Interiors fare a lot better, for sure, and are certainly more detailed than the wilds, so homes and guild halls really pop in VR, feeling more alive and lived-in, while dungeons too are a completely different prospect. The world’s architecture also takes on a whole new life in virtual reality iconic Skyrim fortresses like Dragonsreach or the mountain-topping High Hrothgar are a real treat to experience in this way, and I found myself often ignoring characters and markers to thoughtfully stare up at expertly crafted towers or statues. I mean, I spent an entire hour in Riverwood early on, just sitting and enjoying its peaceful river-side surroundings, which is something I’m inclined to do a lot more of when simply wanting to relax.
That’s not to say that it never impresses visually or that it’s not still a great world to exist in. While it’s not offensive to look at, it does mean that peaceful moments, like those spent in the open fields outside Whiterun, staring up at the towering mountains, simply wouldn’t have been as impressive as in other versions, if not for the fact that I was actually stood in the world, experiencing its true perspective.
HAND OF FATE ELDER LIZARD FULL
Most other VR games tend to be smaller, more focused affairs and not 100-hour RPGs set in a sprawling open-world, though, which Skyrim most definitely is, so that sort of visual discrepancy should be expected and your mileage may vary depending on your expectations.Įven so, textures here can be even muddier than I’ve come to expect in VR, character models a little plainer, draw distances less impressive, while Skyrim’s infamous clunkiness – its stiff animations and minimalistic facial movements – can occasionally pull you out of the moment – at least until you’re full in the swing of things. Yet, sadly it also pales in comparison to other PSVR games, especially those specifically developed around virtual reality, which of course, Skyrim was not. It’s still, ultimately, a 2011 last-gen game, and you might expect that it doesn’t look as sharp when compared to last year’s current-gen remasters or even the surprisingly graphically capable Switch version. What detracts from it slightly, however, is a combination of Skyrim’s age and the less-graphically intensive nature of VR experiences, both leaving Skyrim looking a little… dated. As with any VR game with NPCs, I still find it incredibly weird to see virtual characters appear life-sized and equal in stature, not just looking at my character, but staring me right in the eye, which instantly helped to make me feel part of this rich fantasy world. As the wagon bumped its way down twisty trading routes, the new 360-degree viewpoint instantly allowed me to spot small details I hadn’t seen in previous playthroughs, such fauna gracefully dashing through the dense forest’s middle distance, while my fellow captives recounted their captures. As always, the adventure begins with your avatar in an imperial prison cart bound for Helgen, delivering to them to their execution, just before a dragon attack offers them a reprieve and changes their destiny forever. Stepping into the world of Skyrim through VR for the first time is an extremely surreal experience. And while the move to VR is unlikely to change hearts and minds on Skyrim’s merits as a game – it’s entirely the same game after all – the venture into virtual reality should provide fans with a satisfying new perspective, albeit with a handful of minor issues. Regardless, at least with releases six and seven, Bethesda are offering something a little different, not only providing players the ability take the behemoth RPG out and about with them on Nintendo’s hybrid handheld doohickie, but also – more pertinently for this review entitled ‘Skyrim VR’ – allowing them to truly see the snowy, mountainous ranges and perils of Tamriel’s Skyrim through their character’s eyes with PSVR. Is there a game more likely to draw equal parts elation and derision upon its mention than the fifth entry in the Elder Scrolls series? While Skyrim’s popularity is unquestionable, many seemingly hate it only for that popularity, or at least that its popularity has led to its release on no less than seven platforms since 2011.
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