True, the combat does only consist of chosing your slashes while also dodging and placing your attacks in the right spots
j/k (Yes you can just run up and hack and slash, but to effectively fight you need to be mobile and also choose which blows to give at the right time and timing them between the opponent's recovering from their swings/blows, etc.)
Honestly though, check some other reviews than PC Gamer or check the Morrowind website. PC Gamer reviews are infamous in recent years of picking a game for it's bugs while then giving it a high review and not explaining why other than in a short sentence. Also the screenshots they gave were crap compared to what you'll actually see in game. (ahhh the city of Vivec and it's cantons...)
My only real gripes with Morrowind were the journal, map, and lack of henchmen, which have all been fixed for Tribunal so now I'm a happy camper.
For a slightly better idea of the graphics (I need a new PC to really get the detail shining on the character models) here's some pics:
http://www.adamantpacified.org/grafix/aidrias.jpgMy Orc Nerevarine, member of the Mages Guild and House Hlaalu. Excellent at hand to hand combat, the magicka school of destruction, and speechcraft. This shot is of him doing morning excercises within my stronghold. (including my collection of books such as the Brief History of the Empire and the Real Barenziah series)
http://www.adamantpacified.org/grafix/tyaki.jpgMy Dunmer "churchie" a zealot in the Tribunal Temple, she's a real nut for ALMSIVI propaganda
