“The Elder Scrolls Skyrim,” what many are calling the video game of the year, was released on Friday, Nov. 11, much to the delight of gamers everywhere.
“Skyrim” follows the format of the past “Elder Scrolls” games, in that it’s an open-world RPG (role-playing game)  with endless possibilities and hours of extensive, in-depth gameplay.
The RPG genre is generally known for giving players an incredible amount of freedom within a game, but the “Elder Scrolls” series takes this freedom to an unparalleled level of quality and excitement.
The previous game in the series, “The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion,” was heralded for its amazing graphics, compelling story, and the entertaining gameplay that assumed a “be what you want and do what you want” attitude.
Many “Elder Scrolls” fans are not hoping that “Skyrim” will live up to the level of quality that “Oblivion” offered – they are sure the newest installment of the series will far surpass it.
While “Skyrim” is similar to the previous games, it features new advancements, including an entirely new graphics engine, which is sure to set a new standard for RPGs in the future.
“I’ve waited five years for ‘Skyrim’ and it’s going to be the best yet,” says Sarah Frost, 20, communications major from Bensalem. “Bethesda has never failed me and I would bet money that ‘Skyrim’ is going to blow both ‘Morrowind’ and ‘Oblivion’ out of the water.”
Frost has been a fan of the the “Elder Scrolls” games since the early 2000’s.
“When I was in middle school, I picked up ‘Morrowind’ for the first time and was totally engrossed,” says the avid fan.  “It was a whole other world that I became completely enamored with. Years later, ‘Oblivion’ came out and I got it the day it was released.”
She plans to also get “Skyrim” on the day it is released.
Despite the fact that “Skyrim” is a part of the Elder Scrolls series, it is not a direct sequel to Oblivion. Instead, “Skyrim” considers itself an entirely new chapter in the series, beginning 200 years after the events of the previous game took place.
The game chronicles the activities of the player as he works to defeat Alduin, the Nordic dragon god.
It said in the prophecies foretold by the “Elder Scrolls” that Alduin will destroy the world with the aid of his dragon servants. The main character is the last of the Dovahkiin, who were dragon hunters. It is the main character’s ultimate quest to destroy Alduin and his servants, therefore saving his world.
Reviews for the game are already giving it glowing praise. “Game Informer magazine” has given the game a rating of 9.5 out of 10, with writer Andrew Reiner hailing “Skyrim” as Bethesda’s “finest release to date.”
“It’s one of the biggest, most content rich games I’ve had the pleasure of playing,” says the article, found on Game Informer’s website.
IGN, another esteemed gaming magazine, also gives the new game a 9.5 out of 10 and proclaims it an “Editor’s Choice.”
“Say goodbye to real life,” warns the article.