The Elder Scrolls Online Preview and Video Interview
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Gaming Union has a hands-off preview:
Before getting into the game's points of separation, let's set up this edition of the Elder Scrolls universe. Set approximately 1,000 years before the events of Skyrim, Elder Scrolls Online will encompass the entire continent of Tamriel. Although, the game's ambitious scope means it won't realistically be able to recreate the detail of its singleplayer counterparts. We were shown mostly panning glances of ESO's comprehensive version of Tamriel, and it looked impressive, visually. The environments were detailed and varied, ranging from the snowy tundra of Skyrim to the damp marshes of Morrowind, and everything in between. Coming from what appears to be an absolutely massive world, ESO's visual presentation certainly delivered, but keep in mind, our impressions are based on a relatively quick world montage.
Beyond that, the team at Zenimax Online went to great lengths to attempt to distance ESO's combat mechanics from the tired cool-downs and button-clicks which have become synonymous with the MMO genre. They were all still accounted for, but certain elements fans of previous Elder Scrolls games will recognize have also been included. Health, stamina and magicka meters slowly drain as your character engages in combat, and light blocking / parrying maneuvers can be used to give encounters more of an action-oriented sensibility. However, these additions felt relatively minor in the grand scheme of things - ESO still looked like a WoW-inspired MMO.
While Computer and Videogames is offering a video interview with ZeniMax Online's Nick Konkle. They also provide a transcripts of a few snippets, so I'm going to quote them:
"I think what you're are going to find is both the Elder Scrolls lore that you're familiar with, but really brought into a new setting, this online space.
"You should be really comfortable with what you find there. It's a game that's accessible to anyone. It isn't the slower paced combat from the previous generation of MMOs. We've really tried to make it feel responsive, tactical, and action-packed, which is what I think a Skyrim player might expect from this type of game."
