The Elder Scrolls Online
ESO, TESO, The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited
Release Date: April 4, 2014
OpenCritic
Steam
A MMORPG set in The Elder Scrolls universe. The Elder Scrolls Online was created by the more than 250-people-strong team of ZeniMax Online Studios. The game is set 1,000 years before the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. House of Thern wants to reclaim its former power and strikes a deal with the necromancer Mannimarco. Little do they know of his pact with the demonic prince Molag Bal, who wants to take over the world.
The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMO game which action takes place in the world The Elder Scrolls series. A team of 250 of ZeniMax Online Studios has been working on the game since 2007.
The action takes place a thousand years before the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The story revolves around the pact that was signed between the Thern family and the powerful necromancer, Mannimarco. This agreement is related to an attempt to recover the power that the Empire had lost and to extend its influence further. The aristocracy of the continent of Tamriel do not know, however, that Mannimarco formed an alliance with a powerful demon, Molag Bal, whose goal is to seize control over the world. Thanks to this dark alliance, the fallen heroes can be brought back to life and keep on fighting battles. The developers intend the game’s plot to be a prelude to a much more complex one.
The players can choose the faction their character will belong to. There are three factions, each of those fights the Empire and is in possession of a powerful army. These factions are Ebonheart Pact (consisting of Nords, Dunmer and Argonian), Dominion Aldmeru (Salache, Bosmeri and Khajiit), and Daggerfall Covenant (Orcs, Bretons, Redgards). The ultimate goal of theirs is to conquer the Empire’s capital. The leader of the successful faction will be made the emperor and will obtain special privileges. In addition, the protagonist can one of several organizations of characters with appropriate skills. These include Mages, Thieves, and Warriors guilds.
The game’s world, which the player can freely explore without hurry, is much bigger than that of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. As a result, for the first time in the history of the series, the players can, for example, visit the motherland of the Khajiit race – Elsweyr. The gameplay itself resembles a mix of similar MMO titles with the existing style of The Elder Scrolls. The players take quests and that way they learn about the events which the primary and secondary plots are made of. The developers put a strong emphasis on random events that can happen to the player’s character at any time, for example, an unexpected bandit attack.
The combat system, which is the crucial element of The Elder Scrolls games, is based on the one known from the single-player installments of the series – the left mouse button is attack, the right is block. This makes The Elder Scrolls Online much more attractive and dynamic than traditional MMORPGs. The ZeniMax Online studio created a hero development system inspired by The Elder Scrolls series and MMORPG games. Characters still practice the skills they use the most but the experience points were also introduced. The PvP mode is worthy of mention, as well. The players can take part in capturing castles and fortresses with the use of siege engines or take over mines, farms, etc. Up to 200 players can participate up to 200 players.
The game graphics looks fantastic, and at first glance resembles the one known from MMOs such as Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, or Everquest II. A notheworthy fact is that all the dialogues and speeches in the game were recorded in audio format.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
Last Update: May 25, 2020
The Elder Scrolls Online Guide
ESO Greymoor guide compiles descriptions and tips for game activities, guilds, skills, playing alone, combat, fractions, races, transportation, crafting and DLCs. Useful starting tips, controls, keybinds, system requirements and trophy guide.
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Videos and Screens
[1:35] The Elder Scrolls Online Conquer the Battlegrounds Trailer
[0:30] The Elder Scrolls Online The Elder Scrolls Online - Fallen Leaves of West Weald Trailer
Hardcore Gamer: 4 / 5 by Matt Beaudette
Whether or not The Elder Scrolls Online is for you will depend entirely on what you're looking for out of it. If you want a true Elder Scrolls experience, with all the freedom, exploration, and immersion that comes with it, you're likely to be disappointed.
The Angry Joe Show: 5 / 10 by Joe Vargas
GameCrate: 6 / 10 by Wallace Chu
The Elder Scrolls Online isn't a terrible game, but its shortcomings make it impossible to recommend, especially considering the diverse options gamers have in the MMO marketplace. It's possible that future updates will make the game worth revisiting, but quite a bit of the core gameplay would need to change for that to be the case.
The main pros of the game
- Exploration and Freedom: Players appreciate the vast world of Tamriel, allowing for extensive exploration and character customization without significant limitations.
- Engaging Story and Quests: The game features well-written, voice-acted quests that captivate players, making it enjoyable for both solo and group play.
- Active Community: An active community helps players find groups for PvE and PvP activities, enhancing the multiplayer experience.
- Diverse Gameplay Options: The game offers various play styles, including crafting, housing, PvE, and PvP, catering to different player preferences.
- Visuals and Immersion: Many s commend the graphics and immersive experience, contributing to a rich fantasy environment.
The main cons of the game
- Monetization and Paywalls: Many reviews criticize the game's monetization strategy, including high costs for DLCs, a subscription model, and microtransactions that feel predatory.
- Performance Issues: Players report frequent crashes, lag, and server instability, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Grind and Time Investment: The game has been described as a "time sink," with some players feeling that progression is slow and not rewarding enough, especially at endgame.
- Scaling Difficulty: The enemy scaling system has been criticized for making the game feel too easy, removing a sense of progression and challenge.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to s
- Quality of Life Improvements: Players express a desire for better inventory management, a more intuitive interface, and streamlined systems for crafting and leveling.
- -wide Progression: Many s wish that certain progression elements, like mount upgrades, could be -wide rather than character-specific.
- Balanced PvP Mechanics: There are calls for better balancing in PvP gameplay, as some players feel that it leans towards a pay-to-win model.
- More Engaging Group Play: Some players feel that the game?s instancing and questing mechanics make it challenging to enjoy cooperative play with friends.
Summary
- Overall, while The Elder Scrolls Online offers a rich and immersive experience with a strong community and engaging content, it faces significant criticism regarding its monetization practices, performance issues, and gameplay balance.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 3356 votes. 2634 players anticipated the game.
19
GAMES
in The Elder Scrolls Game Series
Game Series
The Elder Scrolls Series
A series of action-RPG games in high-fantasy realities, ranked among the top of the genre. The series is developed by Bethesda Softworks and is one of the key brands in the company's publishing portfolio.
19 video games
The Elder Scrolls Online Summary
Platforms:
PC Windows April 4, 2014
PlayStation 4 June 9, 2015
Xbox One June 9, 2015
PlayStation 5 June 15, 2021
Xbox Series X/S June 15, 2021
Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios
Publisher: ZeniMax Online Studios
The Elder Scrolls Online System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-2300 2.8 GHz / AMD FX-4350, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 560 / Radeon HD 6870 or better, 150 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5-2300 2.8 GHz / AMD FX-4350, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 970 / Radeon RX 570 or better, 150 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
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