Jason Moyer on 11/9/2013 at 19:16
Picked this up and haven't seen a thread about it so I figured I'd share some info. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, it's this guy here:
(
http://www.amazon.com/The-Elder-Scrolls-Anthology-Pc/dp/B00E9I1FPI)
Anyway, here's a mini-review. The retail packaging consists of a thin/transparent plastic case which I'm assuming is just meant for store display (it has the logos/system/rating stuff on the front, info on the back). The proper case is a faux-leather box which contains a faux-leather binder that slides out of the top. The pages of the binder are made of thick cardboard and each page is a trifold that has a description of the game, screenshots, and the the CD's/DVD's in half-sleeves. The game CD's themselves include one disk for Arena, one for Daggerfall, 4 for Morrowind (same as the disks that come with the old GOTY edition), 2 for Oblivion (again, the same as the retail GOTY edition), and one for Skyrim Legendary Edition (presumably the same as the normal retail, I only have the original Skyrim DVD). Presumably the Arena/Daggerfall disks contain the same installers that can be gotten for free from the Elder Scrolls website. The Morrowind/Oblivion disks are exactly the same as the versions previously available at retail, with the same content/copy protection (Oblivion GOTY comes with Oblivion/Shivering Isles/Knights Of The Nine but none of the other DLC). Same with Skyrim, but it's a Steam game so who cares really.
The back of the binder holds a card with a Steam key and information on downloading the manuals, a card that's basically an ad for TES:Online, and 5 paper maps. The single Steam key is redeemable for copies of Morrowind GOTY, Oblivion GOTY Deluxe (i.e. all of the DLC, unlike the disks themselves), and Skyrim Legendary Edition. The maps for Oblivion and Skyrim appear to be slightly smaller versions of the ones that came with the original games. The Morrowind map is, oddly enough, basically the same map as the one that came with Morrowind GOTY detail-wise (it shows the settlements, X's, etc), but it's been retouched so it's in the same monochrome style as the Oblivion/Skyrim maps. I don't have original copies of Arena/Daggerfall so I can't compare those maps to the originals.
Overall, I'm not sure I'd recommend it unless you just want it for display/storage purposes. It's highly disappointing that it didn't come with print copies of any of the manuals, either of the Pocket Guides, or the Codex Scientia from Arena. The Steam key is a nice bonus, but chances are you already have all of the games on Steam and were able to get them for significantly cheaper than the $80 they're asking for this.
Antero90 on 17/1/2014 at 21:43
Quote Posted by Jason Moyer
Overall, I'm not sure I'd recommend it unless you just want it for display/storage purposes. It's highly disappointing that it didn't come with print copies of any of the manuals, either of the Pocket Guides, or the Codex Scientia from Arena. The Steam key is a nice bonus, but chances are you already have all of the games on Steam and were able to get them for significantly cheaper than the $80 they're asking for this.
I picked up this as well, mostly because I did not had the Morrowind add-ons and only had Skyrim in digital form. I also liked the outside presentation.
I too was disappointed about the lack of printed manuals and this Anthology was a good opportunity for a brand new guide to wrap things up since the series will take a large step backwards in history.
Looking at the package it feels like Bethesda wanted to create an affordable barebones collection for newcomers, and that is really who they are targeting. I did not check the other cds, but Arena and Daggerfall do come with the original manuals in PDF format, but for reasons unknown those manuals are not copied with the game and there is no information that they exist on the CD, I found them by chance on the root of the disc.
Bottom line, it's a great deal IF you don't own any TES game or just one of the games. People who own all Skyrim content will probably skip this outright given the price. Anyway, most TES series fans probably have better packages already and can safely pass this one up and continue saving for whatever Mega Jumbo Special Edition they are planing for TESO.
PigLick on 21/1/2014 at 14:00
Is the Morrowind map the same as was packaged in the original?
june gloom on 21/1/2014 at 23:26
Quote Posted by Antero90
since the series will take a large step backwards in history.
What do you mean by this? Do you mean the Elder Scrolls games are going to go back to, say, 3rd era?
(bearing in mind that I haven't been paying attention to TESO)
Chimpy Chompy on 23/1/2014 at 16:03
TESO is set sometime in the 2nd Era, 800 years or so before Morrowind.
Jason Moyer on 23/1/2014 at 18:59
Quote Posted by PigLick
Is the Morrowind map the same as was packaged in the original?
Yes and no. It's the same map artwork wise, but they greyscaled it to match the Oblivion/Skyrim maps. :(