A player who once believed that game graphics had to be realistic played The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for the first time after an Xbox sale. For years, he had avoided this older title due to his views on graphics; but after about 10 hours of gameplay, he began to reconsider his definition of "good-looking graphics."
To this player, the game's technical performance clearly shows its age and does not strive for photorealism, yet the scenes before him still made him pause to take them in. Landscapes such as tundras, forests, swamps, snow-capped mountains, and auroras left a vivid impression.
Beyond the expansive scenery, the hearth fires in taverns, the light shining through windows, and the soundtrack also contributed to a sense of comfort during this experience. These feelings revolved around the game's art style, rather than how closely the graphics resembled reality.
The Special Edition of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim improved lighting, shadows, and depth of field, and the Anniversary Edition's included content was also mentioned in related retrospectives. However, what changed for this first-time player was his own expectations regarding the graphics of older games.