We've all played Skyrim, we all know what it's all about; if you haven't, just get to it already. But this is not a game you simply play through it once and throw it on the shelf with all the rest of the collection, never to be played again. There are several reasons why one should play the game, from the start, again.
1. You Can Be Anything
Contrary to most other RPGs out there, Skyrim is not restrictive in what gear and abilities one can use depending on which class they choose at the start of the game. Maybe the player thinks two-handed weapons are awesome but then realises archery is amazing (oh, it is; trust me). One can change what they do mid-game, it only depends on player preference, the character can wield anything, as long as they have the necessary skill. That said, if you want to use a weapon you've never used before, just equip a low tier weapon of that type and train the character in using it. Also, you can create hybrid classes; a Battle Mage for instance, a magic user wearing heavy armour. Go wild...
2. Exploration
Most RPGs do not offer much in if the player does not follow the quest lines; the developers focus on them to provide the player with interesting gameplay. However, in Skyrim, the player can just wander off and explore the huge province of Skyrim. Exploring the area leads to different side quests which are found in different caves, abandoned fortresses and bandit camps. Also, the game features lots of different unique encounters that are not tied to any specific quest. For instance, one can find a spectre of a Headless Horseman, riding towards Hamvir's Rest, where the player can fight some skeletons and a high level Draugr warriors and loot a Master Chest. Although the loot might not particularly interest you, the awesome part is in seeing and following the Horseman himself. It is not a quest, and nobody really tells you to do it, it's something you can decide to do on your own. So it's perfectly OK to create your own side quests... Do it!
3. Combat System
The combat system itself is different than traditional RPGs; typically, one has a set of abilities which are mapped to a set of keys, expending mana (called Magicka in the Elder Scrolls series) to use them, and then waiting for a cooldown before using the same ability again. Skyrim combines this with a Hack and Slash system. Now, although some would argue that a hack and slash game is 'lame', how is auto locking an enemy any better? Here you can feel like you are the one who is slicing the enemy with you huge two handed sword, or landing a headshot with your ebony arrows. Having your character do all the job can diminish that feeling of immersion that many players look for in games and developers try to create.
Furthermore, use the third person view for exploration, but play in first person while in combat. Third person for exploration allows you to see more of the beautiful scenery, but first person during combat makes you feel like you are looking through the character's eyes, through your eyes, instead of hovering on top of him. I mean, come on, this looks awesome.
4. Mods
Players have commented on forums that the game has no replayability value since one can combine multiple playthroughs into one characters, thus not needing to replay the game as a different class. However, one can also check out some
mods and try them out, recreating one's experience of the game. Change textures of weapons, play as a totally different race or play in a new zone, you can do it all with the help of mods. Want to play as a Draugr? Or maybe dress up as Sauron... your choice.
5. Books
Yes, Books. Maybe you're not into reading that much, but that does not mean you shouldn't at least check out some of the books scattered across across the province. In castles, hidden in camps or caves, books can be found anywhere. Some of these give you some insight into the history of different creatures, races and places.
Others are pure entertainment, even if full of hidden meanings. This last one was priceless, I couldn't believe my eyes. You just have to read through.
