What’s up, my brothers and sisters, Zenishira here!
Am I the only one who is tired of Todd Howard constantly popping out one version of Skyrim after the other? You have Skyrim on PC, PS4, Xbox, Amazon Alexa, Smart Fridge… What’s next, are we gonna play Skyrim on a potato now? Either way, today I’m bringing in a special guest to review the game with, Red_Returns! Today, we are going to review the weird but oddly fun RPG that came before Skyrim, I’m talking of course about…
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a game developed by Bethesda Game Studios, released in 2006 as a successor to Morrowind. Contrary to its subtitle, the game actually takes place on the Tamrielic province of Cyrodiil, while Oblivion itself is a demonic realm, where Daedra live.
Red, we both love Oblivion for what it is, its gameplay, its character creation, its mechanics… How about you give your own short reviews of the game?
Thank you Zen. Oblivion starts in a dusty old prison cell- awaiting your fate. I wont reveal the story as you will have to pursue your own destiny with the game, but once you leave the prison and are greeted with the beautiful yet deadly realm of Cyrodill, you will start to understand why this game is such a gem. You choose your fate in this game: want to be a thief, a magician, a glorious knight in shining armour, maybe even a gladiator in the arena? You alone have the tools to forge your fate. Full of brutal fights, dark dungeons, secret realms and quests for gold and fame, Oblivion provides a fitting game for both heroic and villainous gamers. Gameplay is old- but holds up well, environment is incredibly immersive and I could spend hours walking across sunset hills on my horse- with the peaceful music guiding my way. Overall Oblivion will provide hundreds of hours of adventure and atmosphere.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, in fact, the game starts with a cinematic where Emperor Septim VII narrates about a dream he had where he saw the gates of Oblivion open and Mehrunes Dagon’s army marching forward. He knows his doom is near, and with his death comes the end of the Third Era.
Now, Oblivion’s character creation is nothing less from being… infamous. Let me show you how the average person makes the next “Hero of Kvatch” look like, they start from a simple, normal looking human character:
To something that looks like it was taken straight out of a fever dream:
No, I am not joking, the emperor literally says this line every single time right after creating your own character, I don’t want to imagine what dreams of chronic cruelty he has inside his mind when all he thinks about are deformed abominations, ugh…
From the start one can realize that Oblivion is unlike Morrowind or Skyrim, in the sense that it doesn’t take itself seriously. Sure, there are some moments, mostly in the Main Quest, where you do have to invest yourself in the story. The Emperor’s three sons are dead, and he knows he is next up the chopping block. He entrusts you the Amulet of Kings, you must protect it at all cost.
There are several NPCs in this game that are absolute bonkers and will make you at least chuckle whenever you see them walk towards you on the screen. One example is this Wood Elf in Skingrad, Glarthir.
He believes that people are conspiring against him, and he sends you on a quest to spy on them to see if his suspicions are true. The sole undeniable truth is that he will instruct you to eliminate those you designate as suspects. Yet, should you present a guard with the note commanding the assassination of the “conspirators,” he will swiftly face consequences for his unlawful actions.
Another “fan favorite” NPC is none other than, well, The Adoring Fan himself! You meet this fellow after completing the Arena questline, after becoming the Grand Champion. His obsession with the Grand Champion drives him to extreme lengths, even resorting to the unorthodox act of licking his boots. Best thing you can order him to do is stand near a cliff, so that you can push him down.
However, how can we talk about “Madness” without talking about the Daedric Prince of Madness himself, Sheogorath? He resides in his own plane, the Shivering Isles (also the name of a DLC). The Isles divide into two starkly opposing halves: Mania and Dementia. Mania encompasses the whimsical, joyful nature of madness, characteristic of artists. Mania, on the other hands, is glum, dark and encompasses the kind of madness you would see within a serial killer. It’s quite interesting to see the struggles of the citizens of the Isles, they own shops, but there is no economy, they own houses but there is no such thing as an insurance…
What’s clear is that Sheogorath opened a portal to his realm to find a champion and thwart the once-in-a-millennium appearance of Jygallagg, the Prince of Order. Now, you might wonder, “Zen, how do you dive into a realm of absurdity?” My answer? “CHEESE, FOR EVERYONE!”
In terms of gameplay, as Red highlighted, you have the freedom to adopt roles such as Rogue, Warrior, or Mage, and even fuse characteristics from these core classes. I personally prefer combining stealth with Magic in a way that helps me sneak past guards with ease. Trust me, 100% Chameleon just breaks the game. Oblivion even allows you to make your own class, with its own attributes if you want to diversify your playstyle. Mix and match!
Moreover, an additional standout element I yearn for in Oblivion, absent in other Elder Scrolls iterations, is the spell-crafting capability. At the outset, obtaining access to the Arcane University was imperative for spell creation. However, thanks to the inclusion of DLCs, a personal wizard tower was brought into the mix. This tower mandates specific merchant transactions to accomplish the same objective. Just envision this: your lightning spell causing burning, freezing, and paralysis all at once!
Oh right, Forgot to mention the guilds! You can join several: Warrior’s Guild, Mage’s Guild, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood (assassin’s guild). Each has unique quests and entry criteria.
The soundtrack, composed by Jeremy Soule weaves a tapestry of emotions. Each note enhances immersion, highlighting epic battles, forgotten ruins’ solitude, and poignant moments with memorable characters. Have a listen:
Anyway, it’s clear that Oblivion has left its mark as one of the most beloved RPGs to date. It sparked memes with quirky characters, amusing quests, and debatable DLC like Horse Armor (best not to ask).
I hope my review does justice to the game; if not, consider getting it and experiencing it firsthand! Just make sure, no one steals your sweet roll.
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