Opinion:5 things to like about ESO, and something to worry about!

It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives: grouping problems, glitches, time sinks.  If you let yourself succumb to everything wrong with ESO you are likely to miss everything right with it.  The problems will go away (hopefully soon), but the positive aspects of the game are here to stay.  Here are a few things that are undeniably right about ESO that remind us what a promising game it really is:

Graphics

Beautiful graphics and design make for an
immersive experience.

The game’s graphical elements are beautiful.  The skins are crisp and the scenery is detailed.  Fire looks like fire, water sparkles in the sunshine, when the rain falls it really feels like it’s raining. Some games are showing their age, but ESO is brand new and you can’t deny that it looks good.

Design

Yesterday I was questing in Bangkorai, fighting a humanoid mob, when I realized that after 3+ days of game time I had not seen the same mob! The designers took some real pains to make sure that everything you see is fresh and new!  Sure, there are only so many ways you can make a crocodile, but most mobs have a unique look.

The buildings and scenery are also excellent.  I know that there must be standard skins for rocks and trees but the environment is diverse enough that I have yet to notice them.  When you are climbing a mountain it really feels like you are climbing a mountain—unless you are doing it on a horse!

Mechanics

Challenging mechanics make fights interesting and exciting!

I have not done many dungeons but I can discern from the solo gameplay alone that Zenimax has put some serious thought into the fight mechanics.  Quest mechanics in solo boss fights (the really tough ones) are fun and challenging.  There is a lot of red to move out of and some bosses really hit hard.  Some MMOs just gloss over mechanics assuming that players just want to collect gear without any challenge.  ESO is not one of those games.

Convenience

A few weeks ago, when I had just started playing the game, I asked in chat, ‘where is the mailbox?’  Someone replied, ‘the ‘ key.’  I love that when I have to travel I don’t have to sit on a gryphon for 10 minutes.  The inventory system is robust enough that I don’t have to sell every half an hour. Aside from some quests that are painfully ‘talky’ you don’t have to spend too much time on busywork. 

Phasing

Convenient features like a mail system that you can
access anywhere make the game more playable.

Yes, I know that this is a pain right now, but you have to acknowledge the long-term benefits of phasing.  Never again will you have to create a toon on your buddy’s server so that you can play together.  Phasing cuts down on lag and load times since it makes it so that each area is contained and at the same time part of a larger whole.  We hate it now since it is creating problems but once they
work the kinks out it will be awesome.

More good than bad

Sure, there are some things to worry about with this game.  If they don’t fix the phasing glitch fast, it will be game breaking.  If Zenimax is smart—and I think they are—they have devs working around the clock to work out the kinks.  Some of us have been waiting for this game ever since we played Morrowind and wished that we could play it with a friend.  Let’s not bail on ESO too soon.  There is a little to be upset about, but there is a lot to like!