The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Review by AI

The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition Review by AI

 

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Game Review

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, developed by Bethesda Game Studios, is a remastered version of the beloved open-world RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, originally released in 2011. This edition, released in 2016, comes with improved graphics, enhanced stability, and all the downloadable content (DLC) expansions included. Despite being over a decade old, Skyrim remains one of the most iconic RPGs ever created, offering an expansive and immersive fantasy world filled with adventure, lore, and endless possibilities. This review will explore the game's gameplay, visuals, story, and overall experience.

Gameplay

Open-World Exploration

At its core, Skyrim offers an enormous open world filled with diverse environments, ranging from snowy mountains and dense forests to ancient ruins and bustling cities. The game’s world, known as Tamriel, is full of secrets, quests, and hidden treasures, making exploration a rewarding experience. Whether you’re climbing the high peaks of the Throat of the World, exploring deep dungeons, or simply wandering through the peaceful countryside, there’s always something new to discover.

The game encourages exploration by offering an array of side quests, collectibles, and random encounters. Skyrim’s procedural quest system means that no two playthroughs are exactly the same, as players can stumble upon new quests or unique events while roaming the world. Additionally, players can join factions such as the Companions, Thieves Guild, or Dark Brotherhood, each offering their own quests, storylines, and rewards.

Character Customization and RPG Elements

In Skyrim, players create and customize their character, known as the Dragonborn, with a wide variety of racial and skill choices. The game features ten playable races, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Whether you choose to play as a Nord, an Altmer, or a Khajiit, your choice of race affects your abilities and interactions with the world.

The character progression system is skill-based rather than class-based, meaning that the more you use a skill, the more powerful it becomes. This allows for a highly flexible character build. For example, if you prefer magic, you can focus on skills like Destruction, Restoration, and Alteration. If you favor melee combat, you can specialize in One-Handed, Two-Handed, or Archery. Players can even craft weapons, armor, and potions, adding a deeper layer of customization to their character.

The Perk system further deepens the RPG elements, giving players access to special abilities as they level up. These perks allow for more specialized playstyles, such as becoming a master of stealth, a powerful mage, or an unyielding warrior.

Combat and Combat System

Combat in Skyrim is visceral and dynamic, blending swordplay, magic, and archery. Players can wield two weapons at once, use a shield and sword combination, or even cast spells with one hand while holding a weapon in the other. The ability to combine different combat styles offers flexibility and allows for personalized approaches to battles. The game also introduces shouts, powerful dragon abilities that can be used in combat, such as Unrelenting Force (a blast of force that knocks enemies back) and Dragonrend (a shout that forces dragons to land). These shouts are integral to the game’s story and can turn the tide of battle when used strategically.

The combat system, while not as complex as modern action games, is still satisfying. Sword swings and spell casts feel impactful, and the variety of enemies (from bandits and giants to dragons and undead) keeps combat engaging throughout the game.

Quests and Storytelling

The main story of Skyrim revolves around the Dragonborn, a hero who is prophesied to defeat the ancient dragon Alduin, who is foretold to destroy the world. The quest to stop Alduin takes players through a rich narrative that delves into ancient lore, the history of dragons, and the balance between gods and mortals. This primary questline is immersive and has several dramatic moments.

However, Skyrim’s true strength lies in its vast array of side quests and the way they weave into the world’s lore. Each of the factions mentioned earlier has its own intricate storyline, providing unique rewards, characters, and challenges. The game’s side quests, like helping a ghost find peace or retrieving powerful artifacts, are often just as compelling as the main quest, and many feature complex moral choices.

Additionally, the game offers dynamic storytelling, where NPCs react to your choices and your reputation within different factions. The decisions you make can have long-term consequences, creating a sense of immersion and giving players the freedom to shape their story in their own way.

Visuals and Art Design

The Special Edition of Skyrim comes with remastered graphics, including enhanced textures, better lighting, and upgraded models. While the game’s visual style still retains its characteristic, somewhat dated look, the improvements are noticeable. The environments, especially the landscapes, look stunning, with vibrant colors in fields, forests, and the Northern Lights in the sky. The cities are more detailed than ever, with bustling marketplaces, intricate architecture, and crowded taverns that bring Tamriel to life.

Despite being a remaster, some areas still show their age, especially in the character models and animations. NPC faces can sometimes appear stiff, and the animations for walking or running can feel unnatural. However, these minor issues don’t detract from the overall beauty of the world, and mods can further enhance the graphics for players who want a more modern visual experience.

The game also benefits from improved performance, with the Special Edition being optimized for newer consoles and PCs, ensuring a smoother experience without major bugs or crashes that plagued the original release.

Sound and Music

The music in Skyrim is legendary, with the Skyrim soundtrack composed by Jeremy Soule setting the tone for every major moment in the game. The iconic Dragonborn theme is a powerful and emotional piece that underscores the player’s role as a hero. The music is dynamic, adapting to the situation, whether it’s a calm and peaceful tune while walking through the forests or an intense battle theme when fighting dragons or other enemies.

The sound design is equally impressive, with ambient sounds like the wind howling through the mountains, the rustling of trees, and the crackling of fire. Voice acting for major characters is solid, although some minor NPCs can sound a bit repetitive due to the limited voice cast. However, the sheer amount of dialogue and the depth of the world make it easy to overlook this.

DLC and Expansions

Skyrim Special Edition includes all three major expansions released for the original game: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn.

• Dawnguard introduces a new storyline involving vampires and their quest for powerful artifacts. It adds new locations, quests, and the ability to become a vampire lord or join the Dawnguard, a faction dedicated to fighting vampires.
• Hearthfire focuses on homebuilding, allowing players to buy land and construct their own homes. It’s a more relaxed expansion that lets players customize their living space and adopt children.
• Dragonborn sends players to the island of Solstheim, where they encounter the ancient Dragonborns and unravel the mystery of the powerful dragon Miraak.

These expansions add hours of content and provide new areas to explore, further enhancing the overall experience of Skyrim.

Challenges and Criticism

While Skyrim Special Edition is an incredible experience, it’s not without its flaws. The game can feel repetitive after long play sessions, as much of the gameplay revolves around fetching items, killing enemies, and completing similar quest structures. The AI can be predictable at times, and some bugs or clipping issues may still arise, despite the remaster.

Additionally, the game’s lack of true moral ambiguity can make some quests feel straightforward, with little consequence for actions outside of the main storyline. While mods can fix many of these issues, they may not be accessible to everyone.

Conclusion

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a timeless RPG that continues to captivate players years after its release. With a vast open world, compelling storytelling, deep character customization, and countless quests, it offers a nearly endless adventure. The remastered graphics and added expansions make it the definitive version of Skyrim, and the game’s modding community ensures that players can continue to enjoy fresh content and improvements long into the future.

Whether you're a returning player or new to the world of Tamriel, Skyrim Special Edition is an absolute must-play. Its blend of exploration, combat, and storytelling makes it one of the most influential and enjoyable RPGs of all time. If you haven't yet experienced the magic of Skyrim, now is the perfect time to dive into this unforgettable journey.