The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Review - The latest and greatest RPG-offering from Bethesda.

It was a hard decision to make. When faced with the dual proposition of reviewing either the PC or Xbox version of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, I had to weigh the options. The PC version can be run at a higher resolution, is patchable, and also contains the bonus “Elder Scrolls Construction Set” disc, enabling users to create, share, and download new quests, items, dungeons, and more. However (and I know this opinion has the potential to get me lynched), the PC version is actually just another title in the seemingly endless glut of PC RPGs. Whether it is a MMORPG or not, it can be argued that the choices for PC RPGs are many. When it comes to the Xbox, however, Morrowind marks the first appearance of an RPG on Microsoft’s new console, making it a landmark title in that respect. Bearing that in mind, I decided to start with the Xbox version and take it from there.

One thing is clear in terms of the Xbox version… this title would not have been possible on any console without a hard drive.

After spending an exhaustive amount of time with the Xbox, I finally moved on to the PC version, and it can safely be said that they are identical. The only differences are the obvious ones mentioned above, and, naturally, the Xbox version does not come with the extra toolkit. Also, several patches have been released for the PC version (one of which adds the much-needed health meter for enemies during combat, as well as several other add-ons), which is also possible, yet frowned upon, for the Xbox (there have been no announced plans to deliver said fixes as of yet).

All of this having been said, the choice remains yours. Both versions deliver an unbelievably large adventure in an equally massive world, filled with literally thousands of NPCs, over four hundred quests, and hundreds of thousands of items to be collected, dropped, or otherwise dealt with in any way the player sees fit. Yes, this is the stuff of addiction, my friends, a mini-world on a console that at times seems to strive to be an offline Everquest, albeit with graphics and sound that are clearly superior in every way to that title.

Players start out as a non-descript character on a prison ship that has just made port. Gradually, the game takes you through control schemes and character creation one step at a time. There are a few different methods to character creation, but the “create from scratch” mode affords players with the most minute of details for their character, and tends to be the method of choice. Those who are in a hurry to get started can use the “answer some questions and let the machine decide the type of character that best fits your personality” feature.

This RPG is a single character game, and there will be no “parties” under your control. Also, the game is completely open-ended, so once your character is designed, you’re on your own, and that is meant in the most literal sense. You will be thrust into this living, breathing society within a box, and every move you make will be scrutinized by its inhabitants. The main means of progression throughout the game is to talk to all of the NPCs, who will offer quests, information, and invite you to join one or more guilds (thieves, warriors, mages, etc.) that will ultimately determine your character’s standing in Vvardenfell. Players can become whatever they choose (even a vampire), and they can also advance the skills that appeal the most to them (and are available to the character class). Melee combat, distance combat (with projectile weapons), and spell casting magic are all available here, and in abundance. You can traverse Vvardenfell by foot, or by hiring the locals to transport you around by way of the odd creatures they employ as beasts of burden. Traveling by foot is more dangerous, but it opens up the potential for finding the hidden dungeons that completely litter the land.