The new video game called Skyrim is becoming one of the most popular video games played by students at Lewis-Palmer High School. Over 3.4 million copies were sold within the first 48 hours of being released worldwide, and students from every grade are now spending their free time in an alternate world where the craziest fantasies become a reality.

At the start of playing Skyrim, each person must create a character to use throughout the game. The races players can choose from include a Nord, Redguard, Altmer, Argonian, Bosmer, Breton, Dunmer, Imperial, Khajiit and Orc.

Whichever race chosen greatly affects the person’s capabilities throughout the game. Each race has different unique skills that can contribute to gameplay.

The gamer goes on adventures, slays dragons and masters different skills. By practicing skills, the player can improve his character and become more powerful.

“There’s a ton of skills I can master but some of the ones I’ve mastered include potions, wizardry, invisibility and picking locks,” senior Eva Prilezskey said.

With skill mastery, gamers have better chances of completing certain quests. But the main objective is the most crucial part of the game.

“The main quest is to kill Alduin the dragon in order to stop him from raising other dragons from the dead,” junior Zach Sardi said.

Whenever players aren’t completing tasks, they have a lot of down time in the game. What makes Skyrim truly great is the fact that people have many opportunities to do as they please.

“I can basically run around and do whatever I want, even if it has nothing to do with my task in the game,” Prilezskey said.

Even though Skyrim is fun to play during free times, it has its downsides. Sometimes it can be addicting and a distraction from reality.

“It wrecks my social life and consumes all of my time,” Sardi said.

What causes people to play it so often and for such long periods of time is uncertain. But because it’s a game that can be played in endless different ways; the gamer never gets tired of going on the same adventures.

“I play Skyrim more often than I’m proud to admit,” Prilezsky said.