Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion - Next-Generation game?
March 28, 2006I’ve often wondered whether this “Next-Generation Game” tag is just a moniker used by overeager game journalists, or whether its something you can apply with any merit to recently released games. After all - today’s next-gen game can be next year’s CD frisbee.
With the release of Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, hopefully we have a game that truly deserves that title. I bought the Collectors Edition last Wednesday and, with the exception of a few bugs, I’m really loving this game. I’ve spent the past four days playing this game and I’m certain that I’ve barely scratched the surface yet. Had a few interesting encounters. The first Fighters Guild contract in Anvil is to resolve a rat problem - which isn’t at all what I thought it was! The NPC AI is also rather interesting. I was walking out of the Cheydinal Mages Guild when one older-looking female character remarked “I sense that you and I will have a very close and intimate relationship”. Needless to say I quickly exited the building. I guess that’s what happens when you bribe someone up to a disposition of 92.
And the Oblivion gates are more than just a little intimidating, and elicit more than a few memories of the Hell-motifs from Doom 3. I’ve already shutdown two Oblivion gates - the second one was a killer (literally). And much to my annoyance, I ran into another Oblivion gate while on a mission for the Mages guild. So I’m morally and tactically obligated to shut the d*mned thing down before I go any further - otherwise I’ll have fire-breathing demons chasing me all the way to Cheydinal.
God I love this game.
