The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Reviews

Bethesda’s newly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is the subject of another half dozen enthusiastic reviews. The first is at AllRPG with an overall score of 8.7/10:

In a world of RPGs dominated by western created MMOs and Japanese console RPGs focused on linear point to point quests and non branching storylines, Oblivion proves that the single player role-playing experience is far from dead. While not perfect, Bethesda has gone the extra mile in order to create NPCs that are unique. Also, through the use of today’s hardware specifications Bethesda also succeeds in creating a fluid and expansive world that immerses players into the protagonist’s role. The interface is very user friendly which allows for newer players to pick up and play instead of scanning through hundreds of options and menus, which makes it perfect for consoles. With the sheer amount of quest and customization, players can be expected to play the game long beyond the main quest. While not flawless, Oblivion can still be defined as a superlative experience in a RPG market dominated by redundancy and clichés.

The second is at eToyChest with an overall score of 98/100:

Even so, the pros far, far outweigh the few cons, and the loading issue is not a game-stopper by any means. There is so much to do in Oblivion. There are horses to ride, vampires to slay, ladies to impress, lords to betray, shops to lift, quests to undertake, houses to buy and furnish, potions to brew, items to enchant, spells to make, and men to murder. If you choose. You can choose to do absolutely none of those things and still progress through the game. That is the beauty of Oblivion, as it has been with every Elder Scrolls adventure. Players are rewarded as much as they want to be. It is quite possible to blow through the game in 30 hours, but it is equally possible to play for 400 and still not have done everything there is to do in Cyrodiil. Also, considering that there is already a Download Content option to download stuff from Xbox Live, as well as an already announced promise of downloadable armor with which to outfit your horse in the near future, the popularity of Oblivion will almost assuredly mean expansions, which will only add to the already huge world and what it offers. Until then, players will have a lot to chew on with the core game, which is without question one of the best and most rewarding experiences ever to be made available.

The third is at VIA Arena with no overall score:

Every time I see a major step in graphics technology in games I wonder what they can do next. Although we are not quite at Final Fantasy movie quality just yet, the scenery and environment is so realistic in Oblivion that we are approaching the stage where, (save for the other worldly castles and characters) the screen shot could be a photograph. We’re not quite there yet but Bethesda has brought us closer than we have ever been. The 3D depth and differences in the way that texture and moisture relate to different objects in a natural way has not been achieved before. Bethesda have paid attention to the mundane details of real life and applied those observations using the latest mapping techniques, to bring us a truly visually beautiful world. I would highly recommend that you grab a copy of this game and explore this for yourself since the static screenshots really can’t show you what I am trying to describe.

The fourth is at The Kentucky Kernel with no overall score:

Even if you hate video games and loathe the idea of spending hours upon hours in front of a screen, once you touch “Oblivion,” any hope of achieving the Dean’s List is out the window; your free time is thrown into oblivion both literally and figuratively. While it might be more productive than smoking crack cocaine, it’s presumably just as addictive.

The fifth is at Into Liquid Sky with an overall score of “A”:

While there are some things to polish here and there, the overall package of Oblivion is excellent and will be satisfying for anyone looking for a deep and enriching role-playing experience. There is a lot to do here and you could feasibly spend hundreds of hours just exploring and performing non-story quests. Anyone with a Xbox 360 and a love for RPG should buy this.

And the sixth is at ThumbBandits with a perfect score of 10/10:

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is THE game RPG fans and 360 owners have been salivating over. The graphics are at worst nothing short of beautiful and the sound is absolutely immersive. The radiant A.I. has to be experienced to be believed and injects a degree of realism into the game that will leave countless jaws slackened on the floor. In-game combat has been given some welcome pace, which allows for a much more visceral experience, and the inclusion of strong female characters (both playable and NPC) will please the army of devoted female gamers. Some people may find Oblivion a problem in terms of absorbing the entire game, and its expansive geography and detailed character development may invoke the uncomfortable sensation of running before learning to walk. But, on the whole, Oblivion will leave very few people disappointed and is highly likely to gather up a fair few trophies come awards time.