The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited: PS4 Review

The Elder Scrolls Online  PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Bethesda

Massive multiplayer online games are always a buzz.

And they don't come any bigger than The Elder Scrolls Online - literally.

In its latest iteration, Tamriel Unlimited, the fantasy series has gone bigger than ever before thanks to a massive 60GB release for the consoles (including patches). Set within the world of Tamriel , you begin the game by choosing a faction to be part of, which defines your quest and the journey within.

And then really, it's quite simply off you go into a fantasy world packed with missions, quests, fighting and exploring., levelling up to ensure you get the most out of your experience is as ever, necessary and will see you reach the higher echelons of your character's abilities.

Exploration of Tamriel Unlimited brings you inevitably into the path of other players, some of whom can be seen rushing around, fighting and then fleeing and others who appear to be simply stuck observing it all. It's a curious phenomenon when you get out of the early parts of the game which feel like a solo campaign only to emerge blinking into the massive reality of the game. In many ways, if you're not part of a group, it can in truth be an alienating experience, one which dwarfs you because of its size but also because you need people to play with to ensure you get the most from the game.

Like Skyrim before it, the devil's in the details and while Tamriel is nicely rendered; elves, orcs, dwarves et al scatter the worlds and prove either to be allies or thorns in your side. Scenes of chat and forced questioning punctuate part of the game and make it feel like a step back to the early version of The Hobbit on Commodore 64 with the obligatory lines, but it's there to give a feeling of interaction. But it doesn't quite work, and the best interaction you'll have is with friends or randoms who take part in the game.

Team-work's crucial in this and while that's to be saluted and necessary for the MMO, it's a shame that parts of the game rely on it. Not every player wants to be forced into a co-op to complete areas. Occasionally, too glitches strike the game and render the experience a frustration, but they're few and far between.

All in all, The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited is an impressive port over from the PC, with a few minor niggles thrown in. You'll get out of it whatever you want to put in - rewards come from endless gameplay and serious hours in front of the console and online. I suspect those who don't like MMORPGs won't be won over, but fans will lap up this with the glee most fantasy games command from their lovers.

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