Skyrim Special Edition is finally here, including all of the three DLC's which were released the game has made it's way back onto PC but also onto Xbox One and Ps4. While this remaster doesn't necessarily feature any "new" content the major addition is the ability to apply mods to the game for players on consoles. The graphics have been marvelously enhanced and at least some of the games notorious glitches have been addressed although there will still be moments that Bethesda fans are all too accustomed to. Sorry Ps4 players but as of right now Xbox One players have a significan tly larger pool of total mods available and have more space to apply them.
From having the iconic dragons of Skyrim being replaced by Thomas the Tank engine and friends to skill/perk overhauls that actively enhance the game the ability to mod on consoles is what really makes this remaster worthwhile. Personally the following Mods have been instrumental in revolutionizing both the immersion factor and ultimately enhancing the overall Skyrim experience:
Chesko's Campfire: Complete Camping System mod alongside his Frostfall: Hypothermia Camping Survival mod. Together these mods not only deeply enhance one's level of immersion while playing it also wholly changes the way you interact with the environment. In Vanilla Skyrim you can endlessly wander through blizzard after blizzard only to then swim through arctic waters without any legitimate side-effects, with Frostfall players are most certainly forced to survive against the games many enemies but also the environment itself!
Arthmoor's Alternate Start-Live Another Life is easily one of the most simple yet groundbreaking mods available, as it does exactly what the title suggests; offering an array of lore-based starts. Any seasoned Skyrim veteran knows the Helgen introduction by heart, and this mod offers a much needed alternative to facing the chopping block once more.
Potentially one of the most impressive mods I've yet to discover is author EnaiSiaion's Ordinator-Perks of Skyrim. Vanilla Skyrim features a solid selection of perks to choose from, Ordinator takes that selection and makes it look like the work of a kindergartner as it introduces 400 new perks which act as an immense overhaul to a game in need of new content. Mages can conjure undead armies or teleport across Skyrim, while warriors gain access to combo-oriented maneuvers or plant banners which enhance allies performance in combat, just as stealth characters can employ tripwires or leave exploding mead barrels after performing a dodge-roll. These are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this almost essential mod.
Also authored by EnaiSiaion the Thunderchild- Epic Shouts and Immersion mod actively enhances the games already popular shout-feature and recreates it into a world of opportunity and prowess. Instead of simply acquiring all three words of power to fully unlock a given shout now comes another more creative step, the ability to recombine these shouts in order to employ even more powerful versions. This mod introduces a total of 31 new shouts and acts to immensely improve player's ability to customize how they wish to strategize and adapt throughout Skyrim.
While it may not impactfully change the game as many of these other mods have, author Volvaga0's Cloaks & Capes efficiently introduces an array of... you guessed it, cloaks and capes. For the recor Lydia is loving her new position as one of George R.R. Martin's Gold Cloaks.
Last but not least comes Phenderix's Magic Evolved, which introduces 360 new spells alongside new classifications among those new spells. From Blood Magic which harms the caster but deals great damage to enemies in return to new Wind, Water and Earth elements which each have distinct effects both in and out of combat, not to mention there's also spells that involve teleportation and time manipulation. Any players can find a use for this mod regardless of play style.
While there are many mods still to come, those listed above are paramount in helping to revitalize the Vanilla game's often clunky mechanics and sometimes stale character classifications. No longer will all play-throughs inevitably resort to being a stealth archer, at least hopefully not. Once more unto the breach and remember: "you never should have come here."
