The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

"Simply Amazing RPG"

Warning: This game is more addicting than smoking, I assure you that you will not stop once you start. Having said that, this is one of the best RPG's I’ve ever played. It is completely customizable in every aspect, and you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. You will play this game for hours on end every day. It will most likely interrupt your everyday life. Stay away if you actually have a life.

Story – 10/10
It’s not much of a story but it’s a great one. Basically, you play a person born to someone at a certain time, held prisoner then brought to Vvardenfell. (The land you play in during Morrowind.) Not much, but it works for this game, basically cause it leaves so much room to customize your character.

Gameplay – 9/10
The diversity of the gameplay in Morrowind is amazing. You start out the game by picking your race, class, look, and sign that you were born under. Every one of those has different stats, pros, and cons. Example: High Elves have more magic to use, but also are weak to magic. If you are born under the thief, the chances of getting hit by a physical attack are decreased permanently. You are then released into Vvardenfell, where you can do virtually anything, and I mean anything. You can steal any item you want, for instance, but if you’re caught you will either pay a fine, go to jail and pay off the crime, or you can choose to fight the guards. (Not wise until you are higher levels.) You can also attack and kill anyone you wish, even if your reason is because they are taller than you. Then you will have to deal with the guards, just like when you steal something and are seen.

The island of Vvardenfell is huge. It can take you weeks in the game to get from one place to another. Lucky for you there are boats, and bug looking things called silt striders. They take you from one place to another very quickly. You can also use the mage’s guild’s teleporting, which as it sounds, teleports you to another town. Over your travels you will meet many people, none looking like you. There are guards, farmers, slaves, traders, alchemists, and much, much more.

The fighting system is where the gameplay lacks complete perfection. If you pull the R trigger, you will swing the weapon you have in your hand. There are three types of attacks: Slice, Thrust, and Chop. This gets very old fast. Luckily though, spells and customizing the weapons is very fun. You can buy spells at the various Mage’s Guilds, temples, and other random places. Then with the spells you know, you can go to the Mage’s Guild and make your own spells!! This is extremely fun. You can make a spell ranging from one poison damage for one second, to one hundred fire, poison, and ice for twenty-five seconds. Then you can pretty much do the same thing for weapons. First get a weapon and a soul gem. Trap a soul in the soul gem and take it to an enchanter. Then with the spells you have, you can enchant the weapon with say, twenty fire damage on strike. Doing either of these are extremely fun.

Besides all the things above, there are the missions. You can be in the blades, which is the main quest, Thieves guild, Fighters guild, Mages Guild, Morag Tong, Commona Tong, Houses Hlaalu, Telvanni, and Redoran, and so many more I couldn't name half of them. For every mission you do they give you money, and you move up the ranks until you become the grandmaster.

The stat system in this game is the best I’ve ever seen. You level up based on developing your skills, and you develop your skills by actually using them. That’s right, you actually have to hit enemies with your short blades to gain skill points in short blade. You could always go to one of the various trainers around Morrowind, but that costs money.

Controls - 10/10
Easily Mastered. The instruction book explains it very well.

Graphics - 9/10
These are amazing. The most noticeable thing is the water. I'd say they are the best water effects in any game except for Pirates of the Caribbean. People are detailed nicely, enemies are too, and the environments are spectacular. Very, very filled and lots off things everywhere.

Replay - 10/10
If one thousand out of ten was possible, I'd give it to Morrowind. Every time you start a new character you will notice things you didn't the first time. There are so many missions and things to do, this game can last up to two hundred and fifty hours!!

Overall - 10/10
The pros heavily out weigh the cons, go and buy this game right now! The best part about it all, is that this is a platinum hits game, and is only twenty bucks!! Run to the store now, buy it now!!!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/03, Updated 07/24/03