An incredibly detailed and deep adventure awaits.
There are just not enough games like Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion these days. If you play this game for just one hour, then you will be amazed at the detail and complexity of the experience. This is one of those "effort games" where it seems that the developers spent thousands of hours and tons of energy into making it. Effort is one thing, but does it directly relate to how fun it will be? In this case, it's a positive "yes".
Graphics - 8/10:
For an early game for the 2 next-gen consoles and the PC, Oblivion is an eye appealing game. They don't cover up things or supposedly create an illusion of good visuals by putting gray and brown everywhere. This game isn't afraid to show color. The mouth syncing is very well done, save for a few occasional moments where the game glitches out. Not only do the individual objects look fantastic, they seem to blend in very well to the environment.
Gameplay - 9/10:
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a single player first-person RPG. You use R1 to swing your sword or use your main weapon, just like a First-Person Shooter using it to fire a gun. You also use your L1 to block, corresponding to your respective hands in the game. The controls are easy to pick up, but hard to master, as you'll have to quickly learn to hot-key items and spells, use magic, and get to know your environment, as well as yourself.
You start the game selecting your character's class (although you can master all the classes later on) and appearance/race (as in dark elf, human, etc). There is no way your character is going to look good, as it seems that these character models are cursed to be ugly. You go through the game doing either the main-story quest, or doing the smaller side-quests in between. Following RPG tradition, this game requires some grinding and patience. But what sets this RPG apart, is the amount of sheer detail in the environment. I'm not talking about graphics, but you can virtually pick up any object in the game. See a little bowl on the desk? You can pick it up and put it in your inventory if you want, although it may be considered stealing.
That's another thing. This game has strict laws, so it may be considered a free-roaming RPG, but you can't go on a killing spree without encountering nearly invincible guards, and paying a harsh fine. This takes away some fun, but it adds this realistic tone into the game, and balances it nicely. Another thing you will notice is just how big the world is. I'm guessing it will take you at least 4 real life hours to walk around the entire land. Luckily, there's a fast-forward walking system for fast transportation.
I'm going to go straight to the point with the AI... They're merely just programed to do certain things at certain conditions, and are completely predictable.
With such a large game, you're going to run into some pacing problems, which every large RPG game seems to have trouble in, and this game is no exception. You will occasionally run into some bumps along the road which could force you to get stronger from the optional quests. But if you're not a hardcore RPG veteran, then you'll be discouraged for sure. Sometimes you may not get enough of Oblivion, and sometimes, you may not even touch the game for months at a time. They do attempt to keep things moving with many quests and exploration, but if you're stuck, there's not much to push you forward to keep trying.
Sound - 8/10:
The sound is appropriate for the game's setting of medieval times. Although I would have liked to see more variety, the sound effects shine in this game. Everything makes a sound. From the little pots/pans to weapons, and even the wind during some gusty days. The soundtrack gets boring quite quickly, as you'll soon get to know each song note-for-note. A wider soundtrack would have been great. Another neat thing is how every bit of dialog uses actual voice acting. There won't be any boxes of text you have to read, with some cut-scenes with voice. There is always voice for dialog, and it's consistently good. However, they seem to have only 3 or so voice actors doing hundreds of characters, which sounds really strange as you may talk to 5 people in a bar who sound exactly the same.
Value - 10/10:
I'm putting two things into account here.
One, this game will take you at least a hundred hours if you do the side quests, making it a great bargain.
Two, it's only $30 now for the PS3. How can you beat that? I'm trying to think of a reason for docking marks for it's value, but I have no reason to not give it a perfect ten.
Story - "borrows story from others":
You wake up in a prison/dungeon. Soon, you tag along with with the king (who let's you go) so you can defend him with his guards against assassins. Eventually, they catch up to the king and assassinate the old bugger. As you may have predicted already, you must find a lost heir to the throne (how original). Along with it, you have to find the Amulet of Kings which proves the heir's right to the throne and all that kingly business. Also, to make matters worse, there are demons coming from another dimension called Oblivion, sending you on even more quests to close all of the portals. The story doesn't really feel all that epic or original, but it's a decent story. But it's only my opinion, and some people I know love the story.
CONCLUSION:
If you don't usually play RPGs, this game is definitely still worth a buy, especially since it's only $30, but RPG fans will get a huge kick out of this as it takes everything right about an RPG, and adds even more to it. With a taste for a huge adventure and attention to detail, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is for you.
Graphics - 8/10
Gameplay - 9/10
Sound - 8/10
Value - 10/10
Story - "borrows story from others"
OVERALL - 4 STARS
Graphics - 8/10:
For an early game for the 2 next-gen consoles and the PC, Oblivion is an eye appealing game. They don't cover up things or supposedly create an illusion of good visuals by putting gray and brown everywhere. This game isn't afraid to show color. The mouth syncing is very well done, save for a few occasional moments where the game glitches out. Not only do the individual objects look fantastic, they seem to blend in very well to the environment.
Gameplay - 9/10:
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a single player first-person RPG. You use R1 to swing your sword or use your main weapon, just like a First-Person Shooter using it to fire a gun. You also use your L1 to block, corresponding to your respective hands in the game. The controls are easy to pick up, but hard to master, as you'll have to quickly learn to hot-key items and spells, use magic, and get to know your environment, as well as yourself.
You start the game selecting your character's class (although you can master all the classes later on) and appearance/race (as in dark elf, human, etc). There is no way your character is going to look good, as it seems that these character models are cursed to be ugly. You go through the game doing either the main-story quest, or doing the smaller side-quests in between. Following RPG tradition, this game requires some grinding and patience. But what sets this RPG apart, is the amount of sheer detail in the environment. I'm not talking about graphics, but you can virtually pick up any object in the game. See a little bowl on the desk? You can pick it up and put it in your inventory if you want, although it may be considered stealing.
That's another thing. This game has strict laws, so it may be considered a free-roaming RPG, but you can't go on a killing spree without encountering nearly invincible guards, and paying a harsh fine. This takes away some fun, but it adds this realistic tone into the game, and balances it nicely. Another thing you will notice is just how big the world is. I'm guessing it will take you at least 4 real life hours to walk around the entire land. Luckily, there's a fast-forward walking system for fast transportation.
I'm going to go straight to the point with the AI... They're merely just programed to do certain things at certain conditions, and are completely predictable.
With such a large game, you're going to run into some pacing problems, which every large RPG game seems to have trouble in, and this game is no exception. You will occasionally run into some bumps along the road which could force you to get stronger from the optional quests. But if you're not a hardcore RPG veteran, then you'll be discouraged for sure. Sometimes you may not get enough of Oblivion, and sometimes, you may not even touch the game for months at a time. They do attempt to keep things moving with many quests and exploration, but if you're stuck, there's not much to push you forward to keep trying.
Sound - 8/10:
The sound is appropriate for the game's setting of medieval times. Although I would have liked to see more variety, the sound effects shine in this game. Everything makes a sound. From the little pots/pans to weapons, and even the wind during some gusty days. The soundtrack gets boring quite quickly, as you'll soon get to know each song note-for-note. A wider soundtrack would have been great. Another neat thing is how every bit of dialog uses actual voice acting. There won't be any boxes of text you have to read, with some cut-scenes with voice. There is always voice for dialog, and it's consistently good. However, they seem to have only 3 or so voice actors doing hundreds of characters, which sounds really strange as you may talk to 5 people in a bar who sound exactly the same.
Value - 10/10:
I'm putting two things into account here.
One, this game will take you at least a hundred hours if you do the side quests, making it a great bargain.
Two, it's only $30 now for the PS3. How can you beat that? I'm trying to think of a reason for docking marks for it's value, but I have no reason to not give it a perfect ten.
Story - "borrows story from others":
You wake up in a prison/dungeon. Soon, you tag along with with the king (who let's you go) so you can defend him with his guards against assassins. Eventually, they catch up to the king and assassinate the old bugger. As you may have predicted already, you must find a lost heir to the throne (how original). Along with it, you have to find the Amulet of Kings which proves the heir's right to the throne and all that kingly business. Also, to make matters worse, there are demons coming from another dimension called Oblivion, sending you on even more quests to close all of the portals. The story doesn't really feel all that epic or original, but it's a decent story. But it's only my opinion, and some people I know love the story.
CONCLUSION:
If you don't usually play RPGs, this game is definitely still worth a buy, especially since it's only $30, but RPG fans will get a huge kick out of this as it takes everything right about an RPG, and adds even more to it. With a taste for a huge adventure and attention to detail, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is for you.
Graphics - 8/10
Gameplay - 9/10
Sound - 8/10
Value - 10/10
Story - "borrows story from others"
OVERALL - 4 STARS
