Skyrim. 'Nuff Said.

I seriously love this game.

"Skyrim, also known as the Old Kingdom, or the Fatherland, was the first region of Tamriel settled by humans," says a loading screen, accompanied by a rotatable picture of a map. This sentiment has been exquisitely captured in the way Bethesda have designed Skyrim; ancient ruins dot the landscape, and there is a general feeling of old, of permanence. The stone looks as if it has been there for thousands of years, the wood dry and splintering, the mud wet. It all looks so real, so there. To me, this is completely at odds with Oblivion, where everything appears to have been built ten minutes before you arrive: even the ruins.


As it is, Bethesda have done great work designing the province of Skyrim- the terrain is truly epic. Vast, snow-capped mountains tower above rolling tundra, and deeply forested valleys knife through the landscape, complete with mountain rivers. You look around, and it's really hard to believe it isn't real; salmon are jumping up stream and people are going about their daily business (no more random conversations about Mudcrabs or Goblins). It is seriously awesome.


The sheer scope of the game is baffling. There are over 300 hours of quest-related gameplay, certain quests blocked or open based on certain decisions, meaning every playthrough will be different. Personally, I am on my fourth. So far, I've had a noble Nord, a dastardly Dunmer and a conniving Khajit, but I've settled for a vicious Orc (yes, I ran out of alliterative adjectives), and every single time I've played, I've played differently. Skyrim allows this.


My Nord (because the Dovahkiin should be a Nord) was a sword-and-shield-and-heavy-armour guy. Fairly hardcore.


My Dunmer (because Dunmer are cool) was a sneaky bow-and-arrow-and-light-armour guy. This was fun to play, as you watched the various Bandits mill about in confusion as you picked them off one by one.


My Khajit (because I wanted to see if they would let me in cities) was another sneaky character, but this time a dual-wielding-dagger-kinda-sneaky. This is the file I died the most on. I just don't have a subtle mind.


By this time, I was bored of sneaking around. I wanted some blood-and-gore. So I chose an Orc. But a spellsword Orc, to mix things up a bit. This is great fun; blowing enemies away with destruction magic,  and then waiting for them to get up close and finely dicing them with an axe. 


I've never felt so much freedom from an RPG. In Oblivion and SW:KOTOR 1 and 2, I felt pressured to do the main storyline to the exclusion of all else. Not so in Skyrim. I'm perfectly happy to wander around, admiring the scenery, chopping logs in Riverwood or mining ore in Gloombound Mine (a job I was holding down so I could buy Vlindrel Hall).


Glitches, however, are the worst thing about this game. I've had times when I was attacked in Whiterun, with no bounty. The inability to join the Thieves Guild, due to Brynjolf not being in the Ragged Flagon. Falling through the ground in Windhelm, and dying. There are myriad others. The glitches are the only thing that ruins the game for me, and stops me from giving it ten out of ten.  


Overall, however, this is one of the best games I have ever played, and I heartily recommend it to anyone and everyone.


Summary- TES V: Skyrim - 9, of a possible 10. The glitches let it down, but ultimately an amazing game.