I want to thank Bethesda for bringing back the magic that seemed to be missing in the previous installment. I was wowed with Daggerfall. I was wowed with Morrowind. And I have been wowed by Skyrim. As much as I hate to say it... Skyrim has beat Morrowind (only slightly) as the #1 TES game for me. There are a few gripes of course. But no game is perfect; not even the games that get 10's. Even with some flaws, I've put 45 hous into this game (OMG!) already and not even once has it felt like a chore. Heck, it doesn't even feel like I put 45 hours in it went by so fast.

I could ramble on like 95% of the people on this forum have been since friday about how good the game is, but that would be redundant. I just really wanted to put my voice out there and say Skyrim kicks [censored]!

PS... I happen to love the heck out the new level system.

No game will ever be perfect. Code is code and technology is amazing but fickle. 10's are the best we can do. 10 is telling developers that in this game you have done enough, go rest, pat yourselves on the back, and if you're up to us bring us another.

I agree. Oblivion stands out like a sore duck in the line up of Elder Scrolls games. It just lacked the inspired design and aesthetics of the other games. With Skyrim all the unique designs and architecture from previous titles is back and better than ever. I've played 50 hours so far and haven't even been to every city! I just discovered a brand new animal tonight when I thought I had seen them all. I care about individual NPCs again like I did with NPCs in Morrowind. (Probably something about the much improved writing and the fact they have bone structure again.)

So yes, thank you for a return to form Bethesda after that worrying stumble that was Oblivion.

I thought oblivion lacked in how great its main storyline and quests were. Also I thought Cyrodil was a too happy go luck place. Now Skyrim has amazed me as the world is a lot more dark, it seems to be in more peril now the it did in Oblivion.

Same. Oblivion was a huge let down after Morrowind. While Skyrim is more or less what Oblivion was, they improved on almost everything. While I feel the perk system is a little questionable, I can't argue that they did a lot with the system itself. Basically, this is the Oblivion Oblivion should have been. A more action-oriented TES game, though largely based on lore, and tied to a fantastic world. I also thank you, Bethesda.

I agree. In fact, as I was just playing, I was marveling at the fact that everything I see in Skyrim seems to have a degree of developer's love. That's something that I feel was sorely lacking in Oblivion, and made it feel bland to me.