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Dhruin
Stranger In A Strange Land
Joined: 20 May 2002
Posts: 1825
Location: Sydney, Australia |
| Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion - Reviews @ ComputerGames.ro, Boom |
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A contrasting selection in this group of Oblivion reviews with the first - <a href="http://www.computergames.ro/site/p/articles/o/review/lng/en/artid/748/the_elder_scrolls_iv_oblivion.html" target="_blank">ComputerGames.ro</a> - being quite critical. The score is 84% with the story, AI and level scaling coming in for harsh criticism: <blockquote><em>The same balancing issue with the level scaling system also created some embarrassing moments, when I couldn’t actually believe that they were happening. Situations in which me, Dragonheart, Champion of the Imperial Arena, the greatest fighter in history, having defeated the previous Grand Champion and all gladiators in-between, with a Light Raiment of Valor as armor, is almost killed by a wolf in the forest. This though happened when I was level 6. You wonder how I got to be Champion of the Arena at level 6? Well, let’s just say that the Arena is not all that it’s cranked up to be. It may sound funny at first, but trust me, it isn’t. And let’s say, for the sake of argument, that the monster level scaling wasn’t an issue. That it makes the game challenging long after you’re done with the main quest, which is true. But the same principle applies to the loot and equipment that you find or steal, which is scaled according to your level. You’ve defeated a mighty Minotaur? Very good, you can sell his weapon and armor without remorse, because it won’t be any better than yours. You managed to lockpick a “5 tumbler” lock, which rates Very Hard on the difficulty scale, while being level 2? Congratulations, you’ve found 20 septims and a carrot. Basically, even if you do manage to pull of an incredible feat in the game, like breaking a “5 tumbler” lockpick, you’ll never get something spectacular as a reward, or at least something that would justify the effort. So I then ask myself the grueling question: why do I play the game then? Why do I keep improving my character? Why do I explore the world, all the dungeons, catacombs and forts? For what? So that when I buy a new weapon or a set of armor, everyone else would automatically get something that’s equally good? To level up and see that all the enemies are suddenly just as good as I am?</em></blockquote>At the other end of the scale is <a href="http://xbox.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=10945" target="_blank">Boomtown</a>, who hand out a perfect 10/10, despite a similar scaling complaint:<blockquote><em>But level up a few times and you suddenly find that rare items are now so commonplace that even highwaymen you meet are clad in the finest armour and are trained in combat way beyond their meagre profession. As the world levels up around you as your own level increases it just seems very odd and not quite the correct way of doing things. Bethesda really should have treated the levelling differently, with harder quests with tougher enemies being offered when you increase your level, but not the whole world levelling with you. This system hurts power players the most, as they get little reward for level grinding. Sure, some skills change for the better as you level up, but some aspects of the game become rather broken. The marksman skill for example is one of these. As you level up so do enemies and you find that it doesn’t matter how elite a bowman you become, you’re not likely to bring down an enemy with a couple of sneaky shots to the head.</em></blockquote>...and <a href="http://www.justpressplay.net/games/reviews/pc/170-Elder_Scrolls_IV_Oblivion.html" target="_blank">JustPressPlay</a> settle for 9.33/10:<blockquote><em>Everything seems to come to life when you’re playing this game: the grass, the sky, that scowling homeless beggar who you didn’t give a coin to. Another thing that helps bring the world to life (beyond the flowing water, blowing grass, and facial expressions of people) is that you can move almost everything around. Feel like putting that knife in the cup, go for it. Just don’t move anything in anyone’s house or shop, because it counts as stealing. There’s nothing like playing with some guy’s vase only to get beaten up by some guards for it. But you will thankfully know when something is illegal in this game, because your interaction icon will turn red. This means do not touch, in any way.</em></blockquote> |
Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:52 am |
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Guest
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The strange thing is that I agree with almost everything in the Computergames.ro-article, but for me, they just don't manage to ruin the gameplay experience. I just love this game - I see the flaws, they're almost shouting "hey, look at me, I'm a flaw! look! isn't this stupid!", but they just don't matter when I play.
As an experience, I'd rate Oblivion 10/10, no question about it. As a game, well, I'm not so sure. Fortunately, it's the experience that counts. |
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Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:57 am |
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Guest
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well the game is great, it really is. but i have to agree the level scaling is not so great. and ofcourse the stupid console UI for the pc version  . big letter fonts and a small inventory. |
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Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:57 am |
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Kepler
Keeper of the Gates
Joined: 18 Oct 2005
Posts: 109
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quote:
the stupid console UI for the pc version . big letter fonts and a small inventory.
UI Mod:
http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=310815&hl=
There are also a ton of level scaling mods but I did not link them because I am not sure how balanced they are.
Oh, and if you play on the Xbox 360, you cannot use the mod I linked. |
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Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:08 pm |
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Roi Danton
Eager Tradesman
Joined: 02 Mar 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Germany |
Hey, this ComputerGames.ro articel has some realy good points. I liked it far more than those 'Oblivion is the best since Jesus Christ' articels the other mags are writing (and yes, I own Oblivion and play it, and yes I like that game, but no, it's not the best game I've ever plyed by far, and no, I don't think it's the best RPG either).
_________________
www.withingames.net |
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Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:39 pm |
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10Ktrolls
Village Dweller
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 23
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Yep, definetly a better article than most of the rest. I guess 84% is still a very high ranking so the game cannot be that bad. But I really hate those articles that just praise a game for being "the best rpg ever" and just ignore the points that might be not so great. |
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Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:49 pm |
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guest
Guest
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Well, the "problem" is that there are flaws, but I have to concentrate hard to even be bothered by them. I see them, but they don't hurt the gameplay. I honestly believe Oblivion to be the best RPG I've ever played, even if it (doesn't fit into the extremely narrow-minded definition of an RPG that some people have - I believe games like Deus Ex and ADoM to be RPGs too, though I realize some people don't). That's not to say it's without problems, but the problems simply doesn't hurt the experience for me.
So if I were to review it, my review would clearly mention the flaws, but the score would still be extremely high, because they don't matter. I suppose love is blind, and I love Oblivion. |
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Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:30 pm |
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Guest
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He's a bit extreme on some flaws, a lot of them are shared by the majority of games out there.
But it's good to see AT LEAST ONE review that is discussing the levelling problem. I can't understand that other articles don't even mention it in their 10 pages review.
Sure this game has great moments that make it one the best game ever made, sure not everybody doesn't hate the NPC levelling (I do !), but I find it a big mistake for a scrupulous reveiwer not to say it is a problem for a lot of people |
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Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:53 am |
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