Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Preview

GameBanshee News · #1 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 11:04 AM

One of the bloggers on Wired.com has put together a preview of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, based on the recent hands-on time he spent with the Xbox 360 version of Bethesda's RPG. Check it out:

Since this is a standard D&D-inspired American RPG, you do a lot of slashing rats for the first hour. Lots of rats. Then the occasional goblin. Combat feels solid. Ever wondered why you can't pick up weapons from the bodies of dead soldiers in other RPGs? You can here. In fact, all sorts of weapons, armor, and other items (bones, rotting food, sticks, cups) litter the opening dungeon, and you very soon realize that just like in real life, you are not supposed to just run around picking up everything that's not nailed down. Eventually you can't move anymore and have to start throwing things away. But when you do, the stuff you drop stays there. Forever.

fable · #2 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 11:21 AM

Since this is a standard D&D-inspired American RPG, you do a lot of slashing rats for the first hour.

Now, that's odd. I mean, the first things I killed in BG1 and 2 weren't rats, and they weren't rats in Betrayal at Krondor, any of the Ultima titles, or either of those associated with the Star Wars brand. Morrowind? Crabs. Darklands? Thieves. I wonder what horde of "American RPGs" he's thinking about, that have you attacking rats first?

Luis Antonio · #3 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 11:30 AM

Agreed, Fable. Not many rats around, despite the fact that you may occasionally run into one at times. A brazilian MMORPG called Tibia had lots of rats, but IMO the game was not a very good one. Also, there were a few rats on the old RPG's on Genesis console, but AFAIK they were used in a few dungeons, not in every place.

Tricky · #4 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable

Since this is a standard D&D-inspired American RPG, you do a lot of slashing rats for the first hour.

Now, that's odd. I mean, the first things I killed in BG1 and 2 weren't rats, and they weren't rats in Betrayal at Krondor, any of the Ultima titles, or either of those associated with the Star Wars brand. Morrowind? Crabs. Darklands? Thieves. I wonder what horde of "American RPGs" he's thinking about, that have you attacking rats first?

Vtm:Redemption? And that's not even D&D universe. On the whole this isn't the best preview I've read thusfar, but I do like the writing style.

Hill-Shatar · #5 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 09:36 PM

A lot of other RPGs have recently come out with promises that they will have a more real item looting system... not exactly major breaking news, but I guess, coupled with a few other additions I've heard, it's fairly interesting.

I've played quite a few games that involve the slashing of random minor rodentia in the first hour. Thank god I'm experienced enough now to skip all that...

fable · #6 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricky

Vtm:Redemption? And that's not even D&D universe. On the whole this isn't the best preview I've read thusfar, but I do like the writing style.

I consider previews one level below the vermin that the previewer professed to find as initial fodder in "American RPGs." In other words, they're publicity puffs. They are built around the wow concept, the idea of getting poor glandular kids to obssess on the next piece of El Dorado that lies over the next hill. But of course, there is no such thing as El Dorado, unless people look inside themselves to find it.