The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard Review Summary

Vampire Lord and Werewolf enhancements: The introduction of the Vampire Lord form and improvements to the Werewolf form, including new perk trees and skill trees, are well-received. These additions provide new gameplay mechanics and character development options.

Engaging and unpredictable storyline: The DLC features a captivating and lengthy main questline that players found enjoyable and unpredictable. The storyline is praised for its depth and quality, making it a significant highlight.

Serana as a compelling companion: Serana is highlighted as a charming and powerful companion with rich character development and unique AI routines. Players appreciate her role as a follower and her overall character.

Choice between Dawnguard and vampires: Players appreciate the choice to join the Dawnguard or become a vampire, adding a layer of depth and replayability to the game. This choice is seen as a significant enhancement to the gameplay experience.

New and beautiful locations: The DLC introduces numerous new locations that are visually stunning and enjoyable to explore. These new areas add significant value to the gameplay experience.

Overpriced and not worth the money: Many players feel that the game is overpriced at $19.99 and does not offer enough value for the current price.

Bugs and technical issues: Players report various bugs and technical issues, including problems with transformations and quests.

Annoying random vampire attacks: Players find the constant and random vampire attacks on cities to be annoying and disruptive to gameplay.

Lack of meaningful choices: Players note a lack of meaningful choices in the game, leading to a less engaging experience.

Tedious and repetitive quests: The main quest and other quests are described as tedious and repetitive.

New questlines and factions: The expansion features new questlines, including faction-based quests where players can choose between joining the Dawnguard or the Volkihar vampire faction. These questlines offer distinct storylines and gameplay experiences.

Vampire and werewolf perk trees: The expansion introduces new perk trees and skill development options specifically for vampires and werewolves. Players can explore unique abilities and enhancements for both Vampire Lord and werewolf transformations.

Vampire Lord transformation: Players have the ability to transform into a Vampire Lord, which comes with its own set of perks, powers, and a unique skill tree. This transformation adds a new layer of gameplay and character development.

New weapons and items: The DLC includes a variety of new weapons such as crossbows and dragonbone weapons, along with new inventory items and NPCs. These additions provide fresh combat experiences and gameplay mechanics.

Faction choice and conflict: Players can choose between different factions, such as the Dawnguard and the vampires, each offering unique quests and abilities. This choice drives the conflict and storyline of the expansion.

Game no longer saves: Players are experiencing issues with the game's saving functionality, which is a critical problem affecting gameplay progression.

High optimization score: The game receives high marks for optimization, indicating smooth performance and efficient use of system resources.

Game recommended despite flaws: The game is generally recommended by players, even though it may have some issues that can be fixed with unofficial patches.

Legendary edition recommended: Players find the legendary edition of the game to be a worthwhile purchase, indicating it offers significant value or enhancements.

DLC essential for mods: The Dawnguard DLC is considered essential for the majority of mods, making it a valuable addition for players interested in modding.

Engaging content in Dawnguard: Players encourage others to experience the content offered by the Dawnguard DLC, suggesting it has engaging or enjoyable aspects.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00.

Game completion: 30.0h.

Story completion: 16.0h.

The game starts with tedious and repetitive tasks that can be boring, but it may become more enjoyable as players progress and encounter new locations, quests, and characters.

Reported time to anchor: 2h.

Friction: Tedious and repetitive tasks; Long and drawn-out quests; Exploring mostly empty maps.

Unlock drivers: New locations; New quests; Interesting characters.

Budget-Conscious Gamer: Cost-conscious, waits for sales and discounts. Motivation: Value for money. Stance: sale.

Lore Enthusiast: Explores new content and delves into the game's lore. Motivation: Story and lore. Stance: buy.

Monetization: The primary concern among users is the high base price of the Dawnguard DLC, with many recommending to purchase it only during sales or discounts. There is also a mention of a potentially costly in-game feature, but it is unclear if it involves real money. Overall, users suggest buying the entire package with the Legendary Edition rather than purchasing the DLC separately.

Mod upgrade on Workshop: Players have mentioned an upgrade to a mod available on the Steam Workshop.