The Elder Scrolls Online Preview

A new preview for The Elder Scrolls Online is available at VG247, and it’s clear that writer Dave Cook is pleased with the title’s current state, though skeptical about its subscription model. Here’s a snip:

While I was assigned to a party of four, there was no obligation in this early area to group-up and tackle chores as a unit. I ignored them and went on my merry way to Skyshroud Barrow in search of the undead lurking there, and to rescue a scout named Darj. Battling skeletons came naturally, with left mouse for attack, right for block and everything else just where it was when I last played Skyrim.

The key difference, however, is in the way enemy attacks are sign-posted. It’s a simple touch, but some enemy attacks are flagged up by a visual effect that signifies a stun chance. Block the incoming blow and your attacker is frozen to the spot in a daze, allowing for brutal follow-up strikes. Enemy attacks with any sort of area-of-effect are also painted in red on the environment, so it’ll always be clear how to dodge incoming arrows and other moves.

Defeating enemies rewards players with experience, and the old ‘˜learn by doing’ format of attribute levelling has returned your one-handed proficiency will raise as you dish out more one-handed damage, absorbing attacks will progress your armour stat and so on. The same goes for new abilities mapped to your skill-bar, which improve as they are used.

It’s a tried and tested mechanic, so I’m glad Zenimax Online hasn’t mucked about with it too much. That said, I did feel that trudging across snowy fields in search of runes and captive NPCs felt a tad over-familiar, because in all honesty I’d done most of these things in the past year and half while playing Skyrim. That’s brilliant if you want more of the same experience, but I felt a little bored during some of the more basic side-quests.

When it came to online features I found myself being hammered by some tougher, named creatures but luckily other players came to my aid and helped me take them down. The neat thing here is that you all get the same loot and spoils for your trouble, so it definitely pays to be nice. Once that was done however, I went back to solo play for the rest of my session.