The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition Review
I bought Oblivion as one of the first games for my PS3, and I have played it many, many times more than any of the (many) other games I've also bought for it (as well as got the PC version). I'm not sure if it's a fair statement to say it's one of the best games ever made, but it certainly is one of the best-extended play games ever made. You can spend oodles and oodles of time on this game, only to come back and spend more some other time (don't ask how I know this :P). Furthermore, much of the game is open-ended, so you can decide what you want to do. Will you be a ruthless assassin, a cunning thief, a skilled mage, a powerful fighter, or a rogue bandit or adventurer? Even after you complete the main quest (more on this later), you can continue with the other quests and continue to play; the game ends when you shut the machine off (or fail the main quest). Also, there are so many options for every quest that you'll likely find yourself with multiple characters to try out the various possibilities; and, even if that didn't appeal to you, you'll probably want to experiment with the various skill sets and races.
The gameplay is solid first/third person action. You use medieval weaponry, can ride horses (but not fight while mounted), explore a huge map and find hidden caves, mines, etc., fight mythic monsters and demigods, interact with NPC's in a fairly wide range of ways, etc. There are a few bugs, but not too many - and, if you get this for the PC, you can get all of the patches (otherwise, you have to use a work-around). For console players, this game is very easy to control (I prefer the PS3 controls to PC controls, although you have quite a few more options with the PC version), which, compared to some other console games, is a great relief. For gameplay, I would rate this 3 to 4 stars. For addictiveness and fun, I would rate it 5.
The graphics are probably a 4; there are some major problems with realism in some areas, but the world is so gorgeous, and the customizable characters so visually interesting, that for visual appeal (rather than necessarily technical perfection), I give it a 4.
As far as actual storyline and storyline of the major and minor quests, I would rate this game about 3 stars; there is nothing terribly original or unique about it, and it is often predictable. There are moments of great cleverness and wit, and occasional touches of brilliance. The problem - which is, in other respects, a great feature - is that there is simply so much; since the majority is mediocre, though, the great is sort of lost in the fray.
After a very lucky encounter with the Emperor (lucky, because it gets you out of prison), the player sets off on a quest to stop the assassins who murdered the royal family and find the lost heir to the throne. You discover a daedric prince and his minions behind it all, and you must lead the heir to victory. Many of the tasks along the way (particularly in the middle, where it starts to feel like "filler") are very mundane and tiresome, but most are fun. You traverse the empire, finding pieces of the puzzle, uncovering mysteries, felling baddies, enlisting aid, etc., until at last the empire is safe. It's not a stellar story-line, but it's solid and interesting enough, and ends in a cool way - leaving the door open for an interesting part 5.
I would rate the various major sub-quests (the guild related ones) between 2 and 4. The thieves guild would be a 3 or 4, as would the Dark Brotherhood, while the mages' and fighter's guild quests would be 2's or 3's. Perhaps it's the appeal of sneaking about and being mischievous - and staying alive while doing it; or maybe it's the monotonous beginning of the mages' and fighter's guild (run-around quests, like killing rats and collecting mushrooms; doing "chores" for the various guilds, etc.); but, however that may be, they are good quests, but not my favorite. They earned a lower rating not really for storyline (they're all moderately interesting and about the same as far as originality goes), but for appeal. As far as the stories themselves: for the Mages' Guild, you must defeat the a powerful necromancer and assume leadership of the Mages' Guild; for the Thieves' Guild, you must remove the curse of the Gray Fox and assume leadership of the guild; for the Fighter's Guild, you must discover the (terrible) source of power of a rival group, and destroy it; for the Dark Brotherhood, you must uncover a traitor and assume leadership of the group.
As far as the the add-on packs (Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine); they're about the same, rating wise, with their own hosts of pluses and minuses, but they add so much to the "world" that they are well worth playing at least once.
Despite some of the lower individual ratings, I think overall this game is 5/5 because of its sheer enjoyability. It isn't perfect, but it's very good and exceptionally fun; and that's all that's needed imho. :-)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition Feature
- Live another life in another world, create and play any character you can imagine
- An all-new combat and magic system brings first person role-playing to a new level of intensity
- Groundbreaking AI system gives characters full 24/7 schedules
- New lands to explore in the Shivering Isles expansion
- Challenging new foes, hideous insects, Flesh Atronachs, skeletal Shambles, amphibeous Grummites and more
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition Overview
Oblivion Game of the Year Edition presents one fo the best RPG's of all time like never before. Step inside the most richly detailed and vibrant game-world ever created. With a powerful combination of freeform gameplay and unprecedented graphics, you can unravel the main quest at your own pace or explore the vast world and find your own challenges. Also included in the Game of the Year edition are Knights of the Nine and the Shivering Isles expansion, adding new and unique quests and content to the already massive world of Oblivion.
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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 28, 2010 06:25:21
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