Gameplay

Bethesda’s Oblivion is not a pick up and go RPG. It will take about an hour for gamers to get a feel for the basic controls and menus of the game. Once gamers get the learning phase out of the way, Oblivion plays rather smoothly and easily, especially for the experienced RPG player. Gamers take on the role of a prison inmate, though the reason for being incarcerated is never really revealed. After some character creating choices that will increase certain attributes as you move along, you are set free in the massive fantasy world of Tamriel.

Gamers will find themselves with multiple choices as they roam about the wonderful world of Tamriel. The main objective of the game, and the goal that most gamers set out to accomplish is to close the gates of Oblivion and find the long lost heir to the throne. Though that will give gamers only about 40 plus hours, the real fun comes with all of the side quests which take the gameplay time over the 100 hour hash mark. Gamers really begin to feel as if they really have the ability to control the outcome of their character as they are even presented with the option to go down the path of wickedness throughout the game.

Oblivion has some of the best character artificial intelligence seen any RPG game on any platform. With hundreds of Non Player Characters roaming the world of Tamriel, each with their own agenda, unique personalities and names; gamers will find it almost a must to speak with them all. Every encounter can have gamers exploring one of many side quests or simply supplying gamers with some form of information needed later on in the game. Gamers beware, not all NPC’s are friendly as gamers will sometimes find themselves on the wrong side of a sword or bow.

With everything gamers will have going on, you may forget this is a RPG and fighting is an inevitable and highly enjoyable part of Oblivion. Gamers will not find themselves in some no-reason random battles like many RPG’s but every battle will fill as it was meant to be part of the progression of the story. The fighting is simple and extremely fast passed with its first person view point. With a press of a button, gamers will be able to slash with sword and dagger or block with their shield and even shoot arrows from bows and cast a quick spell. Not all battles will be so straight forward as gamers will be able to use stealth for the quick and silent kill; but where's the fun in that? The reward for all your trouble is a dead body or beast to ransack for some bounty.

Now don’t expect to have the normal feel of leveling up as in so many RPG’s but rather earn skills. The players skills increase based on how often that skill is used. If a gamer chooses to stand and fight it out face to face, you will see your strength and sword skills increase. Though if the distant kill with a bow falls more into the path of your character, then the your skill in bows and accuracy will increase. Another skill gamers may see increase is their acrobatics if jumping around is more to their liking. If Oblivion has any downfall to the gameplay, it would be some very minor frame rate skips while exploring the open world of Tamriel. All and all, the gameplay is fantastic, smooth, and down right amazing for all RPG fans.