pymPreview, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

[pym]

----------------------------------------------------
By: Bethesda Softworks (http://www.bethsoft.com/)
Genre: Role-Playing
Release Date: Mar 20, 2006
Platforms: PC, XBOX360
Web Site (http://www.elderscrolls.com/home/home.htm)
----------------------------------------------------

Hello to all of you gamers out there.
Today I'd like to share some impressions on the VERY anticipated RPG of the year.

It is three years now, that the people in Bethesda Softworks are preparing the RPG fans around the world to the fourth chapter in the Elder Scrolls series, Oblivion.
Oblivion is much more than just a sequel, it is a very ambitious one from all aspects.
It is developed to the PC and the XBOX 360.
The fact that the game will not have an XBOX version is not coincidental, it is just because the graphics is just spectacular and will demand gamers a very (!) heavy PC or an XBOX 360.
(winning this 7800GT here at Bjorn3D could really get you on the right path ;))

The mission, closing the gates of hell
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, continues at the point the Morrowind ended
You start your journey in the emperor's palace, locked in prison.
An interesting thing: did you notice that many games coming from Bethesda Softworks start in a prison? hmmm... anyway...
After being saved from assassination attempt, The Emperor (voice actor is Patrick Stewart, Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men) runs for his life and bumps into you, announcing that he saw you in his dreams and this is the last day of his life...
Short time after that he really finds his death and all gates of hell breaks loose.
Now, you must explore the enormous kingdom, complete quests, upgrade your abilities, close the gates of hell and... well... HAVE FUN!!!

http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/3272/obx05b6mz.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/1236/obx05b4nt.jpg)

Less weird, more interesting
One of the weird things in Morrowind was the odd graphics art.
The new game takes a sharp turn in that aspect and shows us another area in Tamriel's, Cyrodiil.
It is consisted mostly of deep beautiful forests.

You can use first person or third person view, which is great!
The forest is full of atractions and activities:
animals run around, lakes and rivers, huge castles and dungeons and much more.

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/4431/obx14b5gl.jpg (http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/8691/obx14b3aq.jpg)

We're talking about the most beautiful forest ever to be displayed in a computer game!
Towns look amazing as well, AI looks great, people run there lives according to schedule, buildings are in middle ages style - WOW!

Easier Life
Since we're talking about an enormous world, it is impossible to walk across it, as beautiful as it may be...
When we get a quest, the location will be shown on the world's map, which will enable you to jump right to that spot...
World's time will pass when you jump this way, but you won't actually have to walk the whole way.
A compass can be found on screen, which will indicate interesting places close by.

Character's Classes
Oblivion does not force you to choose a class right from the start.
Your character will develop during the game and according to your
actions (like Dungeon Siege II) and abilities will increase if you'll actually use them.
You can choose to use stealth actions or not, which is very very nice!

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8091/obx25b3jp.jpg (http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8556/obx25b5dw.jpg)

Summary
In global, Oblivion looks like a promising, next generation RPG game.

Fans will lose hours of sleep and a few KG of weight ;)
Its graphics, story line, voice acting, depth and innovation gives us a lot to wait for.
Prepare your wallets! ;)

Other pymPreviews:
Medal of Honor: Airborne (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6099&highlight=pympreview)
Heroes Of might & Magic V (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5452&highlight=pympreview)
TimeShift (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6215&highlight=pympreview)
Hellgate: London (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6514&highlight=pympreview)
Unreal Tournament 2007 (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6990&highlight=pympreview)
Gothic III (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5644&highlight=pympreview)
Rise of Legends (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7384&highlight=pympreview)
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6795&highlight=pympreview)


- pym

[liqnit]

thanks for the preview
i am waiting for this game i played Daggerfall
when it was release and it was great .

[Gray]

O god no please, #4?.

I played Elder Scrolls 3 for SO MANY HOURS. lol.
Looks like I will be trapped in front of my PC again. :shock:

Here is the Offical Video (.AVI) (http://www.bethsoft.com/downloads/video/OblivionTrailerDIVXHD.avi)

If your media player freezes when clicking this just right click and Save target as... that will download it, it is 84.3Mb

And Here is the main page link. (http://www.elderscrolls.com/home/home.htm)

[pym]

Looks like I will be trapped in front of my PC again.

Yup, number 4 :)
About the long hours, prepare to spend more hours than you think, we're talking about a huge, enormous world.
Just have fun, because that's what we're here for after all ;)

[Gordo]

Bethesda released the PC hardware requirements this week. The minimum is about what I expected, but I'm disappointed that the GeForce 4 Ti series isn't supported (guess what I have :( ).

Requirements are at http://www.elderscrolls.com/games/oblivion_faq.htm
and reproduced here:

Recommended:

* 3 Ghz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent processor
* 1 GB System RAM
* ATI X800 series, NVIDIA GeForce 6800 series, or higher video card

Minimum System Requirements:

* Windows XP
* 512MB System RAM
* 2 Ghz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent processor
* 128MB Direct3D compatible video card
* and DirectX 9.0 compatible driver;
* 8x DVD-ROM drive
* 4.6 GB free hard disk space
* DirectX 9.0c (included)
* DirectX 8.1 compatible sound card
* Keyboard, Mouse

Supported Video Card Chipsets:

* ATI X1900 series
* ATI X1800 series
* ATI X1600 series
* ATI X1300 series
* ATI X850 series
* ATI x800 series
* ATI x700 series
* ATI x600 series
* ATI Radeon 9800 series
* ATI Radeon 9700 series
* ATI Radeon 9600 series
* ATI Radeon 9500 series
* NVIDIA GeForce 7800 series
* NVIDIA GeForce 6800 series
* NVIDIA GeForce 6600 series
* NVIDIA GeForce 6200 series
* NVIDIA GeForce FX series

[liqnit]

GeForce 4 Ti series isn't supported
i'm sharing the same problem
but still until it will be release maybe things will change :wink:

[pym]

Well, guys, I hope it will change and your card will be supported.
Else, you better think about an upgrade, 'cause it's worth it...

Winning one of Bjorn3D XFX contests, as I said, can put one on the right track ;)

[pym]

Check out highlights of GameSpot's first-ever 12-hour live marathon, featuring Bethesda's immersive new RPG, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Look here (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146346.html)

[werty316]

I finally got this game. At first I didn't know what it is was all about but I didn't realize how big of a game this is.

[pym]

This is THE game.
Besides Gothic III and Spore, that are currently pretty far away in the distance, this one is with no doubt, the best there is!

I'll soon put my hands on a copy as well ;)
Enjoy!

[werty316]

Played for a bit and I'll pass. I hate RPG and I thought a FPS RPG would be fun but its like WoW, I was bored although I am sure others will like it.

[pym]

:shock: Wow, werty, I must say I am really surprised to hear that.
This game rocks !!!
But if you don't like RPGs, I really don't think a different point of view would make it for you, this is not FPS by definition.