The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

ES IV: Oblivion (2006) was amazing back when it first came out, (and yeah, it still is!) a sheer tour de force, epic genius and masterpiece! And yet, while it may seem a bit graphically dated nowadays, the game still laid precious groundwork for many other RPG fantasy greats to come. Not only that, but it is one of the console games that really showed developers how much "Open World" styled games could be appreciated by players and the vast potential therein. Role playing games thrive in open world settings, especially when in First Person perspectives. And this game brought players that knowledge, along with endless hours of fun.

Many other reviewers have stated the many wonderful things about this game previously, including voice acting, writing and storyline, soundtrack, quests, and especially the epic lore found in ES games. I completely agree. Gameplay was super fun and made first person mode a near must for me, especially in Fantasy. Love the immersion of this series. The Elder Scrolls series rocks. Extended edition DLC was also great. Overall, this modern classic still holds up and offers endless ammounts of fun and enjoyment.

P.s. While I adore this game in all its imperfections and outdated glory, I may secretly be wishing this game was up for a Bethesda Remaster soon. Maybe someday we'll get a "Skyrim-esque" graphic version of the Oblivion masterpiece.

This game is the reason gamers like me don't get much sleep. It's basically your everyday fantasy RPG (Role Playing Game) set in a world full of demons, monsters, knights, bandits, goblins, and more. That's where the similarity ends. The game is based in a mythical world that's just plain massive. It's basically a country with several cities and towns. The mapping is spectacular, with no two areas alike (swamps, mountains, gaping forests, snow covered lands, lakes, rivers), the towns have unique architecture, and not to mention the developers show how the 360's graphics engine can make for some very realistic water effects. Everything in this game is superb, right down to the sound (not to mention Sean Bean and Patrick Stewart lend their voices). It wasn't enough to knock it down a point, but I did find the character creation a bit of a challenge, along with some of the people in the game, too many of them look old and worn out. Other than that, this game hit every mark in my book... it allows for complete control of your character, you can be a mage (magic) or a warrior, or both. You can actually choose your path. Follow the main quest first and beat the main story line, or follow some side quests and get your character to a more respectable level (which I recommend)? I truly believe out of any non-MMORPG out there this has one of the biggest replay value factors ever, not to mention hours upon hours of gameplay and entertainment (some quests require you to travel great distances to complete). The gameplay is fantastic, the selection of tools, weapons, and other items is magnificent, and the graphics are, for lack of a better word, gorgeous. This game, so far, is the only RPG that comes very close to real life. I think the only thing that makes it different from real life is that the real world has no reset button. This is a must have, must play, must get addicted game. Like great literature, this you cannot put down until it's done!

While Morrowind was indeed an incredible game, Oblivion clearly cleans up much of the crap from the previous title. For one, the combat system is incredible (I found myself playing Morrowind for the story, not the action; here I'm playing it almost more for the action). Two, the fact that everyone actually talks to you makes the game more of a game, rather than a book with controls. Three, the physics system ensures quite a lot of mischievous fun.

Sure, there are drawbacks, but I think what people might be whining about when they say Morrowind was better is that Oblivion might perhaps be too familiar. In Oblivion, there are oak trees and deer and bears and pretty common looking flowers and weather patterns. In Morrowind it was all so exotic and foreign, with the towering mushrooms and strange cities and everyone calling you "muthsera" and the strange creatures no one's ever seen before. Morrowind was more original. Oblivion's just plain good.

Sure, the main quest might be a little shorter, but I can say that I'm definitely tempted to play this game all over again just to play around and get all the stuff I didn't before. Morrowind was a little too empty feeling. Oblivion is a more living world, with wind in the trees, creatures fighting one another ...

But while many may complain about lack of content, look what happened with Morrowind! The original game was long as it was, but two different expansions were released for it! Who knows how much extra material, extra armour, extra adventures, extra lands will be added to the Oblivion experience before the next Elder Scrolls is released (assuming it is, which I certainly hope is so). 10/10, so I say.

I picked up this game "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" and I was immediately hooked in its advanced graphics and its vast and varied options. When I first heard of this game, I was hoping for an original and inspired RPG with a slew of classes, races, and other options, with some insight on its very own geologic time scale, and with its own human cultures. This title didn't meet my hopes and expectations, it surpassed them. Oblivion delivers far better graphics than my 1.4 GHz processor can work with, a cast that could not have been better-assembled, a history that I could never have pulled entirely from my brain, and a series of race options that I would never have thought possible. The humans are not only culturally divided, they are geologically divided as well. In other words, two of the races look very human but are not human at all according to the lore that this is apparently the third sequel (fourth original) in. The game-play is very well-thought out, you have different skills that you can advance in, and all of the characters' and creatures' effectiveness are quite realistic. There are also many paths to choose, from warrior to sorcerer to hit-man; and more. I could easily see why this game got a 9.5 and "Computer Game Of The Month" award from Game Informer. I can't see anyone with even half a brain hating this game. If you are aged 13 to elderly and are a fan of fantasy, Bethesda, or just of anything that makes any sense in the world of its story, then Oblivion is for you.

Just got the game today. Day of release (it's the first game I've EVER pre-ordered). I have one simple word to describe it: Breathtaking.

The graphics are astounding, the A.I. is brilliant, the voice talent ranks up with the KOTOR games.

The combat system has been tweaked so it is not the same boring system as the last game (one of the few flaws of it).

The glint of light off of metal and the swaying of the trees all add to the realism of the game.

This game is a must have for ANY RPG fans.

10/10