Just been playing it a little bit today, but I figured I'd make a thread for it. (I've got the PC version, so your results may vary):
-The character creation, at least facially, is very similar to what you might find in the Smackdown games. Edit your eyebrow shapes, nose length, whatever. The different races tweak differently, but it's fun to play facial morph.
-The graphics are nothing short of fantastic. Easily the best looking PC game I own, even on my last generation video card. You really don't appreciate it until you hit the outside how much better looking this game is than Morrowind.
- The fighting feels quite a bit tighter, at least in manual combat (I also found sniping with the bow a bit easier). I'm still not much of a spellcaster.
- The voice acting is particularily good. The towns feel a bit busy with it some times (you'll be trying to eavesdrop on a conversation, but a cadre of other people are having different discussions behind you, so it all gets kind of muddled. I will say that I was disappointed that
Spoiler Below: Highlight text to read
Patrick Stewart gets offed in the opening sequence of the game. It was expected, I even knew about it months ago, but it still would have been nice to have him around a bit longer. Seems kind of a waste otherwise
-Everything is labeled much better than it was in Morrowind. Shops have actual names which are clearly marked on signs outside the buildings, almost everybody in the Imperial City has a little one line explaination of their lives they can deliver to you upon introducing themselves, which makes them feel like real, living people.
-One thing I HATE is the new menu system. Morrowind's menus were clunky as hell, but at least they told you everything that was going on or could go on on a given screen. Now it's all icon based, and unless you memorize the manual you're completely screwed until you learn what every little icon means. I'd have liked to see some mouseovers or something saying "Guy Sitting Down" means training or "Arrows means Buy/Sell." It's fairly intuitive once you understand what's going on, but damned if it isn't a little confusing to pull up the journal screen and have to click on fourteen different icons just to figure out where everything is in your inventories.
-I haven't even started out on any quests or anything. Just roaming through the countrysides. Good stuff so far though. If you liked Morrowind, Oblivion seems like it's going to be the game Morrowind wanted to.
Tonight I wanna ruin my life, I wanna throw it all away, In a spectacular way
I've not been able to spend much time with it either, I hate it when real life gets in the way of my gaming, but my gut impression is that this game is going to be incredibly addictive. The graphics are amazing and the npc's are the best I can remember in any PC game. Between the incredible graphics and the npc's, this is also the most immersive rpg I've seen in a long time. I like the icon based menus, but that's definitely a matter of personal taste.
Between this, Civ IV, and the supposed q2 release of Neverwinter Nights 2, my gaming needs are taken care of for a long time. If Lucas Arts can actually get that rumored KOTOR 3 out this year, I'll be in gaming heaven. I may also be divorced and living in my car after my wife and kids disown me for being on the computer too much, but I'll be a happy gamer.
Tim
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit. -- Erasmus
I actually just started playing Morrowind this past week (came with a 9800 Pro card I bought for my old computer) to see if I'd like it enough to check Oblivion out.
I've heard varying opinions on it - how similar to Morrowind is it? I've heard it's a little more linear...not to the point it changes the game really, but to the point you feel like you actually have an objective.
I was trying to think of an appropriate analogy for how much better Oblivion is and I just don't have one. What I will say is that I think Oblivion is a better game than Morrowind in every way. I really don't think Oblivion is more linear, but I do think it does a better job of helping you along to both find and fulfill your objectives. Personally, I found parts of Morrowind frustrating because I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing or where I was supposed to be going to find out what it was I was supposed to be doing and I haven't yet had that experience in Oblivion.
Tim
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit. -- Erasmus
Originally posted by Freeway420So...should I buy this BEFORE exams and risk failing all my courses, or AFTER exams?
Yes, buy it and don't worry about the consequences
Seriously, the game is incredibly immersive and addicting. I've got 35 or 40 hours in and I KNOW I haven't begun to scratch the surface of the game. I'm guessing it's going to take me upwards of 150 hours to finish the game and about infinity - 3 hours to do everything in the game.
Tim
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit. -- Erasmus
Originally posted by bash91I was trying to think of an appropriate analogy for how much better Oblivion is and I just don't have one. What I will say is that I think Oblivion is a better game than Morrowind in every way. I really don't think Oblivion is more linear, but I do think it does a better job of helping you along to both find and fulfill your objectives. Personally, I found parts of Morrowind frustrating because I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing or where I was supposed to be going to find out what it was I was supposed to be doing and I haven't yet had that experience in Oblivion.
Tim
I totally agree with that segment. I hated Morrowind because it was so vast, yet absolutely directionless. Oblivion has completely fixed that problem in a number of subtle ways. It feels epic and entralling. I can hardly put it down. I will say though that I have been totally OWNED several times. The enemies are no pushovers (or at least I'm a bad fighter).
"How could we possibly appreciate the Mona Lisa if Leonardo had written at the bottom of the canvas: 'The lady is smiling because she is hiding a secret from her lover.' This would shackle the viewer to reality, and I don't want this to happen to 2001." - Stanley Kubrick
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That special edition looks crazy (saw it while at Target). It has a book, a musical score (which is kinda funny when you buy it with the game that has the score and therefore you haven't heard the music in the game yet) and other crazy stuff.