Key Highlights
- The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition: Yet another re-release of a game you’ve probably already played a thousand hours of.
- Master the basics: Or don’t, the game’s combat and mechanics are as clunky as ever.
- Dive deeper into gameplay strategies: If you can call button mashing and exploiting glitches “strategies.”
- Experience essential quests: Or just wander aimlessly, tripping over the same recycled side quests.
- Maximize your adventure: By which we mean, install a thousand mods to fix what Bethesda couldn’t.
Introduction
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition for Nintendo Switch, the winner of more than 200 Game of the Year awards, is a name that might make players roll their eyes. Many remember how Bethesda Softworks LLC and Bethesda Game Studios keep re-releasing the Elder Scrolls IV and V, including Skyrim Anniversary Edition, with added features like motion controls, much like the legendary gameplay elements found in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall and The Legend of Zelda. Now, they have given us a Skyrim expansion ‘remastered’ version of this better game RPG. The graphics look better, but it’s tough to ignore that we are likely receiving the same old game in a shiny new package.
Mastering the Basics of The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition
So, are you ready to go back to the cold world of Skyrim as a PC gamer? Get ready to feel let down. The Special Edition wants to give a better experience, but in reality, it is still the same old Skyrim. The combat still feels clumsy, with awkward movements and hit detection that can be confusing. The character models are a bit better, but they still look like they come from a wax museum that had a creepy accident.
Don’t even get me started about the quests. You will spend a lot of time running around the map to get items for NPCs who don’t appreciate your help. You’ll face the same five enemy types over and over again. Yes, there is some fun in the open-world style of Skyrim, but after doing the tenth fetch quest, that fun starts to fade away.
Understanding Game Mechanics
The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition has a long list of game mechanics, particularly with the introduction of the script extender. These include lockpicking, smithing, and enchanting. Sounds fun, right? Well, slow down a bit. Most of these features are quite simple and not very rewarding. Lockpicking turns into a boring mini-game that will make you wish for a loading screen to come.
Now, let’s look at those “new features.” The Special Edition says it has better graphics, smoother gameplay, and many other upgrades. Unfortunately, these “enhancements” are hard to see and are often full of bugs that would make even the friendliest gamer want to quit in anger.
In the end, the mechanics of Skyrim Special Edition are not a true example of new ideas. They are more like old, rusty armor. It may look good at first but is heavy and falls apart as soon as you try to use it.
Character Creation and Customization Tips
Character creation is an exciting time when you can shape your digital character into the hero or villain you want. Unfortunately, Skyrim Special Edition’s character creator does not meet even the simplest needs. The choices are few, the hairstyles look terrible, and the “Creation Club” microtransactions are everywhere.
You will struggle with the sliders, trying hard to create a face that does not look like it was made from mashed potatoes. You will go through the same boring hairstyles, feeling confused about why your character seems more like a crazy shepherd than a brave warrior.
In the end, you will probably accept a character that is just a bit better than the default options. This shows the missed chance to make character creation great in Skyrim Special Edition.
Diving Deeper into Gameplay Strategies
So, you’ve learned how to navigate the world of Skyrim and finish its very repetitive quests. Now you should explore the gameplay strategies. Or maybe not.
Skyrim’s combat system is very simple. You’ll often depend on the same tricks and strong moves to get through easy battles. Don’t expect this game to have the smart strategies you would find in Chess.
Combat Techniques for Beginners and Advanced Players
In The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition, fighting can feel a lot like a funny dance. It’s awkward and a bit glitchy. Your character swings a sword like a clumsy ogre. Get ready for a lot of:
- Whiffing: Sometimes your attacks will go right through enemies. You might wonder if you’re in another realm.
- Getting stuck: You might get caught between rocks, trees, or even nothing at all. You could feel like you need a dragon to save you.
- Awkward animations: Watch for funny movements when your character tries to swing a sword or shoot an arrow.
Melee combat can be really tough. You will hit at your enemies, hoping one of your hits lands. And the lock-on system? Let’s just say it might be better to close your eyes and wish for luck.
Magic and Spells: How to Become a Powerful Mage
Do you want to be a strong mage in Skyrim Special Edition? Do you want to use powerful spells and control the elements? Get ready to feel let down. The magic system seems good at first, but it quickly becomes boring. You will keep using the same few strong spells again and again.
You will spend a lot of time looking through spell books, only to notice that many spells are not useful at all. Fireballs can be weak and do not explode well. Lightning bolts miss a lot, and healing spells do not heal enough, especially when you get hurt from small things like tripping on a rock.
So much for being the next Gandalf. In Skyrim Special Edition, the journey to being a great mage is filled with frustration, letdowns, and a strange need for enchanted cheese wheels.
Essential Quests You Can’t Miss
In Skyrim, there are many quests all over the big world. You might think some of them would be really special. But that is not true. Most quests are very boring, like watching paint dry. They have predictable stories and repeat the same tasks.
There may be a few quests that seem interesting. However, they are hidden under many dull ones. You will end up spending hours doing simple tasks like fetching items, killing enemies, or doing both. All that time, you will hope to find a quest that does not make you doubt your choices.
Main Storyline Quests Overview
The main story in The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition is meant to be an exciting journey about dragons and the fate of the world. But it ends up being a boring and simple path through common fantasy ideas.
You play as the Dragonborn, a hero who is meant to save the world from Alduin, the World-Eater. This sounds thrilling, right? But you might feel disappointed by the weak writing, forgettable characters, and a story that is very easy to guess.
The major quests in the storyline could have been a great chance to pull players into an amazing tale. Instead, we get a basic fantasy story that feels made from leftovers of better RPGs.
Side Quests That Enhance Your Experience
Side quests should make an open-world RPG fun. They let you explore the world, meet new people, and enjoy different stories. Unfortunately, in Skyrim Special Edition, side quests feel like simple tasks added just to make the game longer.
You will find the same boring quest types that have been in the Elder Scrolls series since Morrowind. You will clear out bandit camps, find stolen items, and defeat monsters in towns with generic names. The characters you meet lack depth, and the rewards you get often feel very small.
The side quests in Skyrim Special Edition show how the developers have settled for being just okay. They can be hard on your time and patience.
Maximizing Your Adventure
You’ve finished the main story of The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition. You’ve done a lot of side quests and looked into every corner of the game’s world. Now, what’s left? Sadly, not much.
The endgame of Skyrim feels empty and lacks fun activities. You can keep improving your skills, gaining money, or collecting things that don’t really matter. But deep down, you know you are just putting off the fact that your adventure has come to an end.
Tips for Efficient Exploration and Resource Management
Exploring in Skyrim Special Edition can be very exciting. You will travel across snowy mountains, through thick forests, and into dangerous dungeons. However, you will face the same five enemies, visit the same repeat dungeons, and deal with annoying glitches in the game.
Managing your resources can feel frustrating. You will spend a lot of time gathering crafting materials, but you may find yourself carrying too much. The weight limits are strict and make managing your inventory feel more like a chore than fun gameplay.
Overall, Skyrim Special Edition’s way of exploring and managing resources shows the game itself: it has great ideas but ends up being frustrating.
Joining Guilds and Factions: Benefits and Challenges
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition has many guilds and factions that contribute to the immersive game world, including the College of Winterhold, a faction focused on the mystic arts, along with a captivating main quest featuring new quests and additional new content. Each one has different goals, quests, and rewards. You can join the Thieves Guild and become a skilled thief. You could also join the Dark Brotherhood to be a fierce assassin, or join the Companions to be a glorified helper with an axe, as well as partake in the ongoing civil war between the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks.
While this sounds fun, it isn’t. The guilds seem interesting at first. But they quickly become boring. You will complete the same repetitive tasks, meet forgettable characters, and click through endless chats that never seem to end.
What do you get for all your hard work in these guilds? You earn some basic armor, a weapon that isn’t much better, and the sad feeling that you’ve wasted hours chasing things that don’t matter.
Conclusion
To sum up, getting skilled at The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition takes time, hard work, and careful attention. The game has a large world to discover, but it can be tough for new players. It’s important to learn how the game works, how to customize your character, and how to play smartly. Exploring fighting styles, magic, and finishing quests can make your journey better. Keep in mind, enjoying Skyrim Special Edition needs your time and effort. Are you ready for the challenge, or will you feel lost in the big lands of Tamriel?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes Skyrim Special Edition Different from the Original?
Skyrim Special Edition has only a few graphical improvements over the original game. It includes all the DLC that was released before. There is no new story to play, but it does provide mod support on consoles.
Can You Complete Skyrim Special Edition Without Joining Any Factions?
Yes, in Skyrim Special Edition, joining factions is your choice. You can finish the main story and many side quests without joining the Imperial Legion, the Stormcloaks, or any other group.
