As if the awe-inspiring open-ended gameplay of the original The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind hadn’t taken up enough of my life, along comes Bethesda Softworks with even more. The updated and upgraded The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Game of the Year Edition gives you the original game (tweaked in a few places that, frankly, needed it) as well as both PC expansions-all for the almost silly retail price of $29.99. Thanks to the good ol’ Xbox hard drive, you can even take your earlier saved characters from Morrowind and transition them seamlessly into the upgrade. The enormous world ofMorrowind just got that much more massive.
What new features first seen in the PC add-ons Tribunaland Bloodmoon hold for Xbox gamers? How exactly is Vvardenfell growing? Are there finally some enemies that can really hurt me, now that I’ve become almost godlike in the main story? Read on, roleplaying fans …
They Put Me on Mournhold The capital ofMorrowind is the city of Mournhold, where you can encounter a storyline that introduces you to the other two gods-kings of Morrowind (you met the other, Vivec, inMorrowind), Almalexia and Sotha Sil-that is, if you can survive long enough. A determined new monarch has seized the throne, forcing you to choose sides in an epic conflict as deadly assassins begin to dog your trail. Mournhold has much more powerful foes, on average, than the main game. In fact, at points, this part of the Game of the Year edition is pure dungeon crawl. New enemies and areas have a subterranean feel and include diverse creatures like goblins, lich lords (undead wizard-types), and enigmatic Fabricants.
I See a Bloodmoon Rising Now we’re talking! You may not have known how much you wanted to play as a werewolf in the world of Morrowind, but trust me, you do.
The remote island of Solstheim introduces what we on Earth call “snow” to the tableau, and the results take an already stunning game to the level of high art. You can hop a boat ride from the north side of Vvardenfell to reach this remote, frozen land, where you’ll find another tight linear story as well as a wide variety of side quests and much more open-ended gameplay options. Livin’la vida lycanthrope is not strictly necessary for enjoying the Solstheim setting, but you’ve got to try it at least once. It’s not hard to get bitten by the right wolf, just make sure you survive until the following night … and blammo! Instant wolfman!
Life as a man-beast is a unique roleplaying experience, but it’s not for everyone. Most anyone or anything will come after you if you’re in wolf form. That’s not so bad, if only one or two foes are after you, but a mob of angry villagers may not need a silver bullet to put you down. On the other hand, if you choose to refuse the full moon’s gifts, you can go full-on monster hunter and work to rid the island of werewolves entirely (along with any frost trolls or ice minions you come across).
Old Heroes Never Die Along with two PC expansions’ worth of additional gameplay, Bethesda has usedThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Game of the Year Edition to apply some long-awaited upgrades to the basic structure. Enemies now have a health bar, letting you realistically gauge whether an unknown foe is actually beatable or even worth your time. You can also use the new difficulty slider to make the game harder or easier to suit your tastes. And, best of all, you don’t have to start over because your original saved files still work.
After too long as the lone champion in a sparsely populated arena, Morrowind is back to flex its considerable chops. Whether you’ve already logged countless hours of the original or just want to see what the fuss is about, you must pick up this game. Vvardenfell needs a hero, and as it happens, you’re the one that fits the suit.
