The Elder Scrolls Online | Teen Ink

The Elder Scrolls Online MAG

May 1, 2014
By Leumer BRONZE, Greenwood, Indiana
Leumer BRONZE, Greenwood, Indiana
4 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
Turn it off like a light switch!


As the dust settles, you look around you. The looted bodies of your enemies are strewn in disfigured positions. There’s a look of relish on your face as you realize what you’ve accomplished. However, that look immediately turns to one of disdain when you realize that someone else is accomplishing what you just have done.

The sixth installment in the “Elder Scrolls” series is “The Elder Scrolls Online.” While it may look extremely appealing at first, you will quickly be disappointed as you delve deeper. Despite its gorgeous aesthetics, multitude of playable races, and massive world, the fact that it’s in a mixed multiplayer online (MMO) format detracts from its value.

The immersion so integral to the series simply vanishes when you step into “The Elder Scrolls Online.” You will complete a quest only to find that items immediately reappear as another player goes through the exact quest line you just completed. While this can’t be avoided in an MMO, it greatly detracts from the immersion and replayability of the game. Combine these flaws with a terrible in-game economy riddled with exploitable glitches, a gigantic price tag, and a monthly subscription fee, and “The Elder Scrolls Online” becomes almost unplayable.

However, the game does have a few things going for it. Bethesda Studios has always had a knack for exceptional aesthetics, and “The Elder Scrolls Online” is no exception. The massive playable world complements the beauty of the game; the player can journey across the “Elder Scrolls” universe, discovering dungeons and battling monsters. This is truly a massive game, and the fact that Bethesda accomplished that without sacrificing graphics input is laudable.

I view “The Elder Scrolls Online” as a subpar addition to the series. If you are a dedicated fan, I wouldn’t recommend it, since you will immediately see its flaws. However, if you are relatively new to the fantasy role-playing scene, this is an extremely well put-together MMO with a great combat system. It is clear that Bethesda favored newcomers rather than old-timers in the development of this game.



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This article has 2 comments.


Leumer BRONZE said...
on Feb. 5 2015 at 9:09 am
Leumer BRONZE, Greenwood, Indiana
4 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
Turn it off like a light switch!

I did google it and have owned the game since it's release. Bethesda endorsed and advertised the game along side ZeniMax. It is in the Elder Scrolls universe, and has added lore of its own to the series. It was advertised as a full installment into the series, and took years to develop as opposed to the mobile games. It is a full installment into the series, and is considered so by the rest of the Elder Scrolls community. I acknowledge that I incorrectly referred to Bethesda rather than ZeniMax, but everything else in the article was very factually correct.

on Jan. 23 2015 at 10:02 am
ForksTim BRONZE, Arlington, Texas
1 article 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;When I&#039;m sad I stop being sad and be awesome instead, true story.&quot; - Barney Stinson, HIMYM<br /> &quot;It&#039;s not God that kills the children. Not fate that butchers them or destiny that feeds them to the dogs. It&#039;s us. Only Us.&quot; - Rorschach, Watchmen

Dude, this game is not really part of the 'Elder Scrolls' series, and if you'd count it, it certainly is not the sixth. The portable game, Elder Scrolls Travels, Elder Scrolls: Redguard as well as a game where you are stuck in the realm of Oblivion (Not ES:IV) are releases by Bethesda in the Elder Scrolls universe, whilst Elder Scrolls Online is not. Elder Scrolls Online was developed wholly by ZeniMax Studios (ZeniMax Studios is the company that own Bethesda). Please do research or at least google the game before you review a game, especially in the depth that you did. Your review was good, but the fact the mistake of saying a game was made by a company that had nothing to do with the game other than creating previous lore, is ridiculous.