Geeking on Oblivion

Deep down my inner-geek thrives on fantasy. I grew up playing pen-and-paper role playing games, I consumed the Lord of the Rings books as a wee child, and I spent dedicated hours in the classroom thinking of characters and worlds quite apart from our own.

When video games kicked in and became a mainstay in my life (circa 1985 with the NES), I latched onto the RPG genre and haven't let go since.

You'll encounter this cave dwelling early in the game.

My favorite Xbox® games do cross into many genres, but I always find my way back home to swords and sorcery. From The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® to Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™, and Jade Empire™, I loved them all. Now, the first great next-generation RPG is nearly upon us in the form of The Elder Scrolls® IV: Oblivion™.

I was devastated to hear of its delay around launch, but I bucked up at the knowledge that a delayed game made for a more polished game. I've now had a few hours of dedicated time with the glory that is Oblivion, and I shall impart my favorite moments, best features, and the most impressive improvements to you.

Radical Customization
From a background/class perspective, Morrowind had no equal, but molding an avatar to look just as you wanted was a different story. Oblivion looks to rectify the oversight with a create-a-character system to rival most sports and wrestling games. Put simply, you get to sculpt your character's face to look just as you wish.

Personal Note: In Morrowind, the High Elves were spoken of in terms of their unrivaled beauty. All due respect to the artists, but they weren't exactly lookers. Again, Oblivion rights a wrong as the High Elves now fit their description.

Drop Dead Gorgeous
When asked to point a finger at a game that defines next-gen graphics, there are plenty to choose from. I think Condemned: Criminal Origins™ paves the way for next-gen atmosphere, certainly the football players in Madden NFL 06 are impressive, the cars in Project Gotham Racing® 3 have a lot going for them, and the designers of Kameo™: Elements of Power™ have created an unearthly beauty unique to that game.

Oblivion may beat them all with sheer technical prowess combined with unique artistry though. Putting it simply, the vistas are majestic, the detail unrivaled. Even the first environment you see—dingy dungeon cell though it may be—gives tell to the sheer graphical power the game boasts. The first true eye-opener, however, comes when finally venturing out of the tunnels and sewers and out into the open world.

I bet that necklace will fetch a fair bit.

Loving the Hotkeys
A role-playing game as complex as Oblivion can be sullied by clunky control and an unintuitive user interface, but I'm happy to report that Oblivion has obviously been designed with Xbox 360 in mind. Its hotkey system alone allays many a fans fear for unwieldy control.

You can set different spells and items to all eight directions on the digital pad. Need a healing potion or restoration spell at the ready? No problem. Want a secondary weapon accessible at a moments notice? It's all taken care of at the click of a button.

Fast Travel
Many were the cross-country hikes I took in and around Balmora in Morrowind, and while the countryside was filled with natural beauty, a more expedited traveling system would have been welcome. Oblivion provides just that. You zip along to different locations by selecting them on the World Map. Exploration is still vital, but travel to and fro isn't necessary all the time. This way, you can choose where and when you want to use the system.

Personal Note: Exploration can provide you with many an instant adventure on its own. You may stumble across an as-of-yet undiscovered dungeon, or find yourself waylaid by a group of bandits, let alone come across non-player characters with new and interesting quests at the ready.

Love me some forestry.

Trading Time
I was notorious for being a pack rat in Morrowind. I didn't take it to the level of some I know, but I would bring piles and piles of junk back to the traders in Balmora to sell. I spent huge chunks of time padding my pockets with gold by selling random items I collected while adventuring. That said, I was glad to note that the more random of items are now worthless to sell in Oblivion.

You can no longer earn extra scratch by selling stolen flatware, jugs, brooms, brushes, or whatever other random domestic items you find in house, camp, or dungeon. By the same token, you can now look at such items and realize that you're not missing out on anything by passing them up.

These little notes and impressions come at a frantic pace in my mind as I clutch at the odds and ends that caught my eye. For fuller details on just how the game plays, what options you'll find, and tips on how to succeed, I encourage you to read our full coverage here.

Article by Ryan Treit

• Official game site.
• Bethesda 's site.