It seems premature to six months before the planned release of a game about much more enthusiastic to get into. But what the Bethesda event last week Skyrim shown and was betrayed - we were not themselves, but by local correspondent - is top notch. The fifth-Elder Scrolls role-playing game with the name of his scene: Skyrim is the northernmost province of the fantasy continent of Tamriel and home to the Northern people. A region full of old deeds, myths and dark secrets.

200 years after Oblivion

The Story of Skyrim plays some 200 years after the end of Oblivion . The Daedra are its hellish demon world pushed back into the survival of the Septim line backed ruler, saved the empire. At least at first glance. On the second, however, is the ancient empire that many generations the rule over the conquered provinces of Tamriel has been engaged, not as strong as ever. A reminder: the central heartland of the Imperial, Cyrodiil, grouped in a circle, the remaining provinces. In the north-east and east would be there first of all Morrowind together with the large island of Vvardenfell, the scene in Elder Scrolls third To the southeast, close to Black Marsh, to the south and follow Elsweyr Valenvood, in the southwest, the island is located Summerset. West of Cyrodiil is Hammerfell, together with the far north-west High-placed rock scene of Elder Scrolls 2 Daggerfall .


Todd Howard has long been the mastermind of Elder Scrolls. And finally, in the far north - represented in the previous Oblivion with a short guest appearance on a quest line (you may remember the thing with the lost army north of Bruma) - is Skyrim. The province, therefore, which is home to fewer large cities than any other region, with the foresight of its numerous high peaks in its name. Those born in Solitude or Dawnstar or winter Hold (all three located on the north coast of the Northern Province), can lead a long life and yet be never come to the secluded Cyrodiil, so far is the way and so are the mountains in between. Ironically, in Skyrim, far away from the Imperial City of the Empire, some groups think aloud about a secession.

The sudden awakening

But how did it come to a part 5, so late last year had been officially announced, with one of the relatively near future, situated on Publication Date (11/11/2011)? After completion of Fallout 3 had Todd Howard and his team feel that we once again for a new Elder Scrolls game is time. Initially thought to himself, perhaps the next generation of consoles to wait up to. But there was a sufficiently long list of improvements that you Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (and PC) could also be realized.


Friend or foe? This Khajiit (coming from the southern province Elsweyr) rummages through an ancient temple. Graphics rendering, artificial intelligence and quest system has been reprogrammed as an animation system was integrated Havok Behavior. " may appear to be less artificial - This is a physics simulation technology specialists from Havok, which seeks to create credible characters movements and the usual "idle animation" Herumgewackele - observed recently at Two Worlds 2nd

In the end we had so thoroughly changed the code that the engine in the new name "Creation" received. In the best Elder Scrolls tradition (from Part 3) Bethesda is planning a free editor for the PC version, at best, at the same time Skyrim or, at worst, to be published later. The fan scene is so mini-extensions (plugins) to create who have already served the predecessor to the grinding of small design edges and provided with an amazing life span - see our current, already for the second mod-Report to Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.

Traditional Home

In the best Elder Scrolls series tradition your hero starts out as a nameless prisoner, that was previously in virtually every part series. At the very beginning you shall be executed, but not for the time being by closer executed circumstances it escapes your execution. At character creation choose only race and appearance, strength classes were abolished, but were already in the previous more of a blueprint for primary and secondary skills. Already here is striking that Bethesda seems to have her "face modular" completely replaced: instead of the above incident, spurious acting faces of Oblivion looks to us more or less dashing hero (or heroine) to. The NPCs are designed to live much closer. Again, your character will mark, especially by what you do, let him who strikes with the sword constantly improved his sword skill, who constantly steals his ability to crawl. Later in this article we tell you more.

Every city in the game world is to produce a particular resource. Demonstrates the basis of the settlement was dependent on Wood River, whose economies of timber manufacturing. Accordingly, you can see the surrounding countryside is several workers as they are loaded onto tree trunks or busy chopping wood. Residents can eavesdrop on conversations between himself, sometimes one will also be contacted directly and will thus receive notice to visit a specific quest giver. The system will dynamically generate story quests for your hero, depending on various factors such as its recent acts or friends to specific NPCs.

Tactical battles in real time




From the trailer: Whether by the sword, bow or magic: Skyrim combat system puts you in the middle of the action. Also in the fighting Skyrim run in real time, only when calling the action menu is stopped. In the control back to each mouse button (or a controller per-trigger) to activate the left and the right-hand hero. The system is more flexible than the previous Oblivion, because you can freely distribute weapons, shields and spells on the two hands. For example, left and right, a black magic sword, if you like you renounce the Shield. Busy with her hands the same spell, should be cast by simultaneously pressing the two buttons a stronger version. The damage spells now have individual side effects, frost slows as opponents. The handling of bow and arrow have to change it by pressing a button in a special mode, as needed for the actuation of both hands.

The Skyrim fights should not only be more diverse tactical activity but also hearty. These include specific weapon strikes animations that are dependent, and some random weapon to be triggered by combat situation. The adjustment of the strength of the enemies of the hero level is like on Fallout 3 fail: There is a certain scale, but only up to a certain extent. This is one of the main criticisms of Oblivion (see our article series) defused: the enemies you can gradually "level up like this" and thus a later date easier to make flat after her levels have risen a few. The player should also be clearly made ??better, the difficulty involved in certain areas of the world for him. Artificial barriers to the motto "This gate opens only level 15 heroes" - as they are common in MMOs gang - should not there be again. Theoretically, you can already start to play virtually anywhere in the outside world.

New farsighted Engine

Already in the previous we were able to maximize small accordance with the tricks of sight, far from the actual Cheydinhal look up the high tower of the Imperial City (which exposed the then but not so vast distances in the game). But the new Creation engine has been specially optimized to render detailed landscapes with very high visibility and scale sent. This should be possible to present to a lot of details, including shadows Nahbetrachtung at a single plant. And to show to other distant mountains on the horizon that are "real" (the player can enter these mountains, if he runs at them long enough). It was emphasized at the Bethesda event also look at how much better the animation of the characters. This also applies to the hero, so that - at least optically pure - in Skyrim probably prefer to third-person Perspective changes as in the predecessor, which looked from the better first-person perspective.

The game world-volume should be approximately comparable with that of Oblivion, because of the many mountains and the related additional and indirect routes are likely Skyrim but feel larger. This does not mean that the player gets only rocks, snow and mountains seen. Six to seven landscape types are planned, for example, autumnal forest and volcanic tundra. Confirms that it has been Skyrim is a pure solo adventures without multiplayer component. You control a lone hero, of no fixed party attachment à la Dragon Age. After all, should be able to hire in the game single companion, which operate automatically in battle (such as in a "Come with me" dialogue option for NPCs with whom you have made friends). Also indicated were also some major battles in which operates a variety of characters. In the little ones were already in Oblivion, but then there were more than half a dozen companions on the road, such as the reoccupation of Kvatch.

Skills in Skill Trees unlock

Much thought has been the development team made the user interface. Thanks to the clear display lists and a filter function, with only your favorite items and spells to the inventory operation faster and easier to go out of hand as before. Not only pretty but also useful: All items can be viewed in the inventory as 3D objects. If you look closely, should learn in many a note, such as the engraved into one item, solving a puzzle. If you want to study his character attributes, you can look up almost to the sky. When the star signs that are already there, it is the new skill trees for each character skills. Here, the player, which he unlocks new perks when it reaches higher levels in a discipline. For example, grows from repeated use of bows and arrows of the appropriate skill, which in turn brings in over time, more perks (like bonus damage or slow-motion effect when aiming).

The hero-levels should be faster than in Oblivion and flexible. Had in previous games only initially selected "Major Skills" an impact on the overall experience level of the character, now really make all of the expected 18 skills for such progress. This promises a more flexible and classless heroic career where you in the game can still alter course. Lead designer Todd Howard noted that many players tend to use the best each of equipment. Found, for example a level 10 mage at once a great sword, it can swirl without major disadvantages towards melee. Only if you want certain perks to activate the skill tree, you should certainly pay attention to the play style you choose. A fixed level cap is not planned.

The world of snow

In dialogues with other NPCs will no longer zoom in on their faces, the player can look around so freely as he chooses from a list of topics the next point. A dealer in Riverwood reports of bandits who have stolen a piece of jewelry from his shop. This information ensures that a new target is introduced to the game world map, in this case, the hideout of the thieves. On the way to the edge of the village, the hero will be accompanied by the sister of the shop owner, told in the running a little to himself, because the hero is to casually learn in an extra helping of background story and atmosphere. But please leave his hands off his sister!

Heading to the bandit base Todd Howard pointed out that not all creatures in the wild engage automatically, as if to confirm trudged past a giant unimpressed. "Do anything to me, then I'll do anything," seems to be the motto - maybe the giant can also simply weak-young heroes do not interfere in his daydreams. Also, the dynamic weather system has been presented by Bethesda: it starts to snow, the flakes gradually remain lying on a rock. This simulation will spare the graphic designers to have to take several variations of a type of terrain in various stages covered in snow. And makes the whole thing for probably the most convincing weather system beyond race simulations, which could previously starred in a computer game.

Beautiful scenery, exciting Dungeons

Next in the Quest For example: A ruined temple with a connected horror vault is the bandits (and apparently some undead) as base. In such a dungeon there is to not only fight a lot, but wait one or another puzzle for you. In a situation where the hero is maltreated with darts when he puts on a switch. Only when the columns are rotated in space so that they display a specific pattern, the switch operator is responsible for the opening of a passage. The Dungeons will be varied and interesting than in Oblivion, the design team was responsible for that additional staff vigorously. This can hope that the various ruins and dungeons are similar not created again as with the Lego kit ready.

In the battles against various tactics led Howard to make such traps: An explosion on the ground painted Frost Rune, if an enemy enters it. With a kind enrage buff you can get some enemies to attack each other. strike insidious and creeping with a well-aimed arrow is also an option (apparently, the same "How good am I invisible?" stealth display used in Oblivion). Some damage spells like fire ball can be recharged well, by holding down your mouse button / trigger and let go to shoot. With Circle of Protection to Build a circle of light for a short time, the entrance inside the opponents. And for close combat, various types of weapons have special effects, such as ignoring mace "weapon Blunt" part of the opponent's armor value. The environment can be in fighting Include: From the dungeon ceiling dangling oil lamps you can shoot, after which they explode on the ground and cause a fire by the enemy must pass first.

The cry of the dragon


The dragons are a big threat in Skyrim - but gradually it is you their "screams" at. The stolen property is eventually secured by a bandit who the hero points out that this temple mountains still more secrets. The goal is a hall at the end of the dungeon to see on the walls of which are mysterious characters. Looking closely, the hero learns a "Word of Power" the dragon language. From three words can be a complete "Dragon Shout" form, the application of a particularly strong special ability triggers. Even single words can be said of a button. Examples of "Slow Time" (time slowing effect) and "Unrelenting Force" (opponents hurl back) were shown. These words and cries consume no mana, but their use is by a cool-down period regulated so that they can not be used continuously. Currently, about two dozen dragon screams planned to consist of three learnable words.

Speaking of "dragon": On output, it is then again the real thing, because a representative of this species expected with fiery breath of the hero. Throughout the game there will always be a time such dragon-boss fight that you demanded a lot. In the demonstration made use of the Todd Howard just learned "Slow Time" to be able to strike quickly in close combat. He also confessed that his character for the demo version will have extra life energy, in the final game will be really difficult fights the dragon. The hero is victorious, he consumed the soul of the Fallen Dragon, and what impact that will have fun, but it is still unclear. Not all dragons will attack you immediately. The guy can talk, a trait that would allow some interesting story developments. To just this story to Bethesda currently holds quite overcast - we see this as a mandate to E3 (in June) to squeeze a little more from the Bethesda-men.

Already a throne contenders

Epic and open to be Skyrim, but not a deterrent confusing. 20 to 30 hours playing time purely for the main story are being targeted, as in The Elder Scrolls usual, with enough side employment and exploration side dishes to fill about 200 hours of play well. Serienvorkenntnisse should not be necessary, even beginners should be right at home in Skyrim. Veterans are expected to revel the great 2006er Hit Oblivion already epic in anticipation. The previously known about game and the sight of the first screenshots make us hopeful anyway: Skyrim has a good chance of becoming the role-play event of the year. to more, it seems already one of the contenders for the "Game of the Year 2011" be.

Author: J?rg Langer (GamersGlobal)


More on the Elder Scrolls series
Also note our other articles on Elder Scrolls series: The full series Rückblic k you up by Arena to Oblivion introduces all previous parts, including spin-offs. Am 19.4. follows the brand new Oblivion mods article that you until the release of Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim on 11/11/2011 can shorten the waiting time by her nearly five-year-old vamps up Oblivion again and additional content with Clearly mark. Our previous mods article is also still relevant.

Well it looks like Skyrim might actually finally pass Daggerfall as the best. 20-30 hours, just on the main quest? Sweet. That with everything else we know about the game, this will be an amazing game. Plus if the main story is the same quality as Morrowind's and the side quests are the same quality as Oblivion's, then we are looking at the perfect game :celebration:

Well it looks like Skyrim might actually finally pass Daggerfall as the best. 20-30 hours, just on the main quest? Sweet. That with everything else we know about the game, this will be an amazing game. Plus if the main story is the same quality as Morrowind's and the side quests are the same quality as Oblivion's, then we are looking at the perfect game :celebration:

But please leave his hands off his sister!

I wonder if those 20-30 hours mean with or without fast travel.

(...) it seems that our base movement speed has been cut significantly from what it was in Oblivion (...)

Source?

Get 'em google translate!!

99.999999999-% sure it does include fast travel. Also, since it seems that our base movement speed has been cut significantly from what it was in Oblivion, the world will feel even bigger than it is.