Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tested on: PC
The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr – Review
We were so ready for the third expansion of Elder Scrolls Online and Zenimax Studios and Bethesda did not disappoint! This time we travel to the homeland of the Khajiiti, Elsweyr. After helping out the High Elves in Summerset and the Dunmers in Morrowind, it is time to help the Khajiiti. Little by little, we explore the enormous realm of Elder Scrolls Online and discover all it has to offer. With the release of the Elsweyr expansion, we get the debut of the dragons and we have never seen such majestic and dangerous creatures.
Story
Starting out in Elsweyr you will be guided to Anais Davaux, she tells you to look for a guy named Abnur Tharn in Riverhold. He is known as High Chancellor and Overlord of Nibenay and is one of the original members of the five companions. Although you have just killed a dragon, he tells you not to let it go to your head and that no one will even remember what you did because of the fact that their queen has returned.
You ask him why he didn’t even bother to help you with the dragon and he simply answers that he has every faith in you and that the Khajiiti have much more need for his considerable strategic skills. He continues with telling you that he had no idea that Khamira was the rightful heir of the Rimmen throne and that it won’t be easy to take down his half-sister who is currently controlling Elsweyr.
According to him only one course of action makes sense. We should strike at Rimmen and remove his half-sister from the throne before she rallies her forces. Later one you will notice that his half-sister Euraxia Tharn has some unlikely allies who will make your job, getting rid of her, a lot more difficult.
Graphics
Like we already said in our previous review about this franchise, The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset which can be read here, Elder Scrolls Online always had a great variety of scenes in its world; which are, of course, a joy to look at. And even with this expansion, it’s still true! We got to look around in Elsweyr, yet another part of this extremely big realm, and we were amazed. The scenery of this part of the world is again something totally different than what we have seen before. Elsweyr brings you desolate canyons, fertile moon-sugar fields and bustling palatial cities. And lastly, look up from time to time, because Elsweyr brings you the debut of DRAGONS!
Sound
Sound wise the Elsweyr expansion doesn’t differ much from the main game. Each location has, of course, new soothing background music but nothing out of the ordinary. The characters you speak to in the quest, local shops, banks, … all have their lines and make this game fully voice acted. This is still one of the greatest treats of Elder Scrolls Online.
Gameplay
The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr is like the other parts of the series, an MMORPG in which you progress throughout different zones to earn experience and collect hard to obtain gear. These aspects prepare your character for the endgame content like raid bosses and dungeons. Apart from the combat-related playthrough, you encounter materials to level up the crafting skills that will give you benefits at a later stage. The least you can say is that it’s a heavy grind fest. In terms of crafting there isn’t much new this expansion. We would’ve loved to see another addition to the crafting in the game.
The land of Elsweyr is perfectly playable for new players because like in the other expansions the quests scale with your level. Like we told you already above, the main storyline will take you to the battle for the throne of Rimmen. Now that the heir of the throne returned, the Khajiiti don’t want to be controlled, by the tyrant, Euraxia Tharn, anymore. Together with Abnur Tharn and the Khajiiti you need to find a way to put her down once and for all.
There are a few major additions to the game, the most important one probably being the new class, the Necromancer. Now ESO players can summon the undead and take a look at the new skill lines which can be used to be a DPS, tank or healer. Secondly, it wouldn’t be the year of the dragon for Elder Scrolls Online if there weren’t dragons involved, so the debut of the dragons will also come together with this expansion. Lastly, the guild finder is reworked and now guild leaders can promote their guilds and its specific goals. So if you are in need of a guild, take a look and you can easily send an application to the guild of your choice.
Conclusion
Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr expansion is a nice addition to the game with the debut of dragons and the Necromancer. The main storyline of Elsweyr is an adventure that is worthy of following in the footsteps of the storylines of the main game, Morrowind and Summerset. Zenimax made also sure it is playable for new players which is admirable. The new additions can do the trick for some people who weren’t into the first ‘chapters’ or finally decided to give Elder Scrolls Online a try. We can’t stress this enough but we are grateful for the constant work that the team behind the Elder Scrolls Online is doing to make this a worthy MMORPG, even after its rocky start.
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