The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Game of the Year Edition

When The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind came out on the Xbox last year, it wowed gamers by offering a huge open-ended world, excellent graphics and stellar gameplay. Now, Bethesda Softworks is releasing Morrowind: Game of the Year Edition. However, instead of offering the same game for a cheaper price and maybe a snazzier box, Bethesda is going one beyond and releasing the game with both of the PC expansions (which have never seen the light of day on the Xbox), Tribunal and Bloodmoon, along with the original game. Both expansions provide about 20 to 40 hours of gameplay each, easily upping the ante to over 100 hours of gameplay total. For more casual RPG gamers this may seem a little intimidating. However, Morrowind fans who took to the original game like fish to water should have plenty of reason to pick this one up.  

Morrowind puts you in control of a stranger in a strange land, literally. You step off of a boat onto the nation of Vvardenfell and begin your quest. What that entails is completely up to you. There is a main quest that you can stick to or there are many different faction quests that you could do instead, or you could simply tour the countryside doing odd missions for those you meet along your way; the choice is yours.  

You have ten races to choose from: Nords, Redguards, Brentons, Imperials, Dark Elves, High Elves, Wood Elves, Orcs, Argonians and Khajiits. Each of these races have unique traits and characteristics, not just limited to stat points. The distinct races will interact with others of their race and those of other races differently. For example, if your character is a Dark Elf, then other Dark Elves will likely be nicer to him or her and will be more inclined to speak about different subjects with them. However, other species, like High Elves, are likely to be somewhat prejudiced to your Dark Elf avatar.  

Morrowind is an extremely non-linear game; you can spend hours playing through the game without even touching the main quest. This open-ended gameplay might be a bit intimidating for casual RPG gamers weaned on more linear fare.  Also, the game requires a lot of patience. It takes a long time to get from one place to another, and completing missions will take you a while. This game isn’t really for those expecting a “quick action” RPG that thrusts you into the mix with lots of battles and fast-paced gameplay. Morrowind is slow and meticulous, which can be great or disheartening depending on how you fancy yourself as an RPG gamer. The loading times will also hold a problem for itchy gamers. While the loading times in the original Morrowind were very long, the loading times in Game of the Year Edition can seem quite excruciating. Plus, the game will occasionally pause or hiccup while accessing a new area or opening up a menu. This is a little annoying, but since it can be attributed to the enormous amount of content in the game, it can be acceptable if you have the patience.  

The two expansion packs now included in the game are Tribunal and Bloodmoon. Tribunal will take you to the capital city of Mournhold and the Clockwork City of Sotha Sil. Bloodmoon will take you to the frozen land of Solstheim. Of the two, Bloodmoon is the more interesting, because aside from giving you extra weapons, extra enemies and a host of new missions, Bloodmoon introduces the werewolf into the mix. You catch lycanthropy (werewolf disease) by being bitten by an afflicted werewolf and leaving the wound untreated for a few days. You will then become a werewolf when the moon rises. As a werewolf, you have super agility and strength, as well as the ability to kill enemies with your bare hands (or claws). However, you must satiate your thirst for blood by killing people you come across, or else you will slowly decline in health. Also, you’ll be stigmatized by most of society and if anyone ever sees you transform into a werewolf, then you’ll be hunted down and killed on sight by any human you come across.  

The graphics in Morrowind haven’t changed since the game’s original release over a year ago, but they aren’t too shabby. The environments are huge and sprawling with lots of detailed textures. The character models also look quite nice and detailed. The main problem I had with the graphics were the framerates, which stayed consistently in the teens outdoors, and fluctuated from 60 frames per second and about 20 while indoors.  

Being a text based game, Morrowind doesn’t have a lot of voice acting, certainly not as much as you would find in, say, Knights of the Old Republic. However, the voice acting that is present is very well done, and will shift in tone depending on the NPC’s attitude toward your character. The sound effects sound good, a little compressed at times, however. The music is unchanged from the original Morrowind, keeping the sweeping, albeit repetitive, theme intact.  

Morrowind: Game of the Year Edition is a great idea; it gives Xbox gamers a chance with something commonly reserved solely for PC gamers, the expansion pack, and offers it to them for a mere thirty bucks. When you consider that you’ll be getting well over 100 hours of RPG goodness off of thirty dollars, this turns out to be a pretty sweet deal.  

On another note, Bethesda has also released a huge strategy guide that encompasses all aspects of Morrowind in both the original game and both expansions. The guide, which weighs in at over 400 pages, offers detailed maps, character analyses, and walkthroughs of every single quest in the game. Highly recommended for the Morrowind fanatic who simply must beat and do everything (yeah, good luck). 

Gameplay: 9.0
Morrowind: Game of the Year Edition takes “non-linear” to a whole new level. From the get go, you can go anywhere and do anything. You could derive hours of enjoyment from the game without even touching the main quest. Plus, the scope of the game is massive, now even more so with the addition of Bloodmoon and Tribunal. However, Morrowind could be a little off-putting for the casual RPG gamer weaned on more linear fare like Final Fantasy. The game moves at a very slow and deliberate pace and the sheer amount of things to do may be a little intimidating.

Graphics: 8.0
Although being well over a year old, Morrowind’s graphics hold up well. The environments look nice and boast some detailed textures, and the character models look good. However, the animations are a bit robotic and unnatural and the framerates are hideous.

Sound: 8.5
The voice acting, while very limited, is pretty good, with fluctuations in mood depending on the given NPC’s attitude towards your character. The music is epic and sweeping, although a little repetitive, and the sound effects can sound a little compressed at times.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 9.5
Morrowind: Game of the Year Edition is a fantastic concept, taking an already immense game and tacking on two expansion packs, making for well over 100 hours of entertainment. Plus, at only thirty bucks, you’re getting well over your money’s worth.   

Overall: 9.2
Morrowind: Game of the Year Edition is recommended for current Morrowind fans looking to prolong their quest (as you can port your character over from the original Morrowind) or for those who’ve been contemplating a trip to the huge land of Vvardenfell, but never got on the boat.