4. It Is Huge!
Skyrim has received many plaudits in the ten months since its release for various different features of the game. One of the more popular opinions, though, is that the most impressive thing about Skyrim is the region itself. After escaping the first dragon assault on the small city of Helgen, players emerge into a gigantic world of sprawling cities, treacherous mountains and dynamic wilderness. The game puts you into a world that feels real. It moves around you and the behaviour of NPCs and random creatures alike are vibrant and dynamic. If after emerging from Helgen you head straight into the main quest you will probably only have discovered about 15% of the locations on Skyrim's huge map by the time you finish. There is so much to see and so much to do in Skyrim that the more-focussed and driven players will likely miss out on a huge portion of the game. Whether you choose to get the main quests out of the way first or whether you prefer to deal with them intermittently, exploration is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences available in Skyrim. Some of the most unique locations and quests can just be stumbled upon whilst you're traversing the wilderness looking for somewhere else pick up supplies. Exploration isn't easy, though, and the landscape of Skyrim is littered with dangerous creatures and unfriendly bandits who'll happily kill you and relieve you of your equipment. It may be the most rewarding experience available, but it's also certainly one of the most difficult. The little Chris Columbus inside us all will keep us travelling, though, eager to find that next abandoned house or frost covered cave entrance.