I had serious considerations about writing this review, mainly because I didn't think I could do it justice. Hell, I still don't think I can, but it's worth a try.

Making use of the Creation engine, Enderal is a masterpiece. This could easily pass for a triple A game, no problems. Visuals are beautiful, even beyond what you see in Skyrim with a few graphical mods. The contrast between areas such as an underground ruin to a beautiful lush forest at sunset, vibrant city to a gloomy woodland. All of it just astounds me that a team of modders made it.

The characters feel believable, lifelike, the voice acting really helping convey it. They don't seem to make huge jumps in behaviour, keeping it concise. What works with one may not work with another. All the main characters have their own set of morals, goals, dreams. You can pry further to learn more at times.

The world itself feels alive, not as in that things will change as you do things, but real. The slums of the main city really do feel like a slum compared to Riften of Skyrim where it felt like some poor people thrown with the better off in a heap. The deserts have their oases, the magical forests have the air of the mysterious, the ruins feel like you're the first to touch in years.

Combat is punishing in a good way. At harder difficulties, it may feel Dark Souls-esque to some. Healing spells and potions come with a cost. Abilities and talents reward your playstyle. The different trees really let you play how you wish, especially at higher levels where you can combine two trees to benefit from a 'cross talent' that works with both of the trees for an even more powerful passive buff. The one I ran into revived enemies to fight for me if they died after I used a certain ability.

Now the story, something I've struggled with. Not in a bad way, the story itself is brilliant, giving off twists and turns rather often, always leaving you guessing. What you know for sure turns out to be wrong, your hunches may be entirely invalid, or completely true. The story is what keeps me from coming back. Not because it's bad, but because I know how it ends and I don't want to live through that again. It made me genuinely feel for the characters, for the world. It's not a world I want to return to, at least not alone.

With it being free to anyone owning original Skyrim? You've got no reason not to play it. The only thing that can make it better would be if it worked with Skyrim Together (If and when it comes out.)