FLASHSALE! Skyrim – Eight years later review

There was only ever one game that I truly played when I was younger. The only game I invested my time into and thoroughly enjoyed. This summer, I decided to pick up my bow-and-arrow made from the bones of Alduin himself and re-entered The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. 

Firing up the now dust-laden Xbox 360 for the first time in years, the disc whirred and, to be honest, struggled to re-start where it had left off. I spawned back into my hand-built Lakeview Manor, the Dragonborn now a tired, ageing myth cast into folklore, the subject of a song sung by the bards and a tale passed down by generations of Jarls to their people. Yet, the more I played, the more I quickly realised just how well this game has aged. Initially released in 2011, staggeringly over eight years ago, Skyrim can now be found for under £15 and is an absolute must in its remastered form. 

Developed across the course of five games, the worldbuilding is both immense in scale and rich in depth. Even eight years later, the minute you begin the story, you are taken aback by its graphics. When accompanied with a truly immersive soundtrack, it really feels as if you are transported to a new world. There are few games that genuinely feel like an open world, but Skyrim is both expansive and breath-taking. 

I still came to realise there were things I had yet to discover

However, what is truly unique to Skyrim are the ways you can play the game. You can complete the main questline (which is both rewarding and unbelievably wonderful storytelling) that begins with the player being caught crossing the border from Cyrodiil to Skyrim, sentenced to death, only to be attacked by the thought-to-be-dead dragon Alduin. 

There are also a number of other quests that run parallel to the main questline, and one that engulfs much of the game is the civil war raging between the orderly Imperials and the rebellious Stormcloaks. The player has the choice which side to join and that decision will have major ramifications on the rest of the game. There are further quests that include the Dark Brotherhood assassins, the Companions Guild, and the mages of the College of Winterhold.  On top of that, the three DLCs, Hearthfire, Dawnguard and Dragonborn – the latter taking you to an entirely separate island – ensure that the possibilities in Skyrim are endless. 

Years after I thought that I had done everything there was to do in Skyrim – completed every quest, mastered every shout, become the Thane in every city – I still came to realise there were things I had yet to discover.

Having been one of the few games that I played practically to 100%, the time I invested in Skyrim was immense. I have completed almost every quest at this point. Whilst some are better and less repetitive than others, Skyrim will keep you hooked on the sheer number of characters you can interact with. From the grieving dog Meeko, to the psychopathic jester Cicero, to the untrustworthy M’aiq, the countless characters and random encounters you come across on your travels serve as the touchstone of the game’s undeniable charm. 

For under £15, the now-timeless classic is an absolute must

As for the gameplay, Skyrim is already considered a landmark for gaming history. It continues to feel fresh, slick and entirely your choice which path to specialise in, be it archery, stealth or brute force. 

The Elder Scrolls series is renowned for its mod-friendly nature. The special edition has even included a mod platform for the player to keep the game feeling fresh and aesthetically perfect. But, truthfully, it doesn’t need it even now. 

Despite tepid announcements of the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls VI, Skyrim still remains the most recent way to enter the vibrant and bustling world of Tamriel. Skyrim continues to be one of the most flawless, immersive and enjoyable games I have ever played. For me, the Dragonborn’s story is finished, he can spend the rest of his days in blissful retirement. But, for under £15, the now-timeless classic is an absolute must.

If you want to check out Skyrim for yourself you kind find it on PS4 and Xbox One.