The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – 4.5 out of 5

Posted to Arts & Entertainment by Greg Lindsey at 12:15 a.m., Nov. 16, 2011

It’s that time again. Time for your friends to disappear for whole weekends. Time for another 100 or so hours to disappear down the drain. That’s right, it’s time for another “Elder Scrolls” game.

The newest entry in the epic fantasy series from Bethesda Softworks is “Skyrim.” The game was released on 11/11/11, nearly five years after its predecessor, “Oblivion.” Five years of hype might be too much to bear for some other game, but not “Skyrim.” The game is a massive triumph in most areas and is only brought back to Earth by a few minor quibbles.

Graphically, it’s been near impossible to find a game quite as gorgeous as “Skyrim.” Massive, beautifully rendered environments are laid out before you every time you step outside. For being set in the frozen, northernmost province of the game’s world, there is a surprising amount of diversity in the game. Areas range from swamps and pine forests to icy mountains. For a game of this size and grandeur, there has to be a caveat and “Skyrim” is no exception. When parts of the world are put under closer examination, they appear grainy and pixelated, though in the end this is a minor complaint for a game that is fundamentally about the big picture.

Developer Bethesda has continued to refine and hone the gameplay of the series by drawing on the experience from previous projects like "Fallout 3." The implementation of magic, in a manner similar to “Bioshock"’s plasmids, is much improved and makes mage characters much more viable and enjoyable. Swordplay is improved as well, though still not what it could be. There is little strategy; any close-quarters fight simply comes down to who hacks and slashes faster.

The story of “Skyrim” could not be more fitting for the game. The main quest pits the player’s character against a god of destruction in a battle to prevent the end of the world. It’s an epic quest line for a game of epic proportions. The faction quests are also compelling and rather high-stakes. For example, the player can take sides in the province’s ongoing civil war or discover an ancient order of mystics, previously thought to be extinct.

“Skyrim” approaches perfection, but it falters on a few points. The streamlining and removal of some of the series classic RPG elements is sure to disappoint some purists. The menu system lacks all but the most basic functionality and the game is prone to the glitches common among sandbox-style games. However, these are minor gripes, not serious blemishes. “Skyrim” is as close to perfect as any game will come for a long while.