A Legacy Forged in Fantasy
Step into a world where dragons once soared, magic crackled with untamed energy, and the fate of an empire teetered on the brink. For fans of role-playing games, this isn’t just a nostalgic trip; it’s the fundamental core of what makes The Elder Scrolls series so enduring. But does this old, legendary title still hold its own? In this Elder Scrolls Oblivion Review, we’ll dive deep into Cyrodiil, examining the game’s strengths, weaknesses, and its lasting impact on the gaming landscape.
Before the snow-covered peaks of Skyrim and the political intrigue of Morrowind, there was Oblivion. Released in 2006, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion carved its own path, building upon the foundations laid by its predecessors while simultaneously striving for accessibility. The game offered players an unparalleled level of freedom, letting them forge their own destiny in a vast and detailed world. It was a bold step forward in open-world role-playing, and one that has been revisited, celebrated, and, yes, sometimes criticized over the years. This Elder Scrolls Oblivion Review aims to consider whether the game still remains a worthwhile experience.
Crafting Your Hero, Defining Your Adventure
The journey begins with character creation, a deep well of possibilities allowing players to define their hero. You choose from a diverse array of races, each with its own unique attributes, strengths, and weaknesses. From the proud Imperials to the cunning Khajiit, the choice is truly yours. Selecting your class further refines your character, setting the stage for your playstyle. Do you envision a stealthy rogue, a battle-hardened warrior, or a spell-slinging mage? The game provides a wide range of classes and the option to create your own, customizing your character for a truly personalized experience.
Attributes, such as Strength, Intelligence, and Endurance, shape your capabilities. These stats, alongside a selection of skills like Blade, Destruction, and Athletics, evolve through gameplay. This system facilitates a sense of progression where your character grows stronger as you develop and hone your abilities, impacting everything from your combat prowess to your success in unlocking treasure chests.
Embracing Freedom: Exploring the Lands of Cyrodiil
The true heart of Oblivion is its world, Cyrodiil, a land of verdant forests, towering mountains, and bustling cities. The game offers a remarkable sense of exploration, encouraging players to stray from the main path and discover hidden caves, abandoned ruins, and unexpected encounters. The sheer size of the world, combined with its detailed environments, fosters a genuine feeling of discovery.
Fast travel provides convenience, allowing players to quickly move between major locations, but the real magic lies in the journey. Wandering through the wilderness, encountering creatures, and stumbling upon side quests add depth and intrigue to the experience. Oblivion’s map is brimming with points of interest, secrets waiting to be uncovered, and a constant sense that adventure lies around every corner. The ability to simply get lost in the world is a timeless pleasure.
Tales of Glory: Quests and Factions
Beyond the exploration, Oblivion offers a wealth of quests and factions that provide a rich narrative experience. The main quest, which sees you battling against the forces of Mehrunes Dagon and the opening of Oblivion Gates, is a captivating tale of heroism, betrayal, and the fate of an empire. However, the side quests, often associated with the various factions, are where the game truly shines.
Joining the Fighters Guild allows you to experience a warrior’s life, tackling contracts, and battling various threats. The Mages Guild provides a deep dive into the world of magic, allowing you to delve into spellcasting, crafting, and arcane research. The Thieves Guild opens up a world of shadows and secrets, offering opportunities to become a master of stealth and subterfuge. And then there’s the Dark Brotherhood, infamous for its morally gray quests and the rewards they provide.
Each faction boasts its own unique storyline, characters, and gameplay styles, giving players a diverse array of options. The quests are often well-written and provide a compelling reason to interact with the world and its inhabitants.
Developing Skills, Leveling Your Legend
The leveling system in Oblivion is based on a complex interplay of attributes and skills. By performing actions related to your skills, such as casting spells, swinging a sword, or sneaking, you’ll level up those skills. This, in turn, contributes to your character’s overall level.
As you level up, you can increase your attributes, further enhancing your character’s abilities. The system aims to promote a sense of progression and customization, allowing players to develop their characters in line with their chosen playstyle. Some players see the leveling system as complex, but it also provides depth and a clear path for character growth.
Controls, Interface and the User Experience
Navigating the world of Oblivion is relatively straightforward, although the game’s age sometimes shows in its user interface. The menus are functional, allowing you to access your inventory, skills, and map. The controls on both PC and console are generally responsive, although the first-person perspective might take some getting used to for players new to the series. Despite being a product of its time, the game’s controls are, by and large, intuitive.
A Landscape of Beauty: The World of Cyrodiil
Cyrodiil itself is a breathtaking visual experience, brimming with diverse environments. From the rolling hills and dense forests of the Gold Coast to the snow-capped peaks of the Jerall Mountains, the world is beautifully realized. The cities are filled with character, each with its own unique architectural style and cultural identity. The lighting effects, even by today’s standards, are impressive, adding to the overall atmosphere. Whether it’s the dawn breaking over the Imperial City or the eerie glow of an Oblivion Gate, the world is captivating.
The creatures and enemies you encounter in Oblivion are well-designed, adding a distinct personality to each region. From the towering trolls to the fearsome Daedra, each foe presents a unique challenge.
Atmosphere and Sound: Setting the Mood
Oblivion excels in creating a truly immersive atmosphere. The music, composed by Jeremy Soule, is a masterpiece, perfectly capturing the mood of each environment. From the soaring melodies that accompany exploration to the tense scores of combat, the soundtrack is one of the game’s greatest assets.
The voice acting is also noteworthy, featuring a stellar cast, including Sean Bean and Patrick Stewart. Their performances add depth and personality to the characters, further enhancing the storytelling. The sound effects, from the rustling of leaves to the clash of steel, are also well-crafted, adding to the game’s realism and immersion.
The Balance of Triumph and Shortcomings
Oblivion has several strengths that make it such a beloved title: its open world, the breadth of its quests, the character customization, and its immersive atmosphere. The freedom it grants to explore, the opportunity to shape your character, and the epic scope of the narrative are all major selling points. The factions alone offer a huge amount of content, providing dozens of hours of engaging gameplay.
However, the game is not without its weaknesses. The most prominent of these is the level scaling. As your character levels up, so do the enemies and the loot you find. This can sometimes lead to frustrating situations where the enemies become overly powerful, making it difficult to progress. Some players found the game’s combat a bit clunky when compared to its more modern equivalents. Also, some of the environmental elements may appear dated, but this is understandable given its release year.
Comparing to Its Contemporaries
Compared to the other games within the Elder Scrolls series, Oblivion is a bit more streamlined than Morrowind, while still offering more freedom than Skyrim. It offers a more narrative-driven experience, with a clearer main quest, but it doesn’t sacrifice the freedom to explore and role-play that is at the heart of the series. When viewed alongside other RPGs like Fallout 3, which was also published by Bethesda around the same time, the scale and focus on the fantasy environment gives Oblivion a distinct identity.
The Final Verdict
This Elder Scrolls Oblivion Review shows that Oblivion stands the test of time and is still a captivating role-playing experience. Despite some age-related quirks, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The vast open world, the engaging quests and factions, the deep character customization options, and the immersive atmosphere make it a truly memorable game.
Whether you’re a veteran fan of the Elder Scrolls series or new to the genre, Oblivion offers a compelling adventure. It may not be a perfect game, and the level scaling can prove frustrating at times, but the sheer scale of the world, the richness of the story, and the freedom it offers make it a must-play. Oblivion is an important title in the history of role-playing games and is still worthy of praise.
Who Should Embark on This Journey?
Oblivion is a game for players who enjoy open-world exploration, character customization, and a deep narrative experience. It’s perfect for those who love to get lost in a virtual world, discover new locations, and engage with compelling characters. While it may not have the polished presentation of more modern games, the core gameplay loop and depth of content remain as engaging as ever.
So, if you’re looking for an epic adventure that will transport you to another world and let you write your own story, then Oblivion is a worthwhile choice. Prepare to close the gates of Oblivion and immerse yourself in the captivating world of Cyrodiil.
