Last week, we extensively reported on the first impressions of the German and international gaming press on the highly anticipated MMORPG hope The Elder Scrolls Online. Today, we want to dedicate ourselves to this task again. This time, we focus on PvP, which is certainly a knockout criterion for many gamers.
No other topic currently drives the MMORPG world as much as the planned release of The Elder Scrolls Online on April 4. The Facebook group around TESO is going crazy, fans are clamoring for another round of beta, teasers and first gameplay videos are achieving record clicks. In response to initial cautious criticism, the fans are not exactly composed. For many, it is clear: The Elder Scrolls Online will be the new top game, will be the next virtual home, it simply has to be!
The hype around TESO is enormous
It was to be expected that TESO would cause an incredible hype because the single-player franchise has garnered a loyal and almost fanatical following. However, the dimensions that the hype has now taken on are still surprising.
With all this hype, it’s no wonder that the gaming press is diving into TESO and eagerly absorbing every new piece of information. Otherwise, there is the calm before the storm that many experts expect from the release of Wildstar and other titles starting in 2014.
PvP is a sensitive topic for developer Zenimax and The Elder Scrolls Online because it was not intended in the single-player version. Players appreciated the stories, the role-play aspects, and the feeling of being part of a dynamic world that needs to be explored and gradually uncovered.
Let’s take a look at the impressions from the gaming press:
First storm the castle, then slaughter the defenders!
Onlinewelten.com: The tester from Onlinewelten describes in detail the mechanics of the PvP battle. Currently, he still lacks an in-game announcement for having reached level 10 and thus earned access to the PvP areas. However, he expects that the feature will be added later.
In the actual PvP, as can be gathered from the test, it takes a bit longer until there is finally a direct conflict between the attackers and the defenders of a castle. It probably takes a while to storm the castle first. According to the tester, this while does not seem to be filled with nail-biting action. The long running distances and downtime between skirmishes particularly bothered the tester, and he sadly misses collision detection.
For him, the PvP in Cyrodiil strongly resembles the strategic castle battles from Dark Age of Camelot or Guild Wars 2’s WvW. For players who prefer roaming in large groups and rushing from hotspot to hotspot, the system is definitely suitable. However, those looking for skirmishes and fast action may be disappointed with the PvP. However, the tester points out that on the server where he tested PvP, not much was happening and that it would surely be different at launch.
The tester’s overall impression is neither particularly negative nor overwhelmingly positive.
Gamestar.de: The Gamestar editor Petra Schmitz misses the feeling of a group-oriented online RPG in ESO’s PvE and describes it as an “I run around alone and only get annoyed with other players” experience. However, surprisingly, the PvP looks quite different.
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[intense_testimony_text]It is all the more astonishing that the part where you have to rely most on teammates comes across so promising: the PvP. It already makes an excellent impression and will probably captivate me as intensely as the battles in Dark Age of Camelot once did. Well, the PvP modes are indeed remarkably similar. I won’t claim that I would prefer to only play the castle battles, because I like ESO’s quests too much, but I already know that I will tend to roam more on the battlefields of Cyrodiil than in Skyrim.
The accompanying video is also worth watching, where the whole spectacle in Cyrodiil is made short and sweet:
MMORPG.com once again enthusiastic
Mmorpg.com: The tester from Mmorpg was extremely optimistic about the release of TESO in the first preview last week. Also in PvP, which is evident early on in the test report, TESO hits the full taste of the English tester. Other than Guild Wars 2, there were no other current games focusing on the great and epic battle for castles. That’s why he is looking forward to the title so much. For mmorpg.com, TESO succeeds or fails with the PvP system. And as one quickly realizes: It stands!
The tester especially appreciates that, unlike Guild Wars 2, there is only one queue, which means he is always on the map where the action is. And the map is indeed gigantic. According to mmorpg.com, the battlefield of TESO spans the same size as the entire game Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
The huge map is intelligently designed and gives players the opportunity to use the terrain to their advantage. Exciting ambushes and flanking attacks become possible. The long travel distances that other testers complain about do not bother mmorpg.com. On the contrary! This allows for victories and lasting advantages because opponents aren’t immediately at the door again.
Additionally, players are not dependent on running with the largest group of allies, the so-called blob or zerg. The tester has also achieved great successes in small groups using backdoor tactics. Moreover, the tester praised the excellent performance of PvP in TESO.
The overall impression of the tester was extraordinarily positive and should give everyone a better feeling, especially those who may have had doubts in the past weeks.
Clear parallels to Guild Wars 2 and Dark Age of Camelot
Buffed.de: The Buffed tester took a quick look at PvP. The concept strongly reminds him of Guild Wars 2. However, he was somewhat irritated by the strict barrack tone on the server. Especially since only English is spoken on the battlefields, a German server is not planned for TESO.
Gamona.de: The tester from gamona has not had much experience with PvP in the past. So he likes the PvP in TESO much better now. Due to the automatic elevation to max level 50, there is no great barrier to overcome. The PvP seems fair and exciting to him, both in the epic large battles and during the smaller skirmishes. The combat system, which primarily rewards the individual player’s abilities, pleased the tester greatly. He also found praise for the smooth performance even during heavy traffic on the server.
[pull_quote_center]PvP – And it went BOOM![/pull_quote_center]
-Thomas Hinsberger, Gamona
In the end, a distinctly positive impression remains.
The hand on the crown for the emperor title!
Pcgames.de: At PC Games, you have to look quite a bit to find out what the testers really think of the game. Not in the test, but only at the end of an attached video do you learn more specific opinions about the PvP. The tester Matthias, inexperienced in PvP, finds the epic character of PvP in Cyrodiil fantastic. The tester Maria, who is experienced in PvP, sees great similarities to Guild Wars 2 and the old Dark Age of Camelot. According to her, there are still some problems with the interface and chat functions; she hasn’t really gotten the hang of it. However, both noticed that it seems almost impossible for solo players to make an impact in Cyrodiil.
A positive conclusion remains.
Sottonic.de: The tester from Softtonic starts off on the wrong foot with PvP. Since the tutorial has not yet been implemented, he overlooked the opportunity to teleport directly to the instanced PvP area. Instead, the tester tried to get there on foot. The path led him through some high-level zones, where he was repeatedly ganked by mobs. He started the PvP quite frustrated.
As an enthusiastic role-player, the PvP is not really his home. Moreover, he finds the battles chaotic, monotonous, and poorly balanced. However, the tester praises that for the first time, a “we” feeling emerged during the battles. He particularly asks Zenimax to ensure that role-players are not disturbed by the PvP.
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We at mein-mmo.de think: The PvP mix of TESO sounds like an exciting blend of Dark Age of Camelot and Guild Wars 2. Especially the prospect of becoming emperor and finally showing everyone who has the hand on the crown makes us dream of glory and honor!
