The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Demons are ravaging the world of Tamriel, and it is up to you so save it in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. You can try to restore the rightful ruler to the throne in this next-generation, first-person RPG. Choose from a variety of races and classes to create your own individual character. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion features over 1,000 non-player characters that eat, sleep, and complete their own objectives. You can explore an open-ended environment completing quests and eventually ridding the world of the marauding demons.

It's been a long time coming but the fourth chapter in the legendary Elder Scrolls series has arrived. Following in the footsteps of Arena, Daggerfall, and Morrowind, Oblivion has a hefty reputation to live up to. Also like its predecessors Oblivion does not disappoint. The game feels just as much part of the series as any of the other games. Throughout the review I will try not to compare the game to previous titles, considering that I could go on until the end of time comparing Morrowind and Oblivion alone. To hear more of what I have to say concerning our latest foray into the land of Tamriel continue reading my review of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

First off let's start by talking about the graphics in Oblivion. I believe the word that comes to mind is stunning. Put simply, there really isn't a better looking game out there. Since there is a lot to be said concerning this topic so I have broken it into the following sections: Environments, Characters and Creatures, Lighting and Shadows, and finally a section of other effects that don't truly belong to any of the aforementioned categories.

Environments in Oblivion are among the richest ever witnessed in a game. The lush forests of the game look as though they were ripped from real life. The game can generate trees randomly making every piece of flora slightly unique. The game also features tall grass as well. Grass in Oblivion can blow in the wind, part when walked through, and even have shadows cast on it in real time. Aside from tree and grass textures there is even more to Oblivion environments that is of worthy mention. Another would be the detail in rocks and buildings. If you walk up to a wall you will see an actual brick pattern complete with the cracks and weather marks seen in real life. Likewise rocks actually have the appearance of their real life counterparts, instead of the amorphous grey blobs that other games portray them as. I'm sure that you are probably doubting my sanity right now considering that I am mentioning that rock models are superb, but if you play the game you will know what I mean. All in all environments in Oblivion are eye catching enough that even mundane things like rocks and grass attract attention.

Character and Creature models in Oblivion are also extremely well done. The HD nature of the games graphics allow for realistic facial expressions and decent mouth movement on NPCs. Character movement is very fluid and natural looking. The same is true for combat. Character attacks as well as reactions to being attacked are all done very well. Weapons are swung, or fired, in ways that look and feel realistic. This same attention to detail can be seen on the many different creatures of the game. All of the creatures feel alive in the ways that they move and attack. Even things like muscle movement through skin or fur can be observed when one looks closely.

When it comes to Lighting and Shadows Oblivion is without rival. Most every object in the game will react to light and cast a shadow. In fact the only things that will not are objects such as forks and the like. Considering that one would have to pay pretty close attention to a game to notice a fork cast a shadow, I don't see it as a problem. All other objects in the game will cast shadows according to their respective light sources. The game has real time soft shadows on nearly everything. The game even goes as far as to support things like self shadows, or characters being able to cast a shadow on themselves. As mentioned before, shadows can even be cast on individual blades of grass. Another shadow effect worth mentioning is Tree canopy shadows. Shadows are cast on NPCs, players, creatures, and even grass according to the configuration of the tree canopy. The inclusion of this added yet another hyper realistic quality to the forests of Oblivion. One of the most revolutionary things about the lighting in Oblivion has to be the inclusion of full High Dynamic Range, or HDR, lighting. HDR allows for insanely realistic sun effects as well as light reflections. When a blade or shield is at the right angle reflection flares that overlay objects can be observed. During a sunrise, or sunset for that matter, buildings and objects can have a sun drenched color to them. HDR is hard to explain but put simply it is the most realistic lighting ever done. If you have a card that supports it HDR can be a treat, if not the game has support for bloom lighting as well. While the bloom may not look as great as the HDR, it still blows everything else away…in fact even when lighting is turned off Oblivion still looks superb.

There are a few more things that are notable about Oblivion's graphics that do not really belong in any one category. The first of these would be the game's weather system. When it storms over Cyrodiil it is a sight to behold. Lightning flashes illuminate anything their light reaches and the rain effects even go so far as to make individual ripples in water on impact. The second of these visual effects has to be the fog and haze effects in the game. Fog will hang realistically near the ground in damp caves as well as in humid swamps. In areas close to water fog is visible in the mornings with volumetric lighting from the sunrise. Fog may seem mundane but in Oblivion it is done well enough to warrant mention.

Sound is another area of Oblivion that is done well. The first great aspect of the sound in Oblivion is the music. Music is Oblivion is done phenomenally well. While adventuring you are treated to an epic fantasy score that fully complements the vast lands you explore. During battle the tone changes to tense and aggressive music that once again perfectly fits what is occurring. Voice overs are done superbly as well. This time around all of the game's dialogue is spoken. Even minor characters carry full voiceovers for all spoken dialogue. Some of the voices are done by well known actors, such as Patrick Stewart supplying the voice of Emperor Uriel Picard…err Septim. While most of the other characters lack big name actors to do their voices they are nonetheless worth listening to, even when voices are regularly reused of different characters. Other elements of sound are also done well. The sound effects for pretty much everything in the game sound as they should. When your sword is sheathed or unsheathed the sound is beautifully accurate. The same holds true for magic sound effects and well about everything else as well.