Just a quick note, when the game initially boots up, you’ll be asked to pick some critical information about your character. These decisions will significantly alter your character’s strengths and weaknesses. Whether light armor is your specialty, or if you were destined to become a magnificent archer, or perhaps leaving fighting aside, your character lives in a world surrounded with stealing? One of the first decisions of the game can drastically alter how you play to your character’s strengths and weaknesses.
The world of Tamriel is vibrant and alive. Bethesda needs to be congratulated on their excellent job of the game’s draw-distances. When your character stands on the high peak of a mountain, just gazing into the distance is jaw-dropping. Nothing is more relaxing than fighting a horde of enemies, then just taking it easy, watching the game universe unfold beneath you.
Aside from the environment, Bethesda has really created a Lord of the Rings-esque civilization. There is a whole world here outside of the main storyline. Just reading a couple of the in-game books or chatting with some characters really gives you a good idea of the lore and fantasy of the game universe, with background history of past Emperor’s and military battles, how towns sprouted and came to be and why certain races have such a distinct hatred towards others. This really immerses the player into the game universe, and it allows for a more enjoyable game play experience.
Each of the game’s nine towns really feels different. Whether it be the port town of Anvil, or the capital, Imperial City. Even the citizens of the different towns display their own unique idiosyncrasies. Certain races may populate a certain town, Once again, Bethesda has done a great job making each of the game’s towns and citizens feel really alive.
The actual interface Bethesda has developed is quite simplistic. Clicking the R3 button will switch between 1st person and 3rd person viewpoints. Pressing the circle button will bring up the journal, which is the most important, and useful, tool in the game. The journal keeps track of all the character’s completed and active side quests, what items are currently in your inventory, a status bar showing your health, stamina, and other vital lifelines, plus a complete statistical history of almost every action you’ve done in the game. Whether it be how many times you have killed a creature, person, stolen items from a stranger or been arrested. Fumbling through the controls during battle is nonexistent in Oblivion.
Overall, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a massive, jaw-dropping game that grabs you by the throat, and does not let go. Whether you want to fulfill your fate of saving Tamriel, or you want to take a less violent route, and become a trader: the choice is ultimately yours. And that is what makes Oblivion such a stellar game, choice. This open-ended western-RPG should become a standard for sandbox games to come. Bethesda should be congratulated for creating such a great game and another excellent addition to the Elder Scrolls series.
PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score
Easily 100 hours worth of bare bones content (not considering the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles DLC). A story that engages the player to the very end. Side quests are fun and original. |
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Jaw-dropping draw distances really immerse the player into the universe.
