Skyrim— A Revolutionary RPG

BY LAURA MCREYNOLDS

Skyrim is a revolutionary open-world Role-Playing Game (RPG). Released in late 2011, it is the fifth instalment of the Elder Scrolls series, developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The graphics of Skyrim far surpass that of its most recent predecessor, Oblivion, released in 2006. Notably, Skyrim provides a more fluid gaming experience than the previous Elder Scrolls games because it no longer requires the player choose a character class when setting up their character, which made the gameplay too rigid from an early point in the game. As with previous Elder Scrolls games, Skyrim is based in the fictional continent of Tamriel, with this particular game focused on the Province of Skyrim, home of the Nords. It is a cold, hardened place that is currently threatened by an impending Civil War and the mysterious reappearance of powerful, malicious dragons.

[pullquote]Skyrim is a world that players may actually fantasize living in[/pullquote]In addition to being aesthetically pleasing and endlessly interesting with hundreds of quests to complete, Skyrim is also incredibly insightful in regards to social issues. In the game you have the option to marry certain Non-Player Characters (NPCs), and these marriages are not restricted by gender. Topics such as race and religion are also considered in the game, adding valuable social commentary. Skyrim will appeal not only to the avid warrior, but also the collector – your player can scavenge a shocking variety of items that range from useless to priceless.

Fallout 3, another game by Bethesda, is similar to Skyrim as an open-world RPG, but unlike the desolate, post-apocalyptic Capital Wasteland, Skyrim is a world that players may actually fantasize living in. Although there is certainly some strife in the land, the idyllic scenery and the pre-modern lifestyle will have you wishing you could move to Skyrim immediately.