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| | Title:
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
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System:
Xbox 360
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Genre:
RPG
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Publisher:
Bethesda Softworks
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Developer:
Bethesda Softworks
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Release:
March 20, 2006
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Online:
No
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ESRB:
Teen (T)
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Fans of The Elder Scrolls franchise have a reason to celebrate --their beloved game is now coming to the next generation of consoles, specifically the Xbox 360. Featuring a new story, amazing visuals and smarter A.I., the sequel to the popular Morrowind is only months away. So heed this warning girlfriends, wives, moms and best friends: You probably aren’t going to see your gaming companions for quite a while!
The Elder Scrolls series is best known for its freedom. A freedom many games aspire to achieve but few do. A freedom where the player truly feels they are another being. Every action, every choice, is solely placed on the shoulders of the person holding the controller. Sure, there is a main story line, but who says it has priority? Maybe exploring the vast wilderness sounds like fun. Go for it. Feel like searching the banks for a rare herb to make that perfect potion? After you. Nothing is holding the player back. Oblivion looks to carry on this tradition by once again offering a completely accessible world and not constricting the player in anyway due to storyline.
All RPGs need an excellent setting and Oblivion is not going to disappoint. The game takes place in the world of Tamriel, which is having its typical share of problems. It seems the Gates of Hell have somehow been opened. The role the player will take is not quite determined yet but it will probably deal with restoring the balance of the world and closing the gate to Hell. Even though this sounds like a dark storyline, the world of Oblivion is anything but dark. It’s downright amazing. Oblivion is one of the better examples of just how powerful the Xbox 360 hardware is and will be. There will be a multitude of different environments for the players to explore, each looking graphically unique and stunning. Some examples of environments shown at E3 were plains, dense forests, quaint towns, majestic cities and a towering castle that has Lord Of The Rings written all over it. The look of the world is a unique blend of English history and myth that looks to be a blast to explore.
Two promises made by the people behind Oblivion are better A.I. and improved combat. Fans will leap for joy to hear this. One very big complaint about Morrowind was how dumb the A.I. was and how horrible the combat played. A.I. improvements come in the form of the A.I. being aware of the world around them giving a more realistic behavior. This applies to the patrons dwelling in the towns as well as the monsters roaming the forests. As for gameplay, it’s assumed some of the basics from the previous Elder Scroll games will be carried over. Combat will be fought in either first person or third person. Like in Morrowind the player has the choice to switch between the two camera positions; each coming with its own advantages and disadvantages. The ability to wield weapons and conjure magic is also making a return in Oblivion. Axes, longbows, swords, and spears are just some of the expected huge list of weapon types and variations to be found in Oblivion. As for magic old favorites like the Fireball are returning and new spells are almost a given. What is going to be improved in this system hasn’t been specified. It may just be an evolution of Morrowind’s combat (aka extremely polished). Hopefully, the improved A.I. and enhanced combat will lead to a more enjoyable experience.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is one of the more anticipated titles on the Xbox 360. While fixing the problems that plagued the prequel but also stepping forward in technology, Oblivion seems set to be the first RPG on the Xbox 360.
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Cloud890
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