The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion - Hands On :PC and Xbox 360

by Steven Williamson on 1 March 2006, 13:05

Tags: The Elder Scrolls IV, Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ:TTWO), PC, Xbox 360, PS3, RPG

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Best RPG of 2006?



Much to the irritation of gaming editor Nick Haywood, who couldn't make the event, HEXUS.gaming’s Steven Williamson headed down to Take Two’s stylish offices in the Royal Town of Windsor, to get an exclusive hands-on look at Bethseda Game Studio’s epic RPG, Oblivion. The event was so exclusive that only a handful of people were there on the day, including Robin Scott from the excellent Oblivion fan site : http://www.tessource.net/



Every since the announcement of the latest Morrowind installment, many gamers have been desperate to get their hands on one of the most anticipated games of 2006, Oblivion. If you haven’t read any of the hype, or the dozens of previews, rumours and interviews, that have been circulating the print and online gaming media for an eternity, where have you been?
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion claims to be the quintessential role-playing game for the next generation and another leap forward in gaming. Bethesda say it will be the most richly detailed and vibrant game-world ever created. Oblivion is the latest chapter in the epic and highly successful Elder Scrolls saga and utilizes next-generation video game hardware to fully immerse you into the experience. With a powerful combination of freeform gameplay and unprecedented graphics, you can unravel the main quest at your own pace or explore the vast world and find your own challenges.


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The four hours I spent playing the PC version of Oblivion only scratches the surface of the vast Empire of Tamriel. According to Take Two's Adrian Lawton, the game takes around 20-30 hours to complete, if you ignore all the side quests and concentrate on the main mission, or around 200 hours if you were to complete every quest. This doesn’t include the time spent trotting around on a horse exploring the environment, bartering with the locals for the best deals, mixing new spells with your pestle and mortar, slaying wolves and bear cubs deep in the forest, or standing on a hill-top gawping, as I did, at the spectacular views across the city – the possibilities are vast and time won't even exist once you become immersed in this epic journey.

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But will Oblivion be the greatest ever RPG ever? Quite possibly.

This article does contain some spoilers, so head back now if you don’t want to read them.

Click the links below for all of HEXUS coverage on Oblivion :

Oblivion Collector's Edition
Oblivion First Look