One of the more satisfying features thatSkyrimbrought toThe Elder Scrollsfranchise has been its kill camera executions, though as a veteran player recently found out: they are not made equal. These combat finishers come in plenty of flavors, and though many overlap between first-person and third-person modes, there are a few exclusives to be found in several weapon categories. Whilefinishing moves inSkyrimmay not always workthe intended way, they have been a favorite inThe Elder Scrollscommunity since 2011, inspiring an entire sub-category of animation mods.
The kill camera executions ofSkyrimclaim their roots from an earlier Bethesda title inFallout 3. Going from an isometric role-playing game into post-apocalypticOblivionmeant that Bethesda needed to adapt several features from the earlyFalloutentries into a completely new type of gameplay. The Aimed Shot became V.A.T.S, and its successor went on to become an iconic staple of the franchise since.Skyrim’s kill camera takes plenty of functionality from the camera in V.A.T.S, as both lock the player’s animation during a cinematic slow-motion shot.
RELATED:Whiterun Child Hires Assassins to Kill Skyrim Player
One of the rarer finishing moves inSkyrimhappened to LordofBeez, who shared it on the game’s official subreddit. Despite having playedSkyrimsince December 2011, LordofBeez claims that this is the first time he’s witnessed the brutal finisher in action. Given that complex finishers are mostly restricted to melee weapons, this may also be LordofBeez’s first foray into the wonderful world ofdual-wielding inSkyrim.
The execution seen in the video is called a Head Lock by the game, and it is only triggered when dual-wielding Swords andDaggers inSkyrim. The part that makes it more satisfying compared to other finishing moves may be its duration. The Dragonborn takes his time in slaying the gargoyle compared to the more fast-paced executions from the dual-wield category such as the Cross Slash.
While there is no guarantee thatThe Elder Scrolls 6will carry over the kill camera executions ofSkyrim, it’s certainly an expected feature for the sequel. Witheleven years sinceSkyrim’s release, Bethesda may be planning to introduce a more visceral type of combat for the nextElder Scrollstitle, taking inspiration from successful modern games such asElden RingandGod of War Ragnarok. Not much is known about the upcoming sequel toSkyrimthis early into its development, but players can expect to see some of Bethesda’s new direction withStarfield.
The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim: Anniversary Editionis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
