Title: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Platform: Xbox 360
Price: $49.99
ESRB: M for Mature
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks and 2K Games
Summary:
One’s adventure in the land of Cyrodil begins in classic style. Your self-created avatar is inexplicably found in a cell in the Imperial Prison with little light, little hope, and little chance of escape. After a few dank moments inside your cell, the guards approach with the Emperor Uriel Septim in tow. It is soon explained that assassins have made an attempt on the emperor’s life. Seeing his fate before him, the emperor gives your character the fabled Amulet of Kings, the divine birthright of the royal bloodline. Moments later he is slain. With the line of royal blood severed and no heir in sight, it is up to you to deliver the amulet to friends of the crown, find the long-forgotten heir to the throne, unmask the identity of the assassins, and save all of Cyrodil from the onslaught of demon hoards that are pouring from the fiery realm of Oblivion.
Graphics: 9
Story: 9
Music: 10
Gameplay: 8
Replay Value: 10
Difficulty: MEDIUM
The game manages to keep a level of difficulty that is challenging without being overwhelming. Every encounter is scaled to your character’s level, making large portions of the game accessible from the minute your character is created. Every conflict feels fair and well-balanced.
Learning Curve: HIGH
Getting one’s bearings in Cyrodil can take several hours. Players of the series’ third installment will feel right at home while new players may feel overwhelmed by the game’s depth. Nothing is difficult per se, but the sheer volume of the game may prove to be too much to absorb in one sitting.
Total Hours of Play:
For an experienced player, the main quest should take roughly 15-25 hours. Completing the entire game (finishing every quest and maximizing every skill) will take the average gamer more than 200 hours of play.
Family Factor:
With violence, blood, sexual implications, alcohol and drug references, and some language, Oblivion is not a family game. While it pales in comparison to some of its contemporaries in the gore department, the violence is brutal and feels realistic to the player. Every sword swing lands with a sickening “thud” and every spell emanates destructive power. It should also be known that some segments of the game that take place in Oblivion (a fiery demon realm) contain grotesque corpses and frightening monsters. While there is no nudity or explicit content, several situations hint at sexual encounters. In one such case, the player is required to infiltrate an all-female gang by posing as a potential “customer”. In addition, several situations hint at drug use. When a player visits a city bar, several NPC’s (non-player characters) can be seen downing beverages. The content of Oblivion is typical of any adult-oriented game. Parents who allow their children to view adult-oriented movies should have no problem with Oblivion. Those with younger children are advised to stay clear.
Review:
Reviewing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is much like one’s first few hours in the world of Cyrodil. It is difficult to know where to begin. Bethesda has gone above and beyond all expectations and has created a game that is truly a must-buy title for all fans of fantasy.
The world that is shown to the player is immense and involved. Factions vie for control in a land that lacks a leader. New cities are built and fights break out between angry townspeople. Bethesda has expertly detailed a fantasy world in which in the player is the main focus. Every character speaks out loud with a clear voice and maintains their own unique dispositions towards all of the other characters and factions in the game. Nothing is small scale. Diverse flora and fauna abound. Day and night cycle frequently and seasons pass.
Oblivion’s graphics are excellent. Shadows move fluidly over different surfaces and a palette of constantly changing colors makes up the diverse landscape life of Cyrodil. The lighting effects are outstanding. Every candle produces realistic light that bounces off every nearby object. However, Oblivion does lose an element of detail due its immense size. There are times when the landscape appears as a tapestry a blocky colors rather than the richly detailed land one might expect. Given the game’s size, such minor flaws are to be expected.
The game’s sound and score are truly something to appreciate. The orchestral score is epic, grandiose and highly emotional. The main score of the game is expertly composed as feels more characteristic of a high-budget Hollywood epic than a video game. Where Oblivion really shines is in its vast reservoir of recorded dialogue. Every phrase that is spoken by every character in the game is an actual voiceover, giving the stories a very organic, human feel.
Despite the epic nature of the world and the main quest, Oblivion is first and foremost an open world. There is little pressure to continue with the world-saving main narrative. Instead, this game’s focus lies squarely in doing whatever one desires. Want to be an assassin? Feel free. Tired of being a sorcerer? Find a trainer and build your alchemy skill. Bethesda has succeeded in granted almost unlimited freedom to Oblivion’s players and the courtesy has not gone unnoticed. Join a guild, instigate a goblin war, become a vampire, raid a tomb, or explore the extensive countryside. Nothing is out of one’s reach. Because each fight is automatically scaled to the player’s skill level, almost no quest is off limits. Players can begin building their characters immediately without the constant worry of being attacked by some unmanageable foe. Essentially, the game functions as an enormous fantasy sandbox in which anything is possible.
Unlike Oblivion’s predecessors, players will find that combat is actually fun and engaging due mostly to the game’s ingenious controls. Even a task as mundane as swinging a sword becomes a deep battle of wits and reflexes. The combat system has been entirely revamped with great positive effect. The control of each fight rests firmly in the hands of the player. Spells have been made easy to access and healing potions are just a button press away. The sneaking system has been drastically improved, enabling the player to become a sly thief with little training. If fighting isn’t a player’s strength, than the in-depth conversation system will surely make one’s day. Oblivion is a treasure trove of small games rolled into one. Each character ability unlocks new approaches to seemingly simple tasks, creating an unprecedented amount of replay value.
The only complaints that can be lodged against the gameplay are minor. I felt at times that the enemies lacked variety. Hours seemed to pass where my character encountered nothing but wolves and goblins. When I found myself underground, skeletons were the order of the day. In addition, each enemy type behaves in much the same way. There is almost no difference from one bandit encounter to the next. I was also somewhat dismayed with the lack of consequence that the game offers. Sides need not be chosen in Cyrodil. One can simultaneously be the benevolent savior of the realm and the maniacal head of the murderous Dark Brotherhood. I find it disappointing to be drawn so far into the world that Oblivion creates only to realize that yes, I am in fact playing a game. As I said, these grievances are mostly minor. The combat in Oblivion is fun, intuitive, and well-crafted. The story and its subplots are all expertly penned and well-voiced.
Overall, Oblivion is a momentous romp through a high-fantasy realm like few gamers have experienced. Whether your character happens to be a sword-wielding orc or a spell-slinging elf, Oblivion will deliver a high-caliber role-playing experience that fails to disappoint at every turn. From the overhauled combat controls to the vastly improved character-creation system, Oblivion is nothing short of a masterpiece that triumphs both aesthetically and mechanically. This game is must-buy.
Related Games:
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Xbox)
Mass Effect (Xbox 360)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)
World of Warcraft (PC)
Vampire: the Masquerade- Bloodlines (PC)
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