Many new improvements since update 6. Combat animations, new spell and ability effects, Justice System part 1, Champion System part 1 and much more. Update 6 saw about 40 gigs of new content and fixes for the game.
Zenimax still falls short in a few categories, like with their guild management tools, inventory management, guild store window in useless without addons, even their mail system (without addons) doesn't have a simple reply to send feature, BUT overall I am enjoying my experience in Nirn and see a constant increase in activity in the game.
Despite the negativity of the vocal minority on this site, I think this is a great time to be an mmo gamer. Most AAA MMOs have righted their respective ships, fixing bugs, adding content. Indie projects for the most part have found their core audience and are developing nicely
Nice write up, Bill. I am glad you took the time to re-review the game as Zenimax has done a lot over the year to really improve the game. When it first launched, I shared many of the same sentiments as you, but there is no denying the game has had quite a bit of change to it. Such a difference when a game can actually improve through such changes.
They have definitely improved on the game from launch, but I feel an 8.5 is kinda high. I would give a 6.5 or 7 at best. For the most part it is the same ol, same ol with a different skin.
I really dislike these number rating systems, kinda like back in the military days if one didn't get a 4.0 review they must be a shit bag. A 10 should be unattainable and a 8.5 should be describing something unremarkable that we haven't seen yet.
I believe the difference in scores is I add in what I feel is a crucial category, and that is innovation. I wish this was added to reviews today, especially with the quagmire the genre has found itself in. At the end of the day, it's still a WoW clone riding that cash cow paradigm. The part of the justice system that has been implemented thus far is the really only new breath of fresh air...provided. Oh, and the decentralized economy, but that's more of a trope to yester year, than innovation; but still a better system for socialization than a global AH or forced grouping with internet idiots to clear content.
Well, the game has been good for quite some time now, it didn't just suddenly turn around with TU. Great job by Zeni. Completely eliminating bots after just 2 months was their greatest achievement. Something Blizzard haven't managed in over 10 years.
"I honestly cant believe it happened, when I think about it. Elder Scrolls Online was in no way as big of a disaster as FFXIV was when it first launched, yet for the second time in two years we have another MMORPG that has managed to completely improve upon its initial experience to become one of the best games in the genre."
From Anarchy Online to ESO that has been the case. If you launch a AAA MMO and put the time in you can make them far better. They are not starting as F2P, with P2P or B2P you have the money to make the improvements.
This game was buggy starting out but had improved alot. The PvP system was great and a blast to play until the release that came with the Buy to play release. PvP in this game went from a 9 for me to a 2 at best. To me the whole point in PvP is to fight each other not have everyone dieing in less than a second. With the amount of damage everyone is doing atm you need 5 times the H.P. that you character has. The 1.6 patch took this game from a game I really liked to me wishing that Camelot Unchained from City State was out already. http://camelotunchained.com
Played the game for 98 hours after Tamriel Unlimited came out. Suffice to say that it has improved substantially and is a whole loads of fun now. Combat is great, thieving adds richness to gameplay, and story actually feels like a full-fledged RPG.
LFG is rather weak, but it's not completely broken. Takes me about 30m-1hr to get a group on average, which is slow but tolerable.
Agree with this review. I did like ESO at launch, but there were too many fixes needed. It's surprising how well Zenimax has achieved that.
One thing I've always liked with ESO is when you complete a quest chain, the world changes. Not you saved the town and it's on fire again in 5 seconds, or you killed the big baddie and oops he respawned ontop of you. That is something I'd like to see in more games.
If you don't like to quest, craft, pvp, RP or explore then you'll hate this game. It is very casual/solo friendly too.
I liked this game when it came out, so much so, that I kept an active sub even though I wasnt playing. Now , a year later, I love it.
Everyone has their own opinions and I dont bash others for not liking it. I only ask the same of those that dont like it. No reason to come on here and say the article is crap just because you dont like it. You have to remember the people who are writing the review are people just like you and me, if they like it, then they like it. Just like there are reviewers out there that dont like it. Its an opinion.
Agree with this review. I did like ESO at launch, but there were too many fixes needed. It's surprising how well Zenimax has achieved that.
One thing I've always liked with ESO is when you complete a quest chain, the world changes. Not you saved the town and it's on fire again in 5 seconds, or you killed the big baddie and oops he respawned ontop of you. That is something I'd like to see in more games.
If you don't like to quest, craft, pvp, RP or explore then you'll hate this game. It is very casual/solo friendly too.
It's a fun fantasy genre based game.
heh, seen offen thouse RP partys in Inn and thiefs hideout:)
GameByNightHardware and Technology EditorMMORPG.COM Staff, MemberRarePosts: 811
It's worth adding that if you bought the game before mid-June, you're eligible to get the console versions for $20 for the next 30 days.
There was a lot to like about ESO...But I just felt like they got some of the basics wrong in a big way...
The single biggest problem my Guild had with ESO was the inability to grind with Guild members who were around the same level but not in the exact same place in the story line..We could really care less about the social aspect of finding group members through the LFG functions...We almost never use them ...We wanted to group and grind with the same folks we've been grouping and grinding with for over a decade...But then we group up and people are disappearing only to see that stupid triangle symbol where they should be...And the story bosses...many of them being solo...Just killed the fun for my Guild...
I'm not sure this aspect of the game has been addressed based on this review...But if not I see zero chance of convincing my Guild to go back to ESO...And I'm certainly not saying it's the main problem other folks had/have with the game...Just saying.....That was our reason to leave...
Sorry I just don't see how a game that has a LFG tool that has been broken like 2 months after release can not and should not have a 8.5 rating. Just for not being able to fix LFG tool after a good year is just sad and should give the game more of a 5.0 rating.
I ask in the chat for groups and within 5 - 10 minutes I am in a group and doing whatever it is I was wanting to do.
For the first time since I quit WoW more then 3 years ago I have found a home in ESO. As a soloer who values Deep character progression, Loot and Exploration above all aspects, ESO has filled a void I thought I would never recapture. ESO is amazing and I finally got my first character to VR1, and am close to finishing Coldharbour. I still have 2 whole faction territories to explore and one, possibly 2 more character classes I am dying to play. Thank you Zenimax for fixing all the issues I had with the game back in beta. Really super solid game now.
Sandbox means open world, non-linear gaming PERIOD!
Subscription Gaming, especially MMO gaming is a Cash grab bigger then the most P2W cash shop!
Bring Back Exploration and lengthy progression times. RPG's have always been about the Journey not the destination!!!
Still the best immersion I've seen in the genre in a long time. I've liked the game since launch but I did leave to play WoD, but now I'm back and thoroughly enjoying it again, all the improvements are very welcome. I just find it funny seeing all the complaints over a poor or lack of a lfg tool even though any time a mmorpg announces they're adding one, there's nothing but disdain about how they ruin the social aspect of it all. People just can never make up their minds. My two complaints are still over the horrible list style inventory and management. I'll spend an hour or more clearing out my inventory just for it to fill all the way up again way too quickly, I despise having to constantly destroy items in the field when more things drop, and they drop rapidly. My other complaint is newer, I'm not happy that players across all available platforms won't be playing together. I'm sure there's a glaring reason why, but it's still very disappointing, or at least have it pc/mac together and PS4/X1 together. Having console players isolated on separate megaservers from each other seems foolish and I fear there won't be anywhere near enough players and the worlds will feel barren. Have to wait and see.
It isn't an Elder Scrolls game, that is my problem... like there is no open sandbox world, it is totally linear and all the quests are just boring MMO quests.
Comments
Many new improvements since update 6. Combat animations, new spell and ability effects, Justice System part 1, Champion System part 1 and much more. Update 6 saw about 40 gigs of new content and fixes for the game.
Zenimax still falls short in a few categories, like with their guild management tools, inventory management, guild store window in useless without addons, even their mail system (without addons) doesn't have a simple reply to send feature, BUT overall I am enjoying my experience in Nirn and see a constant increase in activity in the game.
Despite the negativity of the vocal minority on this site, I think this is a great time to be an mmo gamer. Most AAA MMOs have righted their respective ships, fixing bugs, adding content. Indie projects for the most part have found their core audience and are developing nicely
It's no Elder Scroll game at all not even close to Skyrim, it's money grab in a terrible theme park settings with is cons.
8.5 OUT OF 10 how much this site got payed to give this high rating? Not first time this happen bah:(
Big companies get high rates as usual:(
Only because it's B2P now it's in the picture as P2P it failed it will fail as B2P MARK MY WORDS.
6/10 MAYBE.
Hope to build full AMD system RYZEN/VEGA/AM4!!!
MB:Asus V De Luxe z77
CPU:Intell Icore7 3770k
GPU: AMD Fury X(waiting for BIG VEGA 10 or 11 HBM2?(bit unclear now))
MEMORY:Corsair PLAT.DDR3 1866MHZ 16GB
PSU:Corsair AX1200i
OS:Windows 10 64bit
Nice write up, Bill. I am glad you took the time to re-review the game as Zenimax has done a lot over the year to really improve the game. When it first launched, I shared many of the same sentiments as you, but there is no denying the game has had quite a bit of change to it. Such a difference when a game can actually improve through such changes.
See you in Tamriel!
WoW mental players dont play game, u hate quests hundreds hours (hardly any kill 10 rat quest).
Must say game community is nice:) havent seen any troll or dungeon leecher etc...
They have definitely improved on the game from launch, but I feel an 8.5 is kinda high. I would give a 6.5 or 7 at best. For the most part it is the same ol, same ol with a different skin.
I really dislike these number rating systems, kinda like back in the military days if one didn't get a 4.0 review they must be a shit bag. A 10 should be unattainable and a 8.5 should be describing something unremarkable that we haven't seen yet.
I believe the difference in scores is I add in what I feel is a crucial category, and that is innovation. I wish this was added to reviews today, especially with the quagmire the genre has found itself in. At the end of the day, it's still a WoW clone riding that cash cow paradigm. The part of the justice system that has been implemented thus far is the really only new breath of fresh air...provided. Oh, and the decentralized economy, but that's more of a trope to yester year, than innovation; but still a better system for socialization than a global AH or forced grouping with internet idiots to clear content.
"I honestly cant believe it happened, when I think about it. Elder Scrolls Online was in no way as big of a disaster as FFXIV was when it first launched, yet for the second time in two years we have another MMORPG that has managed to completely improve upon its initial experience to become one of the best games in the genre."
From Anarchy Online to ESO that has been the case. If you launch a AAA MMO and put the time in you can make them far better. They are not starting as F2P, with P2P or B2P you have the money to make the improvements.
If someone hates something ... they aren't missing out. They don't like it and this is completely unrelated to your own opinion.
You stay sassy!
Played the game for 98 hours after Tamriel Unlimited came out. Suffice to say that it has improved substantially and is a whole loads of fun now. Combat is great, thieving adds richness to gameplay, and story actually feels like a full-fledged RPG.
LFG is rather weak, but it's not completely broken. Takes me about 30m-1hr to get a group on average, which is slow but tolerable.
Agree with this review. I did like ESO at launch, but there were too many fixes needed. It's surprising how well Zenimax has achieved that.
One thing I've always liked with ESO is when you complete a quest chain, the world changes. Not you saved the town and it's on fire again in 5 seconds, or you killed the big baddie and oops he respawned ontop of you. That is something I'd like to see in more games.
If you don't like to quest, craft, pvp, RP or explore then you'll hate this game. It is very casual/solo friendly too.
It's a fun fantasy genre based game.
Proud member of Hammerfist Clan Gaming Community.
Currently playing: RIFT, EQ2, WoW, LoTRO
Retired: Warhammer, AoC, EQ
Waiting: SWToR & GW2
I liked this game when it came out, so much so, that I kept an active sub even though I wasnt playing. Now , a year later, I love it.
Everyone has their own opinions and I dont bash others for not liking it. I only ask the same of those that dont like it. No reason to come on here and say the article is crap just because you dont like it. You have to remember the people who are writing the review are people just like you and me, if they like it, then they like it. Just like there are reviewers out there that dont like it. Its an opinion.
So join a guild and form groups? Its no different from any other mmorpg, except you can join 5 guilds.
rpg/mmorg history: Dun Darach>Bloodwych>Bards Tale 1-3>Eye of the beholder > Might and Magic 2,3,5 > FFVII> Baldur's Gate 1, 2 > Planescape Torment >Morrowind > WOW > oblivion > LOTR > Guild Wars (1900hrs elementalist) Vanguard. > GW2(1000 elementalist), Wildstar
Now playing GW2, AOW 3, ESO, LOTR, Elite D
heh, seen offen thouse RP partys in Inn and thiefs hideout:)
There was a lot to like about ESO...But I just felt like they got some of the basics wrong in a big way...
The single biggest problem my Guild had with ESO was the inability to grind with Guild members who were around the same level but not in the exact same place in the story line..We could really care less about the social aspect of finding group members through the LFG functions...We almost never use them ...We wanted to group and grind with the same folks we've been grouping and grinding with for over a decade...But then we group up and people are disappearing only to see that stupid triangle symbol where they should be...And the story bosses...many of them being solo...Just killed the fun for my Guild...
I'm not sure this aspect of the game has been addressed based on this review...But if not I see zero chance of convincing my Guild to go back to ESO...And I'm certainly not saying it's the main problem other folks had/have with the game...Just saying.....That was our reason to leave...
I ask in the chat for groups and within 5 - 10 minutes I am in a group and doing whatever it is I was wanting to do.
Sandbox means open world, non-linear gaming PERIOD!
Subscription Gaming, especially MMO gaming is a Cash grab bigger then the most P2W cash shop!
Bring Back Exploration and lengthy progression times. RPG's have always been about the Journey not the destination!!!