An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire

For years, you have trained to become an Imperial Battlemage, learning the ways of magic and combat to serve and defend the Emperor. Now, as your final test, you must complete the dreaded Battlespire, facing the challenges that lie within. As you enter the proving ground, however, something doesn’t feel right. You soon discover that Mehrunes Dagon, a Daedra Lord, has invaded and ravaged the Battlespire, killing all in his wake. You are the last hope and although ill-equipped and unprepared, it's up to you to stop Dagon’s plan and restore the Battlespire to Imperial control.

Originally envisioned as an expansion for The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall, this installment was instead released by Bethesda as a stand-alone title. Although still within the Elder Scrolls world and brimming with many loved elements, Battlespire is unique in several aspects; rather than open-world exploration, the game emphasises survival, taking players through 7 levels, including various realms of Oblivion. There are also no shops or merchants, leaving players to salvage whatever they can from their fallen foes. Full character and stat customisation are still a key component of gameplay, as is the ability to craft spells on the fly and the game is full of the lore and characterisation for which the series’ is renowned.

The game takes place in the Third Era, during Jagar Tharn's imposture. The player character is an aspiring Imperial Battlemage who enters the Imperial Battlemage war college, the Battlespire (Which is in a pocket dimension of Oblivion) through the Weir Gate. He/she quickly finds out that the Battlespire's staff are dead and the war college has been overrun by Daedra. There is no way back to Tamriel, because the Weir Gate is blocked by a Daedric sigil. His/her friend has left helpful notes and equipment around for the player.

There is only one quest -- Find your companion, and get out alive. There's no place to sell any loot you can't use, and there's a limit to what you can carry from level to level. Use it, or lose it. You will often find blue gems which restore health and spell points when you click on them or run into them, but you cannot sleep to heal. The only ways to increase skills are to use them, or spend build points between levels.