The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006 Video Game) User Reviews

One of the Greats

[SuperSanity · 10/10 · 21 March 2006]

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

Best RPG ever made...

[RCD1321 · 10/10 · 8 June 2006]

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!

Incredible

[trygbjornn · 10/10 · 6 June 2006]

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.

Literally a wonderful gaming experience

[llhall2 · 17 April 2006]

My husband got Elder Scrolls: Oblivion because he was a big fan of Morrowind. I myself, not so big a fan, but only because I never really got into the game. He carefully researched and got a new video card recommended by the game requirements, an Invidia 7800GS. I wouldn't play this game unless you had a video card & processor capable of handling it. Otherwise it's move the cursor, wait a minute, move the cursor, etc.

Now that being said, it is positively one of the most fun games I've played in a long time. I never really got into Morrowind or any of the other elder scrolls games. I recognized that they were fantastic games, but I never really enjoyed them. I have taken the computer away from my husband. From the minutiae of detail you can infuse into your character, to the AI response to your actions, the scope of the landscape.. the weather changes, the leaves moving.. the deer prancing in the distance that you can actually hunt.. It's amazing.

I've only done one or two of the quests.. and just started roaming into one of the many little dungeons. I thought it would just be bandits, but got farther down and started finding secret caverns.. light play is amazing. I stumbled into an underground chamber and was amazed by the lighting and the details.. until the bones started walking towards me. It was eerily creepy and wonderfully immersive.

I definitely would recommend this game for the PC for the module creations as well. I look forward to getting player made modules off the internet and seeing what other people are enjoying about this game.

10/10

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Review

[Ekul829 · 10/10 · 26 July 2006]

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, truly, an amazing and beautiful game. No, game, this isn't a game, this is digital art. Few games, *ahem*, digital pieces of art have total thrown me into an entire world of myth, and realism. The people have actual lives, the world evolves, and you grow and live in a different place. The computers, wait, the artificial beings are so smart its scary, like when the Ferbes came out. The people talk to you and each other, and have 100's of hours of spoken dialog. The each have names and personalities and respond differently to all situations. Same with the vast wildlife, like deer, wolfs, and big-ass spider people. The world is so huge, you'd get even more lost just going to the nearest Fighters Guild than walking to the Governor of Rhode Islands dentist office. The total obsession of the digital work of artistic master piece does come at a price. Though loading isn't killing long, its not very fast. The pop up does suffer at times as well. Other issues like jumping could have been tweaked but nothing serious. Overall the realistic values of this is beyond belief, from books, to the ingredients of a meal, potion making and all the quests truly support a gigantic step for all of digital artwork, um... kind. *9.5 out of 10*

An Absolute Masterpiece. More than a game: A Revolution.

[vincent-175 · 10/10 · 4 April 2006]

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. What is Oblivion? I tell you now, Oblivion is more than a just a video game. It is a Revolution of gaming as we know it. Fun, open-ended game-play like none ever before experienced. A grand, deep plot, more expansive and in-depth than Lord of the Rings. A masterful voice cast, featuring wonderful, famous talents. Miraculous graphics- trees that look real and grow just as normal trees do with accurate geology, corpses and other objects that roll down hills and move with real-world physics as you grab them. A wonderful character creation system, allowing you do customize your character from the tone of his skin to the point of his nose to the puffs of his lips to the length of his hair. Fabulous creatures, from the wolf, to the horse, to the Minotaur, to the Daedra, all of them giving the feeling which they are intended. Grand cities, with stores, houses, churches, hotels... everything a real city would have. Revolutionary Radiant AI allowing all of the 2,000 NPC characters to think on their feet, and complete their own goals. Dozens of thousands of quests to complete: So many that the side-quests of side-quests have side-quests! This is a game like never before. A game which sets a new standard for all gaming, and truly gains dominion over all games previously released. I'd like to welcome all who desire to buy this game to the wonderful world of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the greatest video game of all time.

A Genius Role-Playing Game

[RedGroundBlackSnake · 9/10 · 12 July 2010]

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.

Best over 300 hours of my life

[xboxreveiws · 10/10 · 29 September 2010]

Oblivion is a must have game for any RPG player or just anyone that have followed the elder scrolls through out. It is fantastic, the story is brilliant and you sort of feel for the characters say if one dies you think oh gods sake and then load the last save to save them. The graphics are immense for a game of that time and even though glitches are in the game ,like the duplication one, it doesn't destroy the game really at all, the weapons are vast and you can make them better by enchanting them and the making of spells addition I really liked. The add-ons of it are alright the nine knights (I think it is called) isn't the greatest of add-ons but the first play through is fun but they have little add-ons like horse armour, tomes and extra weapons. The shear size of the area is amazing and it can be really calming just to go wondering around in the mountains of Bruma or the woods placed around the whole map. Overall Oblivion is still my ALL time favourite game and that is saying something when it came out four years ago!

Possibly The King Of Games

[krlmilne · 10/10 · 13 April 2007]

When I first heard of the game oblivion I thought it was another one of these RPGs that gave itself more credit than what it was worth, a cheap copy of morrowind (which I never found exactly "fun" before) but when I heard it was exclusively for xbox 360 and PC, the two most graphically enhanced consoles up to now, I got myself a copy and I didn't regret it. The PS3 version is equally good but you'd think in a years time there would be something extra aside from a free download implanted in the disc. Overall you'll prefer the 360 version. The graphics are by far the top of the xbox class and gameplay and lifespan are in a way dangerously addicting. WARNING-you may loose your social life at the first minute of gameplaying. The flaws and bugs sometimes occur such as encountering invisible animals and in-game freezing, which are annoying and taunting, you may also encounter some quest flaws such as journal pop ups that are suppose to happen in order for you to progress further in a mission. The voice acting is something to be admired, and from time to time you will feel cyrodill to be a real place in its amazing landscape. The main quest is dramatic and epic but lasts no longer from 2 to 4 hours but there are many faction and city quests to go through until you can officially say I bet the game. Through the experience of playing oblivion you will realize there are two types of video games; typical games that have movie spin-offs and sports franchises... And games that drag you into its amazing story and graphics such as halo 2 and oblivion. If you overlook some minor bugs that you'll more than likely run into you'll never be able to walk outside your front door again because you'll be too busy sitting on your ass playing and drooling at the amazing features and experiences oblivion has to offer. 10/10 all the way!!!

A Great Game!

[iloveylegolas · 10/10 · 18 October 2006]

This is a wonderful game, although it is quite addicting. Just a Warning to those out there who want to play this game, it is addicting and time consuming. I just started playing yesterday and I've already spent 10 hours on the game. It's great. They spent 5 years working on it and the graphics are unbelievable. There is something to do everywhere and there is a huge country with tons of things in it. There are millions of quests or you can just go exploring! There are a variety of races and skills You can even make your own class! Also When you reach the gate of Oblivion do not enter!!!! Go straight past it. You have to be very powerful to survive in there!! So overall It's a Great Game and everyone should check it out!!

Stand the test of time, even if for the memes!

[lmilovitch · 10/10 · 27 September 2020]

Oblivion might not be pretty any more, but oblivion sure does have a soft spot in my heart. I've not poured so many hours in any other rpg save maybe it's successor. Bizzare as it sounds , many of the games faults I've grown to regard as strengths. It has great content. Good and some even great quests. Superb expansions (especially the shivering isles) and plenty of mucking around to do. Probably it has more flaws than I admit , but even so I find I can't have a year where I don't at least hop on for a few hours of nostalgia.

Never Expected Oblivion and Doom to be so Entertaining

[Margera4445 · 10/10 · 4 December 2007]

It's been a few years since the graphical and AI/battle Sequence inept Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind came out. I mean, sure it was an excellent exploration game but after awhile, town hopping in the silt strider and battling the same annoying Cliff Rider over and over again got a little old.

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion puts you in the shoes of...well, you. A character who has evidently won the prize for most important jail cell of the year. After making your character, playing with the shackles hanging from the ceiling and getting endlessly taunted by the presumably Dunmer man on cell across the way, the emperor and his guards descend the stairs. They open your cell, push you aside, and enter. The emperor, Uriel Septim (who's name sounds like an intestinal problem) says he notices you from his dream, and that "today is the day". By this statement, he could quite possibly be meaning that today is the day of his assassination OR today is the day that he met the man from his dream and is having a little fling....ANYWAYS, the emperor goes on about how you can help and your path his the same as his. His guards open a wall next to your bed with the push of a stone, that's right, you're rotting away in a prison and your in the cell with the largest escape route ever. As Septim and his Blades guards make their way through the wall, you follow far behind. Septim and his men are then attacked by the first wave of assassins clad in Chinese samurai armor. The guards kill them, but the captain of the brigade is killed leaving three men plus you unless you've chosen to be a female on your little quest. After going through many caverns and and halls battling rats, zombies, and goblins, you rejoin the three men and continue along. The third and final wave of assassins kills the emperor who, before his death, gives you the Amulet of Kings, a magical object which can only be worn by a true Septim descendant. You escape through some sewer tunnels with even more rats and goblins and eventually you end up facing some ruins on an island with the imperial city behind you. You look up, see the massive tower, and thus your adventure begins.

Graphics: 10/10: The graphics could not be more shiny. They left my mouth agape in awe as I watched the opening cinematic, which is just that, cinematic. The Oblivion Realms, which are entered through Oblivion Gates, could not be more Doom III-esq and disturbing. The cheery atmosphere of TES III was stomped and raped by Sauron and his drinking buddies from the land of Cyrodiil in the frightening realm.

Music: 9/10: The music was excellent. It gave that LOTR/Narnia/Pirates of the Caribbean feel to it. Although, some parts of the music were too epic with what was going on on screen. I don't want the trumpets and violins to pump up in a gigantic orchestral score when I'm drinking some ale at the tavern.

Gameplay: 10/10: Phenomenal. The game play is so crisp and clean. No more crappy death animations, it's all about the physics and ragdolls. And no more endless chopping with your sword. Expect some real thrilling sword and magic fights to be occurring here.

Was the game well rated?: Of course it was. Is the Oblivion Realm not proof enough. Corpses with exposed internal organs and bones hang limp from the walls and ceilings, blood splats against the wall when an enemy is slaughter mercilessly at the hands of your blade. This M rating was well deserved indeed.

WELL, THATS MY TWO CENTS. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS GAME, IF YOU GET IT...

BE SEEING YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OBLIVION GATES! M4445

Open-ended?

[enkephalin07 · 6/10 · 3 June 2006]

Way back when this was in pre-production I had thought it was too soon for another Elder Scrolls centered on the Imperial District.

The animations, lighting, texturing were all far superior to Morrowind, the Radiant AI was a marginal improvement, but the storytelling, the voice-acting, the depth of character were comparatively poor. Not only does the over-hyped 'open-endedness' fail to measure up to the previous game, but it's pretty pointless considering almost every significant situation demanded only one solution, one approach, one perspective. The inconsistencies to previously established culture, characters, organizations were distracting and disappointing. Many successful and demanded features were left out of this game, and the Construction Set is no better the Morrowind version, which was so inflexible and anti-intuitive and inferior to open-source modding tools for other games that I was skeptical anyone would have used it to produce a commercial game.

All of these support my perception that Oblivion was released too soon. It had great visuals, and the final battle was a greater payoff than Morrowind's, but main storyline was pretty forgettable. Oblivion blew it's potential; it's clearly lacking in almost every aspect of gameplay and storytelling.

Tedious

[Mighty_sheman · 4/10 · 12 January 2007]

I have given up on this game after 9 hours of game time as it is by far the most tedious RPG I have ever played. One of the most over hyped games since Shenmue. In fact combine Shenmue with the equally overrated Zelda:Ocarina of Time (minus the fun) and throw in a bit of LotR 'homage' along with the bland button bashing game-play of Indigo Prophecy (Fahrenheit) and you pretty much have Oblivion, a horrible mish mash of a game. Sure it is huge and pretty but someone forgot to add the game-play! All the hype about it being open ended was exactly that, hype. It gets so tedious wondering about uninhabited wilderness that once you figure out you can just go from A to B with the click of a button, you will. Unless you are a sucker for nicely animated forests in a variety of weather conditions (complete with butterflies) and boring repetitive game-play.

EVERY town looks exactly like the next or last, every 2nd person you meet in the game world will have a familiar voice (they must have only had 3 voice actors), and will have exactly the same useless chat as everyone else in town (similar to Shenmue) and every ruin or castle will look pretty much like every other one you come across. The whole thing is very...generic. The story is the same old boring cliché crap about a big fiery portal opening to another world and the whole world is in danger and there are some orcs and a dead emperor etc - just think a duller version of LotR and you have a good idea how the story goes. That is before you even get to the game-play, what a SNORE FEST. While other RPGs (even Shenmue) with large gameworlds have interesting little sub quests, side games, new stuff to be had and interesting areas to explore Oblivion has the most simplistic "go here, do that" approach that it becomes dull after the first "sub quest". All you end up doing is going to some place to talk to a dude or kill a few goblins and go back to point A to get a pat on the back. How fun. The battle system is basically attack, block, magic. I'm not joking either! The combat system in Oblivion is very much (not so) good old hack and slash stuff with the odd block or spell casting for variety. No brain required. I thought games had evolved past this over the last decade??

There is nothing fun to obtain either, it's all generic crap that remains the same over pretty much the whole map, "ooh look at that mug I'll 'ave that" - and what exactly are you supposed to do with it? who knows. What I do know is that even though nobody was in the room when you stole said mug you will be (without fail) confronted by a big burly dude with a sword, who has a burning desire to chop your little thieving hands off! Kill an innocent onlooker in a dark alley or in a wood with not another soul in sight and you will be informed that your deed has been observed by unknown forces - yep, that big burley bloke will be hunting you down to chop your evil head off! If you happen to accidentally chop down an amazingly dumb AI ally in the heat of battle (very easily done) even when no other allies are around to catch you... sorry, witness it - then prepare to die! So what exactly is the point of having the "fredom" to do these things if you are being watched by invisible, all seeing forces? That is just one of the many flaws of this horrible, simplistic, Simon says game.

If dithering around in pretty forests, hearing the same virtual conversations over and over again (by the same voice actors) and CONSTANTLY picking locks (which is the most tedious feature in any game, ever!) and then getting chased by a big burley guard (or a whole army of them) is your idea of a fun game then Oblivion is the game for you.

Wow!!! This is everything I wished for and more!!!

[dylankielman · 21 March 2006]

I just got my copy of Elder Scrolls Oblivion, and what can I say besides This is Possibly THE GREATEST GAME EVER!!!! Even more than Halo 2, Final Fantasy VII, and Metroid!

I'll start off by saying that Cyrodill(the gaming world) Is FREAKING HUGE! It makes GTA San Andreas look like the size of a sandbox, plus it's a living breathing world every NPC acts like a real human being(i.e beginning random conversations,hunting,etc) the AI is wonderful!

The graphics, Oh My the graphics in this game are unbelievable, Trees sway in the breeze of the wind, Forest are lush and dense, Every single spec of detail can be seen on the armour and weapons, and characters show realistic emotions. Possibly the best looking game EVER!!!

In all this is Quite possibly the most deep, fun, and amazing game I have ever played!!! I think every RPG that comes out in the future will have to somehow do better than Oblivion, something that I think will be highly unlikely!!!

Buy an Xbox 360 and play this game NOW!!!

Overall 10/10

Gaming Gold

[tomcos8 · 10/10 · 26 February 2010]

Bethesda studios is just immense in every way with the masterpieces that they produce. And this is definitely not an exception, everything about this game is just spot-on - Story 10/10, Visuals 10/10, Gameplay 10/10. just everything about it is brilliant. I (and indeed you) could play for hours on end and never get tired of the quality. Yes, there is many bugs and glitches involved. But the supremacy just overwhelms the minor flaws. many other people have said ridiculously that Oblivion is "boring", well i am saying now that this game is as boring as Margaret Thatcher dancing on stilts made of excrement. Just buy this now and you will NOT be let down.

A brilliancy!

[bastiaan0740 · 10/10 · 3 November 2010]

Hello all.

I'm not new to the Elder scrolls world, nor am I hopping onto the bandwagon and giving it a 10/10 because it's fashionable. I'm an elder scrolls veteran, having completed every game in the series multiple times starting from elder scrolls 1 - arena, with a desire of wanting to explore every aspect of the game. And I'm more than pleased to see the direction the games have headed in. The thing is - Bethesda listens. They learn from their previous games and try to make every new installment even better; and when they finally feel they did something better the first time around, they bring those elements back in order to give the best experience possible. This time, they kept the dungeons small and rewarding like morrowind; fast travel is back like arena; houses can be bought like daggerfall - yet the number of weapons, armor parts, and types/cures of diseases are diminished in order to simplify. It all works out well.

This game is the main reason I decided to buy an up-to-date computer.

If you liked any of the previous elder scrolls, or simply like RPG's, I highly recommend this one.

Expansive and Immersive Game

[aaustin1241 · 9/10 · 23 May 2011]

I had read a review of this game at IGN and decided to purchase it from a local Gamestop. I came home and slid it into my laptop and began the installation. From the teaser photos revealed during the installation, I could tell that the graphics of this game are something to be admired. I was unprepared for the game would turn out to be.

Oblivion is, in short, everything I ever wanted in a video game but thought could never happen. As soon as I stepped out into the outside world, I was at a lose of where to start. The world is massive, with beautiful landscapes and highly realistic weather patterns. Luckily, the quest screen allowed me to stay on track, but I found that even though I knew what to do and where to go, exploring this world and it's cities was far more entertaining. Each of the countless characters of this world are doing something, shopping, sleeping, conversing in the street, hunting, farming, you name it. And they are all on their own schedule. The streets are filled with people going about their own lives, adding to the big picture: that you are not the center of this game, merely a cog in the machine.

I could be walking along a city street and overhear two NPCs sharing rumors with each other, and soon my investigation slowly unfolds into a quest. My favorite was when I heard two NPCs in the imperial city. "They say that when you murder someone, the Dark Brotherhood visits you in your sleep." The quest that followed was one of the coolest and darkest series of events that I have ever seen. The Dark Brotherhood quests alone are worth the value of the game. But there are hundreds of quests. No matter where you go, there is always something going on. You can choose to be a good guy, or you can be viciously evil, or perhaps a nice mixture of the two. Either way, there is a legal system and the long arm of the law will be after you . . . if you're spotted.

I have previously played Morrowind, and my biggest issues with the game are that characters stood stationary almost the entire time. There was almost no dialogue, quest locations were difficult to get to, and the combat system was absurd. Don't get me wrong, I love the romps through the countryside, but sometimes I'd rather skip the long walk and just get on with the game. Oblivion addressed all of these concerns. The combat feels more like a FPS than an RPG, almost reminiscent of FFVII:DOC. There is an autolocate feature that allows you to instantly transport yourself to any city in the game, and all locations that you have previously been to.

For all of it's great highlights, after playing it through three times I do have several complaints.

The voice acting is redundant. Though there is a lot of dialogue, many of the NPCs sound exactly the same.

Though you can choose what quests to focus on, even ignoring the main quest altogether, the outcomes are nearly always the same, no matter how the quest is completed. As far as replay value, this is huge downer. The only way that each gaming experience is different is how you decide to use your character. But make no mistake, whether you run in and kill everything, or sneak your way around undetected, the result will nearly always be the same.

It's not a huge concern, but I feel that when I shoot an enemy as full of arrows as a hedgehog, he should die. Marksmen may have to shoot twenty arrows into an enemy before it releases it's bowels. I understand why the combat system is styled this way, but it takes away some of the realism for me.

All in all, this is the best game I have ever played. Whether you want the graphic power of the Xbox 360, or the expansive creative capabilities of the PC, Oblivion is a must have for RPG lovers everywhere.

Immersive, fun, and often challenging

[dorotka24 · 9/10 · 16 November 2009]

I have truly enjoyed the Elder Scrolls series, more than any other RPG game or series. The open ended feel, wide range of quests, and unique method of levelling a character all added to an RPG experience like no other.

Oblivion continues the format, with a number of significant changes over its predecessor - Morrowind. One of the complaints I had with the latter game is that it became pathetically easy after gaining only a handful of levels, as there were a number of simple buffs (alchemy!) that would make the character nigh invincible. The quests were still interesting, but the combat became too easy. Oblivion changes this by leveling the monsters along with the character. For instance, at low levels you could be wandering through the forest and run into a relatively easy to kill wolf, but at higher levels later down the road in the very same forest you might run into a very tough troll or minotaur. I have mixed feelings about this game feature. On the one hand, it does keep combat challenging and often intense, thereby making it more interesting. On the other hand, if you wait too long to pick up the main quest, it can be extremely challenging and frustrating to complete. You must be careful about creating your character and finding and making use of the trainers in the game to help boost skills and stats on the level ups. Standing toe-to-toe with multiple enemies in Morrowind was no problem at mid to higher levels - in Oblivion this is asking for a lot of hurt just about any time in the game, if not downright suicide. It certainly gives a FPS edge to the game that will keep you on your toes.

Another refreshing change is with the mercantile system, if you will. Merchants now have unlimited gold, but a cap on the amount they will pay for one item. Now you don't need to employ bizarre strategies to get the merchant gold higher, just need to give them a serious discount on very valuable merchandise (not a problem as with all the looting you'll have plenty of gold anyway). Items in general are not as valuable and mercantile/persuasion won't get you top dollar for your goods, as it did in Morrowind. There are no merchants (to my knowledge) like Creeper or Mudcrab that will give you full price - most give 50% or less of full value for items. You can still use alchemy to create and sell potions, but the homemade brews won't net you a fortune.

Something else that for me is a mixed bag is that Oblivion introduces minigames for persuading NPCs and picking locks. Both seem to be independent of speechcraft and security. That is, if you play the minigame well, the outcome will be favorable - a happy NPC and a picked lock, that is. It is a little bit fun at first, but can be just as tedious as the old method after a while. I'd rather just have the comp check my security skill against the lock and automatically decide the outcome. Same with persuasion. On the other hand, at least you have a chance with both endeavors even early game, if you are patient (the series in general does require a bit of this attribute).

In general, Oblivion is an outstanding game and one that I have enjoyed tremendously, albeit with some frustration. The game world is nearly breathtaking to behold. The landscape is beautiful, and jam packed with caves, ruins, and other locales to explore. The creatures have gotten a serious visual upgrade over Morrowind. All the Daedra look and sound more terrifying, particularly the Daedroth and Dremora - wow! For a minute there I thought I was playing Doom 3.

The quests are varied and interesting. The guilds don't give you as many things to do, but that seems right. After all, aren't there other members in these guilds? And if so, why would they give you all the work? It makes it easier to keep track of quests when you don't have so many to complete at the same time.

I got the original game and both expansions in a pack for $20 at Best Buy, and to me that is an absolute steal for this game. RPG fans, and Elder Scrolls fans in particular, should not miss out on this fantastic experience.

Refreshingly Wonderful

[mollysheehan-24994 · 10/10 · 4 March 2023]

This game is incredible, you'll get sucked right into the world, and you'll never want to put it down. If you play anything, then you'll want to try this. Even though it's from 2006 and on the PlayStation 3, it's still one of the most important games of My or anybody else's lifetimes!!! The world put you right into it, rescuing the Septum Legacy, having to deal with the demons, exploring the world, the 3D aspect, the incredible music by Jeremy Soule, the characters, the plot lines, the voice overs, (even though they are constantly repeated) are all very well done. My favorites are the Main Quest & of course the Knights of the Nine!!! What more can I say? 👲💖

Stop right there, and play this game

[DeathByCyan · 8/10 · 5 November 2021]

The elder scrolls IV oblivion is a great game, overshadowed by its younger brother even if I think both are great, this game has great RPG elements and creating a character and giving him a profession skills and signs, it's great! I love the story but I won't spoil it for you. The side quests leave much more to do after you hours already taken up by the main story! And progressing and getting new weapons is soooo fun! And you truely make your character act how you expect him/her to act I highly recommend this game! And the DLC's are fun to, but I do prefer the isle compared to the nine.

Great Game!

[Eugenia123345 · 9/10 · 20 July 2019]

It's up there with Skyrim for me. Both great games!

ES IV: Oblivion: Epic Fantasy Masterpiece

[Jinxxa_Wolf · 10/10 · 19 July 2023]

ES IV: Oblivion 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.

One of the greatest RPG games

[soccerdragon128 · 7/10 · 9 August 2007]

I am not a fan of RPG games except Grand theft auto (if you consider that an RPG game). In fact i don't like many RPG games like world of warcraft or the sims but Oblivion is definitely an exception. Oblivion is fun in conclusion but at times, it may get a little boring and dull.

Pros: Huge, beautiful world that is almost endless - Lots and lots of things to do besides the main storyline - Excellent graphics - Characters are realistic and well developed - Excellent storyline - Great original score

Cons: Some quests are boring - Traveling some places in the beginning take WAY to long

Severely Overrated

[mogmoogle99 · 3/10 · 9 December 2008]

A lot of people believe this to be on of the best RPG game's ever, Although this game does have a few things going for it, over all I thought the game was rather mundane compared to other RPG game's I've played. I'll go through my Initial impression of the game and explained why excitement quickly turned to disappointment. when I started the game, I enjoyed the controls, walking with the normal W,A,S,D as normal, but I liked controlling the sword and shield with the mouse to block and attack. which most RPG's auto block and hit for you, as you simply select your target. after escaping the Initial Underground area I was out in the open, and I though the graphics of the game were great, no problem's there. I started out questing, and found the quest system very confusing, the quest's told you to go to a certain place and talk to a certain person, but there were a lot of hidden objectives, that were not covered in your quest log, which left you wandering for hours searching. Another thing I noticed was the map was relatively small for an RPG. I saved up money at the start got myself a horse which is completely pointless as you can open up the map at anytime and instantly move to any point on the map. Exploring would have been cool if not for the fact that you can move anywhere instantly. What Dungeons? you're choices of dungeon's to explore are a few dank holes in the ground and and 1 of 4 randomly selected gates you enter to hell, that just repeat over and over again until you complete the quest. not to mention the game randomly crashes your PC god forbid you should Alt+tab Oblivion considers this sac-religious and will crash. There are several 3rd party patches that you can get to fix the plethora of error's present in the PC version. But lets just steer away from bug's and error's the same could be said for 90% of the Console, PC converts out there. Regardless I was severely disappointed with the lack of content in this game, you can visit a dozen towns/city's they all look a little bland, there's nothing really to explore, and I'm not kidding there's like 4 - 6 randomly selected maps when you enter a gate that you can explore, and memorize because you'll be back to them 100 times, and the few holes in the ground like the random mine or whatever you enter... well I could complain forever, although I cannot say I am completely surprised all the other games in the elder scrolls series ended up the same way. Start the game impressed, then restarting the game as a rogue so I can go steal stuff from all the store keepers at night. and quit. no replay value what so ever.

Don't get me wrong, this game is great for entry-level player's or people that don't commonly play RPG games. As it's not complicated as most RPG's, aside from some of the confusing quest info.