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The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind -written by JeffSkies
I have never really been a huge fan of RPG games. Titles such as Final Fantasy which wowed gaming audiences world wide never thrilled me. That is why I was a bit skeptical about playing Morrowind. However in the end the game delivered what it set out to do, which is be an epic adventure, that is both challenging and entertaining.
Gameplay:
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Well the first thing to describe is what was being hyped as the option to explore anywhere you want. To be truthful, until you actually play the game you don't have any idea how much there truly is to explore and discover. The levels are absolutely massive, and unlike other titles where once you are out of the main area the maps get plain, the scenery is lush and interactive no matter where you go. I once wandered out of the city into a forest and found myself secluded in the thick shadows the trees cast. Not only that but there were small creatures crawling about at my feet, some of which would attack and follow you if you were not cautious enough.
The story which should be considered when ranking the overall gameplay score, is deep, enthralling, and captivating. It locks you into the game. It keeps you wanting to play more. You start out arriving to Morrowind on a ship, where you are told your destiny is in your hands. After you choose your character class and race, which can be done in numerous methods, you sign your release papers and are set forth into the land. What you do after this is completely up to you. Every step, every action, every breath you take will in some way or another affect the outcome of your journey.
The one area of the gameplay I found lacking was the controls were a bit hard to learn and master. There are a lot of things you can do in menu's which at times can be sort of difficult to navigate through. Also there are moments when you are in battle where it seems almost as if your character has been frozen and cannot move or defend himself. Not all the controls are confusing, in fact many of the necessity controls like attack and grab item are one button moves.
The difficulty of Morrowind is an area which could have gamers turning a blind eye to this title. Morrowind is not a game for people used to completing a game in a day or a week, in fact depending on the road you take, it could be possibly months before you complete your adventure. And it aint easy either. When you start off your quest you have literally nothing. You must work and earn not only items and food, but respect and jobs. People are uneasy of you at first and you must complete many good/bad deeds before they will react differently to you. Morrowind will literally eat up all your free time for weeks on end.
Graphics:
The graphics of Morrowind are a mixed bag. Some aspects of the graphics are absolutely brilliant, while others have a plain, dull sort of feeling. The environments are where the graphics are truly highlighted. The landscapes are so beautiful and elegant, it is almost worth exploring through each setting just to marvel at the sights. The water effects are equally as good or better than what Bloodwake had to offer. The trees, the shrubs, the sand, everything about the scenery is so lush and pretty it is almost breathtaking to view. As far as landscapes go, quite possibly the best look ever.
The interiors of buildings are another area where Morrowind scores in the graphics department. The furniture and items placed around each building (besides being able to be taken or stolen) add to the setting and feel of the game. When you are in a citizens cabin, you may notice dressers, or hammocks, or beds, or clothing, almost anything you can imagine. There is really no way to describe how much depth is added to the game when each building you enter is unique in some way.
The area of the graphics where Morrowind is lacking is with the character models. Some of the creatures look not to bad, but that is only because they are fictional and can be made to look any sort of way. The human characters can sometimes look atrocious. The guards that walk the streets and cities sometimes appear to have block heads and square bodies. Of course not all the human characters look bad, in fact some look pretty darn realistic, but it takes away from the feel when you come across some poorly designed people.
Sound:
The sounds of Morrowind are a success. The music that plays during the game cannot really be explained, but it just has that old classical feel. It works really, really well with the setting and genre of the game. The music switches from time to time when you enter new areas or buildings. And best of all it is not too quiet nor blasting loud, so it is really a nice treat to listen to.
The one area of the sound I found sort of confusing was with interaction between characters. Sometimes when you approach characters they speak to you and tell you things. Other times you have to read what they are saying, which I feel makes it more boring and exhausting. I cannot figure out why they didn't make it all audio dialogue or all written dialogue but in the end it really doesn't take too much away from the game.
Overall:
When it was all said and done Morrowind didn't converge me into an RPG fanatic. However it delivered on many aspects and turned out to be really entertaining. Would I say Morrowind would be appealing to everyone...no I wouldn't. Would I say Morrowind would be appealing to RPG fans...most definitely. If you like games that are challenging, time consuming, and in the end rewarding Morrowind is a game for you. Renting this title would only give you a small taste of the fun times that await you in the land of Morrowind.
Score: 8.4
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