Oblivion Achievements

Xbox Live® means different things to different people. For some, it is a perpetually raging battlefield where the world's toughest cyber soldiers can test their reflexes in tournaments, matches, and events. For others, Xbox Live Marketplace is where it's at for music, video, and game demo downloads.

Natural beauty.

Regardless of your leanings, there is one facet of the premiere online gaming service that can be utilized and enjoyed by all: the achievements system.

Achievement Basics
Every title published for Xbox 360™ has its own unique set of achievements laid out by the game's creators, and each achievement has a point value. To earn the points, as an example, you may need to reach a particular score on your first play-through, or a meet a set requirement that changes the very way you approach the game.

Ultimately, it's up to the developer to break down the total number of gamerscore points and assign them to different achievements for that game. As you pass each in-game milestone and accrue more points, you may unlock even more secret achievements. This element of mystery rewards players of a persistent and adventurous nature and encourages them to explore every nook and cranny laid out before them.

Join us as we take a look at some in-game achievements and explore the many gameplay possibilities ahead of you.

You'll find Oblivion's achievements spaced
out between the natural course of the storyline
as well as more specific faction goals.

Oblivion's Goals
It's becoming a common theme for games to fully embrace the achievements system with up to fifty goals, and The Elder Scrolls® IV: Oblivion™ is no different. Much like Condemned: Criminal Origins™ or Kameo™: Elements of Power™, Oblivion is fully a single player experience, so you'll find its achievements spaced out between the natural course of the storyline as well as more specific faction goals that not only round out its achievements, but also help push you in new and interesting directions. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of what achievement goals you'll find in Oblivion.

Main Story
Throughout your quest to allay the fears of the doomed emperor Uriel Septim, you'll find yourself passing through various major plot points; many of these will net you an achievement for your trouble. For example:

• The first hour or two of the game has you uncovering the basic foundation for the story as you follow (albeit in a roundabout way) the emperor through the network of tunnels and caves underneath the dungeon in which you were held prisoner. After finally making your way outside to freedom, you'll unlock an achievement.
• You'll receive another achievement for the first Oblivion Gate you close. Also, though this may be a story point, in true Elder Scrolls fashion, this moment isn't scripted. In fact, you may choose to go your own way the first time an opportunity to close a gate finds you, allowing for this achievement to be unlocked at an entirely different time.

Factions
Much of the side-stories and quests found in the world of Tamriel stem from the various factions you'll find throughout the land. Within each faction (e.g. the Thieves Guild) are different ranks. You'll unlock an achievement for each rank you find yourself promoted to. Not only does this offer much in the way of variety, but you'll find you won't be able to join each faction in one play-through. Therefore, you'll not only find different achievements when you play through as different characters, but also entirely different chains of quests and storylines. The different factions are:

• Fighter's Guild
• Thieves Guild
• Dark Brotherhood (assassins)
• Mage Guild

Your city is burning.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion offers a unique experience with each character you play with, and you'll find the achievements for Oblivion encourage you to experience as much of the game as you can. You'll find that the reward for each achievement isn't just found in the gamerscore points you acquire, but in the experience of getting them as well.

Article by Alex McLain