The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

[Slyspy]

I agree with pretty much everything EA says. I did find the combat and the skills system much better this time. The combat was more solid (maybe even better than Mount and Blade - heresy, I know), less AI jumping around. And somehow I never found I was compelled to engage in the tedium of Morrowind's exploits to get 5x skill bonuses (eg letting a mudcrab beat you up for an hour to get your armour skill up; or leaping off rocks repetitively).

But I guess I prefer more story-driven RPGs. Oblivion was excellent up to Kvatch and getting Sean Bean to the monastery. It was intense, challenging, Oblivion itself was pretty gob-smacking first time in etc. But then you are cut loose from the main plot and free to go anywhere, do anything, returning to the main plot if you can be bothered. The final straw for me was doing the mage guild quests when I encountered the necromancers for the first time. Great, I thought, a story arc that I can follow. But immediately you are told about the necromancers, the next guild quest sends you off somewhere else on some seemingly inconsequential visit to a count. Grrrr!

Thinking back to the RPGs I'ved like most - the Fallouts, BGs etc - they have long main story arcs that hook you and then really meaty sidequests that get your interest. In Oblivion, the "optional mainquest" game design stops the main story hooking me. The sidequests are much better than those in Morrowind, but often they feel strangely bland and lifeless - perhaps because of the poor characterisation of the NPCs as EA says.

At least there was some relevance to the plot in that quest. It wasn't until the end of the Mages Guild quest that I finally gave up on Oblivion. It was just so poor. If you didn't finish the MG quests it may be worth doing just to experience the least thrilling climax ever. If only Bethseda had hired some decent writers and storytellers!

I agree with Big John, EA and Econ here. I probably got my moneys worth in terms of hours (though much of that was due to my mage having to sneak around slowly to survive in his early levels, and my tendency to ride everywhere), but I can't help but to be disappointed. This game is one that just gives you a feeling of so many missed opportunities and curious design choices. Interestingly I would probably have enjoyed it more if I was a console gamer. On the PC it could have been so much more.

Edit:
I'll keep an eye on the mods and expansions released for Oblivion and may well return in a couple of years when many of the wrinkles have been ironed out. It worked for Morrowind!