The Elder Scrolls Online Game Review
The iconic series of role-playing games the Elder Scrolls has always relied on the freedom given to the player, as well as on the story and non-linear quests. Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim - these names are familiar even to those who are far from the world of video games. And all of them are focused exclusively on single-player. But the authors also decided to explore the multiplayer RPG market. So in 2014, The Elder Scrolls Online was born, which feels great to this day. We tell you more about it today.
About the plot
As you know, in many MMOs the story plays the role of background for the rest of the activities and serves only as a reason to drive players on monotonous quests and pump up. However, the authors of The Elder Scrolls Online went a different way, and could not otherwise - the traditions of the series dictate their own. That's why in TES Online the plot is very important and is written much better, deeper and more detailed than is usual in this genre.
The background for the events is very intriguing and tense - a thousand years before the story described in Skyrim, in the empire of Tamriel came the era of interregnum. In the absence of a recognized dragonborn emperor, a power struggle between different factions and alliances is unfolding, and at the same time the Daedra prince Molag Bal is trying to drag the entire empire into his personal dimension in Oblivion.
The background for the events is very intriguing and tense - a thousand years before the story described in Skyrim, in the empire of Tamriel came the era of interregnum. In the absence of a recognized dragonborn emperor, a power struggle between different factions and alliances is unfolding, and at the same time the Daedra prince Molag Bal is trying to drag the entire empire into his personal dimension in Oblivion.
That's why there are two storylines in the game - one is dedicated to saving the world from Molag Bal, and at the same time the main character's soul (the insidious Daedric prince kidnapped it), the other one is dedicated to the struggle for power and squabbles between alliances. There are three alliances in total, and at the start we have to choose not only the race, but also the side of the conflict. The Ebonhart Pact includes Nords, Dunmer and Argonians, the Aldmer Dominion includes Aldmer, Bosmer and Khajiit . And those who choose Bretons, Orcs and Redguards are sent straight to the Daggerfall Covenant.
In addition, many new plot events and stories have been added with the release of add-ons, which over the years have accumulated more than 30(!). If you have all of them installed, you can go through them in any order, although it's better to stick to the sequence that the authors show in a special table - so you won't get confused in the thick of things.
In addition, many new plot events and stories have been added with the release of add-ons, which over the years have accumulated more than 30(!). If you have all of them installed, you can go through them in any order, although it's better to stick to the sequence that the authors show in a special table - so you won't get confused in the thick of things.
It's also important to note that initially the representatives of different factions lived mostly in their home locations. Some of them resembled the territories we saw in Morrowind, others in Oblivion. And there were restrictions placed on visiting other lands in Tamriel. However, after one of the major updates, those restrictions were lifted. And now you can freely visit all available territories - moreover, even allowed to team up with players from other alliances to travel together. This is more convenient and easier to do also because now, unlike in earlier versions of the game, there is no system where you risked to come to a particular region and run into too strong enemies or, on the contrary, too weak - all locations are now tied to the current level of the character.
In any case, wherever and with whomever you go, there are really interesting adventures waiting everywhere. In TES Online there are practically no typical for MMORPG quests from the series "bring 15 mushrooms, kill 10 goblins". Not only story quests, but side quests are almost all multi-stage and sometimes very dramatic stories. We uncover a conspiracy against the queen, bring to light the alchemist, because of whom the whole village was cursed, save a villager from drug addiction, in which we wandered by accident. And in most cases, including with the help of conversational skills, we decide how to act - the same alchemist can be given to the "Lynch trial" or sent to prison.
In any case, wherever and with whomever you go, there are really interesting adventures waiting everywhere. In TES Online there are practically no typical for MMORPG quests from the series "bring 15 mushrooms, kill 10 goblins". Not only story quests, but side quests are almost all multi-stage and sometimes very dramatic stories. We uncover a conspiracy against the queen, bring to light the alchemist, because of whom the whole village was cursed, save a villager from drug addiction, in which we wandered by accident. And in most cases, including with the help of conversational skills, we decide how to act - the same alchemist can be given to the "Lynch trial" or sent to prison.
About raids and battles between players
All this leads to the fact that many people play The Elder Scrolls Online as a classic single-player RPG in the spirit of Skyrim or Oblivion. And the neighborhood with other gamers in the same location, they are rather embarrassing and annoying than happy - especially if you came to kill an important quest character and see a crowd of other users who have already done it. Many have noted that TES Online, despite its name, feels exactly like a full-blown large non-linear single-player RPG, and players here shun each other.
Nevertheless, there are typical MMORPG activities and modes here too. First of all, these are raids into dungeons and ruins ("delves" or recesses in the game's language), which require defeating the final boss to clear them. Some of them are designed exclusively for solo play, while others are open to everyone. And the most difficult ones with the coolest rewards (the so-called trials) involve playing in a group of 4-12 people. Moreover, these trials are also divided by difficulty levels - basic (open at level 10) and "veteran"....
Often, during such events limits the number of revivals and time to clear the dungeon, the players are imposed different negative states, and they often have to split up. As a result, you can get not only the usual rewards, achievements and titles, but also additional bonuses - for this your group must score enough points and get on the "leaderboard".
Nevertheless, there are typical MMORPG activities and modes here too. First of all, these are raids into dungeons and ruins ("delves" or recesses in the game's language), which require defeating the final boss to clear them. Some of them are designed exclusively for solo play, while others are open to everyone. And the most difficult ones with the coolest rewards (the so-called trials) involve playing in a group of 4-12 people. Moreover, these trials are also divided by difficulty levels - basic (open at level 10) and "veteran"....
Often, during such events limits the number of revivals and time to clear the dungeon, the players are imposed different negative states, and they often have to split up. As a result, you can get not only the usual rewards, achievements and titles, but also additional bonuses - for this your group must score enough points and get on the "leaderboard".
There are also battles between players. The most trivial way to punch another user in the face is to challenge him to a duel. Team battles take place on the "Battlefields" - here 3 teams of 4 people not only beat each other up, but also try to accomplish tasks to get the most points faster.
But the most interesting thing happens during the "War of Alliances" - it unfolds in the province of Sirodil and assumes that here three factions fight for territories, trying again to gain as many points as possible. And these points are given for capturing fortresses and resources. In the process you can hire TV guards, steal ancient scrolls from the enemy, which give improvements for the whole faction and even buy siege weapons. If an alliance has captured the 6 central fortresses of Sirodil, all players are rewarded. And the best of them becomes the new Emperor - this opens up a particularly powerful branch of Imperial skills for him. However, after the defeat of his alliance, this branch becomes unavailable.
But the most interesting thing happens during the "War of Alliances" - it unfolds in the province of Sirodil and assumes that here three factions fight for territories, trying again to gain as many points as possible. And these points are given for capturing fortresses and resources. In the process you can hire TV guards, steal ancient scrolls from the enemy, which give improvements for the whole faction and even buy siege weapons. If an alliance has captured the 6 central fortresses of Sirodil, all players are rewarded. And the best of them becomes the new Emperor - this opens up a particularly powerful branch of Imperial skills for him. However, after the defeat of his alliance, this branch becomes unavailable.
How it's played
Of course, TES Online is a conditionally free MMORPG with all the consequences - group raids into dungeons, battles between players, battles for territory. In addition, there is an analog of the battle pass, microtransactions for real money (for them you buy a special currency, "crowns"), built-in store. If desired, you can pay a paid subscription ESO Plus, which gives access to all add-ons and other bonuses.
There were also some changes in the role-playing and combat systems, due to the fact that this is not quite a classic game from The Elder Scrolls series. Thus, there is a clear division into classes. The Dragon Knight can use fire for attack and defense, the Templar is not only strong in close combat, but also serves as a healer, the Warlock is an analog of the classic mage, who is also trained to summon creatures from Oblivion. Analogous to the silent assassin can be called the class of Night Hunter, and the Guardian is essentially a local druid. The Master of Runes possesses special rune magic. Well, and what does Necromancer, I think, explain unnecessarily. All classes are characterized by unique skill branches. Many of them are active and used in battle by "hot keys", as in most MMORPG.
There were also some changes in the role-playing and combat systems, due to the fact that this is not quite a classic game from The Elder Scrolls series. Thus, there is a clear division into classes. The Dragon Knight can use fire for attack and defense, the Templar is not only strong in close combat, but also serves as a healer, the Warlock is an analog of the classic mage, who is also trained to summon creatures from Oblivion. Analogous to the silent assassin can be called the class of Night Hunter, and the Guardian is essentially a local druid. The Master of Runes possesses special rune magic. Well, and what does Necromancer, I think, explain unnecessarily. All classes are characterized by unique skill branches. Many of them are active and used in battle by "hot keys", as in most MMORPG.
However, in general, TES Online is played in much the same way as the classic releases of the series. For example, the role-playing system uses the same principle of almost absolute freedom. The division into classes is in fact largely conditional - in addition to skills, there are no other special restrictions. No one will forbid a mage to take a heavy axe in his hands, and, on the contrary, a warrior may well use a staff. And the main characteristics and skills are also pumped as they are used. Raising your level in this way, we get skill points - they are also given for increasing ranks in the "Alliance War" and collecting "Heavenly Shards" (these are special collectibles). After reaching level 50, the player will have the opportunity to develop and improve new skills, distributed across three branches - "constellations".
We run around the world and fight with the first-person view (although you can include the third-person view), and in battles you still need to personally aim, block, press the button to strike a heavy blow - you can't win only by using "hotkeys" (and they are noticeably less on the screen than in most other MMORPGs). Also in battle or after it, we catch the souls of enemies in "soul stones" to use them to charge magic items.
We run around the world and fight with the first-person view (although you can include the third-person view), and in battles you still need to personally aim, block, press the button to strike a heavy blow - you can't win only by using "hotkeys" (and they are noticeably less on the screen than in most other MMORPGs). Also in battle or after it, we catch the souls of enemies in "soul stones" to use them to charge magic items.
Other features of the gameplay familiar from the series are the ability to travel on horseback, open chests with the help of mini-games, buy your own house and personally practice different trades (for example, forging in a blacksmith's shop). In total there are 7 professions in the game - you can improve yourself as a blacksmith, carpenter, tailor, jeweler, alchemist, enchanter, who makes glyphs to improve weapons and armor, and supply maker, who prepares food. There is also equipment crafting.
But the most important thing is the same feeling of complete freedom in exploring the large picturesque and diverse open world, when you can completely spit on the plot and go build your career in familiar guilds - fighters, mages, thieves. Each of them has its own line of exciting quests. If you want, you can even create your own personal guild. Well, and, of course, the authors in each new addition give a lot of references to previous games.
But the most important thing is the same feeling of complete freedom in exploring the large picturesque and diverse open world, when you can completely spit on the plot and go build your career in familiar guilds - fighters, mages, thieves. Each of them has its own line of exciting quests. If you want, you can even create your own personal guild. Well, and, of course, the authors in each new addition give a lot of references to previous games.
Conclusion
The Elder Scrolls Online is a unique game that combines all the features of story-based single-player RPGs in the tradition of this cult series (interesting stories, non-linear quests, colorful characters) with typical MMO activities, raids and battles for territory. And at the same time it does not impose anything itself - we decide what we are more interesting to do. After all, here reigns almost complete freedom - where to go, how to develop your character, how to pay for the game and so on. At the same time, the game continues to actively develop - recently the Necron add-on was released, which added not only a new class and two locations, but also a new large story campaign.
Zarium. November 2023
Zarium. November 2023