Blackwood key provided by Bethseda
Elder Scrolls Online is an ever-changing and growing game world that really takes pride in being something fans can love. It most recently received its latest expansion, Blackwood, which takes players back to Oblivion with a whole new slew of additions to keep the grind going.
Alongside it came graphical enhancements to continue its lifespan. The final product is two pieces of content that deliver on their promises with little to no hiccups.
Story
Blackwood’s story wastes no time getting started. You’re dropped directly in the middle of a mystery filled with death and conspiracy. At the root of it though is Daedric Prince of Destruction, Mehrunes Dagon, and it’s up to you and returning character Eveli Sharp-Arrow to figure out what’s going on and how to stop it.
It’s an intriguing story and I love the mystery of it all. There’s a lot of lore at play and even base-level fans such as myself will be able to connect easily. I loved seeing things from previous ES games I’ve played being implemented here as well as characters from other expansions.
Gameplay
Blackwood continues ESO’s MMO-style take on the franchise and implements a new area for players to explore and find adventure in. There are, of course, new questlines as well as a plethora of additions and events. There’s a great deal of thought that’s gone into this expansion and it’s great to see how well the final product came together.
As said above, the main questline surrounds mysterious events and a conspiracy plot. There’s quite a bit of sleuthing to do in Blackwood and it’s an aspect that I really enjoyed. Although most things are pointed out pretty obviously, it’s still a really cool take.
Companions are a new addition to the game and are a welcomed one at that. There are two to find and you can unlock them by completing each of their questlines. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it only really takes a few moments to complete what they need of you in order for you to obtain them.
The companions, just like players, have their own equipable gear, cosmetics, and skills to further their progression and effectiveness. Loot items for your companion are picked up in battle and are completely separate from your own character’s. Their combat isn’t as strong as another player would be but they do a decent job at having an extra set of attacks to throw your enemies’ way.
Building and maintaining a rapport with them is also important as it directly affects what dealings that they even want to have with you. It’s a nice and easy-to-manage system that doesn’t get in the way but actually adds something positive to the overall experience.
Beyond companions and mainline quests, there are new events such as the Oblivion Portals and the Rockgrove Trial. The oblivion portals show up randomly around the map and drop you into public dungeons set within the Deadlands where you’ll encounter hordes of Deadric enemies bent on ending you.
The Rockgrove Trial on the other hand is a 12-player dungeon that is not for the faint of heart. It’s not an easy journey by any means and if you don’t have the skills or resources, you’ll die very quickly. It’s a sprawling trial that moves from Blackwood straight to the Deadlands through hordes of cultists. There are a lot of reasons to venture there besides the storyline. New gear and loot just to name a few.
Traversing around Blackwood itself is incredibly fun. Whether it’d be seeing areas from Oblivion being recreated or just wandering off onto side-quests. It’s a truly great and authentically Elder Scrolls feel. I think any fan of the franchise would appreciate the way that this expansion was carried out.
Next-Gen Enhancements
ESO itself was also treated to a big enhancement update this last month for next-gen consoles that include a bevy of new visual upgrades. These allow the game to run smoother and look better while doing it. I played it on the Series S which wasn’t given as drastic of an update as the PS5 or Series X but it still made an impact on my overall experience.
You’re allowed to choose between the fidelity mode which caps the FPS at 30 with a resolution of 1440p or the performance mode that runs at 60 FPS with a resolution of 1080p. There are visual differences between the two of course and I found myself leaning into the performance mode because of the smoother frames. It felt like the game was running a lot better.
On the flip side, fidelity mode makes the game look great and things still run relatively smooth regardless. It comes down to preference but I found myself swapping back and forth often.
Loading times are cut down tremendously for the game as well. You might even say that they’re almost non-existent for the most part, only taking a second or two.
What It Could Have Done Better
There seems to be some unevenness within the difficulty curve. From the questlines, it’s easy to just fight the enemies that you run into. But Rockgrove for example is extremely difficult to even begin if you’re by yourself. I understand that it’s a dungeon created for up to 12-players but for folks like me that prefer to keep to themselves, it’s quite an insurmountable task, especially if you’re a lower level.
Verdict
ESO: Blackwood is a fantastically crafted new expansion for the ever-growing MMO that Bethesda has cultivated. Its biggest draw for me is its companion additions but the world itself and its storylines are what kept me invested. If you’ve been playing ESO and have enjoyed every expansion so far, then you’ll like this as well. If you’re a newb like me, this is still a great jumping-off point to get your feel of what the game has to offer. The console enhancements just sweeten the pot even more.
