Judge Hades Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 (edited) Okay, now it is time for Oblivion to be judged by yours truly. Now many people criticized me for reviewing over the package contents of Dungeons and Dragons Online so I won't do that this time, but I will indeed say that DVDs rule. I just don't get it why Publishers are still using antiquated storage devices such as CD ROMs for computer games and applications. They are like the 8 Track tapes of today. If you do not have a DVD ROM on your computer spend the bloody $40 USD and upgrade already! With the opening cinematic which shows the title of the game, in case you forgotten during the time of installing and playing it, to the point of character creation I was certain that we were going to get such a graphic treat. As with Morrowind you get to pick your race and choose how you look like, but it was far more intricate than any single player game I have played. Frankly it was far more intricate than any online game I have played, MMO or otherwise. The one major weakness the game does have is no multiplayer. Sure you can make ia rather unique character but you can't show him/her off. The first introductory adventure in the prison was a decent tutorial on how to play the game while not sacrificing the story elements. However I wish there was a way to turn off the tutorial hints. Also there is no way to skip through the tutorial to go right tot he end to just pick class and sign. Yes the game still uses the loose class system and Star Sign of Morrowind but that is an aspect of the setting and gives the character a bit more uniqueness in the game world. You have your initial quest once outside of the sewer grates and have a whole world before you which you can practically go anywhere. This open ended freedom is also a trademark of the The Elder Scrolls and if you didn't like it in Morrowind, Daggerfall, or Arena, you will more than likely not like it here. In my first footsteps into this world I went back tot he capital city for I had a bunch of cheap loot and nothing worth having. When I reached the city I was amazed by how empty it looked, but with what people was there the Radiant AI system was busy making them go about their business which I do like. However the voice acting and the lines reminded me so much of the B Style movies of yesteryear which often showed up on Mystery Science Theatre 3000. There are points that they just make me pause and cringe. The conversation system is a hybrid of the style used in Morrowind and in more traditional CRPGs such as Baldur's Gate and Knights of the Old Republic. With everyone being voiced the replies were succinct and to the point. A great improvement over Morrowind's system, however I have came across that many of the voices sound exactly a like. I would be talking to a begger in Chorrol about rumors and if he gives me the same response as the merchant in the Imperial Capital he is using the same sound file. Understandable for Bethesda to reuse material like this but it does hurt the immersion factor. Combat is most definitely real time and it is more based on the player's skill with the mouse than the character's skill with a sword. The to hit chance is squarely based on if oyu make a hit on your target instead of making a roll off your skill. Instead the skill governs how effective the hit is in relation to the weapon used. While this makes the game a tad less in the CRPG department it does increase its graphical realism. Some aspects of the game is very annoying however. One being the lock picking system. For those who are the old timers here might remember a game called Hillsfar, an action oriented DnD game based in the Forgotten Realms back in the day of the Commode 64 and the 186/286 PCs. It is very twitch-like and can be very aggravating, and expensive, if you don't time it right. If you don't, you will break a lock pick. Thank goodness there is a auto-pick option for those who don't have solid manual dexterity. That is pretty much it. It is a solid enough title that imrpoves nearly all the weaknesses of Morrowind, and introduces a couple of new ones like that damn lock picking. Grrrr... The d20 die roll comes up with a 16. Edited March 25, 2006 by Judge Hades Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaguars4ever Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 (edited) What system are you running, Hades? Also: Nice review. Edited March 25, 2006 by jaguars4ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Hades Posted March 25, 2006 Author Share Posted March 25, 2006 A decent PC. An Athlon Sempron 64 3400 with a Radeon X700 Pro video card and a gig RAM. If I put the settings down to medium and the AA off and I can get about 60 to 70 FPS but where I like them at I get about 25 to 30 FPS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowPaladin V1.0 Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Not bad. Wonder if those views will change over the week. One of the things I never liked about Morrowind (and RPGs of this nature in general) was not only did you have to hit a target. But your character did too. I'm glad thats sorted out. I have to agree with Volourn. Bioware is pretty much dead now. Deals like this kills development studios. 478327[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atreides Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 But a Hades review doesn't feel complete with the senseless CD/DVD packaging review... Spreading beauty with my katana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowPaladin V1.0 Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 But a Hades review doesn't feel complete with the senseless CD/DVD packaging review... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Eh ? I have to agree with Volourn. Bioware is pretty much dead now. Deals like this kills development studios. 478327[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Raven Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Nice review Hades, I am impressed that you liked it. Hades was the life of the party. RIP You'll be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurlshort Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Personally, I've enjoyed the lockpicking mini-game. Since picks are pretty plentiful, Peter Piper picks productively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atreides Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 But a Hades review doesn't feel complete with the senseless CD/DVD packaging review... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Eh ? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> He usually bitches if the CD packaging's in paper sleeves rather than a jewel box. Spreading beauty with my katana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Raven Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Paper sleeves are cheap and lead to broken CDs. Surely game companies can afford a few cents to package it in a jewel case. Hades was the life of the party. RIP You'll be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Hades Posted March 25, 2006 Author Share Posted March 25, 2006 I like jeweled cases. Paper sleeves suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surreptishus Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Yes, but thatt does not have any bearing on tthe quality of the game itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Hades Posted March 25, 2006 Author Share Posted March 25, 2006 It does have a influenceon the overall quality and appearance of the product as a whole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Raven Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 It does have a influence on the overall quality and appearance of the product as a whole. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes indeed it does. You spend $49.99 on a game, the least they can do is put in a jewel case, or something that will protect the CD. Hades was the life of the party. RIP You'll be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowPaladin V1.0 Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Anyone get the collector pack ? I'm wondering how big the coin is. I have to agree with Volourn. Bioware is pretty much dead now. Deals like this kills development studios. 478327[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Hades Posted March 25, 2006 Author Share Posted March 25, 2006 Well I hope to have the CE version of OBlivion soon. My friend is demanding his discs back but I gave him Dungeon Siege 2 instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atreides Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 In jewel boxes I hope. The impression you make might be the difference between him going ballistic or not. Spreading beauty with my katana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Hades Posted March 25, 2006 Author Share Posted March 25, 2006 Well, he is the one GMing now so if my character dies in the next session by mysterious reasons I will know for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atreides Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Time to switch to Magic the Gathering. Spreading beauty with my katana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Raven Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Collectors edition? I will wait for that to be released. Hades was the life of the party. RIP You'll be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowPaladin V1.0 Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Collectors edition? I will wait for that to be released. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Should already be out. They were released together (at least here in the UK). I have to agree with Volourn. Bioware is pretty much dead now. Deals like this kills development studios. 478327[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Raven Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Well regardless if it is out or not, I must wait for a few needed upgrades before I get it. I doubt the game would run to my satisfaction with my current outdated set up. Hades was the life of the party. RIP You'll be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumjalum Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Well I hope to have the CE version of OBlivion soon. My friend is demanding his discs back but I gave him Dungeon Siege 2 instead. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Isn't he pissed off? Everyone is ranting about Oblivion and you've got his discs. :D We now bring you live footage from the World Championship Staring Final. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowPaladin V1.0 Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 On a somewhat unrelated note. I'd forgotten how heavy an Xbox was. You really wouldnt want to drop one of those on your foot. I have to agree with Volourn. Bioware is pretty much dead now. Deals like this kills development studios. 478327[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Hades Posted March 25, 2006 Author Share Posted March 25, 2006 (edited) Here are some more Oblivion pics. Man, this game kicks graphical arse. The ones at the metal gate amuses me. Edited March 25, 2006 by Judge Hades Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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