Review by: Justin Amirkhani

Skyrim is the kind of game that makes me regret taking on videogame reviews as a profession. Not only will the bevy of new releases I’m “forced to endure” keep me from ever playing the game as much as I’d like, but I feel that this is wholly a game that’s near impossible to review.

With its boundless content and vast open-world there are a limitless number of stories to be told within Skyrim. My story will be different from yours and though it may be similar in some regards, it is uniquely tailored to my personal play style and preference. More so than any other game I’ve played, Skyrim is the product of your choices and Bethesda has done a remarkable job by making those choices shape not just your character, but the world around you.

Unlike most games where the water cooler conversations will be ruminations of shared experiences, Skyrim lends itself to more boastful stories of adventures unseen to others. Whether it was how you explored some unmapped cavern full of treasure, or how your friend incited an epic fight while running into a dragon whilst fleeing a pack of giants. It’s all possible in Skyrim and no two players will recount the same experience.

At the heart of the difference is how each character is formed. Basics like appearance and race set players apart early, but it’s the dynamic skill progression system that enhances frequently used skills that creates true disparity. There are no stats to min/max or classes to choose from; you are simply a hero with an arsenal of tools and through volition and action you become defined.

Because of this system characters tend to become – like us – imperfect generalists; jacks of all trades that excel in a few select areas. If you’re looking to play through the game as an archetype, it’s still possible but the structure of the system lends best when you don’t worry so much about filling a role and just use the abilities and weapons you enjoy most.

There are a billion little moments through Skyrim that will make you pause with wonder and excitement. It manages to stick out from the deluge of other fantasy settings by virtue of its detail. In an almost Tolkein-esque fashion, every rock and tree is wonderfully realized and builds towards creating a continent that will make you believe it’s real. The mythology of the world may not be as realized as George R.R. Martin’s or even Margaret Weis’, but it does more than enough to flesh out an already breathing world.