"The Elder Scrolls: Legends," the upcoming collectible card video game from publisher Bethesda Softworks, began its open beta on Aug. 4, and reviews say that it is reminiscent of other games although not in a bad way.

According to Forbes contributor Paul Tassi, the game is a good combination of "Hearthstone" and "Magic: The Gathering," with game developer Dire Wolf Digital putting in some original elements and combining those with elements from both games mentioned. Tassi said he likes the idea of injecting a story into a CCG; however, he said that "the lore connection" didn't really do it for him. Some aspects of the game, he said, feels like they're from "Hearthstone" developer Blizzard, but the color system, which is not seen in that game, makes deck building in "TESLegends" more interesting.   

Mo Mozuch of iDigital Times, likewise, said that Bethesda's upcoming CCG is akin to the other two titles, but he compared it to Reese, which has a "satisfying blend" that can be "addictive." And just like Forbes, the review mentioned the lore.  Mozuch said that while "Hearthstone" had to build a new story from the ground up, "TESLegends" already has an established one that "The Elder Scroll" gamers are familiar with and would appreciate. 

Battles in the lanes happen just like in other CCGs, but the two-lane mechanic in "TESLegends" is something that the review says is a new way of playing. One lane is for normal battle and the other, called Shadow Lane, allows a player to hide the creatures played on it for one turn.  He discussed other features of the game and said that even CCG veterans will be challenged by the new mechanics. The article concludes that it is not just a copy of "Hearthstone" and is worth checking out. 

"The Elder Scrolls: Legends" has five game modes, namely: practice mode, story mode, solo arena, versus arena, and versus battle.  There is no exact date of release but it is expected to happen this year.