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'Elder Scrolls Online' takes an arrow to the knee, disappoints
FRANK WEIRICH
@LetMeBeFrank23
My experience with the Elder Scrolls series is pretty limited, given I started with "Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim." However, I enjoyed the game and the Internet references so much I picked up "The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited" without hesitation.
I was excited for Bethesda Studios' latest installment of the game series, and the online component looked to impress. The issue with Tamriel Unlimited isn't a failure to deliver but rather the simple fact that Elder Scrolls isn't prepared for the world of online gaming.
Acting as a lovechild between the hugely successful massive multiplayer online game "World of Warcraft and the Elder Scrolls series, Tamriel Unlimited handles the socialization feature of online gaming well but overlooks the necessity of uniting players in a common goal.
Often, missions are easier to finish alone than with allies simply because of the number of players running around the scenes. There's no need for groups because large mobs of single players swarm enemies. Quest bosses that would be tough to fight alone are easily swallowed by a mosh pit of low-level players, taking away a fair amount of challenge.
Although combat remains true to the Elder Scrolls style, the introduction of powers is new. Similar to other layouts of popular multiplayer games, powers are assigned to specific traits such as stealth, light armor and enchantments. Some powers are race- and class-specific.
Tamriel Unlimited's approach to power usage is a definite success, allowing the pace of combat to remain quick and fun. However, a striking problem facing the user interface is the lack of weapon assignment. Instead of being able to easily switch
between a bow and sword, for example, players must enter an inventory menu to manually switch. This isn't a new concept for Elder Scrolls, so the decision to leave it from the game or hide the feature doesn't make sense.
As far as gameplay goes, there isn't a massive change from the Elder Scrolls style. Quest-driven and lore-intensive, Tamriel Unlimited doesn't offer much in terms of storytelling early on. For a game series banked heavily off the plot, Bethesda seems to have painted itself into a corner, being forced to simplify storylines to work with an online community.
While enjoyable, there's nothing particularly notable about the game, especially when compared to other games in the Elder Scrolls series. Caught somewhere in the middle, Tamriel Unlimited contains all the minutiae of online gaming, yet none of the substance of Elder Scrolls.
If you're looking for an online game to waste time on, your money is better spent elsewhere. Bethesda should stick to what it knows, and that is single player storylines — at least until the company is brave enough to go all the way for online.
Players unfamiliar with the entirety of the Elder Scrolls series will have a confusing first couple of quests, simply embarking on missions to both level up and understand their roles in the game. The explanation for conflict in Tamriel seems forced and unnecessary. Bethesda would have had an easier time simply letting players wander free to choose their own alliances rather than forcing them to pick a faction that holds no significance to casual players.
Ultimately, Tamriel Unlimited fails to live up to the hype. Bethesda Studios', attempt to transition its flagship series to online failed to go far enough in its Internet debut, making the game seem like a watered-down "World of Warcraft."
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