Skyrim Special Edition... Yeah, that is, truely something "special"
What exactly is this?
It's just an updated version of Skyrim, with a few, minor graphical enchancements, and update of the engine.
So what's new?
The good:
-Well, alt tab now works.
-There's 64bit version of engine, which gives it more stability, flexibility, and more features for modders.
-Upgraded Rendering engine, which adds new various special effects, such as DOF, better lighting, Ambient Occulusion and etc.
The bad:
-All your original mods are broken, and for more complicated ones, (Such as, SKSE, SKYUI dependant mods) There's no knowledge on when it'll come to SE, and SkyUI developer is not really up to developing an updated version. And it is unknown when or where will the modders update their mods, if they will even feel like updating them.
- It doesn't run as well as many expected, there are some issues with optimization.
-Steam Workshop is now gone, if you wanted an easy update service like Steam Workshop, you can't. Now you are forced to use completely regulated by Bethsesda website,
bethsesda.net.Which is not exactly a good one, there have been a lot of issues regarding it, stealing content, limits on what you can do and what you can't do, this is not only about stealing, this is also due more, "different" type of content, such as for example, copyrighted characters from other games or armors from other games might be restricted and not uploaded there. (However, just like with old release, you can still use Nexus mods, if you'd like, it is a bit complicated for some people, but it's still a very good website.)
-The engine is still filled with bugs, despite being updated to a better version, it's still Gamebryo-based engine, and therefore it still has it's limits.
-Absolutely ZERO new Gameplay related content, no new quests, locations, it's one of the worst remasters to ever come, in terms of new content**. The "HD" stuff was also originally avaliable as a "Hi Resolution Texture Pack " avaliable in DLC section for free, on the original release. (That was added there, due some re-releases/remasters having additional content, look DMC4:SE as an example. )
-No more good antialiasing, you have to use the one in FO4. Who knows why they thought it was a good idea, but there you go.
-The physics are still locked to framerate. ( You heard it!)
-Mods disable achievements! (You heard it, again!)
-Lack of 21:9 support, too. Not exactly a major issue, but for some gamers it might be critical.
Is it worth it though?
No. Not at all, especially if you have the original game.
This "remaster" Only shows how LAZY bethsesda is, the performance is not exactly that great on many systems according to many users, The effects, are not exactly something you haven't seen already. And despite engine being upgraded to support Physically Based Rendering, NONE of the textures were upgraded to use that system.
Everything is the same, same bugs, same issues, same everything, with the exception of one thing.
Mods.
Mods are now avaliable for consoles, and that's actually my dear, the main reason you even got Special Edition for free, it's so that you can upgrade your old mods, and publish them on consoles, so that Bethsesda can quickly earn some quick buck on them, and use your created mods as a main selling point.
" Skyrim Special Edition also brings the full power of mods to the PC and Xbox One. New quests, environments, characters, dialogue, armor, weapons and more – with Mods, there are no limits to what you can experience."
This so called "Remaster" Was only for console gamers, and the major point of selling this "Special Edition" was PC mods, and that's it.
Bethsesda now uses their community to sell their games. And IT WILL affect their future titles as well, knowing that they can be lazy, and can count on the community to fix every single mistake of theirs.
Do yourself a favour, and play the original release, there's no need to support their horrible practices, and there's no reason to support laziness, such as this.
That is, if you are on PC.
For a console release, it is allright, i suppose, it's still the same game after all.
**this line was edited to avoid confusion, thanks for the feedback to a person below.
*** a few lines were edited again, thank you people for feedback. Sometimes it's just hard to find words. Heh.