Elder Scrolls: Blade vs Fallout World

Bethesda Softworks now owns Fallout and the Elder Scrolls, two of the most beloved action RPG series. It’s been six years since the last single-player game in either of these series. However, there will be a long wait for the next installments. Fallout 5 and Elder Scrolls 6 are unlikely to be released before 2026. While there is still plenty of content in both series, it’s fun to dig into the existing lore. Both games offer fully-constructed worlds that are engaging on their own. There have been theories that the same publisher made both Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. But then what will an honest review for Elder Scrolls Blade?

The two games are very different. The world of Tamriel is the setting for The Elder Scrolls. Each title in the series is focused on one or more continents. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was the most recent single-player title. That was followed by The Elder Scrolls Online, a 2014 multiplayer title.

This fantasy series is high-fantasy with all the necessary trappings like magic, dragons and monsters. The story of Fallout takes place in the present. It is set after a nuclear attack that rendered America unhospitable for many decades. Each game takes place within a different part of the United States. Fallout 4 was released in Boston in 2015. It was followed by Fallout 76, which was released in 2018. Both games must be set in Tamriel, or vice versa, to allow them to occur in the same world.

Elder Scrolls’ Nirnroot in Fallout

Another long-running item in The Elder Scrolls is the Nirnroot. They are mysterious glowing plants with a low hum. You can use them in many crafting recipes to get powerful bonuses. They are usually found close to water. They first appeared in Fallout 4 as an “Experimental Plant.” The player can find them aboard The Prydwen, a Brotherhood of Steel ship. These plants were discovered by the Brotherhood of Steel, who then used them to make tea. They eventually became addicted and had to ban the plant.

Fallout 4: Lorenzo’s Oblivion Crown

Fallout 4 allows the player to locate Lorenzo Cabot at the basement of Parsons State Insane Asylum. Cabot is trapped in the asylum due to a crown that has driven him insane. The player discovers that Cabot discovered the crown during an archaeological dig in 1894 and merged it with Cabot’s nervous systems. He is now a formidable miniboss, with the crown giving him strength, telekinesis and resistances to different damage.

You can see the Fallout influence in weapon combat. Slow-motion death animations are created by swiping at enemies using maces, axes, and swords. That is reminiscent of Fallout 3’s glorified mortals. It is a good way to spice up The Elder Scrolls’ flat, floaty combat. Skyrim’s sword-and-shield combat is more thrilling than ever, but it’s still inconsistent. It can feel like you are slicing air rather than mythical creatures’ flesh. However, there is an adrenaline rush to running into a fight from a first-person viewpoint against a Dwemer centurion mammoth, giant, or towering Dwemer centurion that fills your entire field. You can get useful perks such as a slow-motion effect that activates when you block an enemy’s power attack. It adds depth to close-range fighting. While the system is simple, it will improve if you are willing to put in the effort.

Spell system in Elder Scrolls Fallout

BioShock-like modifications have been made to the spell system. The first-person mode allows you to hover your hands at the sides of the screen while magic is active. You can use both your hands to cast Alteration magic when you wake up from the stupor caused by staring at the rotating blue cubes. One hand can fire, and the other can shoot electricity. One hand can channel healing energy while the other fires frost at an enemy. The spectral sword can be summoned and used to create fiery runes that explode when hostiles cross them. You can combine the spell with other perks to make it more powerful. It allows you to cast fireballs Street Fighter style. The system allows you to play as a pure caster and offers useful hybrid options. You can swing an ax while channeling a healing or fire spell. The Elder Scrolls’ new visual presentation is better than ever. The physics system that holds after a target dies makes it easy to throw magic. A well-placed fireball can send an angry bear plunging down the side of a stony mountain.

You don’t need to be the only one fighting during combat. You can hire NPCs or summon magical creatures to accompany you. There are many followers in Skyrim. If you do them favors, they will be happy to travel outside of towns and deal additional damage during fights. You can give followers simple interaction and movement commands or even extra gear. However, you shouldn’t expect to interact as much with them as with BioWare party members. Although followers are intended to be used in battle, some stand out, such as the self-confident Khajiit at Winterhold’s College or a summoned Demon warrior who can’t help but make fun of any hostile that comes within range.

Things can sometimes get complicated when more enemies join the fight. Pathing around Skyrim’s environment can prove difficult during large-scale battles. Summoned creatures and their followers may get stuck on certain pieces of geometry, making it difficult to navigate. The drama of the most dramatic moments, such as when you take over forts in a civil war questline, can sometimes be ruined by the unpredictable movement patterns of your enemies, who run around like hyper-caffeinated toddlers. Problems can arise even in less chaotic interactions, such as conversations. Sometimes characters will not be in the right places after you say hello. You’ll end up talking to a wall or watching an NPC slide down a staircase while you deliver lines of dialogue. The conversation interface is a vast improvement over Oblivion. Time flows naturally, and characters talk instead of mysteriously freezing. Voice acting is also of higher quality but still sounds forced in certain cases.

Visuals are also significantly improved over the Elder Scrolls games. Skyrim has a strong sense of adventure and discovery. With so many cool quests and items to find, the beautiful scenery makes it even more tempting to spend hours exploring the landscapes. Mountains surround every tract of open land, forest, and marsh. If you are willing to walk, you will climb the slopes and see the rest of the world. Waterfalls fall from high cliffs and then split into smaller tributaries. They flow across terrain that is realistically varied. Foggy mornings will be replaced by clear, crisp days. You’ll also see polychromatic aurorae that streak ribbon-like across night skies and near blinding rainstorms. It’s easy to stop what you’re doing to take in the beauty of the scene.

Elder Scrolls Blades

Elder Scrolls Blades of the Elder Scrolls are sworn in service to the Emperor, who is the mortal representative for the Dragon Blood of The Divine Talos

The Blades are also known as the Imperial Intelligence Service or the Imperial Blades. They are an agency that is sworn to serve the Dragonborn. Talos is the patron deity for the Blades.

Duties

The Blades serve and guide the Dragonborn. Blades Guard members defended Dragonborn Emperors while other Blades Guard members were spies with their professions. The Blades Guard will permanently ban the offender from any organization that tries to steal or attack a Blades member.

Histories

Second Era

The Blades discovered their origins during the Second Era. However, there are some accounts of their duties at this time. Some history is available regarding their service under Tiber Septim. The Blades had helped General Tiber Septim in the Battle of Sancre Tor, and the General gave them his armor as a reward for their assistance. The Blades built a shrine in Sancre Tor at the spot where Tiber Septim received the blessing of Akatosh. Many Blades would make pilgrimages to the shrine. The curse was placed on the shrine by Zurin Arctus, an Underking, sometime during Tiber Septim. The four most powerful Blades of that time were sent to Sancre Tor to clean it. However, they never returned. The Grandmaster of Blades sealed the ruins.

The Third Era

Imperial Invasion at Akavir

The Blades were given the task of obtaining information about the land before the Imperial Invasion on Akavir was under Uriel Septim V’s command. The Tsaesci chose the landing site from the information collected. However, the Expeditionary Force was plagued by weather, so the Blades failed to gather sufficient information. The Blades also failed to accurately record the strength and numbers of the Tsaesci, as they were stronger than what their reports suggested. Uriel Septim V would die in the Invasion of Akavir.

Miracle of Peace

The Miracle of Peace would be a story that the Blades would tell about. It was about the Iliac Bay area. The Blades believed there was no explanation for the events and therefore thought that a miracle was responsible. Blades agents were directly involved in the Totem of Tiber Septim that played a part in the Miracle. The Blades lost touch with the Agent shortly after the Miracle took place. There had been other Agents in the area, but very few reports were made. Many Blades agents lost during the Miracle, and others lost in the chaos that followed.

Dagoth Ur

The Blades were involved in the Dagoth Ur crisis. Caius Cosades was the Vvardenfell District spymaster of Morrowind and was tasked with making a newly arrived prisoner the Nerevarine. Caius would initiate the Prisoner into the Blades. After completing a series of tasks, the Agent was informed that they were being released because they seemed to match the Nerevarine conditions set forth by the Emperor. He would also take part in the Bloodmoon Prophecy and defeat Hircine during his Hunt. The Nerevarine would also kill Almalexia, who had gone mad.

Oblivion Crisis

Cloud Ruler Temple in Cyrodiil

The Oblivion Crisis saw the Blades in action. Glenroy, Baurus and Captain Renault, three members of the Blades Guard, were initially assigned to rescue Emperor Uriel Septim VI from assassination attempts by his sons. The Imperial Prison was their escape route. At the secret tunnel cell, the Imperial Watch had placed a prisoner. This Prisoner was allowed to follow the Emperor with his guards.

The assassins ambushed the Blades shortly afterward, leading to the death of Captain Renault. However, the assassins were defeated, and the Blades continued to escort Captain Renault while requesting that the Prisoner be kept. They would follow the Prisoner, but they went through a hidden cave system in prison to reunite with the Blades. Glenroy believed the Prisoner was working for the assassins. However, the Emperor trusted him through divine visions and ordered his guards to stop. They would continue through the secret passageway, killing assassins as they went until they reached an end. The assassins would kill Glenroy and Emperor, leaving Baurus and the Prisoner. The Emperor’s death was not yet over. Baurus gave the Amulet of Kings and instructed the Prisoner to find Jauffre. Baurus gave the instructions to the Prisoner and trusted them with the delivery of the Amulet. It was due to the Blades being trusted with protecting their leader.

Jauffre

Jauffre, at that time the Grandmaster of Blades, gave the Amulet of Kings to the Prisoner. He asked the Prisoner to find the Emperor’s last son, Martin Septim. Martin was a priest in the Chapel of Akatosh, Kvatch. A Daedric horde had destroyed the Chapel. Martin refused to leave the ruined city, even though the Oblivion Gate was cleared. Martin was able to deal with the Daedric threat and agreed to follow the Hero To Weynon Priory.

However, assassins came to steal the Amulet of Kings from the Priory. The Amulet of Kings was discovered to be stolen after Jauffre and Hero of Kvatch had dealt with the assassins. Martin was therefore not safe at Weynon Priory and was taken instead to Cloud Ruler Temple.

The Blades were able to return to their duties with Martin safe and the Amulet taken. Baurus, who was assigned to defend the Emperor, discovered that the culprits were Mehrunes Dagon’s Mythic Dawn members. After an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Baurus, further investigation was initiated. Through collaboration with a member of the Mages Guild, additional information was obtained about the Mythic Dawn’s recruiting process. The Blades would use this information to gain the fourth volume of the Commentaries during recruitment. The secret hideout of Mythic Dawn, which contained all four Commentaries, was discovered.

The Hero of Kvatch

The Hero of Kvatch would infiltrate this hideout to get the Amulet of Kings. The Hero of Kvatch was unable to retrieve the Amulet. Still, they did manage to obtain the MysteriumXarxes and would need to make their way out from the caverns. Martin would receive the Mysterium Xarxes. He began to examine it in the hope of finding a way to create a portal to Mankar’s Paradise. Jauffre heard rumors about spies in Bruma, and so the Hero was sent to assist in this matter. Two Mythic Dawn spies would operate out of Bruma and discover that Martin Septim has made his home at Cloud Ruler Temple. It was alarming news for the Blades.

The Hero of Kvatch must then obtain four items to enable Martin to open a portal to Paradise. The first was a Daedric Artifact. The second was the blood of a divinity, which was obtained from the Armor Of Tiber Septim. And the third was the Great Welkynd Stone of Miscarcand. A Great Sigil Stone was the fourth and final item required. A Great Gate outside of Bruma would be required to obtain this item. To defend Cyrodiil, assistance was collected from all around the city. Martin would receive the last ingredient when the Hero of Kvatch entered the Great Gate to obtain its Sigil Stone.

Martin created a portal that would take him to Paradise using all four of these ingredients. The Hero of Kvatch and his companions would battle their way through Daedra to reach Mankar Camoran. The battle would be fought, and the Hero would win, taking the Amulet Of Kings back to Tamriel. Martin received the Amulet back in Tamriel. A quick attempt to relight the Dragonfires would be made to change the tides. Mehrunes Dagon had already entered Tamriel and made Martin the Emperor before reaching the Temple of the One. It rendered null the Covenant between Akatosh, the Amulet of King, and the Covenant between Akatosh null. Martin decided to destroy the Amulet and transform it into Akatosh’s avatar, defeating Dagon at combat. The Blades then retreated to Cloud Ruler Temple and waited for the return of a Dragonborn to serve them.

Review of Elder Scrolls Blades: A Beautiful Game with Unnecessary Restrictions

Elder Scrolls Blades is a solid product, but it falls short of being a chart-topper due to the absence of an open world spirit.

You’ve probably played the Elder Scrolls games, and you know how much you love them. They have rich graphics, interesting storylines, and, most importantly, a great open-world gameplay experience. We knew that we had to give Blades a try since the announcement by Bethesda, a gaming giant at E3 2019. Blades was almost certain to be the most important mobile game to be announced for either Android or iOS in 2019. After playing the Early Access copy, it is easy to conclude some facts about Blades and determine where it excels and falls short of being truly amazing.

Blades has a great sense of grandeur and finesse from the beginning, and it takes you on a wonderful journey. Blades are let down by this fact, as the rest of the game fails to live up to the initial impressions. You have some customization options when setting up your character. The backdrop pops up to our protagonist, Arya of Winterfell. There had been an attack on her hometown, and there was a mysterious green flame that destroyed everything. The task of returning the town to its glory, fighting through adversities and, above all, ridding the world of the evil that has befallen her world (in this case, Winterfell) falls on Arya of Winterfell.

Blades lets you perform primary quests and side tasks in tandem. You can also use your earned gems or gold to rebuild your town back to its former glory. The graphics are what got our attention. Every scene in the town looks like it was set in the mid-17th-century European countryside. We stopped at times to admire the mountains on the horizon or the sunlight shining through broken windows in a dungeon. The game’s characters aside, everything is beautiful, and Elder Scrolls Blades is at the moment one of the most attractive games on Android and iOS.

You’d still sense a few hints of mystery in all the beauty. Take the broken statue of the founder of the town. Blades are not the only problem. Blades could have seized the mystery of the storyline and incorporated it into the graphics. Still, instead, they have swept it to other places in an almost unprofessional manner. It sometimes feels like a very meticulous game developer was rushed to replace it with a dull and indifferent one to complete a job that could have been great.

Forces of Queen

The game’s main tasks, such as battling the Queen’s forces, recovering kidnapped townsfolk, or taking on a furry old grizzly, are fairly straightforward. Casual gamers will appreciate it, even though many people would be critical of it. You will need to rebuild the town hall, rebuild the smithy and then recover the city’s ruins. It is the easy part of the game. As your town grows in prestige, you will build more structures and rescue the traders.

Again, this all feels a little too easy. The lack of Blades’ complexity hides pivotal story points that we were surprised by. As you play the game, your protagonist’s equipment (including shielding and weapons) will keep improving. That is important as you progress, but it is also very simple. You can also upgrade your abilities and spells, so you must make the right choice.

There is also an alternate mode called “Abyss,” an endless runner that features a continuous stretch with rooms that have enemies of increasing difficulty. As you progress, the number of enemies will also increase. Because you can feel a constant rush of accomplishment, this mode is more satisfying than the town mode. You will feel more mysterious in abyss mode. There is a hall with filtered sunlight and cavernous halls that greet you initially, with some foliage growth in the middle.

The greatest letdown

Blades don’t feel like Elder Scrolls. It has very few open-world elements. These are just pretenses that will make you think “nice” when you first start playing the game. Although you can explore caverns or dungeons in the game, the majority of features are locked. You can’t walk through an area that is too small or interact with very few items to make the game as fun and enjoyable as it should be. We cannot see past this aspect, and we hope the game will change as it approaches launch.

We now come to the second point: resource utilization. Blades began dropping frames on a Samsung Galaxy S9+ (2018), a powerful flagship smartphone. The device is also overheated, and the device stutters after 20 minutes of gameplay. Blades could be unplayable on lower-end devices if they are subject to such stress.

Not Skyrim

Elder Scrolls Blades looks a lot like a rushed Funskool copy of a Dodge Hellcat or Lamborghini Miura. They are meant to be amazing, but they aren’t. The game’s saving grace is its graphics and simple controls. They also have well-designed weapons and costumes. There are also some decent story points. Blades fail in an open-world quest that should have been its own, and the gameplay is far too bland for its potential.