Thirteen near-perfect reviews for Bethesda Softworks’ The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion kick off the new week. The first is at WorthPlaying with an overall score of 9.8/10:
Honestly, there has never been a game like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, and even The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, which was considered as one of the best RPGs of its generation, looks unrefined and basic in comparison. Simply put, Oblivion is now the title that all other RPGs will be measured against, and now more than ever, Bethesda is one of the crown princes of the genre. Some games showcase beautiful graphics but have horrid gameplay; others have lots of ideas and gameplay elements but are thrown together in a mismatched and complicated way. Oblivion not only raises the bar in the visual and audio modules but also in the gameplay and presentation department, making it easily one of the most recommendable titles to anyone who has ever enjoyed the thought of truly doing whatever they want in a video game, in a world where actions actually mean something. Besides, admit it you’ve always wanted to throw down and get into a boxing match with a barnyard animal. Just be sure to block and parry their horns and punch when there’s an opening; those horns can be pointy to the unarmored adventurer.
The second is at Team Fremont with an overall score of 9.8/10:
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is quite probably the greatest roleplaying game of all time, marred only by some technical issues. Any fan of the genre should already have this next-generation gem in their collection.
The third is at ActionTrip with an overall score of 94/100:
…even though Oblivion might hurt your PC in ways it hasn’t been hurt or overheated before, and barring certain technical drawbacks, (one of which would be an occasional AI quirk from the friendly NPCs or a rough-around-the-edges side quest line), Bethesda just pushes the bar in every possible way. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a game well worth your money. It is a unique experience that doesn’t come by very often in this industry of ours. Be sure to cherish it and enjoy it for all its worth.
The fourth is at Deeko with an overall score of 9.5/10:
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is another fantastic step forward in Bethesda’s evolution of the RPG. This game provides you a beautiful world with a rich history to immerse yourself into. There is never a shortage of things to do and every task can be carried out at your own pace. Although there are some graphical issues, it’s still beautiful to look at and a good example of what the 360 is capable of. If you’re a casual RPG player, you may or may not be intimidated by what Oblivion is capable of, but I promise you it’s worth it. It’s arguably the best 360 game out there and the most addicting RPG experience outside of an MMO. Bethesda undoubtedly has more awards and accolades heading their way this year.
The fifth is at TotalVideoGames with an overall score of 9/10:
Oblivion is a game that defines freedom within a videogame, one that accepts whatever role players choose and allowing them to play the game as they see fit; for this reason alone, Oblivion is a game with very few rivals – a flawed masterpiece.
The sixth is at Ares Technica with an overall score of 9/10:
My opinion of this game has fluctuated greatly over the last several days, even up to the last revision of this review. It has been hard to give this game an objective score when the whole experience feels so subjective. Flaws definitely exist, but there is just so much to praise about the fourth Elder Scrolls! Bethesda deserves recognition for the grand scale of this game and the exponential improvements they have made since Morrowind.
The seventh is at Killer Betties with an overall score of 5/5:
I have to say that as of this writing, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is the game that no Xbox 360 owner should be without. I could continue to rave on and on about my travels and how much I love this game, but frankly, my hands are getting tired from all this typing. Of course, it doesn’t hurt already having a deep love for RPGs, but I could see even RPG newbies running out to buy this game. Though the Xbox sadly lacked of RPGs outside of a handful (Morrowind, KOTOR, Jade Empire, Fable, Bard’s Tale), I could actually see myself forgiving the 360 if it takes a while for another RPG to come out, because this sucker is massive and will easily take you hours upon hours to see everything this game has to offer. I can’t recommend this game enough — easily my favorite game for the Xbox 360 so far, and probably one that will stay that way for months to come.
The eighth is at Jolt Online Gaming with an overall score of 9.4/10:
Oblivion is a refreshing, immersive, massive, satisfying and hugely impressive game. It’s a game that will appeal to a lot of people (to varying degrees), although admittedly not to everyone, and no two experiences will be the same for different people. Oblivion is much more an immersive experience than a game, but both the presentation and the gameplay have come a long way since Morrowind. Best of all, it’s a game that both PC gamers and console gamers can agree on. In fact, not only is this a game worth buying for your Xbox 360 or PC, it’s a game worth buying an Xbox 360 or upgrading your PC for.
The ninth is at Strategy Informer with an overall score of 9.2/10:
Alright so final thoughts: near-masterpiece, absolutely phenomenal achievement for Bethesda, and no-doubt the best game on the PC in 2006; if not all formats. The best graphics *ever*, the best physics in an RPG, and the best quest system and story-line of the TES series. Curtain closed, and bed-time for this tired reviewer because my sorceror’s pet zombie has just started talking to me and I need to sleep before I start seeing necromancers leap out the screen.
The tenth is at Xbox Evolved with an overall score of 9.7/10:
Overall Oblivion is an amazing game, and the reason to own an Xbox 360. If you are one of the few out there that can play the game on a over-stuffed PC then hey that may be for you. The rest of us however have a unique and epic adventure to look forward to on Xbox 360. Oblivion is so deep it is hard to escape its grasp. Few things keep it down, such as loading times, and a few problems with visuals and sound, but the gameplay, the most important piece is dead-on. Not one person will play the game the same way, each with their own unique adventure and story to tell, a story, which they will definitely be playing for many months to come. If you don’t already have this game and own a 360, get it now, if you plan on picking up a 360, make sure you get this gem with it.
The eleventh is at ToTheGame with an overall score of 9/10:
Oblivion is a title in which other RPGs will look at to try and surpass. Is it perfect? I wouldn’t go that far. There are instances of slow-downs and the frame rates might stutter a bit. NPCs might get stuck in a corner for a few seconds. But what makes Oblivion such a great title is that these little instances of imperfection can be over looked by such a barrier breaking title. Action lovers will love this game, RPG lovers will love this game, and anyone who appreciates eye-candy will love this game. We as gamers often get challenged on the fact that how can we justify spending $60 for a game that takes 10 hours to complete. Oblivion is one of those games we can point to, a month, two months down the line and say it was well worth every penny. In my mind, this isn’t just the quintessential RPG for Xbox 360 owners; it’s the quintessential title every 360 owner should own.
The twelfth is at MSXboxWorld with an overall score of 9.5/10:
I’m still playing Oblivion and I can honestly say it will remain one of my favourite games in which I will continue to live out my characters roles for quite some time. It’s all very impressive and well suited to the (Next Gen) tag that seems to be the current buzz word flying around and despite the odd graphical glitches here and there. I guess one has to look at the game from a role playing game fan point of view but also on how more casual players will approach the game. I think from being an RPG fan it’s clear that Oblivion remains challenging and highly engaging throughout and certainly delivers what fans of the genre expect. For casual players I still feel that despite the obvious changes Bethesda have made to make the game more accessible there still is a huge amount of time investment needed to fully experience what the game has to offer. For a casual player this might pose a little bit of a problem especially if time is limited although saying that you could get away with the odd hour here and there. Oblivion tends to suck you in and more often than not, time in the real world seems to pass unnoticed. If you’re a casual gamer then yes Oblivion might be a little overwhelming at first and perhaps you might not wish to get into the deeper aspects of the game. However I think any gamer worth his or her salt will truly appreciate the love and effort that has been put into the game. RPG fans looking for a true next generation experience can rejoice as Oblivion certainly fills the void that has been present since the launch of the Xbox 360. I think the safest thing to say is for casual players to rent the game first and spend several hours getting to grips with how things play out and if you like then buy. For RPG fans then this is definitely a must buy as games of this scale and quality don’t come around too often.
And the thirteenth is at Xbox Nerds with an overall score of 9.5/10:
Hooked, obsessed, infatuated, addicted, captivated…one of these will describe you once you start playing. Maybe that’s a little much – the game isn’t for everyone (no game is). I wouldn’t expect each and every person that plays this game to have the same enthusiasm for it that I have. I have no reservations saying it is one of the top games for the Xbox360 so far, and one of the top games of the year.
I think we have a “Game of the Year” in our midst.
