Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited Review for PS4 and Xbox One
The long-awaited and postponed Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited is finally coming to PS4 and Xbox One. You mean I can play Skyrim like an MMO? In current generation systems? Are you using a controller instead of a keyboard? Zero cost in subscription fees? What is it that I don’t like? Sign me up!
Playing this game on PS4 or Xbox One is like donning your favorite pair of Levi’s. It somehow makes Elder Scrolls Online more reminiscent of Skyrim, and for fans of that title, it’s a great feeling.
The concerns you had about the mechanics of this game before playing it have all but disappeared. I would have liked to be able to change some actions, that is, the exchange of weapons and the reveal of the map, but it is true that this is too demanding. The controls work well and are extremely responsive. You have the ability to assign certain abilities to the buttons of your choice. This makes it easy to get into early combat, first use a damage over time skill, followed by some immediate damage attacks, and close the deal with your favorite finisher. Then just rinse and repeat for quick kills.
The beginner terrain is adequately sized and offers many micro missions. Just head in any direction and it won’t be long until you find a delicious adventure. These missions are not the same as always, kill 50 spiders or run here to talk to this peasant (well, maybe they are something similar) but Bethesda has made them much more interesting and entertaining.
You use your stamina bar quickly when running, so you may want to consider investing in a mount. The Imperial Edition of Elder Scrolls Online offers a white stallion for an immediate gold. This addition alone may be worth the extra $ 20 for the Imperial Edition upgrade. Otherwise, the horses are available from the Crown Store in the game for real money. The Imperial Edition upgrade also gives you the advantage of playing as an Imperial, who looks a lot like the Bretons. Imperials can play in any of the three main alliances and possess full abilities, making them effective for whichever class you prefer.
Elder Scrolls Online initially planned a $ 15 monthly subscription fee, they wisely reversed that decision to make the game free after purchase. Sure, they included the Crown Store, but purchases made here are primarily for cosmetic and convenience purposes. You never have to pay an extra one hundred after the game’s initial purchase price to stay competitive. There is no need to worry that some inferior player will simply “pay” to be good and possess you in combat.
One notable difference from the PC version of this game that you might miss is that there are no add-ons for consoles. Trial and error will replace immediate retrieval of an add-on recipe. In my opinion, this is a good thing as you get more involved in the game.
Speaking of crafting, it’s somewhat difficult and overwhelming for new players, as there are multiple ingredients to loot and find, but extremely limited inventory slots and general bench space when you start out. A good recommendation would be to decide on a profession that is essential for your character from the beginning. For example, if you are a class that uses medium armor, perhaps leather work is a good option to specialize immediately. Some players even create another completely new character strictly for the purpose of creating.
At the risk of this review becoming a new player’s guide, I’ll offer one more suggestion. Use your skill points immediately as they will only start to increase after you have spent the first point to learn them.
There have been complaints from the beginning that some players have experienced difficulties logging in and have seen many lags in the game. My experience has not been like this. Logging into the PS4 version has not been difficult at all. I have not waited more than ten minutes to enter. Even when I was standing around 7000 in line, my wait time was less than five minutes. When you are in launch areas or large gathering spots, lag is noticeable only when there is a lot of activity on the screen at the same time, but it is not detrimental to the game. As soon as you leave the crowded area, ESO works great on the console.
Ultimately, Bethesda is to be congratulated on a job well done for this release. I was prepared for a lot worse than what was delivered to me. Of course, some issues are to be expected with a game of this size and range. Rest assured that developers will improve it over time.
One complaint I have is that if someone close to you completes a mission, you will also be credited for completing it. This isn’t the worst thing in the world, but you feel like you’ve been ripped off from that experience because you can’t redo missions.
Another complaint I’d like to express is that you can’t silence the nastiest players on your own. You only have the ability to leave the area chat entirely and consequently not listen to players or conversations. Sometimes you just want to eliminate that foul-mouthed individual who won’t stop yelling curses when your kids are within earshot. Hopefully the developers will address this issue ASAP. Another head scratcher is that only your PlayStation gamer tag is visible to other nearby players. What’s the point of naming your character if your party members will only see your PSN gamer tag?
Those minor issues aside, I must admit that Bethesda has pleasantly surprised me with this title. I think it will get better with time and I am sure it will use up a lot of mine over the next few months.
Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited earns 8.5 stars out of 10 IMHO.
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