Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, 2006)

A groundbreaking entry in Bethesda's fantasy open-world RPG series.

Nostalgia Factor: Medium. I didn’t play this one until adulthood, but I should acknowledge I deeply favor this game.
Difficulty: Easy to Medium. The level-scaling enemies can punish you if you don’t allocate your stats efficiently for combat.

Morrowind was a huge step forward from Daggerfall, and Oblivion was yet another big leap forward in the Elder Scrolls universe. In every respect, Oblivion once again raised the bar in the open-world fantasy RPG genre. After Skyrim’s release, Oblivion became the “middle child” of the fully 3D Elder Scrolls games, but it remains an epic adventure that shouldn’t be passed over.

Oblivion builds on the now familiar Bethesda formula, adding so many improvements to Morrowind’s foundation. The combat is much improved (though a bit dull for some, after playing Skyrim), they added a proper fast travel system, and NPCs have full facial animations (in all of their awkward 2006 glory) and fully voiced speech. The main quest, side quest, and faction quest content in Oblivion is lauded by many as the best in the series. Oblivion adds dynamic reputation (NPCs recognize your accomplishments or crimes), and many NPCs have been programmed with daily routines to add some realism to the game.

For years, Oblivion held the throne as my favorite game of all time. That’s a near impossible decision to make, of course. There are just so many great games out there. Whenever the question came up, Oblivion always came to mind. Eventually, Fallout 4 dethroned Oblivion and took the title, but I will always cherish Oblivion. I enjoyed Morrowind in spite of its many flaws, but Oblivion was the first 3D open-world RPG that really, truly captivated me. I just became completely lost in the world of Cyrodiil. There are just so many wonderful quests, storylines, characters, vistas, and unique experiences.

When I finally finished nearly every quest, I retired my character in Anvil, the harbor town. I took one last look at the incredible landscape, as the sun set over the horizon, and said goodbye to this fantasy world. This was one of the first games that really gave me that sense of “homesickness” when closing down the game for the last time. I’ve played through Oblivion twice now, and I’ll likely play through it again in several years when the memories of these adventures have faded a bit more.

There is at least one major flaw to the game’s design – the level scaling. As you advance in levels, the enemies also level up with you (similar to FF8 or Tactics Ogre). When balanced properly (Skyrim greatly improved this), level scaling can ensure that all of the game’s content remains appropriately challenging, no matter the order you decide to complete it. Oblivion’s level scaling is not well balanced. If you don’t allocate your skill points efficiently, some enemies will become very difficult. The quick fix is to drop the “difficulty slider” in the settings, but this just feels like cheating. A better solution? Properly balance the game so that players are not encountering frustrating difficulty spikes on random side quests.

On release, Oblivion also had a massive amount of bugs. This may be the buggiest game in Bethesda’s catalogue, especially the PS3 version. However, when fully patched (thank you, modding community), encountering bugs is much less common.

In 2006, Oblivion’s visuals were blowing people away. While Twilight Princess and Gears of War showcased much better character models, with faces that didn’t look like potatoes, Oblivion’s stunning environments were getting a lot of attention. Exploring the gorgeous hills and valleys of Cyrodiil was an absolute treat. Of course, by today’s standards, Oblivion’s dated graphics may be a barrier for modern gamers. Thankfully, there are loads of mods that can vastly improve your Oblivion experience. The game’s character creator was an exciting improvement from Morrowind, though today it’s remembered more for the memes. Countless hilarious abominations have been spawned in Oblivion’s beloved character creator.

The epic story is definitely a highlight. I was so wrapped up in the main quest storyline, I blasted through most of the main quest without even beginning a single side quest or faction quest. Many Oblivion fans actually prefer the well designed faction quests to the main quest, especially the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood quest lines. Morrowind introduced a lot of great lore, but it was Oblivion that really sent me down the deep rabbit hole of Elder Scrolls lore. I spent countless hours reading the in-game books and reading lore articles on UESP’s website. Oblivion also boasts one of the best DLC storylines Bethesda has ever released, The Shivering Isles. It is must play content.

Before Jeremy Soule’s Skyrim soundtrack received wide acclaim, his Oblivion score was capturing the same majestic vibes. I’ve spent countless hours listening to the Oblivion score. It’s just chock full of so many fantastic ethereal chill soundscapes. It should be noted, some disturbing allegations against Soule have come to light, and this has soured many on the lasting legacy of his work.

If you loved Skyrim but struggled with the aged Morrowind, you may find Oblivion to be an agreeable middle ground between the two. Skyrim brought more great improvements, but in some areas, Oblivion surpasses Skyrim. I know for me, if I had to choose one over the other, I’d choose Oblivion. For a time, Oblivion reigned at the top of my list of all time favorite games. Get yourself a GOTY edition, load up on mods, and give Oblivion a fair shot. You may love it.