Reviews: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Video Review

The bear blasting moment is the best thing I've seen out of a video game all year.

I can't believe the shadows on the 360 version look better than on High on PC. Mind-blowing.

Having fun with it so far

I like brad, but gosh I think he looks awkward/uncomfortable on film

Calling it right now: Cat launching sim of the year.

Well, looks like the Xbox version is better than the PS3. Again.

I'm playing on PS3 and the framerate is almost always choppy. I'm seeing only silky smooth footage here. I hope Bethesda can patch it out or I'm going to have to return my copy and buy it on Xbox. And also buy a damn Xbox.

@Hemmelight said:

Well, looks like the Xbox version is better than the PS3. Again.

I'm playing on PS3 and the framerate is almost always choppy. I'm seeing only silky smooth footage here. I hope Bethesda can patch it out or I'm going to have to return my copy and buy it on Xbox. And also buy a damn Xbox.

How do you know it's not the PC version?

Skyrim beard :)

Once I saw the dude shuffling I knew Vinny was going to use that for the ending with music added.

Really wish that so many amazing games didn't all come out one after another, no time to enjoy them all.

@Forum_User said:

@Hemmelight said:

Well, looks like the Xbox version is better than the PS3. Again.

I'm playing on PS3 and the framerate is almost always choppy. I'm seeing only silky smooth footage here. I hope Bethesda can patch it out or I'm going to have to return my copy and buy it on Xbox. And also buy a damn Xbox.

How do you know it's not the PC version?

I watched the Quick Look with Jeff, Patrick and Brad playing on Xbox. A good deal of this footage is from that quick look, actually.

I am 47 hours into the game and only done about 2 hours of the main story arch. It truly is crazy how much there is to do. Great review Brad.

I play this video game on my personal computer with a Xbox 360 wired controller pad as my input device. I am sex.

Great review Brad!

@JoeyRavn said:

I can't believe the shadows on the 360 version look better than on High on PC. Mind-blowing.

I can totally believe it. Bethesda don't care about PC gamers, and it's a pity that Brad never bothered to play it properly on a PC. Then he might have noticed how all the key bindings break the game, the textures and models are "passable" at best, the interface is useless and wastes space with pointless menu systems that force you to jump through multiple button presses to do one thing ...

@Fattony12000 said:

I play this video game on my personal computer with a Xbox 360 wired controller pad as my input device. I am sex.

Same here...it is truly the best when done this way...

Im 8 hours in and i feel like ive barely touched the surface

20 hours in. I fucking LOVE this game. I never thought I'd say this, but this game is rivaling BF3 for my GOTY. Goddamn am I having fun.

I'm afraid the RPG genre is dead.

At least on the AAA production scale.

10 hours in and I've barely scratched the main mission. I LOVE this game. This is shaping up to be my GOTY.

Awesome game!

HI SOUTHERN BRAD!

So GOTY Fight will be Uncharted , Batman and now Elder Scrolls. And since the other two were fighting only a couple of years ago i think we are looking at Giant Bombs Overall GOTY here in Skyrim

@Beforet said:

Good to see that No-Shave-November is celebrated in the Whiskey Mead Hall.

Truly, this is the age of facial hair.

That bear got owned, amazing.

Brad speaks the truth.

My copy comes today from Amazon. This review is making me ache in strange places.

I can't stop playing this game. Someone, help!

lol, its kinda funny that they used some of the Quick Look footage

37 hrs and still rolling

I'm at 28 hours, completed only 9 quests, and been to only two cities. I'm level 16. I want nothing more then to keep playing it. Even if it doesn't become Giant Bomb's, it's certainly my GOTY.

I can't wait to get this. Have to wait till Christmas. I guess University comes first...

Fun review! Lot of screen tearing going on though. I'm curious as to what video card or platform this was done on? Granted me watching this review is just like masturbating knowing I'm getting sex when I go home since I already own it on PC, but I'm still curious.

@JamesKond said:

Skyrim beard :)

my very first thought seeing brad.

Perfect video review ending...perfect!

This is absolutely my GOTY. I'm 30 hours in and just loving every moment so far. It's so immersive, surprisingly beautiful and with such a rich skill and crafting tree that I can't see myself playing anything else for a long time.

Well done, Brad.

don't envy you guys picking a GOTY this year. it wasn't easy last year but this year...

i don't think i've enjoyed so many great games in my 25 years of gaming. fantastic stuff

I've been enjoying the game. I wasn't planning on getting it but the Giant Bomb coverage got me to buy it. I'm glad you did because I've been enjoying it much more than previous Bethesda games mainly because I have a desire to see what happens next which is what always gets me bored. Too often I'm left going "well what now?" Sure I've got a hundred missions to choose from but none seem worth it. In Skyrim though I've been enjoying most everything.

Instant-GOTY!

So glad games like this are still being made and selling well in this day were 6 hour single player games are the norm.

Awesome review. I agree with you on every point!

I don't at all agree that most of the content is rich, I think it is a game with tons and tons of shallow content. The characters are paper thin and most dungeons are more linear than a CoD level. That doesn't mean it isn't worth playing, but Bethesda most definitely sacrifice quality for quantity.

This is one of my favorite games ever. Skyrim is so much better then any other Bethesda RPG and pretty much the best open world game ever. Even stuff like Smithing, Enchanting and Alchemy are really fun to do to spec out you character in great gear. Every quest i've played so far (40h+ in) has been eather really interresting or alot of fun. If you liked Oblivion then you will absolutly love the living hell out of Skyrim. There are more memorable characters/moments in Skyrim then pretty much Morrowind, Oblivion and Fallout 3 combined. It's an absolutly fantastic game!

You should really play Skyrim.

Just want to say Brad you are awesome on camera. You've come a long way since those early days.

Video reviews are my favourite! Thanks Giantbomb!

It's the Nord shuffle! Who says white men can't dance?

I dunno what kind of trouble some are having with the tech issues and graphics, but my PC runs this game almost nonstop since 11/11/11 with a CTD only rarely. Graphics are stunning except for the bland textures on some rocks up high in the mountains. We play with all sliders maxed, game looks fantastic!

I agree with Brad that the combat is just okay but still an improvement over Oblivion. Also the 3rd person view still needs work, but it too has improved over Oblivion. Really, all criticism is really nit picking when you step back and view the game as a whole package. This is a gem of a game, a rare occurrence in video gaming. Don't miss it!

I'm starting to not see the point in visiting this website anymore if everything is slowly being hoseted off of Youtube. Maybe Youtube is the website to visit for Giantbomb news and videos. The 360p...in 2011 is a disgrace. 720p is the norm and I don't care if people backlash me but it's just the way I see it.

Stop being cheap and upload stuff only to Giantbomb ... I seen previous comments complaining about this as well.

I was never able to get into the Elder Scrolls universe, but I will echo Jeff's desire in the Quick Look for Fallout 4 with this engine. Hopefully it's well underway.

Stop being cheap

@BacardiExpress said:

I'm starting to not see the point in visiting this website anymore if everything is slowly being hoseted off of Youtube. Maybe Youtube is the website to visit for Giantbomb news and videos. The 360p...in 2011 is a disgrace. 720p is the norm and I don't care if people backlash me but it's just the way I see it.

Stop being cheap and upload stuff only to Giantbomb ... I seen previous comments complaining about this as well.

Who's the cheap one? It's only $5/month dude. Not everything in life if free for the taking.