The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Demo Information and Screens

Bethesda Softworks returns to work on one of their more prominent video game series. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is looking to step out of the shadow of games like Fallout 3. Graphically, the game has taken a major leap over its predecessors. Expanding an already vast environment into something even more breathtaking than Oblivion. The graphical systems of the Xbox 360 (The only system shown so far), is being pushed beyond its limits and back.




Trees will sway with the wind, as a soft fog rolls above the ground. The sun will shimmer across a lake, and in the distance you can see Dragons perching on mountain tops. While civilians go about their daily lives, chopping wood, or sitting about in town gossiping about the latest news. In fact this is how the dynamic quest system comes into play. Just overhearing some of the important things from denizens, can trigger a quest to appear in your log.

Even having a conversation with one of the people roaming about town is different. Oblivion and Morrowind tasked players with earning the trust of each person. In Skyrim, that option has been abandoned for a more simplistic conversation system. Only a small amount of the screen is taken up during dialogue, and the world goes about its business while speaking to people. It’s a major step up from the pauses in Oblivion and Fallout.


It’s apparent that Bethesda wants to keep the immersion at its peak. So that will mean that conversation won’t save you from a brutal killing. As a matter of fact the entire combat/skill system has received a total overhaul. No longer do players have to worry about level caps, the experience system will just continue onward as you see fit. The old skill system remains intact, but it’s been neutered to a slight degree.



You’ll still casually level from using whatever weapon is at hand. As a matter of fact, your Dragonborne will gain perks from specializations. However, things like acrobatics and athletics have been cut out completely. So your attributes will rise based on your weapon/magic of choice. It’s an interesting choice for Bethesda, going for a more minimalistic style. Though the process could easily help to redefine the series, and make it more accessible as a whole.


With a slew of changes comes interesting additions to the mechanics. Players can now easily swap back and forth between weapon and magic. They can even have two magic types assigned to a hand, which can have interesting results when combined. Thinking of freezing an opponent in ice, only to melt them down to nothing with fire. It’s intriguing and reminds us a lot of that “Bioshock” game.


It’s as if Bethesda understood that Oblivion was a bit stiff. They’ve taken the time to fine tune the animations, and make combat seem more engaging. It’s in the details where Skyrim will impress, with a fully rendered 3D map that shows off the five major cities. If players toggle to the inventory system, they will be able to zoom into any item they’ve picked up. So reading a book will actually mean, opening it up and looking over the words inside!



The world remains free to engage in, and your main enemies are no exception to the rule. By this I mean the Dragons that roam the world. These aren’t the run-of-the-mill see you on a special quest type of beasts. They are completely unscripted and raze civilization at will, so if you’re ever seeking a fight and see one. It would be best to take them out at that point, because who knows what part of the world they’ll be in next?


Now for the more static adventures through the land of Tamriel. Bethesda has touted that there will be over 120 dungeons to invest in. Inside of these dungeons are a wide arrange of enemies to stand in your way. They range from Humans, Spiders, to Nordic Frost Warriors. Each of them will stop you on your path to completing your quests, and earning new Dragon shouts that can be used in combat. The Dragon Shouts are earned by reading ancient text on walls inside dungeons.


Compared to spells, the shouts are more like buffs to the players abilities. There is one in particular named “Unrelenting Force”. This spell can be used blast a shockwave from the player towards his enemies. While there are others that boost the Dragonborne’s speed and agility, or downright slow down those he wishes to cut down. It’s obvious that these will play a big part in the late game fights of Skyrim.



To put it simply, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is shaping up to be an epic of a game. If Bethesda continues on this path of detail and refinement of Oblivion. We could easily be playing another knockout Role-playing game this year. Only time will tell, but time could only make the game better in my eyes. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is set to release November 11, 2011.

Source: Vg247

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