The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Written by Nick Doukas  on September 13, 2005

First Impressions: Depth and interaction on a level you've always dreamed it could reachЕ

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Bethesda Softworks needs no introduction. As one of the most respected developers in the industry, their games have always displayed the highest quality and loftiest of production values. The Elder Scrolls series of massive fantasy RPGs are some of the most renowned titles available, and as Xbox fans know, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind was successfully ported from PC to Microsoft's machine and enjoyed by a legion of console gamers. With the upcoming launch of the Xbox 360, Bethesda prepares to unleash the most intense and detailed RPG ever with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Not to be outdone, Bethesda also has a version lined up for the PC that promises to be just as impresssive. Set in the world of Tamriel, ESIV puts you into the center of a massive adventure and sets you loose in what promises to be the most immersive game universe yet seen. Read on to see why you should already have a copy pre-orderedЕ

Oblivion's plot concerns the fall of the Emperor of Tamriel. In fact, as the game begins, your character will bear witness to these events as the Emperor (voice acted by Patrick Stewart) is assassinated in your presence, which actually involves a cool turn of events where you escape from a jail cell and begin your adventure just as these proceedings unfold. Because there is no heir apparent to the Dragon Throne, the dimensional rifts between Tamriel and the demon plane of existence - the titular realm of Oblivion - become unstable. What does all this mean for you, the player? Well, as you start out on your hero's journey you'll find the lands overrun with demons and other ethereal creatures. Not only will you have to contend with them, but you'll also be required to track down the assassins who committed the brutal murder and find a way to send the evil forces back to their own realm for good. Got all that? Ok, moving right alongЕ.

The simple act of character creation is above the board right off the bat, as you can use sliders to adjust facial features, as well as choose your general class and abilities. You can really go in-depth here, producing exactly the look you want for your avatar and outfitting accordingly. You can change eye color, choose from different complexions, change hair length, style and color, as well as choose your hero's age. Right away, the depth of this title is quite apparent. Now add to that a world full of completely interactive NPCs, realistic weather, day/night cycles and perfectly groomed forests that support a functional ecosystem and you start getting the idea. Oblivion is one sizeable undertaking, that's for sure. As you progress through the game Ц visiting towns, riding your horse through deep, dark woods as well as sunny meadows, mountain passes and other beautifully rendered environments - you'll gain increases in the 21 skills (three categories, 7 skills in each - combat, stealth and magic) available to your particular character.

The entire world of Oblivion is teeming with life. As unreal as the demo footage and screenshots have revealed the game's visuals to be, it's the incorporation of truly deep and interactive AI that really brings Tamriel to life. The game is populated by over 1,000 NPCs. Each of them follows a УlifeФ schedule. Eating, sleeping, working Ц whatever. They do it 24/7, whether you're in the area or not. This leads to all sorts of realistic interactivity that wouldn't be possible on lesser hardware, or with more rigidly scripted AI behavior. For example, a hungry peasant may buy his meal, or lacking funds he might hunt for it in the forest. This could have consequences for your character if you cross paths. He might try to steal from you, or may flush out a wild animal while foraging in the brush that lands in your lap. All on the fly, all the time - that's pretty amazing when you think about it and it looks as though character complexity will be taking a leap forward along with the visuals in the next generation. NPCs will also engage in real-time conversation about the happenings in town and the surrounding areas, so you'll be able to pick up side quests just by listening in and inquiring when something interesting presents itself.

Combat in The Elder Scrolls IV promises to be both visceral and engaging. You'll attack with the right trigger and block with the left. Tapping the trigger activates basic swipes, while holding it performs a power swing. Power swings vary depending on the direction in which you're pushing the analog stick and the combo system supplies a wide range of attacks that are easy and intuitive to perform. Your available weapons include mighty broadswords, maces, axes, daggers and shields (not to mention a bow and arrow as well). Magic is also a viable source of combat power in the world of Oblivion, represented by six different disciplines including Illusion, Mysticism, Destruction, Alteration, Conjuration and Restoration. You'll also be able to create custom spells if you choose the path of a Mage. During your quest, you'll also have the opportunity to join one of many different factions that exist in the Elder Scroll's universe. These include the Mages Guild, the Thieves Guild, the Fighters Guild, The Dark Brotherhood and the Arena Guild. Of course, your alignment with good or evil will change depending on which group you join. The Mages and Fighters Guilds are firmly on the side of good, while the Thieves Guild and The Dark Brotherhood are appropriately sinister. The Arena Guild puts you through combat for sport as a gladiator, so if you want to live the Maximus lifestyle this is the way to go. You can even rise through the ranks of any of these groups to become the leader. How's that for depth?

Visually, Oblivion is simply mind blowing. Next Gen power is on full display here, as the world of Tamriel and its inhabitants Ц which include humans, goblins, skeleton warriors, demons, minotaurs and something called a Daedrorth that has to be seen to be believed, as well as deer, horses (which you can ride) and other assorted woodland creatures Ц look stunningly realistic. Everything from character models to weapons, forests and cities are layered in multiple maps to create the illusion of depth and volume, and further augmented with numerous shaders and lighting effects. The team has also implemented incredible physics, so expect to be blown away the first time you fire an arrow, or land a killing blow on one of your opponents. The sound looks to be shaping up just as well, with pitch-perfect aural effects, lush and intense orchestral music and solid voice acting.

As you work your way through the adventure, you'll travel through vast kingdoms, towns, underground dungeons, forests, swamps, ancient ruins nestled deep within overgrown trees and vines, as well as other wilderness areas and nine (that's right, nine) tremendous and unique cities. You'll go from snow swept mountain caps to a port borough on the beach and everywhere in between before your quest is through. Don't be intimidated by the sheer size of Oblivion as the developers have provided you with a world map - as well as a local map - for dungeons, ruins and towns. You'll also have access to a compass that will help point you in the right direction so you're not bumbling around for hours looking for a dungeon entrance. You can also go anywhere on the map that you see, on foot or on horseback and every single building Ц be it in a city or on a small farm in the countryside Ц can be entered and explored. There are several different mounts you can acquire in Oblivion, and the horses give you a speed boost as well. When you're in town, you can stable your ride and then pick him up when you're ready to leave. In addition, the developers promise downloadable content in the form of armor for your steed and have even built holidays and special events into the game where you can choose to attend a gathering in the town square and earn an experience point for participating in the days festivities. Very impressive stuff to be sureЕ