Reasons Why Blackwood Changes Everything In Elder Scrolls Online

In a retrospective examination of Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood, the initial excitement expressed during the preview has noticeably diminished. The reviewer, who once found joy in the game’s features, now feels compelled to reassess that enthusiasm after extended gameplay. Surprisingly, this shift in perspective comes as a revelation to them.

It is essential to clarify that the game is neither flawed nor fundamentally broken; it is simply satisfactory. This level of adequacy does not merit an enthusiastic endorsement. The focus here is on evaluating a specific chapter rather than the entirety of the base game. The Elder Scrolls Online continues to showcase its stunning visuals and inviting world, and while Blackwood could indeed serve as a valuable addition, the reviewer’s extensive experience with Skyrim—boasting over a thousand hours—and countless hours in Oblivion have led to a sense of déjà vu.

In the initial preview, there was palpable excitement about the return of beloved elements from the Elder Scrolls series: Oblivion Portals, The Dark Brotherhood, Companions, and Mehrunes Dagon. It felt reminiscent of nostalgic college days. However, as time passed, that initial thrill began to fade. While the first foray into the realm of Oblivion was exhilarating, subsequent experiences proved to be lacklustre. Despite each portal presenting unique aspects, they ultimately felt repetitive and linear, offering little more than a rehashed experience of similar fiery landscapes.

The reviewer notes that “Blackwood embodied the same monotonous pattern of ”run here, accept the quest, run there to speak to someone, then return” that is prevalent in every MMORPG.”

In the realm of Oblivion, which newcomers may not be familiar with, fire dominates the landscape, creating a challenging environment for players trying to avoid its flames during battles. Although the setting is undeniably stunning, and the graphics have improved significantly since 2006, the initial awe quickly faded, leaving little to captivate further. Blackwood presented the same repetitive gameplay seen in many MMORPGs: players would find themselves running from one location to another, accepting quests, conversing with NPCs, and returning to their starting point. There was a hope for greater depth in this chapter.

This sentiment was particularly pronounced after acquiring a companion named Mirri. The introduction of companions had been a highlight of Blackwood, and Mirri proved to be an enjoyable addition. The player chose her for her intriguing personality, preferring a companion with a hint of mystery. After assisting her with her quest, she remained by the player’s side unless dismissed. Once she had officially joined, Mirri could be summoned from the companion collectables menu.

However, a challenge arose regarding the questing system while accompanied by Mirri. To level her up, the player needed to engage in combat; unfortunately, the primary storyline of Blackwood involved minimal fighting and leaned more towards unravelling a mystery, featuring a familiar Brotherhood along the way. For those who wished to progress through the quests without engaging in battles, like this player, Mirri’s levelling would occur at an excruciatingly slow pace. To truly enhance her abilities, participation in delves, Oblivion portals, dungeons, and similar activities was essential, as these provided the necessary experience points.

One aspect the player appreciated was that Mirri could don any costumes from their collection, allowing them to coordinate their outfits seamlessly. Bethesda’s approach to companions had evolved since earlier games; they were no longer merely storage for surplus gear but rather dynamic allies that developed alongside the player. As they fought together, companions gained experience and acquired unique gear explicitly tailored for them. This system allowed players to invest in their skills much like they would for their characters. While the player enjoyed this new mechanic and appreciated Mirri’s assistance in battles—finding that distracting enemies could be advantageous—focusing on the main quest ultimately limited their ability to explore the companion feature fully.

One aspect that the player particularly enjoyed about their companion was her ability to wear any of the costumes they owned. Together, they certainly made a statement with their coordinated outfits. Additionally, the option to change their mounts added a delightful feature. The player always disliked appearing mismatched, so having the option for their companion to mirror their appearance was a fantastic choice.

There were a few minor visual glitches that slightly detracted from the experience, but nothing that significantly impacted gameplay. The compass marker indicating the companion’s location was disproportionately large compared to other indicators, which the player found distracting and cumbersome. While swimming, the companion, Mirri, would stand at the water’s edge and then suddenly appear beside the player when they reached solid ground, reminiscent of a genie’s sudden arrival. Beyond companion-related issues, the player noticed that their quest objectives would frequently shift away from the main storyline whenever an update occurred, leading to moments where they would find themselves unexpectedly searching for pirates without realizing the transition had taken place. This recurring issue proved to be quite frustrating.

Despite these criticisms, the player maintained that the game was “fine” and genuinely enjoyable. They didn’t feel compelled to abandon it entirely; instead, they found Elder Scrolls Online to be a worthwhile pastime—ideal for leisurely evenings spent gathering resources. While Blackwood itself wasn’t particularly enticing enough to spark an urgent desire to log in, it certainly didn’t diminish their overall enjoyment of the game.

Bethesda was banking on the various upgrades introduced, especially for next-generation consoles. It appeared as though Blackwood served as a platform to highlight all the new features of ESO. With enhancements in graphics, voice chat improvements, refined bonuses, and reduced loading times, the game had made significant strides forward; however, these advancements weren’t exclusively tied to Blackwood. One addition that stood out for the player was the newfound ability to start in any region after completing the tutorial. This offered a refreshing level of exploration freedom that deviated from the developers ‘ original intent, making it more engaging for a long-time player.

This chapter might provide a refreshing experience for someone less familiar with previous instalments, and the player could appreciate that perspective. Approaching Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood, with excitement to revisit beloved elements from past games, ultimately found that the novelty quickly faded. Instead of feeling like a valiant warrior, they often felt like little more than a task runner. While it was worth experiencing, it didn’t serve as a compelling reason to dive back in, which was what they had initially hoped for.

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