If you’re like the many thousands of players who played The Elder Scrolls Online when it launched, you probably didn’t last very long. A variety of bugs, broken quests, poor animations and a general feeling of the game being rushed out the door is the experience most people had. Fast forward many months and with the launch of Tamriel Unlimited, Elder Scrolls Online is a totally different game. Best of all, it no longer requires a subscription. Hurrah! Having been playing the game since Tamriel Unlimited arrived, here’s a list of my favourite changes.

It’s Buy To Play - Hurrah!

It’s the most obvious but immediately makes a huge difference to the game. You no longer feel pressured to log in and there are now loads of players running around. Better yet, the store is incredibly unintrusive and is filled with some great cosmetic items. It’s also pretty cheap as you can buy 750 Crowns, enough for an outfit set, for as little as £5. If you bought the game at launch, you’ll already be compensated with some Crowns so can make an early and free purchase of whatever you like.

Wailing Prison Has Changed

The opening tutorial for the Elder Scrolls Online has undergone several changes. Not only is it quicker and slicker, but it’s a much more pleasurable experience. You’ll quickly gain a weapon, learn how to use the basics of combat and will gain a fair amount of exposure to the games storyline. Not only is the tutorial so much better because of these changes, but you’re quickly out in the game world once you’ve completed it. Unless you already have a character, it’s actually now worth playing.

New Animations Are Awesome

Combat and the feeling of weight behind your attacks was never the Elder Scrolls Online’s strongest suits. Fortunately the change to combat animations means that combat now feels gritty and heavy. Enemies react to being struck while there’s much clearer feedback on dealing damage because of the new animations. Certainly as someone who uses a bow, it now feels much more fluid.

Questing Is Engaging and Working

Elder Scrolls Online is the first massively multiplayer game that has ever caught my interest when it comes to questing. The fact it’s voice acted (well) is one of its best assets and perhaps its just me, but that one simple difference makes me resist skipping quests. Even if I can read faster than the NPC I’m talking to, I’m still listening. Out of curiosity I also went back through the starting zones and tested a bunch of quests that were a nightmare or weren’t working and I’m pleased to say, they’ve all been fixed.

The Justice System Is Awesome

As I found out when I logged in and accidentally shot an arrow at an NPC, the Justice System is well and truly working. As the first phase of the system, players can now commit criminal actions throughout Tamriel including burglary, pickpocketing and murdering NPCs. It’s a pretty big change and one that not only encourages role play but separates the Elder Scrolls from other MMO’s in the genre. There’s consequence for your actions and as an individual who has always pursued thievery, it couldn’t be a better start.

The Champion System

One of the newest additions for veteran players, the Champion System is designed to allow even more choice in how you build your high-level characters. As an account wide system, you can spend your points on any of the nine different constellations. With each constellation serving a different theme, the Champion System allows players to build a more rounded and powerful Hero. Combined with the existing skill system, there’s a lot more depth on offer.

Alliance versus Alliance Is Still The Best In The Genre

I loved AvA at launch and I’m pleased to say that it’s still a brilliant game mode. 1.6 might have changed builds considerably, but that’s a good thing. I’m also incredibly glad to see that there’s still tons of players playing the game mode. Unlike World versus World in Guild Wars 2, Alliance versus Alliance genuinely feels enormous and epic. Thanks to Elder Scroll Online’s engine, it also runs amazing - regardless of how many players are on screen.

It's Still Beautiful

Lastly, I’m a huge fan of Guild Wars 2 and WildStar’s art style but I think it’s fair to say that Elder Scrolls Online still looks gorgeous. On maximum settings and when the weather effects are in full swing, I think it’s hard to beat. One of my favourite things about the game is the gloom and eeriness of exploring by yourself, especially when you come across a cave or tomb. As the screenshot above shows, it’s beautiful and best of all it runs exceptionally well.

Have you returned to Elder Scrolls Online? What are your thoughts on the newest updated and it going free to play? Let us know!