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Believe the hype. Skyrim is as awesome as you've heard. It not only improves upon the 'Oblivion' model that didn't really need much improvement to begin with but also introduces some very welcome changes. I could go on forever about the virtual architecture, skylines, open-world freedom, and one of the best game genre soundtracks I've ever heard. I could gush about all the amazing things but the review is cutting into my gaming time... and I need to get back to finish my 50-plus active quests! Skyrim almost offers too many NPCs to interact with and too many places to go to. Every locale has its own unique cultural ambiance and backstory. Scattered all across the land and in the deepest, darkest crevasses are plentiful unique items that are oh-so-much-fun to discover. It's critical that this aspect of the game is strong; the entire game unfolds within the confines of the created backdrop. Hands-down, this game has the best open-world setting I've ever lost myself in. One simple to complete quest invariably opens up 5 others which are equally engrossing to accomplish. I've gamed my way up to level 25 and haven't even engaged the first dragon-slaying quest. I'm certain that once I do, yet another entirely new dimension to the game will open up. Character levelling will never be the same after Skyrim's revolutionary re-design. Just as in Oblivion, the game developers integrate the “practice-makes-perfect” principle; you become adept at those skills you engage in. And there are just so many things to practice such as archery, alchemy, magic, enchanting, smithing, one and/or two-handed weaponry, thievery, assassination, and speechcraft, just to name a few. When it comes time to level-up, rigidity is replaced with ingenuity. Choose to up your stamina, magicka, or health - it's that simple - and then allocate skill points to your character as you desire. Are you a warrior at heart, but one who wants to wear robes and launch fireballs? You can do that. Are you a lock-picking Wood Elf who wants to have huge muscles and wield a two-handed axe? You can do that, because even the character creation menu offers a myriad of options for your character's physical appearance. You know that things have changed when heavy-armour friendly Orcs can do away with stereotypes to become bards... and good ones at that. Ones that can even mix powerful potions, if you desire. You are only limited by your own interests and your imagination. No everything is fairy dust and magic potions though. There are a couple of things that can be improved, just as there were in Oblivion. I'm not going to dwell on the obvious glitches and freezes that can and do happen, for I'm sure they'll be addressed as updated patches are released. Let's focus more on the gameplay areas needing improvement, as few as they may be. Is it reasonable or realistic to eat 30 carrots, 20 tomatoes, and 12 cabbages during a pause in the heat of battle in order to regain your health? Pardon me, Mr. Dragon, but you hurt me so could you take a break? Let me eat two dozen rabbit legs in about 5 seconds and then we'll resume, okay? Is it reasonable to think I could walk around with a restaurant-size storehouse of vegetables, meats, and potions in my pockets? Never mind the million herbs and spices I can carry. Wouldn't my 60 potions clang around or break while I'm sneaking or fighting my way through Skyrim? I'm happy to eat a 10 pound bag of potatoes while the foe in front of me is freeze-framed and waits until I'm ready, but it just makes it seem stupid... especially when the game still expects me to have weight-restrictions. I can carry 100 mammoth tusks, but one set of Dwarven Armour would be too cumbersome for me? Come on. Mass Effect offered players cool gear and managed keep an aura of realism in the things that you could carry and use, and it's time for fantasy game developers to do away with the concept of a dimensionally transcendental knapsack. Also, what's with the dude (or dudette) helping me fight? You can have NPC companions join you in Skyrim, but you can't see their skill points, or delegate what equipment they will use, or level them up? Mine keeps getting in my way and he often steals all the glory of battle for himself. If I can marry him (which I can, and did), then I expect to at least have some say in what clothing he wears or what things he does with me! I have killed my fighting companion husband several times - accidentally, of course - after he made suicidal bolts ahead of me into the fray. I often reload to an earlier save-point in order to go back in time and prevent his tragic demise; a tactic that I now know as, “The Superman II Manoeuvre”. Of all the various skills to practice, the speechcraft skill development leaves something to be desired. In Skyrim, the only way to enhance speechcraft is in the act of trading (which is pretty standard fare). The more bought and sold, the more speechcraft improves. So, the only way to get better at speaking is to take a bath on prices. At least in Oblivion you could improve your speech by talking to any NPC and engaging in the skill game. All this being said, these complaints are so very, very minor. If your companion bothers you, tell him to stay at home and make dinner. Seriously, you can. If you long for battle believability don't keep picking up food. If you don't like to practice speechcraft then buy skill training from a master bard to level-up. Every other aspect of the game more than compensates for these minor shortcomings. The writing and the open-world detail are simply phenomenal. Don't be surprised if the streets outside your home are less crowded for the next few months. There's going to be more than a few folks lost in the world of Skyrim until the spring. The thrill of thousands of wondrous places to discover, quests to fulfill, and things to do make this a staple for any medieval RPG fan and sets the bar for the genre in the future.   The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Format: Windows, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: Bethesda Game Studios ESRB Rating: M Official Site: http://www.elderscrolls.com/ Rating: 9.5 / 10

 

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