The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

"My thoughts of a Good Game"

Well, to start, I have to warn you this review might be a tad on the
long side. With that said, let's get started.

Imagine if you will being an unborn child. Being fed all your traits and characterisitics in the safety of your mother's womb. Then, with undue force, presented into the world with only a name and a book. Scarey I know, but just imagine a baby with a book in Times Square. Well thats exactly how I felt after the first hour of playing Morrowind. To tell you the truth, I still feel that way after about 60 or so hours of game play.

The game starts you out basically as a faceless drone. With you being a drone you have no race, no class, and of course no respect. You are a prisioner about to be set free on the orders of the queen. No one knows why you are being released or for what reason you where choosen for this quest. The quest as much as I would like to tell you what it is I can't. Reason being you choose your own path in this game. And by choosing differant paths you creat differant quests. Back to the boat. As you first step outside in the cool damp air, you realize just how graphically immersive this game actually is. Water glistening, birds chirping, and guards glaring, you walk across the plank to your freedom. Or so you thought! As you walk into the building erected at the end of the plank you meet your first trainer. This is when you get to become somebody - aren't you excited! You get the choice of either answering questions to choose your class, or creating yourself custom. After your class has been selected you get to pick a few other tidbits that will increase different stats. Choose wisely, and choose responsibly! What am I saying, choose the items and signs that best suit the way you want to play the game. Next you get your first
quest, it is up to you if you want to follow the story or create your own. This is when you get the feeling of being a baby in Times Square by the way.

Now to take step in a differant direction if i may. Let me express just how extensive my first part was. Most games give you one, maybe even four characters to start out with when selecting who you want to be. Morrowind gives you a virtul cornacopia of possible selections. Even after you have chosen who you think you want to be, you run into a character altering problem which completely changes who you where in the beginning. The options are limitless, so go into this game with an open mind. Be prepared to just spend a hour or two in the first building. (I spent 4).

Now onto specs. I am not going to candy coat the sheer power this game needs to just run. But what I can do is tell you how it ran on my system. Utilizing my Geforce 4 and my 1.2 AMD with 512 ram it ran well. Granted, graphics at times had a little slowdown, but it is easy to see past it. Morrowind will make you want to cry - just because the graphics are so stunning. Water looks like water. Trees sway as if in actual time, and the NPC's look like real people. It is so easy just to get lost in the graphics there is no wonder I have dreams of being in Vvardenfell.

If you weren't impressed enough with my description of the graphical abilities of Morrowind. Then let me make your mouth water with the sheer beauty of the sounds of Morrowind. If you are lucky enough to get the Collectors Edition version you will be treated with a soundtrack. I emplore you to find the soundtrack - it is worth twice the amount you payed for the game. Even the ambiant sounds like bugs buzzing, and water lapping on the shore can be heard with crystal clarity. The recorded voice overs are also something to be immmersed in. Each and every one has its own distinct tone and attitude. There goes that feeling of a baby in Times Square again.

Even a game with this much praise has its few minute flaws. But again these could be from only my view point, so don't be veered away. First, the speed of the character is something of a bother to me. Granted, you can run but only for as long as your endurance holds out. Secondly, the sheer size of this game is HUGE. If I had not had the strategy guide, I would still be hiding under a log singing ''Swing Low Sweet Chariot''. Finally, the game has such high expectations of your computer, some people will never be able to
enjoy this game the way it was meant to be.

All in all, I will be playing this game for many a day. Most likely more then the proclaimed 500+ play hours. This game isn't for everyone, but everyone should at least try it. Cheaters and Powergamers beware! Yes you can exploit this game. But if you do, you have just deprived yourself of a very intense gaming experience. So be you the quest follower or the roamer this game will keep you busy for many, many, many hours. Own this game! You won't be sorry.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/09/02, Updated 06/09/02