7/23/2019 Xbox 360 Oblivion V1.2.0214
Go to the waterfront district and find Armand Christophe at midnight (the guy for the thieves guild quests). Steal the key to the imperial trading company from him (don't worry about failing -- he will say he doesn't need it anyway if you fail) then go to the place and go upstairs. Damian Magius will be sleeping. He will not wake up no matter how fast you walk! Take a rubber band and put one end over the joystick an put the other end under and around to the grip on the other side and leave it going for however long you want. You'll gain experience and eventually read level 100.
Shield (lowest magnitude, 1 second) - AlterationCast the spell you have created repeatedly by tapping the cast button repeatedly and you can get all your magic levels up to 100. Keep in mind if you use the fire damage one it has to actually hit a target, hopefully a high level monster so that you don't have to stop.Submitted by: xympathy
Sneak Walk Level 100 Exploit[edit]
Submitted by: MikeyII
Easy Money From Janus[edit]
After completing the âCure For Vampirismâ quest for Janus Hassildor (the Count of Skingrad), sneak to his room while he is sleeping, using an invisibility spell if necessary. Wake him up. If you keep choosing the âRewardâ option when doing this, he will give you 7,500 gold pieces each time. You can keep doing this for an amazing amount of gold. (unverified)
Flying Monsters Glitch[edit]
This will allow you to make any of the creatures you can summon fly after they die.
You need Wabbajack, a summoned Creature, a high defence rating, and an open Field.
I recommend you use the ice atronach or storm atronach. Summon your creature while wabbajack is equipped and wait until the creatures summon time is almost expired (if you used an ice atronach as I recommended, this should take around twenty eight seconds) and shoot wabbajack at it when there are two seconds left (you don't want to be point blank when you pull this stunt).
If you do it properly, you will see the animation of the creature dying while red spell circles cover it. Once the circles dissapear the creature should transform into any number of enemies or deer. Try not to kill the creature, or your game may freeze.
Once wabbajack times out you should have your original creature return to existence as a floating statue, this statue will float aroung meaninglessly for a very long time. When it contacts an obstacle it will either pass through or over, if it contacts a wall it will phase through.
This glitch also works with Sanguine Rose or the Staff of Corruption as the means for summoning.
Duplicate Items (Post Patch)[edit]
This cheat duplicates items in a similar way to the pre-patch method using a bow and arrows. I have seen variations on this method involving swinging weapons/fists but found they did not work (on the PC at least). This method works with Shivering Isles installed and is more straight forward than the old method.
To start with you will need at least 2 identical scrolls. Open you inventory and equipment them. Click on the scrolls once more, then drop the item you would like to duplicate. The quantity of the item needs to be less than the number of scrolls, for example if you have 10 scrolls the number of items duplicated at one time has to be 9 or less. Exit your inventory screen and the duplicates will fall to the ground. The number of items duplicated will be equal to the number of scrolls. To repeat this go back into the inventory screen and click on the equipped scrolls and drop the item to be duplicated (no need to unequip and equip the scrolls)
This method does not duplicate stolen items and some rare/quest items. It is however useful for duplicating light, valuable items such as gemstones which can be sold.
Submitted by Tenfyr
Item Duplication (Post-S.I. Patch)[edit]
Unverified. To duplicate items after downloading Xbox 360 Shivering Isles expansion pack do the following:
1. Equip a Scroll that you have multiple of (for example, Minor Heal Other x10). If you have ten scrolls you will get ten items.
2. Swing a weapon, and before the animation is over go to your inventory.
3. Select the equipped scroll and press GREEN twice (you won't get a message)
4. Drop the item you want to be duplicated. Note: you can only duplicate things that you have less than the amount of scrolls you equipped. So for example with ten scrolls, you cannot duplicate a potion where you have eleven bottles of. To get around this just drop a few of the items you want to duplicate before you start this glitch so you have fewer items than the amount of scrolls that you have.
Fast Finish (Main Quest)[edit]
First, you need about 20 to 30 Paint brushes and a lot of patience, then go to the Temple District. This requires an unpatched copy of Elder Scrolls IV, so if you have patched your game, you cannot do this. This exploits the floating paint brush glitch.
Go up to the Temple and 'paintbrush' your way to the top, jump through the roof and you will end up inside of the temple but still outside of it. (Kind of confusing, I know).
After you're in, go to the door. Don't go through it, instead, go to the door and make sure you're walking against it, then turn around and look at the floor, you'll see the top quarter of the door you were just running against.
Enter that and you'll be in the Temple and look up and it's a red sky. Now go outside and go activate an Oblivion Gate and it'll say you can't go in. Then, go back in the Temple and wait for 24 Hours.
When you stop waiting, Martin should be there, he's not all of the time, though. Talk to him, follow him and talk to him again. It'll end from there but I can't give away the ending for people who havn't beat the game yet and don't know the end. Sorry!
Submitted by GamefreakObli (blargin13579)
Fast Levelling Exploit[edit]
This little exploit can be taken advantage of to jack your levels up to 30 (when the items you earn will be of top quality). Just make sure to complete the quests with vulnerable NPCs or they will not survive the pummeling from high level enemies.
Simply travel to Leyawin and activate the 'Whom Gods Annoy' quest. Get it to the point where the woman gives you her Daedric staff. Instead of going to the dungeon to get rid of it, keep it for a while. The Everscamps it produces are incredibly easy to kill, have weak attack, and never stop respawning. Any ideas yet?
Personally, I was a Knight of Leyawin and went to the White Stallion Lodge to do this. I then decided that I wanted to level my Hand-to-Hand. So I punched the Everscamps to death again and again. A mere 10 minutes later I had raised my Hand-to-Hand almost 15 points.
I think many people don't think that the Everscamps give you experience points, but in fact, they do. I then leveled my block, blade, and heavy armorskills by about 20 points each before completing the quest.
Random Powerful Item (Fast Method)[edit]
For those of you who are interested in making a character (who must be at level 25 or greater) a physical
reflection of 101%, you can quickly get some damn powerful items from the titular 'Head' blind monk in the Thieves' guild quest 'Arrow of Extrication'. The NPC holding the quest item is not only a good candidate because he always has one randomly generated powerful ring or accessory on his person (when killed), but because items are randomly generated when you make a map transition, the small room the NPC is in lets you save outside and reload the game (and map) to let you try again in getting that one item you were looking for. Naturally, high luck helps, but luck enhancement spells also affect the outcome.
Your basic goal is to get two accessories that offer 'physical damage reflected' at around the 30 - 40% mark and a (quest award) shield that offers the same thing. With all three items thus equipped, you should be damn near invulnerable. For magic, go after the Mundane Ring, and with the ability to enchant 'magic protection 25%' or higher on a few pieces of armor, you can make yourself invulnerable to magic attacks. The only thing left to hurt you will be arrows, but that should be an easy task. Note -- for such high percentages, you need to acquire items and weapons and armor at level 25 (or greater for some Dark Brotherhood items).
Full Ebony / Daedric Armor[edit]
In order to get a full Daedric suit fairly quick all you have to do is to be on level 25 or up and go to the Roxey Inn. Once you are inside the Inn look for a woman named Rigmor. If she isn't wearing a full Daedric Armor Suit then there are two possible problems. Either you level is not high enough or your luck is not at an adequate level (it should be around 50 or so).
If she isn't wearing the suit she will have a full set of Ebony armor. Still don't let that tempt you. If want a full set of Ebony armor kill Umbra in the Alyeid ruin called Vindasel. But before you kill Umbra talk to the Shrine of Clavicus Vile. He will give the quest to kill her and to bring back the Umbra sword in return for the Masque of Clavicus Vile.
If you return Umbra before talking to the shrine the game will freeze. There is an old Redguard in the Roxey Inn. I can't remember his name but he is the only guy not wearing armor other than the bar tender. That Redguard is a master of heavy armor and will train you if you get him a silver pitcher and four silver cups. You can easily obtain these cups and pitcher by going to Dorian's house in the Imperial City. Dorian can make you rich but not on his free will.
To get rich persuade him until he dislikes you, once you are done he will say things like ,'Get out or I'll call the guards!'. Kill him either before or after he attacks you. When is dead search his body for his gold. If you have done everything correctly, you can collect his gold for an infinite number of times and thus become rich which can pay for your heavy armor training for the Redguard in the Roxey Inn.
Assassin Gear Without Guild[edit]
In the city of Bruma their is a house next to Olav'a Tapand Tack, it is the second house along. the house belongs to JâGhasta. In the house their is a Barrel or Large beer keg with a Very Hard Lock on it if you can break this lock then you will recieve the spols of war in the form of a set of Black Hand Robes and a Black Hand Hood. Although these Robes provide no armor and have no value they are among the best Enchanted Equipment in the game. This equipment provides Sneak + 11, Illusion + 11, Marksman + 11, Blade + 11, Speechcraft + 11.
The only down fall is you have to aviod being sent to jail because they will apear as stolen and will be claimed by the gaurds.
Fighting Minotaurs[edit]
Once you've become a grand champion, the lady managing the arena will offer you random (but tough) fights each game week. If you want some easy gains, ask for a fight against three minotaurs.
Once the announcer says, 'Lower the gates', remain in the steps to the entrance hall. Shoot a few arrows or spells at the targets, and all you have to do is stay close enough to them to attack. Occasionally one minotaur may get through but you can handle one fairly tolerably by then.
Patch Removal[edit]
When you remove the Xbox Live patches, you can do all the glitches that were patched, but this removes the patches for all of your games. No saved game data will be lost, but you will need to repatch everything when you sign-in to Xbox Live, as well as risk being stranded in a modded map that was removed.
Trying to decide between the PC and Xbox 360 versions of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion? We're here to help you make the best choice.
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The New Eternal Debate: PC or Xbox 360?The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is one of the best, most talked about role-playing games in a long time. This article assumes you're interested in learning what all the fuss is about but are having trouble deciding whether the PC or Xbox 360 version of the game is right for you. Here we'll break down the differences and help you make a decision, but the good news is, you won't go wrong either way.
Bear in mind that the content and gameplay is identical in both versions of Oblivion. Given this, your choice between the PC and Xbox 360 versions may be obvious--if you have only one system or the other, then get whichever version you can play. However, if you know you'd have to upgrade your PC to get the most of this game, or if you're on the fence about getting an Xbox 360, or if you already have both systems, then you've got yourself an interesting dilemma. We're here to help you make the best choice. Let's summarize the pros and cons for each version.
Oblivion for the Xbox 360+ Solid performance + Addictive unlockable achievements + In-game Dolby Digital 5.1 sound - Steep $59 'next-gen' retail price - No immediate access to game mods Oblivion for the PC + Looks gorgeous on a high-end PC + Mods galore boost lasting value + Cheaper retail price - System hog won't run well on old graphics cards - Interface feels intended for consoles
In short, the PC version is better suited to power users with top-of-the-line gaming rigs, who like the idea of extending their game with a lot of downloadable user-created content. Meanwhile, the Xbox 360 version is a safer bet that's recommendable to anyone, especially those who don't have a souped-up PC and aren't looking to upgrade, and/or have a home theater setup.
Are You Tall Enough for This Ride?
Let's make sure you have what you need to get the most out of the two versions of the game. Following are the official requirements for the PC version of Oblivion:
Minimum System Requirements⢠Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows XP 64-bit ⢠512MB System RAM ⢠2Ghz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent processor ⢠8x DVD-ROM Drive ⢠4.6GB free hard disk space ⢠DirectX 9.0c (included) ⢠ATI Radeon X600 series, Radeon 9500 series, Nvidia GeForce 6200 series, or GeForce FX series and higher video cards ⢠DirectX 8.1 Compatible Sound Card ⢠Keyboard, Mouse Recommended System Requirements ⢠3.0Ghz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent AMD Athlon 64 processor ⢠1GB System RAM ⢠ATI Radeon X800 series, Nvidia GeForce 6800 series, or higher video card
Fair warning that the minimum requirements are a stretch; specifically, you're going to want at least 1GB of RAM to get this game running at a decent clip. If your system meets or exceeds the recommended specifications, you'll be in great shape to run the PC version of the game. As for the Xbox 360 version, it requires nothing other than an Xbox 360 console since it's a console game. However, to get the most out of the game, you should have a widescreen 1080i or 720p HDTV, a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround-sound system, an Internet connection for your PC or Xbox 360, and an Xbox Live account.
You could play the Xbox 360 version on a plain old television set, but you'd be missing out on experiencing the game in all its audiovisual glory. As for the Internet connection, while Oblivion has no online multiplayer component, you'll still want to have Xbox Live for registering those achievements you unlock to your community profile, and for downloading additional content that may become available in the future.
Which one Sounds Better?
Chances are you've got a better sound system hooked up to your television than to your computer (though, not necessarily). If you have a 5.1 surround-sound system and an Xbox 360 as part of your home theater, then you'll be treated to some outstanding atmospheric audio on this version of the game. Excellent separation of audio channels not only makes the experience feel more realistic, but it can also lend a tactical advantage in battle, since you'll literally hear your foes from every angle.
Granted, the game sounds fantastic even if you're listening to it through tinny television or PC speakers. But the better your sound system is, the richer an experience you'll have with Oblivion. The 360 version's in-game Dolby Digital audio is a real treat. Of further note, the Xbox 360 version of the game offers native support for custom soundtracks, in case you'd care to replace Oblivion's beautiful symphonic score with something else. That's not to say you couldn't do this with the PC version, though--the music is in MP3 format, so you could always try replacing some of the tracks with your favorite MP3 files.
The Graphics ComparisonOblivion Xbox 360 WalkthroughThere's a lot more to Oblivion than pretty graphics, but frankly, those pretty graphics can have a lot to do with how much you end up enjoying the experience. Let's examine how the PC version compares with the Xbox 360 version strictly from a visual standpoint. We'll show you direct comparisons using three separate PC setting configurations. All images were captured at 480p and resized to fit the screen. The PC version has a slightly cleaner capture because we couldn't pull shots directly from the frame buffer in our retail Xbox 360 version. The images show the major differences between the consoles and graphics settings, but they shouldn't be used for texture quality and similar fine-detail comparisons. Look for our upcoming Oblivion Hardware Performance Guide for a full rundown on all the video settings and how they affect frame rate.
The Xbox 360 screenshot is displayed by default. Roll your mouse cursor over each image to see the PC-equivalent screenshot.
Xbox 360 versus Low-Spec PC
Technically, though, the game's interface seems to have been designed with the Xbox 360 primarily in mind. Menus are easier to flip through using shoulder buttons rather than clicking on iconic tabs with the mouse, for example. The 360 controller also offers a rumble feature, which makes the action more tactile and slightly more intense. Meanwhile, the PC version lets you remap your controls to your preference and easily switch between skills using hotkeys, so it's got some advantages. It's also probably better suited to left-handed players, since Oblivion is missing a southpaw control configuration for lefties. But the game does feel a bit more natural overall on the Xbox 360.
Note that the wired USB-compatible Xbox 360 controller will work just fine with the PC version of the game, which is an option to consider. Furthermore, the extensibility of the PC version through user-created mods means that various interface changes or enhancements could be just a download away.
Special Features
On the PC, you'll be able to greatly extend the life of an already content-rich game by cherry-picking from a countless number of user-created modifications. Within days of the game's release, dozens of mods already began surfacing on the Internet. We've got many of them here at GameSpot, so visit our Oblivion downloads page to check out what's on offer. There you can also download the Oblivion Construction Set, in case you want to try your hand at creating your own content.
On the Xbox 360, you've got 50 different achievements to unlock as part of the Xbox 360's addictive 'gamerscore' system. Some of these achievements you'll unlock automatically by completing the main quest. The others require you to work your way up through the main factions, essentially by undertaking the major subquests. These achievements add a layer of structure to the game and may give you more incentive to explore every last bit of content. Note that the Xbox 360 version does include hooks for future content downloads--so it's possible that the best PC mods may still come to the 360, but don't count on that.
Bethesda will also release downloadable content morsels for the Xbox 360 through Xbox Live's microtransaction system and for the PC through its Web site. Read our news story for more information about the first set of official content downloads from Bethesda.
Extra: Is the Collector's Edition Worth an Extra $10?Short Answer: Yes.
Both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of Oblivion are optionally available in a Collector's Edition package retailing for an additional $10 on top of the standard retail price--so that's $59 for the PC version and $69 for the Xbox 360 version of the Collector's Edition. The extra $10 will buy you deluxe 'gatefold' packaging, a faux-leather-bound 'The Pocket Guide to the Empire' 112-page booklet all about the world of Tamriel, an Imperial Septim coin (a metal replica of Oblivion's currency) and an entertaining 'Making of Oblivion' DVD Documentary.
If you're an old-school fan of computer role-playing games, you'll certainly appreciate this Collector's Edition for the authentic Pocket Guide and coin (of course, you didn't have to pay extra for this stuff in the halcyon days of the Ultima series). The DVD documentary will also be of natural interest to many of those wondering how on earth this game was created.
Closing Thoughts
We hope we've given you a clearer sense of the differences between the two versions of Oblivion. In case it still isn't clear to you which version you should get, though, we bet you're wondering whether you should take this opportunity either to upgrade your PC or to splurge for an Xbox 360 and maybe a home theater setup while you're at it. That's a tougher personal choice than deciding between versions of Oblivion, so we'll leave that one up to you. But we'll note that should you choose to upgrade your gaming setup at home partly on account of getting the most out of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, we don't think you'll be disappointed.
Next Steps:Visit the Oblivion PC ForumVisit the Oblivion Xbox 360 Forum
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There are two Elder Scroll games that have been published to the Xbox 360 system. Content related to the Elder Scroll products on the system may be found in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion pages.
On November 2014, Xbox 360 reached over 7,000 video games. The Xbox 360 system will be discontinued in late 2016.
Links to Elder Scrolls products on the Xbox 360EditDiscussions about XBOX 360
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is an open worldaction role-playingvideo game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and the Take-Two Interactive division 2K Games. It is the fourth installment in The Elder Scrolls action fantasy series, following The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and preceding The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The game was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 in March 2006, and on PlayStation 3 in March 2007, with a mobile version of the game released on May 2, 2006. Taking place within the fictional province of Cyrodiil, Oblivion's main story revolves around the player character's efforts to thwart a fanatical cult known as the 'Mythic Dawn' that plans to open portal gates to a demonic realm known as 'Oblivion'. The game continues the open world tradition of its predecessors by allowing the player to travel anywhere in the game world at any time and to ignore or postpone the main storyline indefinitely. A perpetual objective for players is to improve their character's skills, which are numerical representations of certain abilities. Early in the game, seven skills are selected by the player as major skills for their character, with those remaining termed as minor skills.
Development for Oblivion began in 2002, directly after the release of Morrowind, opting for tighter pacing in gameplay and greater plot focus than in past titles. To design the graphics, Bethesda used an improved Havok physics engine, high-dynamic-range lighting, procedural content generation tools that allowed developers to quickly create detailed terrains, and the Radiant AI system, which enabled non-player characters (NPCs) to make choices and engage in behaviors more complex than in past titles. The game features fully voiced NPCsâa first for the seriesâand the music of award-winning composer Jeremy Soule. Upon release, Oblivion was well received by critics and has won a number of industry and publication awards. It was praised for its impressive graphics, expansive game world, and schedule-driven NPCs, and is now considered one of the greatest games ever made. It was successful both commercially and critically. Following a number of smaller content releases, Bethesda released two expansion packs for the game, Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles, which were bundled with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition which was released in 2007, and later re-released as a fifth-anniversary edition in 2011.
Gameplay[edit]
Oblivion is a role-playing game (RPG) that incorporates open-ended gameplay.[3] The player can follow side-quests, interact with NPCs, dispatch monsters, develop their character, and travel anywhere in the province of Cyrodiil at any time while playing the game (provided that the areas are not quest-specific and otherwise inaccessible when not questing).[3] The game never ends, and the player can continue playing after completing the main quest.[4] The gameplay includes a 'fast travel' system, in which an icon appears on the game world map every time the player visits a new location. This excludes the game world's main cities which are already unlocked for fast travel from the start of the game. The player can arrive at the desired location instantaneously by selecting the icon on the map.[5]
The inventory interface, where the player garbs, armors, and equips their character
Character development is a primary element of Oblivion. At the beginning of the game, players select one of many humanoid or anthropomorphic races, each of which has different natural abilities, and customize their character's appearance.[3][6] A perpetual objective for players is to improve their character's skills, which are numerical representations of their ability in certain areas.
Seven skills are selected early in the game as major skills, with the remainder termed minor.[3] The players level up each time they improve their major skills by a total of ten points; this provides the opportunity to improve their attributes.[7] Attributes are more broad character qualities, such as 'speed' and 'endurance', while skills are more specific, such as 'armorer' or 'athletics'. Afflictions such as disease and poison can reduce the player's attributes.[8][9] When players reach 25, 50, 75, or 100 points in a single skill, they unlock new abilities related to the skill.[9]
Xbox 360 Oblivion Cheats Walkthrough
The game's 21 skills fall evenly under the categories of combat, magic, and stealth, and many skills complement more than one area.[9][10] Combat skills are used primarily for battle and incorporate armor and heavy weapons like blades, axes, maces, and hammers.[10][11] Magic skills rely on the use of spells to alter the physical world, to affect the minds of others, to injure and debilitate enemies, to summon monsters to help fight, and to heal wounds.[10][12] Stealth skills allow the player to crack locks, haggle for goods, use speech to manipulate people, and apply cunning in combat (through the use of a bow or with a sneak attack).[10][13] The spells, weapons, and other tools such that a player needs to employ and enhance these skills, such as lockpicks, can be purchased in shops, stolen from NPCs, or found as loot on the bodies of foes or in dungeons.[14]
Oblivion can be played in either a first- or third-person view,[7] except in the mobile phone version, in which the game can only be played in isometric projection.[15] The player may change the level of difficulty at any time, thereby weakening opponents and increasing the chance of success for particular actions.[16] The screen constantly presents a heads-up display, which provides information about the character's health, magicka, and fatigue, all of which can be increased by leveling up.[17]
Health can be restored by spells, potions, or resting; the loss of all health results in death.[18] Magicka enables and is depleted by the use of spells; it is rejuvenated naturally over time, but it can be restored similarly to health.[18] Fatigue affects the character's effectiveness in combat and general efficiency, and can be alleviated by resting, potions, and spells.[18]
Throughout the world are a variety of enemies, including standard fantasy monsters such as imps and goblins, and animals such as bears and wolves.[19] Enemies become stronger and weapons and armor more effective as the player levels up. This game mechanic of level-scaling was incorporated to maintain a constant and moderate aspect of difficulty.[20] However, level-scaling combined with the leveling system has received criticism, as it has the potential to unbalance the game; characters with major skills that increase on an involuntary basis, such as athletics or armor, can find that they level too quickly, making the enemies proportionately harder than intended.[20]
Plot[edit]
Oblivion is set six years after the events of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, during the Third Empire - though it is not a direct sequel to it or any other game.[21] The game is set in Cyrodiilâa province of Tamriel, the continent on which all the games in the series have so far taken place.[22]
The story begins with the player imprisoned in a cell for an unknown crime. Emperor Uriel Septim VII, accompanied by Imperial bodyguards known as 'the Blades', arrive in the prison, fleeing from assassins who have murdered the emperor's three sons and are now targeting him. The emperor and the Blades reveal that the player's jail cell contains a secret entrance to a part of the city's sewer that functions as an escape route. Pardoned by the emperor, the player follows the group into the sewer, where they come under attack by assassins. The blade captain is cut down during the fighting that ensues. Knowing he is destined to die by the hands of the assassins, Uriel Septim entrusts the player with the Amulet of Kings, worn by the Septim emperors of Tamriel, and orders the player to take it to a man named Jauffre, the grand master of the Blades, at Weynon Priory. Immediately afterward, one of the assassins kills the emperor. The player escapes the sewer and heads out into the open world of Cyrodiil.[22]
The lack of an heir for Uriel Septim has broken an old covenantâthe barrier to Oblivion: a dangerous realm that is in another dimension. Multiple gates to Oblivion open, and an invasion of Tamriel begins by magical creatures known as Daedra, killing and destroying anything in their path. Jauffre tells the player that the only way to close the gates permanently is to find someone of the royal bloodline to retake the throne and relight the Dragonfiresâwith the Amulet of Kingsâin the Imperial City. However, there is an illegitimate son named Martin, who is a priest in the city of Kvatch. Upon arriving at Kvatch, the player finds that the Daedra have destroyed the city and very few survivors remain. A massive Oblivion Gate is obstructing the main city entrance, and the player must venture through the gate into the Deadlandsâone of the planes of Oblivionâin order to close it from the inside and allow access to the city. After closing the gate, the player enters Kvatch and takes it back from the Daedra with the assistance of surviving guardsmen. Martin has survived and the player persuades him to come to Weynon Priory.[22]
The player, now recognized as the Hero of Kvatch, returns to Weynon Priory with Martin, finding that it has come under attack by assassins and that the Amulet of Kings has been stolen. The player escorts Jauffre and Martin to Cloud Ruler Temple, the stronghold of the Blades. There, Martin is recognized as the emperor and is given command of the Blades. The player is optionally entered into their ranks and sets off in search of the amulet. After gathering information, the player learns that the group responsible for Uriel Septim's assassination and the theft of the amulet are the Mythic Dawn, a cult dedicated to the worshiping of Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction. The cult believes Dagon is the true creator of the world and wish for him to 'cleanse' it of all impurities. Killing the emperor and thus removing the barriers to Oblivion was the first step in realizing this idea. The player attempts to infiltrate the secret meeting place of the cult in the hopes of retrieving the amulet. When the player does so, the cult's leader, Mankar Camoran, escapes through a portal, taking the amulet with him. The player takes the book that had opened the portal to Martin, who deduces a way to reopen the portal. The player seeks out three key artifacts necessary to recreate the portal: a Daedric artifact, The Blood of the Divines, in this case the armor of the first Septim emperor is a substitute, and a Great Welkynd Stone. With all three retrieved, Martin reveals that a final ingredient is needed: a Great Sigil Stone from inside a Great Gate similar to the one that devastated Kvatch. Martin and Jauffre decide to allow the city of Bruma to be attacked by Daedra so that a Great Gate will be opened. Once it is, the player obtains the Stone and closes the Gate, also saving Bruma.[22]
A portal is created at Cloud Ruler Temple and the player is sent through to Mankar Camoran's created realm of Paradise. After bypassing Daedra, Mythic Dawn members and obstacles, the player confronts Camoran and kills him. The player returns the Amulet of Kings to Martin, and they subsequently travel to the Imperial City with the Blades to relight the Dragonfires and end the Daedric invasion. They find the city under attack by Daedra and an enormous avatar of Mehrunes Dagon himself. The player and Martin fight their way to the Temple of the One. There, Martin laments that they are powerless against Dagon's avatar and explains that they can only defeat him one way. He bids farewell to the player and shatters the Amulet of Kings, merging himself with the spirit of Akatosh, the Dragon-God of Time, thus becoming Akatosh's avatar. After a battle, Akatosh casts Dagon back into Oblivion and lets out a mighty roar before turning to stone. Martin, whose soul was consumed by the amulet, enters the afterlife to join his forebears. In a telepathic monologue to the player, he sheds an optimistic light, explaining that while the Amulet of Kings is destroyed and the throne again lies empty, the gates of Oblivion are now shut forever and the future of Tamriel now lies in the player's hands. The Empire's high chancellor sincerely thanks the player for their service during the crisis and proclaims them as the seventh Champion of Cyrodiil.[22]
Development[edit]
The game was developed by the United States software companyBethesda Softworks. Ken Rolston, who was Morrowind's lead designer, oversaw the development team.[23] The PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game were co-published by 2K Games and Bethesda.[24] Work on Oblivion began shortly after the release of Morrowind in 2002.[25] By mid-September 2004, Oblivion had been officially announced, and its title revealed.[25][26]
During Oblivion's development, Bethesda concentrated on creating a system with a more realistic storyline, believable characters, and meaningful quests than had been done in the past. In comparison with previous titles in the series, the game features improved artificial intelligence thanks to the use of Bethesda proprietary Radiant A.I. software,[27] and enhanced physics facilitated by the Havokphysics engine.[28] The graphics take advantage of advanced lighting and shader routines such as high-dynamic-range rendering (HDR) and specular mapping.[29][30][31] Bethesda developed and implemented procedural content creation tools in the building of Oblivion's terrain, leading to the expedited creation of landscapes that are more complex and realistic than in past titles.[32]
An in-game screenshot showing Oblivion's user interface, HDR lighting and long draw distance, improvements made as part of a goal to create 'cutting-edge graphics'[33]
While designing Oblivion's landscape and architecture, developers worked from personal travel photographs, nature books, texture images, and reference photographs.[31] Procedural content generation tools used in production allowed for the creation of realistic environments at much faster rates than was the case with Morrowind.[32] Erosion algorithms incorporated in the landscape generation tools allowed for the creation of craggy terrain quickly and easily, replacing Morrowind's artificially smoothed-over terrain.[32]
Oblivion's view distance is far greater than its predecessor's, extending player sightlines to the horizon and giving views of distant towns and mountain ranges.[34] According to a Microsoft press release, Oblivion's game world is approximately 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) in size.[35] Wilderness quests, ruins, and dungeons were added to fill surplus space.[32] Content in the dungeons is more densely packed than in dungeons in Morrowind, with an increase in the frequency of creature encounters, quest-related NPCs, and puzzles.[32] The populations represented in Oblivion, however, do not match the 'thousands upon thousands' described in previous in-game literature. The development team decided to set the NPC populations at a level that would play well, rather than one that would match game lore, since the presence of a large number of NPCs on screen would have caused the game to slow down.[36]
In response to the criticism that NPC behavior had been too simplistic in Morrowind, Bethesda developed the Radiant AI system for Oblivion.[37] NPCs were designed to make choices, rather than complete scripted routines, to achieve predetermined goals. The manner in which goals such as eating, sleeping, reading, and speaking to others are fulfilled is dependent upon the environment, the choices of other NPCs, and programmed personality values. For example, an NPC whose goal is to find food may eventually resort to stealing from others, if they are given the opportunity and if it is in their character.[38] These development mechanics allowed Bethesda to create NPCs who could engage in complex activities.[27]
Audio[edit]
Oblivion features the voices of Patrick Stewart, Lynda Carter, Sean Bean, Terence Stamp, Ralph Cosham, and Wes Johnson, with celebrity acquisition and voice production being handled by Blindlight.[39][40][41] The voice acting received mixed reviews in the gaming press. While many publications praised it as excellent,[42][43] others found fault with its repetitiveness.[44][45][46] The issue has been blamed on the small number of voice actors and the blandness of the dialogue itself.[47] Lead designer Ken Rolston found the plan to fully voice the game 'less flexible, less apt for user projection of his own tone, more constrained for branching, and more trouble for production and disk real estate' than Morrowind's partially recorded dialogue. Rolston tempered his criticism with the suggestion that voice acting 'can be a powerful expressive tool' and can contribute significantly to the charm and ambience of the game. He stated 'I prefer Morrowind's partially recorded dialogue, for many reasons. But I'm told that fully-voiced dialogue is what the kids want'.[48]
Oblivion's score was composed by series mainstay Jeremy Soule, a video game composer whose past scores had earned him a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award in the 'Game Music Category' and two nominations for an Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) award for 'Original Music Composition'.[49][50] The official soundtrack to Oblivion, featuring 26 tracks spanning 58 minutes, was released in March 2006, via Soule's digital distributor DirectSong.[51][52] Soule had worked with Bethesda and Todd Howard during the creation of Morrowind, and, in a press release announcing his return for Oblivion, Soule repeated the words he had said during Morrowind's press release: 'The stunning, epic quality of The Elder Scrolls series is particularly compatible with the grand, orchestral style of music I enjoy composing the most'.[49][50] As in his compositions for Morrowind, Soule chose to create a soft and minimalist score so as not to wear out users' ears.[53] Soule stated that while composing the music he did not imagine any specific characters or events; rather, he wanted it 'to comment on the human condition and the beauty of life'. In a 2006 interview, he related that this desire came as a result of a car accident that occurred during his composition of the score. He said, 'I ended up rolling in my car several times on an interstate while flying headlong into oncoming traffic ... I felt no fear ... I simply just acknowledged to myself that I've had a good life and I would soon have to say goodbye to all of it in a matter of seconds'. Soule sustained only minor injuries, but commented that his feeling during the crashâ'that life is indeed precious'âremained with him throughout the rest of the composition.[54]
Marketing and release[edit]
Oblivion's public debut occurred on May 18, 2005, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.[55] The version shown at E3 was substantially finished; most content was already in the game, lacking only the polish that the final months of development would bring.[56] Most viewers were impressed by Oblivion's showing, and the game won a number of 'best of' awards from a variety of game journalists: GameSpy's 'RPG Game of Show',[57]GameSpot's 'Best Role-Playing Game',[58]IGN's 'Best PC RPG',[59] RPGFan's 'Overall Game of E3 2005',[60] and, most prestigiously, the 'Best Role Playing Game' in the 2005 E3 Game Critics Awards.[61] A near-final build of Oblivion was shown at Microsoft's Consumer Electronics Show press tent in January 2006, showcasing the game's exteriors.[62][63] In the months prior to release, anticipation for the game ran high, with critics describing Oblivion as 'the first next-gen game' only heightening attention. 'People were expecting the game to cure blindness and heal the sick', said Pete Hines, Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for Bethesda.[64]
2K Games had aimed for a late 2005 publication so that the game could be an Xbox 360 launch title.[65] The official release date for the PC and Xbox 360 versions was originally November 22, 2005, but developmental delays pushed it back to March 20, 2006.[66][67][68] A mobile phone version of the game, developed by Superscape and published by Vir2L Studios, was released on May 2, 2006.[15] The PlayStation 3 version of the game (ported by 4J Studios) was released on March 20, 2007, in North America[69] and on April 27, 2007, in Europe.[70][71] This version includes graphical improvements that had been made since the PC and Xbox 360 release, and was subsequently praised for its enhanced visual appeal.[72][73] A PlayStation Portable version of the game was also in development before being canceled.[74]
At the 2007 E3, the Game of the Year edition for Oblivion was announced.[75] In North America and Europe, the game was released in September 2007, for the Xbox 360 and PC,[76][77] and in October 2007, for the PS3;[78] in Australia, it was released on September 2007, for the Xbox 360 and PC, and in December 2007, for the PS3.[76][79][80] It was also released on Steam on June 16, 2009.[81] A 5th-anniversary edition of Oblivion was announced and released in North America in July 2011 and in Europe two months later.[82][83] An Xbox 360 version of Fallout 3 and Oblivion double pack was announced for release in North America on April 3, however it was not mentioned whether the bundled games include any of the downloadable content released for either game.[84]
Rating change[edit]
On May 3, 2006, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) in North America changed Oblivion's rating from T (Teen 13+) to M (Mature 17+), citing game content not considered in the ESRB review, i.e., 'the presence in the PC version of the game of a locked-out art file that, if accessed by using an apparently unauthorized third party tool, allows the user to play the game with topless versions of female characters'.[85][86] In response to the new content, the ESRB conducted a review of Oblivion, showing to its reviewers the content originally submitted by Bethesda along with the newly disclosed content.[87][88]
The ESRB reported that Bethesda Softworks would promptly notify all retailers of the change, issue stickers for retailers and distributors to affix on the product, display the new rating in all following product shipments and marketing, and create a downloadable patch rendering the topless skin inaccessible.[87] Bethesda complied with the request but disagreed with the ESRB's rationale.[89] Some retailers began to check for ID before selling Oblivion as a result,[90] and one California Assemblyman used the event to criticize the ESRB's inefficiency.[91]
Additional content[edit]
Starting in April 2006, Bethesda released small packages of additional downloadable content (DLC) for the game from their website and over the Xbox Live Marketplace. The first update came as a set of specialized armor for Oblivion's ridable horses; released on April 3, 2006.[92][93][94] Although gamers generally displayed enthusiasm for the concept of micropayments for downloadable in-game content,[92][95] many expressed their dissatisfaction at the price they had to pay for the relatively minor horse-armor package on the Internet and elsewhere.[92] Hines assured the press that Bethesda was not going to respond rashly to customer criticism.[95] New releases continued into late 2006, at lower prices with more substantial content, leading to a better reception in the gaming press.[96][97][98][99][100] Other small DLC packs include a set of houses themed after the game's factions, a new dungeon, and new spells that were absent in the initial release. Oblivion's final content pack was released October 15, 2007.[101][102]
The Elder Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine is an official expansion for Oblivion released on November 21, 2006.[103] Downloadable on the Xbox Live marketplace for the Xbox 360 and available for retail purchase for PC users,[103] the expansion content was included in the original version of the PlayStation 3 release.[104] The expansion was developed, published, and released by Bethesda Softworks.[105] The plot of Knights of the Nine centers on the rise of the sorcerer-king Umaril and the player's quest to defeat him with the aid of the lost crusader's relics.[106] Although it made little change to the basic mechanics of Oblivion, it was judged by reviewers to be a brief but polished addition to the game's main plot.[107][108][109]
The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles,[110] was released on March 27, 2007, for Windows and Xbox 360. The expansion offers more than 30 hours of new adventuring, and features new quests, voice acting, monsters, spells, armor, and expanded freeform gameplay. It features a new land 'that [players] can watch change according to [their] vital life-or-death decisions'.[111][112]Shivering Isles takes place in the realm of madness ruled over by the Daedric prince Sheogorath. The player is tasked by Sheogorath with saving the realm from an approaching cataclysm known as the Greymarch.[113][114]
Reception[edit]
Oblivion received universal acclaim from critics, and became a commercial success.[118][136] The game had shipped 1.7 million copies by April 10, 2006,[137] sold over 3 million copies by January 2007,[138] and over 3.5 million by November 2011.[139] Electronic Entertainment Design and Research, a market research firm, estimates that the game has sold 9.5 million copies worldwide.[140] Reviewers praised the game for its impressive graphics, expansive game world and schedule-driven NPCs. Eurogamer editor Kristan Reed stated that the game 'successfully unites some of the best elements of RPG, adventure and action games and fuses them into a relentlessly immersive and intoxicating whole'.[141] GameSpot's Greg Kasavin wrote that compared to Morrowind, which was one of the best role-playing games he has seen in years, 'Oblivion is hands-down better, so much so that even those who'd normally have no interest in a role-playing game should find it hard to resist getting swept up in this big, beautiful, meticulously crafted world'.[126]X-Play's Jason D'Aprile stated, 'All the games in this series have been known for their sheer vastness and freedom of choice, but the Elder Scrolls IV takes that concept and runs with it'.[142]
GamesTM editors noted that the game is 'heavily steeped in RPG tradition, however, its appeal stretches far beyond the hardcore RPG demographic thanks to its ease of play, boundless ambition and focused attention to detail'.[143] Scott Tobias of The A.V. Club wrote that the game is 'worth playing for the sense of discoveryâeach environment looks different from the last and requires a nuanced reactionâmakes the action addictive'.[144] GameZone staff commented on how one can spend a lot of the gameplay time by leveling up his or her character, doing various quests, and customizing the character before even starting the main quest.[145]
Game Revolution's Duke Ferris noted that 'the voices occasionally repeat' but was impressed that the developers managed to fit a lot of voiced dialog into the game, where most is 'high-quality work'.[146] IGN editor Charles Onyett praised the game's storytelling and 'easy to navigate menus'.[131]
Despite the praise, Patrick Joynt of 1UP.com criticized the conversations between in-game NPCs and the player: 'When an NPC greets you with a custom piece of dialogue (such as a guard's warning) and then reverts to the standard options (like a guard's cheerful directions just after that warning) it's more jarring than the canned dialogue by itself'.[122] GameSpy's Justin Speer criticized the 'disruptive loading stutters while moving across the game world' and long loading times. Speer noted several miscellaneous bugs, such as unintended floating objects and unsynchronized lip-synching and speech.[147] Onyett of IGN criticized the disjunction between enemies that scaled up according to the player's level and not their combat abilities or NPC allies, the loading times and the imprecision in the combat system, but stated that 'none of those minor criticisms hold back Oblivion from being a thoroughly enjoyable, user-friendly, gorgeous experience with enough content to keep you returning time and time again'.[131]
Oblivion won a number of industry and publication awards. In 2006, the game was awarded the title 'Game of the Year' at the G-Phoria Video Game Awards and at the Spike TV Video Game Awards.[148][149] At the 24th annual Golden Joystick Awards, Oblivion was awarded 'PLAY.com Ultimate Game of the Year', 'Xbox Game of the Year', and 'ebuyer.com PC Game of the Year'.[150] The game was titled the best role-playing game of 2006 by 1UP.com,[151] G4,[148] IGN,[152] GameSpy,[153] GameSpot,[154] Game Revolution,[155]PC Gamer US,[156] and the Interactive Achievement Awards.[157] The editors of Computer Games Magazine presented Oblivion with their 2006 'Best Technology' and 'Best Role-Playing Game' awards, and named it the second-best computer game of the year. They summarized it as 'an unforgettable masterpiece'.[158] In 2007, PC Gamer magazine rated Oblivion number one on their list of the top 100 games of all time.[159] In addition to the awards won by the game itself, Patrick Stewart's voice work as Uriel Septim won a Spike TV award,[149] and the musical score by composer Jeremy Soule won the inaugural MTV Video Music Award for 'Best Original Score' through an international popular vote.[160]
References[edit]
Further reading[edit]
External links[edit]
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