The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is quite simply a masterpiece. There’s so much to do in the game that it would take the better part of 100 hours to play the game one time through with one character doing every possible quest in the best of situations. The thing with the game is you can start over with a totally different character and the game might be totally different, depending on what factions (Guilds) you align yourself with. Further, if you want to live your life as a vampire you can.

Bethsheda has made a game that sets the standards for a RPG (Role Playing Game). You can literally be any character class you want in the game and win. Sure there are advantages in some types of characters, but every character has its own story to tell, from the Fighter, to the Mage to the Thief. There are whole quests as long as the main quest for each possible character or faction.

The game’s graphics are simply amazing. Oblivion is quite simply the best looking RPG ever in my opinion. Extensive use of Pixel and Vertex Shaders, and HDR are prevalent throughout the game. The characters are well defined, as well. The beauty of the game world makes it worth the visit. If you don’t have a high-end gaming system I would suggest buying a ATI X1900 class card+ the highest CPU speed you have available, as the game simply plays and looks best with that combination with HDR and AA enabled at the same time.

The game does have a few minor glitches. Every once in a while I would get an error upon exiting Oblivion. This does not affect the game in any way, as I had already saved the game before exiting the game, but it is a bit annoying. Bethsheda is working on a patch for the game as we speak. Hopefully the patch will fix this issue.

One thing I want to applaud Bethsheda for doing is not using maudlin copy-protection schemes like SecuRom or StarForce to protect their CDs from hackers. Believe it or not, I’ve had as many or more problems with copy protection with legitimately purchased games than I do hardware problems in the last year. The extra effort in copy-protection does not stop software pirates. It does, however force legitimate purchasers to consider alternatives like No-CD keys, or software emulation,if the game does not work. Support games like Galactic Civilizations II and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion by purchasing the game, as the publishers treat the customer like a customer and not a criminal.

Theme- 10 Learning Curve- 10 Replayability- 10 Fun- 10 Sound- 9 Graphics- 10 Compatibility- 7 Price- 10 Availability- 10 Originality- 10 Total: 96