The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is, by all accounts, still an amazing game. With that said, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is by no means a perfect remake. Make no mistake, Skyrim: Special Edition is the definitive version on consoles. However, , Skyrim: Special Edition lacks much of the polish that discerning gamers have begun to desire. First, I must start with a disclosure: I reviewed the game on PlayStation 4, undeniably the worst version of the game. While it is less the fault of Bethesda then it is , the quality of the version does impact the recommendation of the version — although, as a lifelong PlayStation fan, I am simply happy to see Skyrim running at all. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which first released on November 11, 2011 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, was a breakaway success. However, more surprising than anything is how well a five-year old game still holds up, both visually and gameplay-wise. The improved atmospheric and ambient lighting — the largest technical visual overhaul between the generation gap — makes the game look exactly as I remember it with my rose-tinted glasses on. In other words, the game looks. However, those without the side-by-side may just think the game always looked this great. Slight improvements can be found on the PlayStation 4 version, however the arbitrary limitation to assets and storage size considerably hinders that benefit. But breaking the game is part of the fun. And, being a Bethesda game, the title is no stranger to bugs. I would have to look people off-center in order to hear them at all. After an hour of problem-solving, I found the issue was because I had the PSVR supplemental processor hooked in. This is apparently a common problem — I found a four-year old thread online that gave me the quick answer to how to work around it. In short, Skyrim Special Edition is still a Bethesda game. Bugs courtesy of Kotaku. More importantly, I ran through a significant portion of the game without a major game-breaking bug. I instantly stopped constantly worry-saving, a habit I picked up from the original release after falling through the world so many times. So as far as any PlayStation-dedicated fan, Skyrim: Special Edition is well worth the investment. But no matter how great of a game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is, the remaster does seem sub-par. Character models and faces have the unnerving, waxy features that Bethesda significant improved with Fallout 4. At the end of the day, I feel rather confused at where the extra power to home consoles is going — either the original Skyrim was significantly over-performing at the time or the remake is under-performing based on the possibilities of the tech at the time. And while The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is surely using some of that power for mod support, the true victor here is only the Xbox One version. Skyrim has been modifiable on the PC for years. And one can argue that it is still hardly customizable on PlayStation 4, given the in-game asset restriction and 1 GB install limitation. So although The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is the definitive version of a generational classic, not all versions are created equal. While the PC is the best version of the game, improvements from the prior PC version are much more muted. This is a fact not lost on Bethesda given they offered Skyrim Special Edition. Xbox One takes the mantle for the best deal on home-consoles — with a solid framerate and extended mod support, you simply get more benefit for your money. Last in the pack is the PlayStation 4 version, which is most improved from the previous game just by nature of it being able to run the game. If you are picking up the PlayStation 4 Pro within the week, you also have 4K support to look forward to. With mod support, all of the DLC, and noticeable stability and visual upgrades, Skyrim Special Edition is a welcome addition to the current console generation. However, given the inconsistent value of the versions, take a few moments and consider where you want to play it.
