My World: I Am the Dragonborn

Finally! The game I've been waiting five years for has arrived—"The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim," by Bethesda Softworks. I did the classic nerd homage and went to my nearest Gamestop to pick up my copy as soon as midnight rolled around.

The store was loaded with people; everyone was literally packed together like sardines. I met up with some friends to wait in line, and the whole time some dude was glaring at me, like he was hunting for blood. He was probably upset since I did what some may consider "cutting the line," but I got my copy and managed to make it home unscathed.

I put that bad boy in my Xbox360 and played till my eyes were bleeding.

"The Elder Scrolls V" is roughly based two hundred years after its predecessor, "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion." "Skyrim" has a dynamic environment, ranging from icy glaciers to forests full of beautiful foliage. Visually, "Skyrim's" landscape is quite stunning, from the plants next to your feet to the trees and mountains seen in the distance.

It has such a massive area to cover that you could literally spend a few days roaming the wilderness and discovering new places. Not only is the landscape easy on the eyes, but the cities and people also look much better in comparison to "Oblivion." The character models actually look good, although there still is room for improvement when it comes to the characters' facial expressions during dialogue.

Sound is very important when it comes to a gaming experience. The sound design is pretty good in "Skyrim." The sound effects when you're using your shield to block an attack, or casting a magic spell are very impressive. The creatures of "Skyrim" also sound outstanding.

Jeremy Soule composed award winning music for "The Elder Scrolls" previous titles and doesn't fall short in "Skyrim." His music design really gives an old world feel to the game, which is a phenomenal touch.

On the down side, it seems Bethesda really struggles with a pretty big sound bite—the voice acting. Although there are seventy different voice actors for the whole game, it just feels like I'm hearing the same five voices throughout the entire game, which is a little annoying.

The controls are pretty much the same as in the previous title, but there were some minor changes made for the best. Controlling your character is very easy to get used to, and all the actions you can do are pretty easy on your hands—no finger contorting necessary.

With my schedule being fairly busy, it has been hard at times to sit down and play this game. I've managed to squeeze thirty hours of my life into this game, but, if it wasn't for my schedule, I'd have more.

"Skyrim" is one of those games that you can find yourself getting addicted to easily. Honestly, it's a great form of escapism. You'll find yourself in a vast world surrounded by decisions and a multitude of options and quests. At times I swear that I was just playing for thirty minutes, but then, when I look at the clock, it's been three hours. I'm not normally a basement dweller, but "Skyrim" may change my ways.

So if you're looking for a good time, and you're tired of all those first person shooters out there, go pick up "Skyrim"! It's a blast-and-a-half!