The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Release Date: March 20, 2006
RPG, FPP, TPP, fantasy, sandbox, The Elder Scrolls, Game Pass, PS Plus Premium, singleplayer
Steam
The fourth major installment in one of the most popular RPG series, created by Bethesda Softworks. The game's story takes place in Cyrodiil, the Imperial Province in the continent of Tamriel. After the assassination of the ruler of the realm, emperor Uriel Septim VII, the main character has to find the rightful heir to the throne and have him crowned as the next emperor of Tamriel.
Oblivion is the fourth installment in a popular cRPG series held in very high esteem by many fans of the genre. The title, just as the entire franchise, was created by Bethesda Game Studios.
Story
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is set in Cyrodiil, the capital province of the Empire ruling the Tamriel continent. After its last emperor suffered an untimely demise from the hands of mysterious assassins, the throne was left empty. This unfortunate situation would be bad enough as it is, allowing separatistic and anarchistic movements to spread within the empire. In this particular case, however, things are even worse – without a ruler of the imperial bloodline performing an important ritual, the gates of Oblivion (a local counterpart of the Hell) will soon stand open, enabling all sorts of vile beasts penetrate the mortal world. Easy to guess, a massive cataclysm is in the air, and the realm needs a hero. Your mission is to find a rightful heir to the throne of Tamriel and make him the next emperor.
Gameplay
Like all previous installments in the series, Oblivion is characterized by the huge freedom of choice it offers. This includes character creation and progression, exploration, abundance of side quests you can undertake outside of the main plot. You can become a warrior, archer, summoner, wizard, healer, rogue – or a combination of all these. Nothing stands in your way to join many different guilds at the same time and climb up in their ranks. Whatever you do impacts not only the character you control, but also the surroundings. The game’s world is inhabited by nearly 1,000 NPCs, who make choices independently, based on their personality traits, the place they live in and the results of their previous interactions with other persons. All this was possible thanks to the Radiant Artificial Intelligence system.
The game’s world is massive, offering many diverse locations, each with individually shaped terrain and unique ecosystem. Moreover, each is inhabited by a community possessing its own history, culture, and politics. More than 40 species of monsters roam this vast world. Many quests and dungeons are randomly generated each time you start the game, and even the places that you have already visited change over time. Your character can travel by foot, on horse, or simply by paying a carrier. Oblivion also offers a new type of map and a dynamic compass showing the distance to your destination or quest-related characters.
Technology
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion employs the full potential of DirectX 9.0 libraries, which allowed the developers to implement various visual effects that emphasize the unique character of the fantasy land you traverse, as well as fluent character animations, their mimics and gestures. Physics simulation is implemented based on the popular Havok Engine. Besides, the game is complemented with an editor, The Elder Scrolls Construction Set, which allows for modifying various elements of the world, changing personalities of characters and monsters, adding new locations and items, and creating you own worlds.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
Last Update: March 28, 2007
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game Guide & Walkthrough
Maps, quests, NPCs, locations, walkthrough for base game & addons. Live Another Life in Another World. Create and play any character you can imagine, from the noble warrior to the sinister assassin to the wizened sorcerer.
Videos and Screens
[1:35] The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion #3
[2:04] The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion combat
The main pros of the game
- Richly Detailed and Vibrant World: Many players praised the immersive and colorful game world, filled with diverse landscapes and lively cities.
- Freeform Gameplay: The game allows players to explore at their own pace and choose their own paths, enhancing the sense of freedom.
- Compelling Story and Quests: The main quest and side quests are often described as deep, engaging, and filled with meaningful choices that affect the story.
- Character Customization and Development: Players appreciated the depth of character customization, allowing for unique play styles and high replayability.
- Nostalgia and Timeless Appeal: Many players expressed a deep affection for the game, noting its nostalgic value and lasting impact on their gaming experiences.
The main cons of the game
- Aging Graphics and Technical Issues: Users frequently noted that the graphics have not aged well and can appear dated compared to modern games. Additionally, many mentioned stability issues, bugs, and the need for mods to improve performance.
- Combat Mechanics: The combat system received criticism for being clunky and repetitive, with some users describing it as the worst in the Elder Scrolls series.
- Level Scaling Problems: The level scaling system was highlighted as flawed, leading to enemies becoming disproportionately difficult if players do not level up optimally.
- Repetitive Dungeons: Several reviews mentioned that dungeons can feel copy-pasted and lack variety, which detracts from the exploration experience.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Controller Support Issues: Some users reported difficulties using controllers on PC, despite it being functional on consoles.
- Improved Graphics and Quality of Life Features: Many players expressed a desire for a remaster or updates to improve graphics and overall quality of life in the game.
- Complex Leveling Mechanics: Players noted that the leveling system could be frustrating and suggested that clearer guidance or improvements could enhance the experience.
- More Engaging Combat Options: Some users wished for a more refined combat system that offers greater depth and variety, similar to what was found in other RPGs.
Summary
- Overall, while The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition is celebrated for its immersive world, engaging storytelling, and nostalgic value, it also faces criticism for its aging mechanics, technical issues, and combat system.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 17222 votes. 635 players anticipated the game.
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17
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in The Elder Scrolls Game Series
Game Series
The Elder Scrolls Series
A series of action-RPG games in high-fantasy realities, ranked among the top of the genre. The series is developed by Bethesda Softworks and is one of the key brands in the company's publishing portfolio.
17 video games
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows March 20, 2006
PlayStation 3 March 20, 2007
Xbox 360 March 20, 2006
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium 4 3 GHz, 1 GB RAM, graphic card 128MB (GeForce 6600 or better), 4.6 GB HDD, Windows 2000/XP
Xbox 360
Supports: Xbox Live
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