[PC] Bethesda announces The Elder Scrolls Anthology for PC

[PC] Bethesda announces The Elder Scrolls Anthology for PC
Do you like Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series? Were you late to the bandwagon? If so, then Bethesda have sent me some news that will make you feel a little better about being late to the party.
On September 10th Bethesda will be releasing The Elder Scrolls Anthology for $79.99 on PC, the collection will include all of the Elder Scrolls games and their associated DLC. The collection is also presented in a nice looking case as well, if you're into that kind of thing.

The collection includes: The Elder Scrolls ArenaThe Elder Scrolls II: DaggerfallThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (including Tribunal and BloodmoonThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (including Knights of the Nine and Shivering IslesThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (including Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn)

You'll also receive five physical maps that detail the lands of Tamriel, Iliac Bay, Morrowind, Cyrodiil, and Skyrim.

I'm actually considering dropping some cash on this collection myself, what about you guys?

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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Looking back at 10 years with Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

LemonManX
Resistance


Posts: 34,359
Joined: Jun 2006
Reputation: 317 Looking back at 10 years with Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Good lord! Bethesda's massive open-world RPG, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind has officially turned 10 as of today. That's something that will take some getting used to. Not because of the fact that it came out 10 years ago, but because some modern gamers (who started gaming only recently) would probably turn their nose up at the game. In honor of such a brilliant game reaching its tenth anniversary, I will now dedicate this post to its memory. Please feel free to jump into the comment section and offer your own Morrowind adventures as well. But first, let's sit back and allow our ears to take in one of the greatest pieces of music to grace the world of video games.
When I first got my hands on Morrowind, I wasn't really a PC gamer. I was still knee deep in my Nintendo 64 and original PlayStation backlog. I saw the game on a retailer shelf and curiosity had gotten the better of me. Hiss at me all you want, but I never had a chance to play Arena or Daggerfall, so this was my first Elder Scrolls experience. In retrospect, I didn't really know what I was getting myself into, but the second I stepped into that world I knew I was in for something special. I can't even remember how long I spent sifting through the signs and face designs before I settled on my character, but it was definitely awhile. Upon stepping out into the world for the first time, I took a few minutes to really take in the hustle'n'bustle going on around me and then set about talking to nearly everyone.
Ahh... memories...I'm going to take the liberty of having all of these actual memories and jump straight into my first real adventure out of town. Now anyone who has played Morrowind will know that the first quest you are given is to go over to the Silt Strider and take it from Seyda Need across to Balmora. That sounds simple enough, right? Well, I was feeling like a bold adventurer and decided that I would brave the wilds and reach my destination on foot. Unfortunately, I hadn't taken my own adventurous and curious nature into consideration upon making this choice. About halfway along the way I was distracted by an inland lake, which I hadn't yet encountered. When I arrived there, I spent approximately five or ten minutes viciously murdering Mud Crabs, even though I invaded their homes. After I had my fill of being a legendary hero of immeasurable proportions by killing crabs, I decided I should get back to my quest. Unfortunately I hadn't been paying attention and nighttime had settled in. I had a quick glance at my map to get my bearings and set out again, but unfortunately I didn't stick to the paths (as the game recommends that you do) and ended up facing off against a hostile mage. At this point in time, I was not at all equipped to face off against someone who could throw balls of fire at me, so my only option was to flee. It was here that I learned that I had to keep fleeing and couldn't just run for a few minutes and be safe. Needless to say, I was followed and killed by so, so much fire. As you can see, my first adventure in Morrowind was one doomed by my own hubris and ignorance and I promise you that I was more careful next time.

It took some time and some patience, but I did eventually finish that game. And as I sat there watching those credits scroll, it dawned on me that this was one of the greatest video games that I had had the pleasure of experiencing up until that point. Even though some people will look back and judge the visuals and the outdated gameplay, it won't change how that game warped my idea of western role-playing games. At its time the world was huge, intricately detailed, and there was a plethora of different quests to tackle. What more could a gamer ask for? You were given control over what sort of character you were. Maybe you were a smooth-talking dark elf, armed with dagger and a bow. Or maybe you were a short-tempered imperial, who wielded a broadsword as sharp as your tongue. Obviously it was easier to progress through the game if you were decent towards those around you, but no one was forcing you. Having said that, there are still rules in place so if you do plan on being a thief or a murderer just make sure that no one witnesses any of your crimes otherwise you'll find yourself in trouble with the law.

It might not look like much, but play the game
and everything is worth checking out.My iPod still contains the wonderful soundtrack put together by Jeremy Soule, and even though I have the Skyrim one on there as well, I definitely think that Morrowind's soundtrack gets more playtime. Every song just stays with you, especially if you have experiences to go with it. Whether it is vivid memories of desperately fighting for your life against several bandits to the tune of 'Bright Spears, Dark Blood' or actually surviving the night and relishing hearing the playful tune of 'Silt Sunrise', there is definitely plenty to love about this fine soundtrack. Kotaku recently posted a piece about just how good the soundtrack to this game is and I find myself inclined to agree. Morrowind probably features my favourite soundtrack from the entirety of the Elder Scrolls series. Tell me half the tracks on this playlist don't send shivers down your spine.

10 years later and we've had two sequels, Oblivion & Skyrim, and while both were stunning games, neither quite matched the height of first stepping out into Vvardenfell and having my eyes assaulted by this wonderful world. However, I won't deny that a large amount of my time was spent jumping up and down as I sprinted across the land in order to increase my athletics skill, we've all been there, right? I suppose something that is equally as endearing as the game itself is the dedication that fans still hold to it. To learn how dedicated they still are you only need to head over to Google and search for 'Morrowind mods' and you'll see a variety of new things that they have added. From maps, to weapons, to full graphical rebuilds, the fans still keep this game alive. So alive, in fact, that if you have the time and understanding, you can actually get Morrowind to look considerably better than it really should. You can check out some of their hard work below.

Credit to warvon for the video.
Valve's Steam is helping celebrate the anniversary of this remarkable title by slashing 50% off of its price, so if you haven't played it before then you really have no excuse not to do so. You can also pick up Oblivion for the same reduced price tag. What I want to know more than anything is how did Morrowind affect you? Did it have the same profound effect on you when you first played? Or of even more interest to me, is there anyone out there who has only played the game recently?

We salute you, Bethesda, and I want you to know that Morrowind has definitely left its mark on me.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

(This post was last modified: Yesterday 09:55 PM by LemonManX.)

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[360, PS3, PC] The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Preview

Platforms: Xbox 360, PC and PS3

Genre: Fantasy Action/Adventure RPG

Developers: Bethesda Game Studios

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Release Date: November 11, 2011

The wait for one of the most anticipated games of this generation is nearly over as Bethesda are less than two weeks from launching their second Elder Scrolls game on the current generation of consoles. Overall Skyrim is the fifth installment of the revered RPG franchise and we're just as excited as you but in the mean time here's a run down on what to expect from Skyrim!

The game once again takes place on the continent of Tamriel but this time you'll be adventuring across the northern region of Skyrim. A mountainous and snow-filled region however there'll still be a range of environments such as forests and dungeons so you won't spend all your time high up on the frost covered peaks and valleys. Skyrim isn't just a wilderness however as across the environment are 5 major cities and several small towns scattered across the landscape which will primarily be populated by the native Nord race of humans, you can get around Skyrim on foot or horse and you can fast travel to previously discovered locations. An example of one of the locations you'll be able to visit and interact with the populous is Winterhold which has developed to an influential town due to the presence of a college and several academic institutions such as a large library, but the residents of Winterhold aren't alone in their occupations as all across Skyrim you'll come across individuals going about their daily routines such as operating a mill. You'll be seeing less of needlessly wandering NPCs and more of them engaging in an activity this time round. Not only do they go about their business but there is also a live economy in the game and you can help or damage it through completing jobs or by sabotaging other's efforts.

The NPCs in Skyrim aren't limited to going about their own daily life in the community as you can interact with them, some can become a companion to aid you in your travels will others may become your enemy. NPCs also serve as the primary quest givers in the game and this time your actions, both during and outside of quests, will be recorded and adjusted by the new Radiant Story feature Bethesda has implemented which basically makes a dynamic consequence action for what you do in the world. For example if you kill a man in a cold blooded act then his family may find out and as such the community they belong to will lose respect for you, or if you get given a dungeon exploration quest then the game will direct you to a dungeon that you haven't previously explored. It is all about making the world more diverse and to show your impact in the world. There is of course some Bethesda-directed quests but the Radiant Story system is present a lot of your quests and actions.

Winter is approaching....
Not everyone in the world works alone and Skyrim has several different factions in the world, each with their own quest line such as the Dark Brotherhood (A fan favorite in the last Elder Scrolls game, Oblivion) or one of the several guilds. Each offering their own bonuses and experiences.

Skyrim is an RPG and as such wants you to develop a character and has a flexible set of options for your character to naturally develop. First up you chose a race to be and in Skyrim there are 10 playable races which are:
ArgonianDunmer (Dark Elves)Altmer (High Elves)Bosmer (Tree Elves)KhajiitNordOrcBretonRed GuardImperial

There are 18 skills to develop, these skills are divided equally into 3 sections which are combat, magic and stealth. You develop the skill the more you use it and level up when you have upgraded skills 10 times. In Skyrim every time you level up you get to pick a bonus or ability called a perk - a feature being carried over from Bethesda's own Fallout 3. This system allows your character to develop and improve in a way personal to them and what they do. Governing the player use are three attributes, first is health which can be restored through resting or through the use of a portion or spell. Second is Magicka which limits how many spells you can cast and third is fatigue which limits your physical ability such as sprinting and jumping - both Magicka and Fatigue automatically restore over time but immediate rejuvenation can be achieved through spells or potions like Health.

At your disposal is a wide range of weapons to use. Shields can be used to block enemy attacks or can be used offensively to bash your opponent, and there are a variety of blunt and bladed weapons such as swords or axes which can be bought, found or forged yourself. The weapons also have unique finishing move animations. You have the ability to dual wield as well meaning you could have a sword and a shield or dual wield two swords among other possibilities. Physicality isn't all what Skyrim is about as there are 85 spells available and the dual wielding system applies here too so you can use a spell by itself, or doubling it up to have a greater effect or you could even use two spells at once for different results. Or perhaps a freezing spell in one hand and an axe in the other to smash your frozen opponent? Or why not attack from range with the bow and arrow. There's also the option to get up close and personal with stealth and then do a sneak attack on an unsuspecting enemy for more damage.

One of the largest differences between Skyrim and its predecessors is the implementations of dragons into the world. Dragons are randomly generated so their number is infinite and they can attack the player out in the open or even reign down on towns and cities. There are several specific dragons and not all are hostile so you can interact with them and this is integral to the story of Skyrim as the player finds out they are 'Dragonborn' which means they can read the language of the dragons and through the world are several walls which if you read you'll gain access to a Dragon Shout which you can use in combat which have different effects, if you slay a dragon and collect its soul then you'll upgrade your Dragon Shouts.

This is just scratching the surface and the basics of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and as you explore the massive region you'll be constantly learning and discovering. It truly is a game massive in scope and if it can avoid a jittery launch which previous Bethesda games have suffered but later recovered from then it'll be a game of the year contender if what we have seen so far is any indication. So, how excited are you for the next installment of the Elder Scrolls franchise?

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