Jump into a beautiful fantasy world with the PC game The Elder Scrolls: Arena. Released in 1994 by Bethesda Softworks for MS-DOS, this role-playing game features breathtaking scenery and an intriguing story. In the game, players are looking for artifacts for an apprentice named Ria who was killed by her master. The game takes place after her untimely death. Since Ria no longer has a body, you must help her rescue the Emperor, the great Uriel Septim VII. Ultimately, you'll face off against an evil so great that the entire world rests in the balance.Arena is the first game in the Elder Scrolls franchise and lays the groundwork for the future games to come. Arena offers players a first-person perspective, which makes it easy for players to immerse themselves into the game. However, unlike reflex-based games, combat in this title is a slower affair. Bethesda designed Arena around tactical encounters, meaning you'll only face off against one or two opponents at a time. You'll have to manage your stamina while fighting; if it runs out, you're vulnerable to attack. Battles are about waiting for an opening while dodging your opponent's blows. Like future Elder Scrolls titles, there is a significant amount of freedom in Arena. Players can select their character from a multitude of different races. After choosing a race, you're free to pick a class or make your own. There is no one specific way to play; how you decide to play Arena is left entirely to you. For example, you may choose to be a thief, using a longbow to pick off your enemies. Another player may opt to play as a warrior, using his large ax to crush his foes. This level of freedom would carry over to future games in the series, including Daggerfall and Skyrim. In your quest to stop the mad Jagar Tharn and restore order to the land of Tamriel, you'll travel a great distance. Be prepared to explore numerous dungeons, each one more dangerous than the last. You'll come across a dangerous assortment of characters, including vampires, assassins, and fire demons. Some enemies, like the Ice Golem and Iron Golem, would make appearances in later titles like Oblivion. Despite being an older title, Arena still offers jaw-dropping graphics. Even though it's one of the first games to use 3-D graphics, the character models still look beautiful. Each enemy is packed with detail, such as individual teeth on the lizard men. The environments are just as beautiful. For example, one dungeon takes place in a sewer that is complete with rushing water. Decorations adorn each dungeon, making them feel like actual, lived-in locations.The Elder Scrolls: Arena is a fantastic title for a variety of reasons. Players who want to see how the incredible Elder Scrolls series got its start will find a lot to love here. Gamers looking for a complex challenge will love how this RPG doesn't pull any punches. This title deserves a place in your collection due to both its excellent gameplay and historical value alike.