Enemy encounters could also be poorly designed at times sometimes levels were well designed, other times hordes of enemies would be placed right at an area transition so that you were dead before the game loaded in fully. Many of the new combat animations/attack behaviours are quite janky in appearance, and the way the game handled staggering was more annoying than anything. My main complaint about the combat is where it differs from Skyrim. The combat is largely similar to Skyrim, so I will not bore you with the details. Enderal also plays more like a traditional RPG and has static levels enemies are always the same level in an area, there’s no level scaling like Skyrim. Overall Enderal is more difficult than Skyrim, enemies have more health and hit harder, health does not regen, and healing spells/potions have a cost. (I have tried to abstain from directly comparing Enderal to Skyrim, but I feel as though it’s necessary here.) I am fine with some things being left open to interpretation, but I do wish the Prophetess’ story had come together a bit more.īefore I conclude this review I would like to talk a little about the combat/gameplay. ![]() By the end of the game I wasn’t any less confused about the protagonist as when I started. The story told made it too narrow to fully create your own protagonist, but was not fleshed out enough to appreciate the protagonist the developers created either. I like to get into the head of my characters I create, but ultimately I felt like I didn’t know who I was supposed to be. Over the course of the game there’s several more hints towards your backstory and your overall psyche. The story begins with a dream from your character, alluding to an interesting backstory. ![]() I also struggled a little bit with the main protagonist - “The Prophet/Prophetess” - who’s appearance, race, gender, and name were free to be customized. However, they were still able to tug at my heartstrings a couple of times, but not as much as they should have. There was something missing from them that I cannot pinpoint. On paper the characters were good: they had interesting backstories and complete arcs, but to me they never really felt organic. I’ve generally heard a lot of praise about the characters, but they didn’t quite speak to me. Some of the more philosophical/political elements of the story could feel a little heavy-handed or had questionable execution, but it nonetheless had some very interesting themes.Įnderal boasts an interesting cast of characters, including potential friends or romances. This is again complimented by an excellent soundtrack. Many parts of the main story can feel dark and twisted, while still capturing the feeling of magic in a fantasy setting. The pacing is good, and there’s an excellent mystery that leaves you wanting to discover the truth and anxious about what happens next. The overall premise feels inspired by Mass Effect, but the details are very different. I will not spoil anything, but overall I found Enderal to be quite well-written. Some side quests were interesting, but where the writing really shone was Enderal’s main story. The world had amazing potential, and while it was mostly realized, I wish it had been fleshed out just a bit more. ![]() Sometimes I’d find an interesting quest hook located in the world only to find out that it lead to cut content. ![]() Many places, while aesthetically stunning, lacked story/substance or were filled with NPCs you couldn’t interact with. My only complaint about exploration would be how unfinished the map would feel. Many of the creatures that inhabit the world (such as the Myrad) were also wonderfully creative. Furthermore each region of the game has its own weather and soundtrack, creating awesome ambience and really making each region feel distinct. I was constantly in awe at the sights and creative design of many places. The map feels wonderfully diverse: from desolate icy mountains, to a tropical desert, or the eerily deserted Thalgard, the map is absolutely magnificent. (No spoilers are included in this review)įirst and foremost, the open-world of Enderal is absolutely gorgeous. While it is technically a “mod”, calling it as such is disingenuous as it is closer to being its own game. Aside from the use of its assets and engine, it is completely separate from the original game. It is a story-driven open-world fantasy RPG. Enderal: Forgotten Stories is a total conversion mod for TESV: Skyrim.
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