It'll have you screaming for Mor(rowind)! (The Elder Scrolls III - Morrowind (PC))

Member Name: Geisskane

Product:	The Elder Scrolls III - Morrowind (PC)
Date:	04/08/09 (4 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Immersive, expansive game world with a wealth of depth and equally immersive gameplay to boot.

Disadvantages: Poor combat, learning curve, dated graphics

The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind is a remarkably open ended single player rpg from American developers Bethesda Softworks. Released in 2002, this game is still worth a spot in any gamer's arsenal. Unfortunately it's not without a few flaws, as I will explain.

You begin Morrowind on a boat floating outside a swampy backwater as a prisoner about to be released to the world. The atmosphere is incredible and you can't help but get absorbed into the game world in those first few minutes, but soon after that you're dropped into a world with little to no explanation about what to do next. The lack of hand holding is both a positive and a negative thing; negative because unexperienced players may be so overwhelmed that they give up and turn it off, which would be a true shame. On the contrary, this lack of hand holding is simply your introduction to a magical world in which you can do whatever you like. If you want to fly, you can fly. If you want to kill strangers and steal their candles, you can. Essentially, anything is possible, and with myriad of user made mods available on the pc you can now do things which even the developer didn't dream of.

Being an older game it does unfortunately show its age with somewhat dated graphics, but when you mod the game you can turn it into a masterpiece which is more than easy on the eyes. Age is also shown in the less than innovative combat system which involves swinging your sword around in the hope that you hit something. There are no satisfying stabs and slashes to let you know that you've hit something; the entire combat system is stat based and this can ruin immersion. Thankfully there is enough there to not let this affect your time with Morrowind. A unique expansive world, an equally epic soundtrack and a wealth of lore more wonderful than anything I've previously encountered make for a whole lot of fun.

Summary: An instant classic