Zenimax has been generous enough to grace us with some new in-game footage for the Elder Scrolls Online, and this time around, we get to see some boss-fights and some party combat. Elder Scrolls Online will be released on the 4th of April 2014, and the closer we get to launch, the more polished the game looks.
The new footage shows various combat situations, from regular mobs that rush individual players to more threatening bosses that enrage. Magic variety is nothing to be worried about, and you’ll get to choose your own build when it comes to weapons of choice and armor. Every player seems to have a predefined role in the Elder Scrolls Online, so not fitting in or being left behind is unlikely.
Explaining some of their main ideas behind certain game features, the developers stated that they don’t want to force the players to use Group Content, but rather present it as an opportunity and encourage it. Another neat feature that was presented in the video is the quick travel option. Basically, it allows players that are using group content to get together quickly and effortlessly. From bosses that roam the world to dark cultist rituals, the developers explore just a fraction of what Group Content and the world of The Elder Scrolls Online has to offer.
Visually, Elder Scrolls Online has definitely come a long way since the first videos and images. It’s not breathtaking, but manages to run well, and loading screens seem to be fast. Frame-rate also looks good and stable. The question remains whether the game manages to run fluently in large-scale battles as well, with dozens of players battling it out. We’ll have to wait until the Elder Scrolls Online launches to find out.
Lastly, when you’re taking a look at the video, make sure to keep your ears open. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear some familiar but reworked Elder Scrolls tunes in the background.
For more on the Elder Scrolls Online, take a look at our analysis of the Elder Scrolls Online subscription model or look into the class-progression system in the Bethesda/Zenimax game.