After we already had a review from Schuhmann on The Elder Scrolls Online, Jürgen also weighs in with a test on the ESO chapter Morrowind. For him, Morrowind is the perfect addition to The Elder Scrolls Online.
I associate much more with the name Morrowind than just an outstanding RPG from 2002. Rather, Morrowind was a defining moment in my gaming career. From the very first moment, the twisted setting on the strange island of the Dark Elves captivated me and I joyfully explored this wonderfully haunting land with its dark secrets.
So I was completely over the moon when I learned at the end of 2016 that Morrowind would be the setting for the next major ESO expansion. But can the online version live up to the original?
Morrowind – The spark of nostalgia is ignited
By now, Morrowind has been released and what can I say? It delivers on its promises.
For me, as an old Morrowind fan, it is exactly the expansion I wished for ESO. Because instead of clumsily reinventing the wheel, ZeniMax relies on what is tried and true and nostalgia.
That may sound negative at first, but in the case of Morrowind, I believe the innovative stagnation is a blessing. Because the clear reference to the old Morrowind and its peculiarities creates an atmosphere that ESO did not have until now.
Therefore, the heart of every Morrowind veteran also beats faster when the characteristic intro music plays. And at the latest by the landing in Seyda Neen – which still looks the same as in the original game 700 years earlier – the smoldering spark of nostalgia has flared into a joyful blaze.
Morrowind – Familiar, yet different
However, Zenimax’s nostalgia does not become stale. Morrowind does not consist of reheated and dusty game elements.
Rather, you feel at every turn in Morrowind that Zenimax is not re-staging the old game from 2002. The island of Vvardenfell is indeed the same and you repeatedly come across familiar places.
But at the same time, it is a different time, a different era.
For example, the temple city of Vivec is immediately recognizable. Where else do steps pyramids stand in the swamp, over which a gigantic asteroid hovers? But 700 years in the past, the opulent settlement of the great god-king is not yet finished, and many of the later buildings are just excavated pits. Such references create clear added value for all connoisseurs of the setting.
Morrowind – Veterans have more, newcomers too
This strong reference to Morrowind veterans and nostalgia is, however, a double-edged sword. Those who did not play Morrowind back then or hardly played it will of course not understand many of the allusions and references.
However, such “Morrowind virgins” have completely different opportunities. They can discover this original setting for the first time and do not have to buy a 15-year-old RPG to visit Vvardenfell.
Morrowind offers nothing really new, but more of the good same
Of course, the precondition for enjoying Morrowind is that you embrace the “ESO experience.” Because as colleague Schuhmann wrote in his critical article about Morrowind, you have to approach The Elder Scrolls Online in a very specific way to have fun with it. If you play it like a typical MMORPG, you will quickly encounter the limits of enjoyment.
However, if you approach ESO more like a solo RPG that you also play with others, then ESO and Morrowind offer unique experiences that stand out from the bulk of usual MMOs. That is also the reason why ESO has been very successful in its own niche, while pure online RPGs often hopelessly fade against the dominant WoW.
For solo and group players
ESO motivates solo players as you find tons of fully voiced quests, books, and lore elements in the game, allowing you to explore the world for hours just like in Skyrim, Oblivion, and others. Unlike solo RPGs, however, you can also experience ESO with friends. And that even if they have much higher levels than you.
Because thanks to One Tamriel, your character scales so well that even a non-maxed character can make a meaningful contribution to the group’s success.
Additionally, you can spontaneously join a few randomly met adventurers to delve into the next dungeon to fight a few monsters. And for those who want the full MMO experience, they can try the new raid in the Hall of Fabrication and the complex boss fights there.
ESO simply offers a lavish buffet of options for every type of player. Only hardcore soloists or MMO purists may not find joy in the offerings. And friends of dynamic combat systems. The combat gameplay of ESO is still unfortunately quite clunky and unappealing. In this area, I fully agree with Schuhmann and I wouldn’t mind a thorough overhaul.
The right game for me
But even with the unsightly combat system, ESO and Morrowind are ideally the MMOs for me. Here I can explore the world at my own pace, don’t have to worry too much about the optimal build, and regularly encounter interesting things. Occasionally, I get ambitious and craft the currently best weapons.
Or I optimize my skills and throw myself into the next dungeon. Or I equip my PvP skills and tackle the new battlegrounds. For players who like to leisurely dive into a fantasy world and want to play a little here and a little there, ESO still provides the perfect playground with the new chapter.
And this works primarily because the game remains true to itself and does not desperately try to be an MMORPG like Black Desert or World of Warcraft.
So much for my opinion on Morrowind. But what do you think about the new chapter of The Elder Scrolls Online? Do you share my opinion and enjoy Morrowind as a nice encore to a delicious main course? Or are you disappointed because the game still hasn’t changed its fundamentals? Let me know in the comments!
Also interesting: 10 tips for getting started in Morrowind
