The DP Challenge is a research project in which you play and analyze the top 100 games ever to hit your console(s). At the end of this project, I hope to be a better writer with a host of ideas for my own projects. I anticipate that I will learn more from the games that are in genres that I don't usually play or simply from games I wouldn't usually pick up than from the games I love. I'm looking forward to that education!
Information on the DP Challenge can be found at: http://www.dpfiles.com/dpfileswiki/index.php?title=THE_DP_CHALLENGE
**Note: As it takes a long time to evaluate 100+ games and new games are constantly being rolled out, my top 100 list continually changes. There will undoubtedly be discrepancies in the numeric rating of my list. As I catch them, I'll try to update them, but, I want to play all of the great games, so I know I'll be changing the list often.
#28 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
September 26, 2010#28 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Game Info
Publisher: Bethesda SoftworksDeveloper: 4J Studios
Genre(s): Role-Playing
Platform: PS3
Players: 1 Player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: March 20, 2007
Intro:
Play begins by choosing a character, including ethnicity. A flyover of Cyrodiil accompanies a brief narrated history, then play soon begins.
Getting Going:
Following the emperor and guards through the prison of Cyrodiil, the player begins to get a tutorial of play such as how to pick up and use items in the environment and how to move through the game.
Fun:
Oblivion gets going right away. It gives players the ability to make decisions and choices at every turn. From the very beginning, the player is choosing the type of play by choosing the ethnicity of their player character based on strengths and weaknesses. They will be able to upgrade traits. There is a sandbox quality to this RPG, allowing the player to go anywhere and do anything. From the very start of play, Oblivion is engaging.
Visuals:
The graphics in this PS3 game are outstanding! The leaves on the trees rustle. The grass blows in the breeze. The sky in the countryside at night is so realistic, it appears as if you are actually looking at the night sky. The weather changes and day gives way to night. Deer run in the countryside. Plants have a realistic appearance and appear appropriately in their environments. Enemies fly when hit with spells, which is very appealing. They also leave blood on your sword. Spells are accompanied by powerful visuals. There is, however, some problems with shadows on the face and some odd lighting for the characters. This can be very distracting during conversation.
Sound:
Everything is voice-acted clearly. Even enemies have a set of sounds and barks during battles. Some enemies can be seen before they are heard. They will be muttering and moving about in the distance while animals make their animal noises, usually right before they attack. Swords have a different ‘swoosh’ depending on their qualities. Every spell bears it’s own battle sound, as does every weapon. Environmental sounds have also been included to increase the immersive feel of the game.
Intelligence:
It is possible to sneak around an enemy, although animals will usually sense your presence. Some animals will get stuck on an obstacle, staying the course until you’ve killed them in place. All enemies do seem to have a motivation and personality of their own. There is nothing about the NPC’s that seems canned or unrealistic, except perhaps the look of them. No matter what the species, people in Oblivion are ugly! The ability to go anywhere and do anything in a game that is nearly perfectly themed at every turn only adds to the intelligent feel of this game.
Immersion:
Oblivion’s first person viewpoint still fails to feel immersive and I was unable to really determine why. Perhaps it’s the environment. Dungeons are dark and dingy with a very gray feel to them, but once you hit the world of Cyrodiil, it is a little like entering Oz. Everything springs to life. Perhaps it is the sandbox quality of the game. Is it possible to give the player total control over their game experience, with all of the inherent decision-making, and still create an immersive environment? I don’t have the answer to that yet.
Rewards and Punishments:
As previously stated, enemies have a satisfying way of flying through the air and landing in a crumpled heap on the floor when hit with spells. They also leave blood on the ground and on your sword. There are things to discover all over the environment such as new weapons and plant life. Plants and animal parts can be used in potions, adding a bit of alchemy to the mix. Dying in the game takes you back to the last auto-save. Harvesting does not always mean that you get anything, which is actually annoying. If there is a plant there, you should be able to harvest it or it shouldn’t come up as an option.
Cameras:
The right stick changes the point of view. Players can play from top down, behind, or first-person viewpoints. It moves in all directions, although the character moves in an odd sort of side-stepping manner in some viewpoints.
Controls:
The controls are easy to learn and easy to use, although there is a learning curve. I found myself accidentally using spells when I meant to do something else more than once. Also, you can’t change weapons while attacking or rest when enemies, even unseen enemies, are nearby. I am confused about the inability to change weapons during battle. In battle, any warrior would expect to be able to switch from a range weapon to a melee weapon when an enemy closes in. With a game this huge; one that contains as many player decisions as Oblivion does, this is a very noticeable, and frustrating, flaw.
Ideas:
I’m intrigued with the question of whether we can create an RPG or sandbox game that is immersive. Is it possible to give the player that much choice and still control their game experience enough to make it truly immersive? This is something I hope to discover the answer to.
Memory:
The first time I played Oblivion, I was completely blown away by the graphics. Going back into Cyrodiil to analyze the other qualities of the game I find I am blown away by the depth and scope of this game. Like any sandbox game, the theme has to be consistent everywhere you go. Oblivion succeeds in this. And the sheer amount of choice is unforgettable. Every detail was attended to. The game is not without bugs, of course. But, this is far exceeded by the amount of things the player can do and see.
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : RPG
