| If you haven't played a PC-based RPG, you might | | | | right time. You can dish out light and powerful |
| not know what you're missing. Traditionally these | | | | attacks by tapping or pressing on the action |
| games are huge and full of details - from the | | | | button while at the same time using your shield to |
| storyline to the graphics. Console RPGs have to | | | | block blows from the enemy. The AI is excellent |
| be a lot more restricted due to processing | | | | and puts up a good fight. They get cocky when |
| limitations but with the Xbox 360, that's all in the | | | | they are gaining the upper hand and will often slink |
| past. This Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion version | | | | away if they are getting a bad beating.Your magic |
| surpasses many PC-based RPGs and blows away | | | | powers give you a lot of flexibility. You can use it |
| virtually ever console version of the genre. This is | | | | to launch fiery projectiles or enchant the enemy |
| one seriously amazing game. And in case you're | | | | into giving up their weapons and making them |
| wondering, it's also available for the | | | | totally vulnerable to the simplest of attacks. |
| computer.Consider this the definitive version of | | | | These magic powers will even allow you to |
| the Elder Scrolls series. It's not a continuation, it's | | | | summon powerful demons and various magical |
| an evolution. Perhaps even a revolution. It's an | | | | weapons.It's nice to have the option of playing the |
| all-new adventure with new characters and a new | | | | game in first or third person perspective. For my |
| storyline. Prior knowledge of the series is not | | | | money, I enjoy the first-person. The action is |
| important. You can jump right in, create your own | | | | much easier to see but there are times when the |
| character and be up and running in moments. You | | | | third-person will give you a much better view of |
| are given total freedom with your character. You | | | | your surroundings especially in mountainous or |
| can choose to be good or evil, or perhaps a mix | | | | maze-like environments. Don't forget to toggle |
| of both. You are not restricted by skills. Combine | | | | between them and use them to your |
| magic with your combat skills. You can use a | | | | advantage.On the various paths that lead from |
| variety of different skills and choose to level-up | | | | the main cities to the various villages you will |
| only the ones that you're interested in. You won't | | | | encounter many different gameplay opportunities |
| necessarily receive experience points for combat, | | | | including dungeons that require exploring, enemies |
| you'll get experience points based on | | | | that you must outwit or overpower and |
| performances that favor the skills that you use | | | | characters that require your assistance which |
| most often. You'll only get experience points for | | | | results in numerous side-quests. You are not |
| combat if you become a warrior. If you're into | | | | required to travel these paths by foot if you don't |
| magic, you'll get experience points for the | | | | feel like it. You can go by horseback or even be |
| successful use of magic. In this way the | | | | teleported to the next area in a flash. There is no |
| experience is much more personal.There is so | | | | extraneous wandering if you choose not to do it. |
| much to see and do in this game that you could | | | | Even the side quests that you choose to perform |
| wind up playing it for months - and it's not as dry | | | | are well organized in that you're given directions |
| as most lengthy RPGs. This game is loaded with | | | | and instructions so that you don't have to search |
| action and adventure. Even if you've never played | | | | around aimlessly for such information.The towns |
| an RPG before this one won't bog you down | | | | and villages are loaded with non-playable, but |
| unless you choose to read all of the books that | | | | interactive, characters. There are hundreds of |
| give you a back history to the story. There's a | | | | them and all are fully voiced. They will give you |
| natural flow to the gameplay that makes it seem | | | | clues and offer you side-quests. These characters |
| like real life. You can go straight to the main | | | | display great animated facial features that are |
| quests or you can branch out into hundreds of | | | | incredibly expressive. Their reactions to you will |
| different paths and experience all that the game | | | | depend on the personality that you've |
| has to offer.Set in a fantasyland of elves, orcs, | | | | cultivated.The game is narrated by Patrick |
| monsters, myths and magic, you become aware | | | | Stewart. His voice is so authoritative that he could |
| of a plot to overthrow the present emperor | | | | read aloud an Archie comic and make it sound like |
| when he recognizes you from a dream and | | | | a Shakespearean tragedy. The other voiceovers |
| entrusts you with the search for his illegitimate | | | | fall into the "good" category with a few more |
| child. The kingdom is overrun by monsters from | | | | natural sounding than others.The graphics are |
| Hell which are being transported to your dimension | | | | nothing short of incredible. All of the environments, |
| through Oblivion Gates. To learn the secrets of | | | | whether they be woodlands, cities or a version of |
| closing the gates you must first flee the Imperial | | | | Hell, are highly imaginative and distinct. I didn't |
| City, being careful not to come under attack by | | | | detect any reuse of textures. Everything appears |
| these loathsome creatures.You have three main | | | | to have been created fresh, from scratch. This |
| powers at your disposal: Stealth; magic, and | | | | kind of visual depth would be impossible on the |
| combat. You can employ ranged weapons such as | | | | PS2 considering how massive this world is.Elder |
| the bow and arrow as well as magic-generated | | | | Scrolls IV: Oblivion sets a new standard in RPGs. |
| projectiles to kill the enemies. Melee weapons such | | | | There isn't a lot of difference between the PC |
| as a club or even your bare hands can also be | | | | and 360 version. Just make sure your PC is |
| employed to defend yourself. If you prefer, you | | | | loaded or you won't enjoy the same crisp, graphic |
| can run or sneak past the enemies using your | | | | resolution. There is so much to do in this game |
| stealth skills. As in Splinter Cell, there is an | | | | and the interactivity of the AI makes it seem like |
| invisibility gauge that will indicate the enemy's | | | | a massive online multi-player experience. Expect |
| ability to spot you. The more skill you develop in | | | | months of fun and adventure.Check out Cheat |
| this area, the harder it will be for the enemy to | | | | Code Central's full review of The Elder Scrolls IV: |
| see you.There is plenty of combat in the game | | | | Oblivion for Xbox 360, which includes our scores |
| and while you can choose to sneak or run past | | | | and screen shots for the game. For tons more |
| the enemy, there are times when you're just | | | | reviews, previews, and cheats for PS2, Xbox, PC, |
| going to have to get physical. Using your weapons | | | | Xbox 360, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, and more, |
| is relatively easy. It's a matter of judging | | | | check out Cheat Code Central. |
| perspectives and pressing the action button at the | | | | |