Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Preview
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As in prior games, the nonlinear structure of the game is probably going to end up being the game's greatest strength. Guilds are present in Oblivion, and your character can join one (or more) that suits your interest (such as a magic guild and a thieves' guild). Through the different guilds, and through other NPCs, you can go on sidequests. As in Morrowind, you can deviate from the game's main quest in order to go on sidequests and explore the world. Leveling up is a simple affair; doing certain tasks over and over will increase your skills in certain attributes. For example, simply running and jumping around long enough will increase your Athleticism. Combat also feels much more satisfying than in Morrowind. Hit boxes for your weapon feel more realistic and not random as in Morrowind. Blocking (with your equipped weapon, or a shield) requires a manual control, so fighting enemies is also more involving. The fatigue bar seems to play a bigger role in combat as well. Also, for most characters, your magic bar will replenish itself automatically when you are out of combat, similar to the Force Points meter in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It's little details like this that really make Oblivion feel more streamlined than its predecessor.
