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4.5 stars
"Why I Bought an XBox 360"
Pros: Beautiful game, easy to get in to, almost all the choices one could want, almost perfect.
Cons: Console controller, sometimes too many choices.
Summary: Oblivion is the reason why I bought an XBox 360: it was cheaper than getting a PC that could actually run it. It is a beautiful game, and one of the best RPGs on a console system I've seen (the list include Morrowind). It is chock-full of possibilities, with plenty of places to explore, plenty of nasties (and some goodies) to kill, and a decent variety of quests. It's not without some flaws though.
The first, and perhaps biggest of those flaws is that the horses seem to be more trouble than they're worth. While they do allow you travel faster than on foot, they don't allow you to fight or use magic. They're also not as fast as the autotravel system. A personal problem with them is that I kept losing mine.
Also, interaction with the NPCs is a bit on the linear side. While there are some dialogue options, few of them seem to have any impact on how things may unfold later in the game. Being evil and nasty to everyone, but not trying to kill them generally doesn't result in your being unable to later smoothtalk your way into someone's good graces.
Also, the game can be seen as being a little too expansive, with side quests and other tasks being able to consume hours of game time as well.
Still, to say that Oblivion is a solid game is a gross understatement. From the scenery, to combat, to the story itself Oblivion is a masterpiece.
The graphics are gorgeous, making use of the fast travel option a waste (a reason for using a horse, perhaps?). I found myself running everywhere just to be able to gaze at the scenery. On top of that the physics are a nice touch as well, watching arrows and corpses roll downhill. Then there's the arrows that seem to regularly protrude from my character.
Combat can be handled quite easily, with little player skill required. I personally have been able to do quite well with simple attacks. However, for missiles and magic I find that the console controller and a certain lack of auto-aiming makes ranged combat a bit of a chore (though more gratifying when I hit). The blood on weapons is a nice touch as well.
The plot itself is good enough that a transcription of someone playing the game to completion would not be out of a place in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section of a bookstore. The twists and turns that occur and that are possible help keep my playing.
Though standard for the The Elder Scrolls series (since Arena) the levelling system in Oblivion is still quite unique. Rather than gaining experience points for completing quests and killing things the character gains experience through successfully using skills.
This levelling system has its own sets of pros and cons. The cons are that it can lead to lopsided character development. Skills such as stealth(?) and athletics can develop much faster than weapon-related skills. Another con (if you're a munchkin) is that trying ensure you max out your stats can have you grinding some skills, and then at a loss as to how to develop some of the others.
The pros to levelling system outweigh the cons in promoting a greater sense of realism (you're character is good at what your character does), and basically removes the need to grind levels to be able to take on some annoying bady.
The only other issue I can think of addressing with this review is the scaling of enemies in the game. As your character advances in level the enemies advance as well. Though I've heard some complaints about this system I've never found it to be an issue myself. There are some enemies I found that prior to some amount of experience were beyond my ability to kill. I also hadn't found any super rats, so some of the easy kills stayed easy kills. Also, There is a possibility that my observance of the enemies scaling is skewed based on my play style.
One last thing before wrapping this up. Oblivion is not like the so-called RPGs that arrive here from the other side of the Pacific. There are no hour long cut scenes, the cinematics seem to be made using the game engine, and your immersion into the plot goes beyond running around and killing things.
Oblivion is a superior game, far outshining this review. Anyone who enjoys role playing games, a beautiful game world, a well-conceived plot, and just an all-around great gaming experience should pick up a copy. It is money well spent.
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Very good and informative review. Bought an Xbox last week, and was wondering weather to get Oblivion. Your review has helped my decision, and I will be getting this game tomorrow. Thanks.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Xbox 360):
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