The MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is already many years old. Nevertheless, new players keep starting with the game. We at MeinMMO had one of them in an interview, and ESO is even his very first MMORPG.
The Elder Scrolls Online is considered an MMORPG, but it is not one in the traditional sense. ESO takes place in the same universe as the older Elder Scrolls titles and follows in their footsteps. The game focuses not only on group content, as is usual in an MMORPG, but also on plenty for solo players. ESO is among the best MMOs for solo players on the market.
The game was released in April 2014 for PC and in June 2015 for consoles PS4 and Xbox One. Since 2020, ESO has been available for Stadia. A lot has happened in these years, as three players with over 9,000 hours of playtime reported in an interview.
Nonetheless, it still happens today that new players dare to tackle the very extensive game. One of them is Sascha, who told us in the interview how he finds his way in his first MMORPG, why it had to be ESO, what challenges he faces, and what excites him.
What made you start with an MMORPG?
Sascha says: Sascha has always been very interested in MMORPGs. This is probably due to his passion for role-playing games: “I love to immerse myself in mystical and magical worlds.” Furthermore, for him, playing with other interested people has its own charm.
I wanted to connect with other people, trade, fight, quest together, exchange experiences, or simply meet like-minded individuals.
He does not play ESO alone. He wanted a game that he can play with his girlfriend. And since they are both RPG fans, they ultimately chose the MMORPG ESO.
Why did you choose ESO?
Sascha says about the TES series: The reason it had to be ESO has to do with Sascha’s gaming past. He had previously played Morrowind on PC and later Skyrim. He spent hours in it: “Sometimes even in the character editor, just to think about which race I wanted to play.”
Years later, he switched to console, but purchased Skyrim again, this time in the Legendary Edition.
The Elder Scrolls has been a name I recognized early on. Additionally, I always found the different installments to be very well done and very atmospheric role-playing games.
Sascha says about MMORPGs: Sascha believes that the entire MMORPG genre is strongly shaped by WoW and became well-known because of this brand.
Accordingly, I often looked at getting a gaming PC to venture to Azeroth [WoW], but ultimately always decided against it. I am and always will be a PlayStation kid.
The road to ESO led Sascha first through the free-to-play MMORPG Neverwinter, which did not captivate him. Ultimately, he came to ESO, where his girlfriend already had the base game but had never played it: “So the optimal moment came to enter online Tamriel.”
Moreover, he was already familiar with Elder Scrolls from older installments. So he knew what to expect and what quality of a role-playing game he could count on: “From there it all went very quickly: bought, downloaded, and started playing.”
Do you prefer to play alone or in a group?
Sascha says: As mentioned above, he usually plays with his girlfriend. When he is not exploring Tamriel with her, he plays alone. However, he has been a member of the German guild “lvl up” for some time and is thus no longer completely solo.
For dungeons, he uses the handy activity search: “So far, I’ve never really had problems with missing teammates or not receiving help and support.”
How regularly do you play ESO?
Sascha says: Sascha plays nearly every day, “Even if sometimes just for the dailies, meaning: doing riding lessons, completing crafting quests, and securing event tickets during events.”
As he is a newcomer to ESO, he cannot yet make long-term forecasts. However, he enjoys logging in and playing regularly: “Depending on mood and state of mind, the tendency will fluctuate upwards or downwards.”
This is Sascha’s character: He opted for a Magicka Sorcerer at the beginning. As a race, he chose Khajiit: “Why? Well, I love cats and magic.”
How beginner-friendly do you find ESO?
Sascha says: ESO offers a tutorial that explains the most important mechanics. Additionally, the game regularly provides hints and tips, which can be turned off if one does not want them. Overall, there is really nothing to complain about.
Moreover, in my opinion, ESO has been ported quite well to console. The menus are neither cumbersome nor fiddly, the controls work well and are rather simple. I believe Zenimax has really done a great job here.
Only the flood of quests, tasks, optional activities, and events sometimes drives newcomers to despair. However, Sascha does not want to voice any real criticism in this regard, because what would be the alternative: “If there were fewer tasks, quests, and activities, ESO would lose its diversity and rich variety. And I am sure that no one really wants that!”
What do you find the hardest in ESO?
Sascha says: Besides a few world bosses that one desperately tries to defeat alone, he finds everything in ESO suitable.
The level is scaled accordingly by the game, there is a search function for activities for the lazy, plus guild traders and guild stores, where buying and selling works really well. Overall, ESO always offers a way to move forward.
And should one really not know how something works, there is still the great ESO community that is truly helpful. Sascha has often experienced this firsthand. He always finds helpful players who assist him “or even truly hold his hand.” Sascha is very grateful for that.
In his opinion, the proportion of friendly players in ESO clearly prevails. However, he still has something to criticize about ESO:
Only the performance on the PS4 is sometimes horrific. Crashes, freezes, delays and so on are almost a daily occurrence. When I criticize ESO, I do so solely because of the sometimes truly poor performance.
What excites you the most about ESO?
Sascha says: First of all, ESO is not Sascha’s first experience with an Elder Scrolls title: “Therefore, like all other installments, I am fascinated by the atmosphere and the gameplay itself, into which Zenimax has really put a lot of effort.”
Furthermore, MMORPGs have long interested the role-playing fan. ESO has been appealing for several aspects, such as the backstory with TES or playing together with his girlfriend. One can say that the game itself interested him and also excited him:
Finally, I just find the stories and narratives in ESO amazing. From terrible, sad, bloody, to absurdly comical stories and fates, everything is represented in ESO and is wonderfully told.
Have you considered starting another MMORPG?
Sascha says: “No, I am fully satisfied with ESO and will probably be for a while.” After all, Sascha is still level 36 and admits that he has not yet completed any zone stories.
Sascha has largely had good experiences with ESO and it is to remain not only his first but also his only MMORPG. If you are considering starting ESO, we at MeinMMO have 13 tips to make your start easier. Otherwise, feel free to leave us a comment on how long you have been playing ESO and share your experiences.
