Although Skyrim won’t be the largest launch of the year in terms of sales, it’s still among the most highly anticipated. Gamers around the world called in sick today to jump into the world of Skyrim, slay some dragons, and make absolutely no progress in what is an essentially infinite game. Since the review embargo has been lifted, we’re starting to hear more and more about the game that has for so long been on the tip of everyone’s tongue. So how did it turn out?

Well, in short, great. The game is sitting comfortably at a 96 on Metacritic, barely edging out Skyward Sword for the top spot in new releases. I’ve read through some of the Skyrim reviews and I think I can give you a general idea of what everyone is saying, just in case you’re on the fence about buying the game.

Pros: Reviewers are praising the game’s open world and freedom of exploration. I’ve also seen plenty of compliments for the radiant questing system that ensure you always have something to do, and PC reviews note that the graphics of this game put older Elder Scrolls games to shame. Some reviewers praise the plot and character development, but this is by no means consistent. I’m seeing the word “ever” thrown around a lot, as in “the most liberating RPG ever,” or “most open world ever,” so take that how you will.

Cons: The game, typical to Bethesda form, is packed with bugs. Nothing major, but little glitches like floating mobs, weird collision detection and, my favorite bug of all, a character’s inability to realize there is a cooking pot on their head. These will probably be ironed out over time. Some reviewers have noted that the animation, while improved from Oblivion, is still fairly stilted – third person play isn’t really that improved. The clunky combat system is also listed as a minor problem, but if you like the Elder Scrolls series or Fallout 3 you’ll feel right at home.

So that’s the basic overview. Naturally, Skyrim is a massive experience that can’t be summed up in a review. It certainly looks like a good buy, assuming you’re into that sort of game.

Did you get Skyrim today? How’s it working out?

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