Now my exams are over, I decided to treat myself to a new PC game. I have been playing this game for the past few days, I am loving it. I thought it is now about time for me to do my review of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.
Oblivion is a RPG released in 2006 for the Xbox 360 and PC. It is the latest installment for the popular RPG series, The Elder Scrolls, from the people at Bethesda. Before I even start telling you how great this game is, the awards speak for itself. It has won many Game of the Year Awards in 2006 and many critics claim it to be one of the best RPGs of all time. Even its expansion, the Shivering Isles has won many awards. Although, I have yet to play the expansions, but what I have heard is that these expansions do not change the gameplay at all. The expansions only adds new quests, items and places to visit.
I purchased the Game of the Year Edition, which includes Oblivion, Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles. All this for £20 ($10), great value for money for a huge RPG. As soon as I installed and load up the game, as soon as you start, you are thrown right into the main story line. Without giving to much away, the basic storyline is that the Emperor is murdered, these Oblivion gates open all over the world of Cyrodiil. Through the main story line, you have to find out who murdered the Emperor and how to close the Oblivion Gates. But before I go into all that, let me explain character creation.
You all know that before starting any RPG, you need to create yourself a character. All the usual options are here; name, what you look like, race, etc. However, Oblivion adds more depth to creating a character. You have to decide what you would like your birth sign to be. There are many different birth signs which improve your character in different ways, such as more health or more magic. The class system is also very clever as well. The first good aspect I like about the class system is that, you don’t need to choose a class until much later on in the tutorial. You can practise sword fighting, using spells and bows. After about half an hour in, then you can select a class. The second great aspect is that, the game recommends a class to you, judging on your playing style. There are 21 different classes, but all them centre around 3 aspects; combat, magic and stealth. If they like any of the 21 classes, you can always create your own.
Next, I will move onto gameplay. Like any RPG, there is quests and exploring. Oblivion is no different. There are 100s of quests and hours of exploring to do. The quests vary from the main storyline quests to quests given to you by guilds and there is also the small quests given to you by NPCs you find wandering Cyrodiil. The quests are enjoyable, but mainly consist of killing some monsters and bring back a certain item. There is already about 100+ hours of quests to do, but if you have the two expansions there is about another 40 hours of quests. Although, I don’t enjoy entering the Oblivion gates, but you only need to do this a few times during the game. Unless, you want to close all 100.
The world of Cyrodiil is huge. With beautiful landscape, many small villages and inns to visit and huge cities to explore, Oblivion would keep you busy exploring Cyrodiil. As well as the cities and villages, there are many forts and caves to explore and discover treasures.
Combat is major area of this game. Bethseda have done an excellent job in creating a very approachable combat system. Sword fighting is very enjoyable, and is simple for you to start attacking and blocking. Although, it can be very easy to attack your own allies in the heat of battle. Both ranged and magic attacks are simple to use, but can be easy to kill your enemy. I find it to be less changeling and enjoyable as sword fighting.
The final little bits of the game make it stand out from the rest. Wander into a town or village, you will see NPCs walking around talking to each other, sleeping, working and eating. You can talk to all the NPCs and listen to what they have to say. You can enter any building in Oblivion and have a look around. If the door is locked, you can pick-lock the door to open it. You can also pick-pocket and steal any item, but be careful of the guards, they can arrest you. The weather is ever changing, from being sunny to heavy rain or fog. There even day and night in the game, with its own time and calender. These aspects of the game make it feel like you are there and it is very real.
If you are even slightly interested in RPGs, this game is for you. The combat, questing and exploring would suit anyones gaming style. You can do anything you want, whenever you want. If you don’t want to do quests, you don’t have to. You could go on a mad killing spree in the cities or climb to the top of the churches. There is so much to do and enjoy for many 100s of hours. For £20, it is one of the best valued games I have bought. If your after a new game for the summer, deferentially consider Oblivion.
