Skyrim’s Animations are Better Than Ever

The animations in the Elder Scrolls series have always been sketchy. From the cardboard cutouts in Daggerfall to the limited mobility of the mannequins and their movements in Oblivion and Fallout 3, it goes without saying that animations were never the series' strong suit.

That's all about to change with Skyrim. Animations this time around look as realistic as any other triple-A title, with plenty of attention being given to the game's killing moves. Even spells look suitably epic as they're being cast in both third and first person modes.

Thanks to Skyrim's new animations, players will no longer think of the awkward animations as a staple of the Elder Scrolls series—and that's a good thing.

Skyrim is set for release two days from now on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 systems. Some stores have broken the street date, so you might be able to pick it up early. You can also check out our Skyrim Skill Tree Guide here.