Bethesda offers players personalized gameplay

Justin Kirkham, Associate Editor
December 20, 2011
Filed under Video Games

Infused with the blood of dragons, there is very little limit on what one can do in the snowy mountain passes of Skyrim.

Players can incinerate enemies with streams of fire, or snipe them with arrows while sneaking in shadowed corners. Of course, there is always the option of charging in, taking heavy fire, and beating bandits with one of many bludgeoning weapons.

Bethesda’s newest installment to the Elder Scrolls Series, Skyrim, opens with players tied up on a rickety wagon, waiting to be executed. All of that changes when a dragon enters the scene, spewing flames and interrupting the player’s impending death.

After escaping through an underground passageway and arriving at the home of a more than friendly blacksmith, the game opens up for any course of action. Eventually, players finds that they are dragonborn, and learn to wield their newfound powers. Their ultimate goal: destroy the leader of the dragons, Alduin, the World Eater.

As in most Bethesda games, players can do almost anything they please. They can kill livestock, murder villagers, stick to the main quest line, or perform tasks for civilians and royalty to gain experience and further their training. The murderous path requires caution as killing kill anyone of value has game-changing consequences, as dead non-player characters never respawn, or come back to life.

In addition, Skyrim offers players more flexibility in their class creation. They can choose to specialize in any of the various talent trees, such as destruction, restoration, blacksmithing, and enchanting. Players can spend points in multiple trees or focus on one or two. It is up to them to design their characters’ specializations. This flexibility makes for a new experience every time a player begins a new save file.

Newly introduced in Skyrim are Shouts, words of the dragons that let players use special abilities, such as flinging enemies and lighting foes on fire. Players can unlock these abilities with items acquired by killing dragons, Dragon Souls. Shouts allow for even more varied play styles and strategies.

Overall, Skyrim offers players flexibility and options, resulting in a more personalized form of gameplay.