1. Skyrim: The Dawnguard DLC
It seems that we all were waiting for this since the release of Skyrim back in November of 2011.
Not to give Elder Scrolls any flack for Skyrim, it remains their best installment yet and not only
because of the obvious technological advancement that makes the graphics so realistic but
because of the initiative that was put into making the game. With Oblivion, the fourth installment
of the series, they didn’t stray far from the track in overall game orientation and plotlines (yet
another quest to rule the world); while with Skyrim there was a dramatic leap in plotline, game
play, and strategy. We just love vampire games.
Now that the air is cleared, Skyrim did leave a lot to be desired in the realm of being a vampire
or a werewolf. With all the added bells and whistles to the overall concept of Skyrim, we thought
that there would be an amazing plot revolving around lycanthropy and vampirism. The quest
lines surrounding the Companions (Skyrim’s Fighter’s Guild) are shrouded in the mysteries of
lycanthropy yet being a werewolf can…well…suck. With the
Xbox there have been numerous problems, and updates to fix
them, with even being able to fit through doorways or tight
corridors while in werewolf mode. This is very typical of a
Vampire RPG. This requires the player to either wait until the
beast blood dies down or abandon the quest altogether, neither of
which are preferable. Becoming a vampire has almost no plotline
at all, in fact as with other installments of the game, you can
become a vampire with close contact with those who are infected.
That being said, the skills associated with being a vampire leave a
lot to be desired.
Bethesda cures all of this with the latest Dawnguard DLC. This download actually gives specific
perk trees for both vampires and werewolves. This gives the player a capacity for customizing
their vampire/werewolf traits and powers. Not only that, but they decided to add a few new
touches to the basic vampire or werewolf. New in store is the ability to be a Vampire Lord
where, much like lycanthropy, you go into at will, but unlike lycanthropy, you can actually
choose when to exit Vampire Lord mode. The best part is you have these gruesome, gargoyle
like wings that of course, can make you fly. Some of the perks associated with Vampire Lord are
Blood Healing power, Vampire Cloak power, and Summon Gargoyle which allow you to restore
your health completely by munching on an NPC, surround yourself with a shield of bats that
attack enemies, and summon a gargoyle respectively.
Of course, the absolutely best part of Dawnguard is the plotline. While I won’t give any spoilers,
the overlying theme of Dawnguard is a small war against the vampires and the villagers.
Choosing sides in the war will, consequently, choose whether you are vampire or werewolf.
Something to keep in mind while you get your hands dirty.