong magical fighters, with buffs to their Magicka capabilities and spell damage. This is a proud race; anyone who choses to play as a High Elf should be prepared to follow tradition and use magic to their advantage.
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
The story was my next big thing; initially spawned into the underworld, it’s explained that you were actually sacrificed to a Daedric prince before the game started. You’re told this by a spirit who gives you all your normal ‘you’re special’ BS before disappearing; he’s a spirit, why would you not believe him? You’re then let out of your prison and it appears everyone is making a break for it. This part felt very odd and nothing felt like it was really explained, apart from getting you where you are now to the next person who will speak to you. This is an MMO trope that is actually common in TES anyway, but manages to still be a boring way of moving a story and any action forwards.
At this point I’m already wondering what’s for lunch, but decide to push on and maybe discover something I’ll enjoy more than creating my character. The combat was just what I needed. Combat in most games of this type is very static and button mash-y but the fighting in ESO manages to actually take the mechanics from previous titles, improve upon them, and still make it feel reassuringly familiar. With the option of first or thirdperson, the game finds a nice balance that made me feel less like I was that tiny fish waiting to be murdered. “First person? I know this! This is familiar!” I said to myself. Also the ability to
56 • GameOn Magazine
Previews
The Elder Scrolls Online
choose any class you like, yet still use any weapon you like, is one I have always wished was in more MMOs and it actually managed to suspend my boredom long enough for me to get out of my Daedric prison and to the surface of Tamriel. The faction I had chosen at the beginning, The Aldmeri Dominion, caused me to find myself in a Khajiit town after leaving the underworld. I chose The Aldmeri Dominion because I really like the idea of Elves being arrogant, seeing all other races as impure and lesser. Moving The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
swiftly on, I actually found the visuals to be astounding. I felt the pale tones of the sky really worked well to set the sobre tone of this area. The quests were very standard, kill this many of this, help this person find this etc, but the combat is what kept me coming back for more. I will say I’m not a complete moron and I know it’s a static combat system dressed up to look like a real-time one, but I felt I didn’t hate it as much as others I’d tried. The areas available were all great looking and I felt very much like I was
playing a TES game, just with other people running around. By the end of my playtime, I was very aware I was playing an MMO, but I didn’t hate it like I thought I would. It was good fun and never really made me feel stupid for not knowing things, but it bored me because it’s a lot more of the same old stuff. If you’re a fan of The Elder Scrolls, you’ll love it. If you’re a fan of MMOs, you’ll love it. But unless huge changes are made between now and when it launches, it won’t be the game to change my mind about playing MMOs. 57 • GameOn Magazine
Screenshots
The Elder Scrolls Online Beta
Issue 53 • March 2014
58 • GameOn Magazine
Screenshots
The Elder Scrolls Online Beta
Issue 53 • March 2014
59 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
MMO Virgin Plays The Elder Scrolls Online
MMO Virgin Plays The Elder Scrolls Online Thom has a secret. He’s an MMO virgin. Until now that is. He lets us in on his very first MMO experience, it’s pretty intimate.
By Thom Whyte
I
have never played an MMO. Alright, that’s a lie. I played World of Warcraft for two weeks and found the experience entirely tedious. That’s fine, it just isn’t for me. I don’t know my tanks from my templars, or my mages from my warlocks. I’ve never been on a raid and I don’t know anything about guilds.
in the series: freedom to craft your own character with a completely individual appearance and set of stats; freedom to ignore the main story and drown yourself in side-quests; freedom to head in whichever direction you choose, with the promise of a wide variety of different locations to explore; freedom to delve into Tamriel’s Despite this, my interest couldn’t lore; freedom, complete and help but be piqued when I utter. It’s not much to ask, is it? received an invitation to play the final beta weekend of The The truth is that each Elder Scrolls Elder Scrolls: Online. I may not game comes accompanied by be able to cross-examine the huge hype - fan expectation is social aspects of the game or so high that it’s remarkable the compare its facilities to that of series has managed to hit the other MMOs, but I can approach standards demanded. The fear it from the perspective of the is that making an MMO will other demographic Zenimax reign in some of the series’ most hope to convert, because I am treasured aspects - the graphics, an Elder Scrolls fan. of course, but also the story and combat. It’s with these qualities There are certain things an Elder in mind that I jumped into The Scrolls fan requires from any title Elder Scrolls: Online. The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
You begin as a prisoner (surprise, surprise) in the midst of a prison riot. An ethereal guy imaginatively called ‘The Prophet’ appears and begins telling you what to do with your life - namely, that you have to go save him from eternal imprisonment. You do as he says, mainly because there’s no other choice and partly because he’s voiced by Dumbledore. After a short tutorial in which you’re introduced to the game’s combat and story, you free the Prophet and return to somewhere in Tamriel, the location dependent on the faction you choose. I chose the Ebonheart Pact (because dragons are cool) and found myself in a small town in Morrowind. That’s right, I said Morrowind, from that game you used to love. It hits me that we’re finally being allowed access to all the different provinces of Tamriel in a single title, and the 60 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
MMO Virgin Plays The Elder Scrolls Online prospect is mouth-watering to say the least. You’re immediately faced with the temptation to create a new character and go exploring other areas - an early sign of the game’s potential for replayability. Even on a short beta weekend, in which I only played as one character, the variety of locations I saw was impressive. I completed quests on a set of scorched plains that lay at the foot of a recently erupted mountain, marshy farmland filled with giant mushrooms and marauders from another faction, and I even took time to follow a series of side-quests on a snowy
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
Nordic island just off the coast of Skyrim. Tamriel’s medieval towns remain, as does Morrowind’s weird vegetative architecture. Everything is familiar - spruced up, even.
attack pattern to suit the moves in your arsenal. The result is an engaging system that forced me to balance between my Stamina and Magicka consuming attacks. It’s a welcome addition to the combat of the Elder Scrolls franchise, with moves like ‘flurry’ throwing a bit of variety into the ordinary first-person mouseclicking melee.
It’s one of the things that surprised me most about the Elder Scrolls: Online - everything just looks so… Elder Scrolls-y. Obviously the graphics have been reigned in, but the aesthetic was far closer There’s plenty of room for to that of core Elder Scrolls titles individual customisation too than I had anticipated. as well as having four different starting classes (each of which The combat is satisfying - hotkeys has three unique skill trees), are used to supplement your you have full reign over which normal attacks with special ones, weapons and armour you equip meaning that you soon form an yourself with. Just like in a core
61 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
MMO Virgin Plays The Elder Scrolls Online
Elder Scrolls title, your character soon feels unique, and the temptation to create multiple characters and play around with different styles is strong. The side-quests add much appreciated narrative depth to substitute the intriguing but somewhat disposable main story. The three-faction war over Cyrodiil and the throne was the most noticeable of new features touted in the game’s early marketing, and it was certainly a focal point in many of the sidequests I undertook. My first was to break the siege my starting town was under from another faction. This included fighting The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
enemy soldiers on the beach, setting fire to siege equipment and ladders, and finally helping to illegally summon a large firedemon-thing to defend our walls.
engaged in a quest to safely lead the survivors through a secret passage and to the not-so-safe shores of Morrowind. You come to care about the NPCs and take on a surprisingly strong stance The side-quests help create a on the war. strong sense of the ongoing war and an understanding of its The world has been built well, effects on the denizens of Tamriel. with narrative-driven quests Already I’m harbouring a strong that can regard anything from grudge against the Daggerfall the morality of necromancy to Covenant for a brutal surprise the fragile race politics between attack they launched on a small the Dunmer and the Argonians, town that I had been questing in their allies and former slaves. for a long time. I’d spent hours Completing quests never felt like saving captured lovers, finding a slog; it was never a simple case lost friends, defeating bandits of ‘go here and kill/collect this and all sorts, only to see half many of [insert boring objective the people I’d helped killed as I here]’. The quests tell stories and 62 • GameOn Magazine
Articles
MMO Virgin Plays The Elder Scrolls Online introduce you to characters and you’re capable of before allowing feel worthwhile. you to explore too far. It’s not a huge deal, but freedom to The degree of freedom you’re explore is almost unrestricted in entitled to is perhaps not as core Elder Scrolls games, and it much as what first appears. What would be good to see the quests seems at first like a huge list of spread out a bit more. quests and areas to choose from soon whittles down with the My social experiences over the help of level recommendations weekend were fairly limited. and increasingly high-leveled Once, I spent ages unlocking a enemies, forcing you to either chest only for someone else to grind or complete the quests immediately nick the loot from
it, but apart from that other players had very little impact on my game. It’s satisfying to play with other people running about you, knowing that they’ve got their own quests to complete and things to do, and I’m sure that as you progress more player interaction will become available. The PvP aspects of MMOs are quite unknown to me, but I can already see the appeal of taking on some Daggerfall Covenant scum. It’s a much more convincing addition to the Elder Scrolls games than I’d expected, and if you’re looking for an addictive, engrossing way to spend hours at a time refining a character unique to you, The Elder Scrolls: Online is worth a go. I don’t know if it’s a WoW killer, and the MMO aspects do encroach upon the player’s exploration, but I have no doubts that most fans of the core series who try it will be won over. I found it difficult to tear myself away from the game when playing alone, and to be perfectly honest, I fear for my resilience when most of the people I know start playing it. I mean, who hasn’t fantasized about playing the Elder Scrolls alongside a mate?
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
63 • GameOn Magazine
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The Elder Scroll IV: Oblivion The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard
Issue 53 • March 2014
65 • GameOn Magazine
Reviews
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (GOTY Edition)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (GOTY Edition) Review Release Dates
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: Bethesda Game Studios Genre: Role-playing Platform: PC, X360
Written originally in 2008, we take a look back at our review of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, remembering what it was like to play.
I
t took me about three hours to just start writing the introduction for this review. For my intros I always like to go for a quote, a special metaphor, a good aspect or even an event in the game. I wasn’t sure what to do in this case. In fact until this moment I wasn’t even sure if I could review Morrowind. After all, who can review a game that would take you more than a month to finish, and even then you’d be in for a lot of surprises the next time you play it. The very first time I played Morrowind I was lost. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t a bad thing to be lost in such a grand world; over 15 square miles of land to The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
1 May, 2002 (NA) 2 May, 2002 (EU)
By Chris Wakefield
be explored and that’s minus the island of Solesthiem which is added through the “Bloodmoon” Expansion Pack. The game starts off with a dream, a vision, or if I am allowed to be precise: a prophecy. Waking up from such a dream you begin to salvage your strength as you get told that you are a prisoner on a ship. Luckily for you though, you’re being released. Why? What happened? You don’t know. You won’t know either until you reach almost the middle of the game and that’s if you choose to continue the main game quests.
detailed Character Creation System. It is up to you to choose a race from a possible 9, varying from Dark Elves and Wood Elves to Imperials and Orcs. With two unusual races first introduced into this game are the Khajits and the Argonians. The former being a feline race and the latter being a reptilian race. Of course both sexes are available, and even humans have 3 different races. If you think that is varied then just wait until you see how you pick your class and star signs. You have more than 13 classes to
"You have more than 13 classes to choose from" That’s right, Morrowind is all about choice. You get taught that pretty early in the game too. As you are being steered off the ship you are introduced through tutorials along with the very much
choose from, including the typical Assassin, Thief, Warrior and Mage classes. But if by any means you think that those classes aren’t enough for you, there is always the method of creating your 66 • GameOn Magazine
Reviews
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (GOTY Edition) own class by choosing from over 25 skills and 6 main attributes, which range from Strength to Personality. In addition the aforementioned signs grant you with a special unique bonus. If you don’t know where to begin, or if like me indecisiveness is a plague that hunts you down in such situations, then I suggest you take the questions options and through answering them a class will be generated for you. As you can see by now Morrowind is not your typical RPG where you just pick a race and class and are then thrown right in middle of the action and that is carried throughout the whole game in every aspect. 15 square miles of land to explore that contains more than 10 main cities to visit. Imagine how many quests you would ponder upon or, even more; how many things can you do in such overwhelming place.
about Morrowind as you can see now isn’t just the storyline, but is about how FREE you can be in such a world; arguably it has more freedom than a MMORPG and certainly more than some. Adapting to the environment around you, you will realise that almost everywhere in Morrowind there is conflict. House Haluulu a business type of group - is on the opposite side of the table with the arcane scholars’ type, the Telvanni Mages. The Thieves Guild is also fighting to control the smuggling business with the old criminal syndicate the Cammona Tong. You will also find that conflict even reaches further beyond, where gods want the upper hands and kings
need to control the people. In other words you won’t find one moment in Morrowind thinking about what you might do now. With such huge content I think it will keep you busy for weeks if not months. Much of the Morrowind era game graphics weren’t all that shiny. Not much like the ones we see now with Metal Gear Solid 4 or Gears of Wars. But then it was still a magnificent break through. And you can feel that instantly. The incredible details thrown everywhere reaches to the smallest things of all. You will no doubt admire the many days that will go by (in game time), with beautiful sunsets and sun rises. Even the ash storms that sometimes breakthrough
With all what is said I have slipped a lot of things here and there. But then even after playing the game 4 times, each with a different class and with a different approach, I still know that there are more than enough secrets and quests to bring me into a fifth or even a sixth trial. For the most powerful aspect The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
67 • GameOn Magazine
Reviews
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (GOTY Edition)
As a race, the Nords are the strongest and largest in all of Tamriel. This physical superiority has gifted them a prestigious history; they once conquered almost all of Tamriel, a fact that gives many Nords a sense of superiority and divinity. They lead the Ebonheart Pact, although their role is to keep the alliance unified as much as it is to rule. The Nords are a relatively simple people (although by no means lacking in intelligence) who prefer cold steel over magic. Their troops form the front ranks of the Ebonheart army, making it the most fearsome in all of Tamriel. Due to the altitude and climate of their Skyrim homelands, they are resistant to cold and can regain health during battle. Their fighting ability is enhanced by armour and dual-wielding buffs.
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
in the city of Ald-Ruhn or Maar Gan or the misty nights over at Balmora and Khuul still feel so atmospheric. The atmosphere assisted by the graphics engine will immerse you more and more in the world.
With such little animation in every character and no expressions represented on any of the NPCs faces, not even when they are fighting you, you will start to feel that the world is a little dull and somewhat… dead.
With all such glamour and lustre that surrounds the game, there is also the dark side that every game sadly has to have. You will start to notice these with time. For instance the background ground music gets dull, with only 3-4 tracks being replayed day and night, and only a few tracks played when someone attacks you.
But one of the main disappointments, or was at least for me generally, was when I gathered my courage to finally undertake the finale of the main quest. Through I do not wish to reveal too much about the story, I feel the final stages were a complete anti-climax. After such a promising and exciting build up, I had hoped for a lot better and can only remain disappointed.
Also worthy of mention is that with little variety in faces of the NPCs, you start to feel that you are seeing the same faces over and over again. And that feeling isn’t lessened by the “dead” state that infects more than 70% of Morrowind’s inhabitants. Many characters and NPCs exist in the game, but you will soon come to the conclusions that not only are they all static, but they never change or do anything other than stand there. That is of course only applied to the indoor NPCs; as for the outside ones, you will see they do at least tend to move around a little from time to time.
With all that excels Morrowind over the other RPGs that roam the market, is its realism. As you treat people in your daily real life, they start to hate or like you. You can intimidate, admire, or taunt them. Even bribe your way through life if you can. With a bar resembling a NPC’s status towards you, you can really know if that NPC is called a friend or sometimes a foe. Compensating this might be the fact that the NPCs tend to “know” your state and your personality. Catch a plague or get infected 68 • GameOn Magazine
Reviews
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (GOTY Edition) by some kind of disease and everyone will start treating you with resentment and fear. Start killing people randomly or make bold thefts and you will be known by the people as a thief and wretched criminal. Make one person like you enough and they will be willing to share with you some information that would assist you in your next quest, save you from a fight that you might not have otherwise won, or even tell you even a secret that if you follow might land your hands on a good item. With almost everyone in Morrowind being accessible for talking and persuasion, and with the random encounters you see every now and then, there is no telling what you might be against the next time you talk to someone. And as they say talk to everyone; talk is cheap. The AI system is also good. You will feel its power when you start getting missions where certain people have to follow you around, or even fight with you. Then you will see that they are pretty resourceful. Rocks or tables won’t prevent them from reaching you, nor will high cliffs (as long as it doesn’t require jumping to access them). The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
All that and there is still much to talk about in Morrowind. The equipment and fighting system in Morrowind are also well thought of. With three types of armour: light, medium and heavy, and six types of weapons to choose from (seven if you can add Magic as one). These weapons range from Long Swords, Axes and Spears, to Hand-to-Hand combat style. Even then, with much of them there are two options for you to choose, as in one handed or two handed weapon, which if you choose the former will give you the option to use a shield that blocks a good portion of an attack.
The fighting system though appearing normal, has more depth than you imagine. Each weapon has three ways of hitting: Thrust, Slash and Chop. Each of the three ways has its different ability to inflict damage upon foes. Easily enough pressing a direction (W.A.S.D) accompanied by the hit button (Left Mouse Click) will deliver a different hit resembling one of the three ways. And if you started to hate the First Person View Mode you can always switch to the Third Person View Mode for a better handling of the situation. With all that Morrowind has, there is still much to discover 69 • GameOn Magazine
Reviews
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (GOTY Edition)
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
70 • GameOn Magazine
Reviews
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (GOTY Edition)
and see with the expansion packs Tribunal and Bloodmoon. But you do literally have to find out how to start Tribunal’s own quests all by yourself. No hints, nothing. You will soon find out that Tribunal’s quests starts in Mournehold; the city of magic and the city of light, as the guards say. There you will find out about the three gods in Morrowind and a secret plot that roams among them. But if you are up to the task and you aren’t yet exhausted after saving the world in Morrowind (or even saving it once again in Mournehold), then you can try the Island of Solsthiem from The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
the Bloodmoon expansion. This time though, you will know right from the start, since almost everyone in both Mournehold and Morrowind knows about it. Some will even give you quests to go there yourself. You will come to see that Bloodmoon’s Expansion Pack is well done and they have added some new features. Maybe making your game harder, but at least it was a fine addition.
Even with all this I feel I have neglected so much and that I owe to such game a better review. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is definitely not your average RPG. A must have game for all RPG lovers and the best title out there for the ones that feel they should try the genre. All in all Morrowind has found its place in my heart. I am sure it can find the same place in yours as well.
Morrowind GOTY
9/10
71 • GameOn Magazine
Reviews
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (GOTY Edition)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (GOTY Edition) Review Release Dates
Publisher: 2K Games, Bethesda Softworks Developer: Bethesda Game Studios Genre: Role-playing Platform: PC, X360, PS3
Originally written way back when in 2008, we take a look back at our review of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, by Chris Wakefield.
H
ey, you should check this out! my friend enthusiastically said to me whilst we were browsing the selection in our local (game shop that is). “An RPG?” I replied, looking worried and thinking that there would be a better game with more guns and explosions available for my money. Yet, something about the back of the box caught my eye and I trusted him, so I handed over my hard earned cash and to this day I have rarely spent a better £40. To describe Oblivion as a game is a dangerous understatement, it is a simply astonishing achievement in creating a real and believable world. Everything
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
10 September, 2007 (Worldwide)
By Chris Wakefield
about it is crafted with an attention to detail which is sorely lacking in most games today and it is clear that this game has been a labour of love. I was always initially troubled by Oblivion, when it was released for the PC I heard tales of how good it was, but was always anxious as before it had a reputation that only amazing system specifications could run it well. Well, now this PS3 release has eliminated the worry and it looks absolutely incredible on a widescreen television. The graphics are amazing and really utilize the power of the console. Having such believable
graphics helps the immersion of the game, whether they are depicting a glorious sunset over some distant mountaintops, a fiery alternate dimension or the sunlight glistening off a small stream. There are times when I have found myself saving the game just to have a record of one of the stunning vistas around me. Similarly the music used is also dynamic and emotive and there are times when you really feel the epic scale of a quest. Sound effects are good as well, with armour and weapons sounding realistic and even minor details like the splash of raindrops, all
"The real shining factor that separates Oblivion from other RPGs is the gameplay." 72 • GameOn Magazine
Reviews
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (GOTY Edition) being perfectly captured. The one problem I have with the sound in the game is that the developers seemed to only use 6 or so voice actors. With the hundreds of non-playable characters in the game, when you see two people having a conversation in exactly the same voice it seems odd and breaks the otherwise excellent realism. However the real shining factor that separates Oblivion from other RPGs is the gameplay. Unlike many RPGs, Oblivion is accessible and easy to get to grips with and an excellent introduction blends a tutorial level with the beginnings of the story perfectly. At the core of Oblivion’s gameplay is a series of choices. What sort of character will you play? A stealthy assassin, a heavily armoured brawler, or a spell casting mage? Yet this is an oversimplification, there are many sub-divisions to choose from and even then, you can subtly alter this as the game progresses meaning you can mix style.
aren’t terribly different, they are handled with style and have a very high level of polish. The leveling system rewards you for using your different skills. When a set number of your major skills improve then you raise a level. The enemies that you face level up with you, which is designed to provide you with an ongoing challenge. Whilst this is a good idea, once you reach a certain level you are left facing the hardest possible enemies which can make even travelling around the landscape a difficult task, but this doesn’t really detract from the experience.
aforementioned introduction you are left to do whatever you choose. The entire map is left open to you, there are no broken bridges or impassable walls save for the map boundaries themselves. The game world is also simply enormous and takes a significant amount of time to traverse (but an excellent fasttravel system is available to speed up the process).
Once your character is unleashed into the sunlight of Cyrodiil you can pursue the main story quest, regarding a missing heir to the throne or simply wander to find new quests, join one of the 4 Perhaps my favourite feature main guilds or simply explore of Oblivion is the freedom you the world around you in one of have from the very beginning the hundreds, yes hundreds, of of the game. After the short caves, dungeons and mines. The
Once you have decided upon your character you go about doing the typical RPG staples of questing, dungeon crawling and leveling up. Whilst these The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (GOTY Edition) number of quests runs well into 3 figures and there is a refreshing range of different ones to choose from, as opposed to the “fetch item for NPC and return” found in most other RPGs.
disappointing. However, this expands an already huge game and is a bonus which really enhances the experience. Whilst these expansions might not be as refined and developed as the game as a whole they are still a Bundled with this PS3 version welcome addition. are the two expansion packs The Shivering Isles and The Knights However, whilst the Elder Scrolls of the Nine, but not the bonus IV: Oblivion is a truly outstanding downloadable content found game, it is not without its flaws. in the PC version, at least not The PS3 controls are generally that I have seen, which is a little tight, but menu navigation can
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prove tedious later in the game when you have large numbers of items. Similarly, without the regular mods and patches released on the PC format the game still suffers from irritating bugs and whilst many have been fixed there are still one or two frustrating ones. Getting stuck in a rock and walking into a shop only for all of the inhabitants to suddenly die are especially vexing, and unless
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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (GOTY Edition)
frequent saves are made can does happen then there are lead to control smashing levels always hints and tips available of anger. from other characters and an excellent quest log feature which Other criticisms are minor, with keeps track of everything you are some of the Oblivion gate sections doing at once. being repetitive and sometimes difficult when at a higher level In conclusion, Oblivion is a due to the sheer volume of high brilliant game experience and level enemies you have to battle one that I can highly recommend. through. Some console gamers, Since that afternoon of unused to the levels of freedom momentary doubt in a game on offer have complained that there wasn’t enough guidance and that they constantly felt lost and out of their depths. However if you are a fan of adventure games and RPGs in general this shouldn’t be an issue. If this really The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
shop I have clocked over 100 hours of playing Oblivion and this review has merely whetted my appetite to create a new character and experience the sense of adventure once more. If you are considering buying this game, then it can be picked up for around £30, easily the best adventure out at the moment for the PS3 and one of the best games available.
Oblivion GOTY
9/10
75 • GameOn Magazine
Reviews
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls IV: Skyrim Review Release Dates
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: Bethesda Game Studios Genre: Role-playing Platform: PC, X360, PS3
Originally written in 2011, we take a look back at our review of critically acclaimed The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, by Chris Standring.
T
he time has come. Bethesda, creator of some of the most monumental RPGs ever seen, most famously The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, bring us their latest title, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
11 November, 2011 (Worldwide) 8 December, 2011 (Japan)
By Chris Standring
It’s been a long time since I’ve had that giddy feeling over a game, and waiting for Skyrim to unlock on Steam I was certainly in suspense; the clock struck, Steam decrypted files, it was time for the adventure to begin. Upon launching the game I was met with a sleek main menu. After hitting ‘new’ and taking a slurp of my cherry cola, the first scene loads. I’m travelling in a cart, a prisoner it seems, and not on a journey that’s going to end well from the sound of the general conversation between the others sat nearby. Looking around I’m completely taken by the game world: it’s beautiful but in a dull medieval way. It’s detailed, it’s alive, I’m instantly immersed. The sound and visuals are at that level we’ve come to expect from Bethesda titles, and I’m hungry for more.
Excitement around this title has been massive, exceeding the hype in my circles for Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3, and with its launch we’ve already seen 270k+ concurrent users on Steam, Metacritic scores in the mid nineties on all formats and no sign of stopping. Already it’s a massive success within just a few days, and now it’s my turn to take a look and put it through its paces. Approaching The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
a
small
coming to a clearly dire situation, an executioner and his block in the distance, shouts and discussions from the locals as we are brought to a stop. Unloaded and called out one by one, the first walks on to his fate, no fear, walking proud. Next, a panicking man makes a run for it, shot down by the archers within moments, over so fast. I’m next. I step forward, they don’t recognise me, they don’t recognise my attire, I’m not on the list he holds, who am I?
Bethesda spare no expense plunging you into character creation, and what a wonderful character creator it is. Ten races are placed before you, each with their own characteristics, styles, bonuses and a short description accompanying each, with Nord being the default selection. The races are varied, and what we’ve keep, come to expect from the Elder 76 • GameOn Magazine
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Scrolls series: the Altmer (High Elves); Argonian (a reptilian race); the Bosmer (Wood Elves); the Bretons; the Dunmer (Dark Elves); Imperials; the Khajiit (a race of feline humanoids); the Nord; Orcs (also called The Orsimer) and the Redguard. At this point I’m spoilt for choice, and I’ve already seen several races I want to play. I’ve barely got through the intro and I’m already thinking about my next playthrough and what character I’ll be next. Heck I haven’t even decided what I’ll play on this one yet!! 45 minutes pass by. I’ve been through a number of the races and their options and I’ve customised several. The different looks that are achievable are
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varied and vast and while not allowing the crazy concoctions we have seen in some of the previous Elder Scrolls titles, it’s much more sensible and refined, and very, very impressive. It’s obvious a lot of time has gone into character creation: it’s been clearly thought out, immersion has been kept a priority and it’s exactly what I had hoped for in Skyrim.
the world I’m longing to explore. The first man is kicked to his knees at the block, head put to rest. A swift chop, a spray of blood, and before the body has even been moved to the side I’m called up. Dropped to my knees with a thud, there’s an odd sound in the distance. .They ignore it. My head lays on the block and turns, looking up to my executioner. There’s that sound again, louder, closer and then out of nowhere Settling on the Dunmer, the Dark a dragon lands on the building to Elven race, it’s time to face my my left, a powerful roar erupting fate. from it. The sky turns dark, chaos ensues, flames engulf all around The man turns to his captain, us, buildings destroyed. asking her what to do with me. No mercy is shown. I’m here, At this point you already know and I’m thrown in with the rest. what you’re in for, and it’s going I’m sent to the block, and I take to be one hell of a game no what could be my last steps in doubt. My words barely do it
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
justice, when you experience the intro, yes all that’s just the intro, it really is an amazing way to introduce you to the world, and a great way to start the story of your journey. Bethesda set the scene so well, and it’s a quality that remains throughout your whole time in Skyrim. There aren’t many titles out there that deliver in this way; in fact it’s a magic only Bethesda ever seem to have mastered. The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
From here on you’re presented with your first real option, to go with the escaping rebels or the guard trying to help you get through this mess, and it’s the first of many in a game which offers options by the bucket load. The main quest line in Skyrim itself is quite driven. You’re easily put from point to point, dialogue is pleasant and well presented, scenes are well played out and it’s scripted in the special way we’ve grown to love from Bethesda
titles. Some people have criticised the voice acting but personally I find its over dramatic tones to be well suited (this is a fantasy after all), and I’ve even found myself getting into the spirit of being over dramatic along with it as I slam down my mug of coffee and head out into the wilderness on another adventure. The quests themselves tend be the kind you would expect (retrieve an item, find someone, learn something), the kind of 78 • GameOn Magazine
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim tasks you always have in a world of this type; not much there has changed really from the past Elder Scrolls titles, but that’s not a bad thing. After all why change something that isn’t broken. If anything, they’ve strengthened it with the variety of mechanics and systems behind the quests, as well as your character and their progression, and that is where Skyrim really begins to shine.
play, and importantly, you don’t feel penalised if you change your style and start down a new route; it really is a very robust and impressive system. This customisation, coupled with the infinite quest system, allows you to really make just about any type of character and any focus you can dream of, without the worry of screwing something up. And yes that’s right, I said infinite quests...
The mechanics of character progression have changed through the life of The Elder Scrolls series, and personally, I’m finding Skyrim to be the most refined experience yet. Skill gains and experience are gained in the typical way you would expect: you use something, you gain XP in that area, no surprises there. The levelling and perk point system however is amazing, and beautiful in many ways.
While the main quest line itself obviously has an end, it’s in the many subquests and chains that the infinite quest system can be found, and where many find the heart of Elder Scrolls games really lies. As with past Elder Scrolls titles, there’s a number of organisations, guilds and such that you find yourself working for and being roped into, and Bethesda in all their wisdom, have put in a storytelling system that can actually generate its own quests. After finishing the basic subquests for such an organisation, the infinite quest system takes over, and keeps you in work offers and quests forever. Bethesda’s aim was to create a world you can truly live in, and by giving Skyrim a neverending cycle, they’ve certainly done it. I’m sure you will agree this is
In Skyrim, every skill has its own specific perk point tree; be it one of the many types of armour, magic schools or weapon types. Every single type of just about anything has its own perk point tree, allowing for an extreme level of character customisation. You really are able to adapt your character tightly to the way you The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
The Bosmer, though similar in appearance (minus the blue tint) to the Altmer, are very different to their High Elf brethren. Based in the thick forests of Valenwood, the Wood Elves are a unique race devoted entirely to their surroundings. Through mysterious rituals they can shape the woods to create houses and other objects; unsurprisingly they are terrific hunters with a long history of archery. They stem from a tribe of Altmer who were sick of the formal, hierarchical society and looked for solace in Valenwood; while generally friendlier and more relaxed than their Elvish cousins, the Bosmer are also vicious carnivores and cannibals who feast on their dead victims after battle. Their in-game advantages include archery, stealth and stamina improvements; all in aid of their predatory tactics.
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim something every RPG needs, and I can’t wait to see how my character has played out a few months down the line if I keep exploring this infinite system. After picking your focus and starting to customise your character and their specialisations, combat really comes to life in Skyrim. I’ve started a couple of characters now, and while my Dunmer is magic focused, primarily in Destruction, I’ve also been through the melee offerings and archery on a Nordic character before writing this. First up, magic. In Skyrim, you have two hands, obviously, and it’s up to you, in any way, to choose what spell you have on
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each, or maybe even the same on both....want to cast fire and heal yourself at the same time? Sure, no problem! Want to dual wield chains of lightning like a Jedi? Sure, no problem! As you move on and on, learning more and more schools of magic and spells, the possibilities become seemingly endless, and through the clever ‘favorites’ menu, you can hot swap these spells at will too, allowing deadly combos to be created by those with the mind to fabricate them. Magic users are no doubt going to be very happy with how Skyrim is put together. Second up, the melee weapons. Be it axes, maces, swords, shields, two-handers, Skyrim has a mass of variations and styles, all very
beautifully modelled in their own ways. Through the stamina system, you can do bigger swinging charged attacks, short sharp swings, which are more powerful. As with magic, what’s in each hand is your choice: whether you want to run sword and board, dual wield, use one of the bigger two-handers, or even mix up melee and magic at the same time? It’s all up to you, there’s no limits, and again the hot swap system allows you to change and tailor to any combat situation.
Lastly, I’ll touch on archery, my personal favourite dragon killing method. Simply put archery is fantastic. As usual you draw
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back and hold your arrows, take powerful calculated shots, or quick Volleys, you’re in full control at all times. The arc of the arrow’s flight is smooth and how you would expect and it all feels very natural and honestly I couldn’t find any complaints in combat of any variation. With Skyrim’s combat, Bethesda have hit the nail on the head, taking past mechanics and refining them even further to the point where they are near perfect in Skyrim. It’s fast and fun but tactical and calculated at the same time, and it’s a real nice balance they’ve struck. Game length is a topic currently up for debate, and honestly it all depends how you choose to play the game. There are those taking the main quest line as the game’s length, and while this is understandable, by taking this The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
attitude you miss the beauty and depth of what Skyrim, and any Elder Scrolls title, really is. Personally, I understand that while it is possible to run the main quest line in under 10 hours (and I believe dev’s raced and did it in less than 3), you miss so much content as well as the true essence of the game by doing this.With the infinite quest system, the countless organisations, and the in depth character progression, Bethesda set out to make a world you could live in and it’s for that reason I feel that Skyrim doesn’t have an end or a length. If you explore it and embrace it, Skyrim is a game
you can, in theory, play forever, or at least until the next Elder Scrolls title rolls around. There’s a whole lot more I could still write and there’s so much I know I haven’t even touched on; as with the infinite quest system, I feel I could make this an infinite review. Every day I’m still finding new things, experiencing new things, and for the first time in a long while, I’m enjoying a single player experience and not feeling that something is missing, Skyrim is giving me all I could ask for and more...
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
10/10
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard
The Elder Scrolls IV: Skyrim - Dawnguard Review Release Dates
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: Bethesda Game Studios Genre: Role-playing Platform: PC, X360, PS3
Originally written in 2012 we have a nostalgic look back at our review of the first DLC released for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Dawnguard.
S
o here it is, then. Skyrim’s first official expansion is now available on the PC as well as the Xbox and ready to let you sink your teeth into it. Pun sort of intended. Previous expansions have gone over well in Elder Scrolls history, adding new lands to explore and new loot to fight with new enemies to conquer, so let’s find out if Skyrim’s first attempt lives up to those previous. Dawnguard is, as I’m sure you all know by now, Vampires. Them who like to bite you in the neck when you sleep and drink your blood. The Dawnguard is an ancient society of professional Vampire hunters, and they
The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
26 June, 2012 (Worldwide)
By Kevin Malone
want you to join them in their hunt. Having been disbanded for a long, long time the newly reformed Dawnguard is currently making base in their old keep, Fort Dawnguard, slowly rebuilding and actively recruiting for their crusade in destroying the re-emerging vampire threat, in the form of the Volkihar clan, led by the Vampire Lord, Harkon. Near the beginning of your new adventure you will be given the opportunity to join one of these factions permanently, either hunting vampires or joining them, and becoming one yourself. Without spoiling anything past general knowledge of the title that is the story you will be playing through. One of the most touted things about the new content is, of course, the ability to become a blood sucker yourself, complete with a new perk tree with shiny
new abilities for you to use on the helpless denizens of Skyrim. Once you have been turned, you have access to the ‘Vampire Lord’ ability, which funnily enough, allows you to transform into a Vampire Lord, a large demonic form with the ability to bring the dead back to life with your left hand and drain the blood of the living with your right. If you run out of magicka you can then simply swipe with your sharp claws to finish off stragglers. As well as those basic attacks you have the ability to turn into a swarm of bats to cover great distances in no time, a Vampire vision which lets you see much better in the dark and you can look forward to powerful skills such as summoning a gargoyle to fight at your side. Once you are done having your fun you can simply switch back to your human form and continue on as normal. 82 • GameOn Magazine
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard Clearly a lot of effort went into improving the transformed players abilities and fun compared to the woeful werewolf abilities in the vanilla game, and with that, those werewolves also have a new perk tree; with abilities to increase strength, terrify higher level opponents and more. Problem is, and this is shared with the Vampire Lord form, is that there isn’t much point in doing it. To take the Vampire specifically, it takes a couple of seconds to transform into your terrifying new form and ladle out the punishment, then should you want to turn back, it’ll take about five seconds and an unskippable animation
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to do so; you can still be attacked and killed during this time where you can not defend yourself. You’ll also find it difficult moving around in caves/houses etc. in Vampire form as you are so tall you can get caught on roofs and scenery, stopping you dead in your tracks. As a sword and shield warrior, I also couldn’t use those magic spells for very long, so if you intend on being a Vampire make sure you are ready with a large mana pool, as you can’t use potions while in vampire form.
guard, something about the Dawnguard being reformed. There’s also a chance to run into a recruiter in towns, which will give you the quest to speak to the Dawnguard leader. This is where I had my first major problem; the game marked on my map the supposed entrance to the cave that would take me to Fort Dawnguard, so off I went, me and my horse Allie to slay some vampires. Over 40 minutes later I was still wandering trying to find the cave, having exhausted every possible place it could be To get started on your quest, in the location given. Dejected reminiscent of the Blood Moon I resorted to a YouTube video, expansion for Morrowind, you’ll and it turns out the entrance is hear a rumour from a towns nowhere near where the map
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard tells you, in fact there’s nothing where the map tells you and the actual entrance isn’t marked on the map at all. Whether this is an occasional glitch or one that happens every time, it needs to be fixed as there will be a lot of frustration if you have just laid down the money for new content and the game doesn’t let you in on how to get to that new content. The chief race of the Daggerfall Covenant whose origins can be traced back to the High Elves of High Rock, a divided land that they now make their home. The Bretons, and the Covenant, are led by High King Emeric who united the lands of High Rock through war and brought the Redguard and Orcs to his cause through diplomacy. They are generally regarded as a diplomatic race, despite their recent problems, more familiar with poetry than warcraft. Times of strife, however, have brought out the darker side of the Bretons; their elvish past grants them great ability in the field of magic, while their human aspects make them highly able with a sword and shield. Their abilities include light armour buffs as well as across-the-board improvements in magicka and spellcasting.
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After finally getting there, I spoke to the leader and was given my first quest, and it was at this quests conclusion you are given the choice to remain loyal to the Dawnguard or join the vampires, with good reason to join both, make your decision wisely as there’s no way to turn back once you have chosen. Of course it’s a bit odd that both of these very professional and ancient societies are more than willing to let an unknown quantity join their ranks and rise through them in no time at all, but that’s par for the course in any Elder Scrolls faction quest-line, I guess. For the purposes of reviewing and seeing the new Vampire skill tree (and you should know a seemingly common glitch, one I experienced, is as soon as you become a Vampire, if you are
using an Ebony Shield, it will disappear, forever it seems. It is still equipped and useable, but invisible), I chose to side with the Vampires and got a nice new companion for my trouble, lady Vampire Serana, an important figure in the quest and a very handy friend in combat, with her able to raise the dead to fight for us battles were a breeze for the most part, even on expert difficulty with a moderately geared level 17 character. You won’t be on easy street all the time, however, as there are some tough battles ahead, including a stand-out set piece against a pair of dragons on a large plane of ice. Taking on the Dawnguard side of the quest obviously results in a different story; where as a Vampire you seek a weapon to block out the sun, the Dawnguard are looking to stop the Vampire Lord in his tracks, and to do so they have access to the new cross-bow weapon. Effectively just a bow with more power, this is however off-set by the considerably larger reload time between bolts. You’ll of course also make home in Fort Dawnguard as opposed to the Vampire haven. 84 • GameOn Magazine
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard
Horse armour and other questionable releases aside, Elder Scrolls add-ons have generally added new lands for you to explore, be it Solstheim or the Shivering Isles, in Dawnguard most of the quests are in Skyrim itself, just adding new caves and dungeons; even the two new keeps for the Vampires and Dawnguard are in the main map. You will get two entirely new areas though, one being the Soul Cairn, where those unfortunates trapped in Soul Gems go, and the Forgotten Vale. Both are large areas but neither are particularly well marked on maps. No quest markers for side-quests means a lot of random walking about and with no horse (unless you complete one of the aforementioned side-quests) means a lot of time aimlessly wandering, especially in the Forgotten Vale, which is really just a five-item-fetch-quest The Elder Scrolls Online Edition
to expand playtime. However for the main quests, those which are marked on the map, both new areas are interesting to explore and explained in ways to keep them firmly embedded in the existing lore of the world. With cross-bows added, new armour from new enemies and new beasties to fight, in new lands, there is a lot of content on offer, but it will only take you between 10-12 hours to complete depending on whether or not you do the side-quests, although you could ostensibly double that by playing through with the opposite faction. Whether or not it’s worth the
1600 Microsoft Points/£13.99 will fully depend on how much enjoyment you can get from what is more of the same quest-wise, some new powers (that may well be useless depending on your class) and some new loregoodness. There is a distinct lack of unique loot past a little new armour and a new bow at the end of the vampire quest, so that may factor in on your decision. For what it is, though, it’s a large amount of content, it will give players some new areas to roam around in and has a slightly more compelling tale than the original Skyrim storyline; bugs however ultimately brings things down.
Dawnguard DLC
7/10
85 • GameOn Magazine
Brothers: The Thoughts of Two Gamers
The Elder Scrolls Online Release Dates: 4 April, 2014 (Worldwide) - PC/Mac OS X Summer 2014 (Worldwide) - PS4/Xbox One Issue 48 • October 2013
86 • GameOn Magazine