The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

# Posted by Joel Dixon at 17/09/2007 09:54:40

Oblivion is the fourth game in Bethesda Softworks popular video game series The Elder Scrolls. Probably best described as a first-person role playing game, Oblivion puts you in control of a lowly prisoner that is in the middle of an epic set of circumstances.

The graphics and storyline of Oblivion are great, but what really hooked me was the free-flowing, open-ended gameplay. After the first little tutorial you are left to your own devices. You are given a goal to complete which follows the main story line, but you are free to completely ignore it. You can talk to locals to uncover smaller quests, join one of the four guilds and rise up the ranks or just walk around the towns pickpocketing people by day and breaking into homes by night.

An example of this is when I was teetering along, saving the world, when I noticed two computer characters having chat. I walked over and overheard their conversation, about a problem they were having. After initiating conversation with one of them, I was asked to help them out of their little problem. I agreed, busted a few heads, and came back to the guys and received a reward. Once finished this small side-quest I was back to saving the world (with a little extra cash).

The depth really is spectacular (I've put over 60 hours into the game, and never bothered with all of the small side quests), the storyline is engaging and amusing at times - Oblivion really deserved the "game of the year" award it was given by various publications.

About a year after it's debut, an expansion pack was released entitled "Shivering Isles". The expansion is straight-forward and can be finished in around 10 - 15 hours. Personally, I found it extremely funny, much more amusing than the base game of Oblivion (which does have its humor moments). The environment of the Shivering Isles is much different to Oblivion, which I didn't enjoy nearly as much. I preferred the regular feel of normal small towns, and probably won't go back into the Isles after earning the extra 250 achievement points it carried.

Speaking of achievements, the 1000 points are given out in a well thought out way. Some are given for the main story quest, and some for rising through the ranks of various guilds or the battle arena. This is good because you are exposed to all parts of the game. For example, I never really used much magic in my progress until I started the Mages Guild quests.

Overall, a very enjoyable game. It's also one that I would play extra hours in finishing side quests and leveling up my stats - if I didn't have a stack of 7 un-played Xbox 360 games waiting for me! 4.5 out of 5

# Posted in the Gaming section and tagged as: Xbox 360
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Monday, September 17, 2007

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

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