The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

Mechanics

You start The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR for PC and PS4 by creating your character—you chose their race and sex, and customize their appearance. Unlike in the previous installments of the franchise, you do not have to choose a character class. Instead, during the game you develop certain skills of your protagonist and three basic statistics: magic, stamina, and health. Apart from conventional abilities, the game features the so-called Shouts—powerful spells unlocked with the souls of the dragons you defeat after you find ancient words scattered all over the province. Of course, your overall performance is also affected by your weapons and armor.

The key aspect of the game is exploration of the vast and open world, which consists of frozen wastelands, cities, towns, and claustrophobic undergrounds. Some locations are full of enemies, which you fight in real time, using both of the protagonist's hands—in each hand you can wield a one-handed weapon, shield, or a spell. Of course, you can also use a two-handed weapons (like a hefty warhammer) or a ranged one, such as a bow. The combat system is what has most changed compared to the standard editions of the game—you aim by moving your head, and attack by using PlayStation Move motion controllers, which transfer your moves onto your character.

The gameplay is driven by main quests and optional quests given to you by NPCs, both common citizens and representatives of certain factions. To ensure the right course of the gameplay, a special system makes sure that the enemies you encounter are scaled accordingly to your level.

Technical aspects

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is based on the Special Edition, released in 2016. Compared to the original game, Special Edition features improved lighting, higher resolution textures, and various visual effects, such as a dynamic depth of field.