Recent reviews by HaveToBeRealistic

I'm at 1500 hours, so I suppose this game deserves a review.

For perceptive, I'm an oldish guy. 50ish. I've been playing video games since the original Atari console. I remember when Discover magazine would publish simple "basic" programs I could put into my Commodore 64 or Atari 400 console to make our own programs/games. I rode my bike to video arcades to play Galaga, Dragon's Lair, etc. My teen buddy's Dad was a professor at the local university and had internet access before there was real internet. I remember the modem noise that is now a meme. Anyone remember Zork?

Old guys like me tend to run at the mouth.

I loved Skyrim, which was my introduction to Tamriel.

In the past I've played a LOT of MMOs. My favorite was doubtlessly LOTRO. Obviously, there is no IP that can approach Middle Earth.

However, Tamriel is real. There are hours of content you can explore for immersion - all voice acted. Hundreds of findable books to fuel the lore. I suspect all together more words are written in development of the lore of Elder Scrolls than most novels. I have played over 1500 hours and there are quests I haven't touched.

Feel the plight of the Argonians or Orsimer. Experience the heroic, and boastful, Nords. Be annoyed with the arrogance of the Altmer and Dunmer, or the speech of the Khajiit - 'This one' might find 'that one' sometimes beyond 'this one's' tolerance for 'that one's' dialogue. Though I must admit one of my favorite recurring personalities is my Khajiit friend Razum-dar.

That is one of the really awesome things about ESO - you run into these characters in later DLC's that you adventured with in previous parts of the game. It was lovely to see Elevi again in Blackwood, in addition to a certain Dunmer mage and the Duke of Crows.

There are moments when I have to stop and look at the sunset. Or watch the sun rise glistening over the sea. Then I might decide to find a way to climb the mountain I see in the distance. Unlike other beautiful games, the "pop in" is completely natural and hardly perceivable (looking at you Black Desert Online).

To me, ESO combat is the best MMO combat I have ever played. Sure in any MMO there is the "rotation". But in ESO you can actively Block and Dodge. You have to aim your attacks rather than tab select and punch a button. Switching weapons mid-combat opens another whole set of skills to use when you need more heals or crowd control.

My builds usually include self heals due to my tendency to pay solo. Tanking is fun and active when I play with others (spouse usually). There are so many ways to customize builds, I suspect you could tank with a light armor necromancer build (I have not tried this or even investigated, I'm just throwing this out there as a example of how customizable the classes are in ESO. I am definitely not a min/maxer).

I've spent hours of gaming equaling weeks of game time with my real life spouse in this world. We have the Ring of Mara. She is not a MMO gamer usually, preferring time management type games - but the stories pull her in.

Escape to Tamriel with us. It's beautiful to see and wonderful to interact with an open and kind community.

Without doubt, the best MMO I've ever been a part of!

Dear Potential CMDR (Commander),

I've played Elite Dangerous about 400 hours in 2 years. I play in spurts, putting in several hours for a few days or weeks, and then take a break of days, weeks, or months. Every time I come back, I have fun. When I'm not, I play something else for a bit (like my guitar, or some other game). However, I always listen to the LAVE RADIO podcast to keep up to date with what is going on in the universe - because it is a living, breathing universe with news and unknown artifacts and barnicles and generation ships and (probably!) alternative life forms.

I have been a bounty hunter, a trader, a blockade runner, a covert mission runner, a courier, an assassin, a miner, a slave liberator, a criminal, a salvager, a rescuer, a brandy smuggler, an explorer, and a crash test dummy trying to fly through the mailslot to quickly (just flying into the station can be a challenge at first, or if I've had a wee bit too much). I've driven my space buggy all over planets, shot at ground installations and regretted it, and found myself upside down squirming like a turtle on my back because I was thrown by a rock due to driving too fast. Sometimes this is a game where you get to drive, and drive, and drive, YOUR VERY OWN STARSHIP (or space dune buggy), and you drive it for whatever reason tickles you that day!

Personally...I like to drive.

And, YOU can have a great time driving any ship in this game. They all drive/fly differently. Some are sports cars with blasters that will crumple instantly if you get caught (don't get caught). Some are tanks with huge firepower. Some are like 18 wheelers that are great for hauling but get awful gas mileage...fortunately you can scoop fuel from the nearest star - but be careful - stars are darn hot and some will fry you quicker than others.

Every ship feels different and sounds different, and each their own purpose. Remember when you drove your friend's truck in high school when you were used to driving your little coupe and you scraped the side of the garage? Same.

A piece of advice...flying into an asteroid is inadvisable.

Because of this game, I now have a HOTAS (throttle and flight stick - you can get them for a reasonable price), which quadrulped my game fun, and a RIFT (VR headset) which exponentially increased the fun (though also exponentially more expensive as well). I highly recommend both, though the HOTAS is without a doubt more bang for the buck.

Voice Attack is also a great add on for this game - like other (in)famous starship captains, I can "Energize" and shoot off to the next system, and "cut to sub-light engines" when I'm ready drop out of hyperspace. My wife teases me terribly from the next room when I yell at my ship: "POWER TO SHIELDS, POWER TO SHIELDS!!!" as I am getting vaporized by pirates/police - depending on if I've been an upstanding citizen or a criminal.

That said, if you want immersion, you can't beat the VR. My kids have snuck up on me and scared me to death by tapping me on the shoulder - pulling me right back to REALITY here on planet Earth (in the Sol system) even though I feel like I'm in the Prism system desparately avoiding interdiction by pirates, or a player faction blockade, just trying to deliver several tons of tantalum to supply the economic interests of some IMPERIAL SCUM CORPORATION. But Hey! I'm just trying to make a buck here!

Which is the reality anyway?

Join the Pilot's Federation, and PLAY!

Yours Truly,

CMDR Crestone

P.S. To borrow a phrase - "Fly safe, and if you can't do that...fly dangerous!" (Lave Radio Network, January, 3301)