Ten years already that players can survey Skyrim, and at least as many editions of the famous The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which has passed through the ages. In 2011 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, then in 2016 on PS4 and Xbox One, via a "special Edition". To play the game everywhere, you will have to wait until November 2017 and the Nintendo Switch port. Finally, in 2018, the VR version comes out, a version that I have in my possession, but that I have never launched yet. Because yes , it was via this anniversary edition, on PS5, Xbox Series and PC, that I discovered Skyrim in depth. My story with Skyrim having boiled down to "Too long, I won't have time" then to "Damn it never works as soon as I install a mod"!
Today, I'm correcting the situation, giving up on mods and the like, and playing only with the additions validated by Bethesda, which seems quite enough to live a thrilling adventure. We will quickly pass on the history of the title. We avoid decapitation thanks to the intervention of a dragon who burns down Fort Helgen, then we learn that we are a Dovahkiin, a being capable of absorbing the souls of the dragons he defeats to strengthen himself. The main story can be followed pleasantly, although one can be very (too?) quickly deviated from the latter because of the fairly large map and the number of side quests that it is possible to carry out. Note that all the quests are not equal, but it seems quite difficult for a "novice" of the license to select them carefully. For my part, I admit to having been on the net to orient myself correctly and not to waste too much time. For those who like to stroll, however, you will be served!
It must be said that the atmosphere that emanates from Bordeciel is beyond measure. Despite the ten years that the game has in the nose, it remains really pleasant to browse. By putting myself in the context of the time, I easily understand that the game has marked the spirits. The world is alive, believable, and offers quite a demented surface. So yes, we can find fault on the technical level. Although vast and impressive artistically, the game has never (in its console versions at least) shone on the technical level, and the years have not given it thanks on this point. The arrival on PS5 and Xbox Series FINALLY marks the 60 frames / second on console... and surprise, it's stable! Don't rely on a fixed 4K resolution, though. The game is indeed adorned with a dynamic resolution. I admit that the absence of a bionic eye somewhat handicapped me to see the real-time resolution, but overall, it was fine. In addition to that, we have better management of volumetric fog, and the display distance seemed to me a little higher than the PS4 version that I used as a reference. Side bugs on the other hand, no doubt, we are well faced with this good old Skyrim a little broken. No console crash, fortunately, but NPCs who go straight for a door, stop advancing, or remain completely stoic in the face of a wave of enemies. In short, nothing new in the kingdom of Bethesda!
Finally, on the gameplay side, it always blows hot and cold from my point of view. Especially on console. Navigation in the menus is always messy - to my great regret - to allow "simple" use of the pad. The fights, on the other hand, are very good. In a good RPG, Bethesda allows you to create a character that suits you completely. Do not expect to create a superman who excels in melee AND magic, it will be very complicated. We will quickly have to move towards a style that suits us well, then choose our equipment to optimize our skills. Personally, I opted for a big nag with swordfish, and I quickly understood that apart from launching a few cries of dragons, I could not improvise myself as a part-time mage. A malleable system therefore, but not super permissive either to avoid any overflow. Although I haven't experienced the adventure like that, it seems important to me to discuss the arrival of a survival mode, which requires eating and drinking regularly, then equipping yourself with a warm outfit to brave the cold of Skyrim. Not revolutionary, but we take.
What's so great about TES V : Skyrim, is that even 10 years after its release, it manages to amaze so much. Yes, it has aged, yes, other RPGs have managed to make a name for themselves on our shelves in the meantime. However, we see in this game a monument of video games. Imperfect, of course, but which offers an exhilarating journey that we would be wrong to do without.
