First Impressions

Phreddie · Post by **Phreddie** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:52 pm

For months we have been reading the hype hot off the presses watching short videos of play footage, reading interviews, downloading podcasts, but finally our time has come. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was released today, for those of you who managed to get their hands on a copy, through pre-order or doing it the oldfahioned way, I pose this question:
How is it? Answer as to how it measures up to the hype, how the story feels, how fluid the gameplay is, how is combat, magic, stealth, etc.?

Denethorn · Post by **Denethorn** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 1:39 am

Today is release day actually

I was quite confused over that too. Hopefully see a few lucky gamers posting their thoughts.

Specs and performance is what I mostly want to hear about tbh, so I can construct a suitable system.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:46 am

I'll be posting about the gameplay, as with my system, Spec's will have to be turned down to a minimum. BUT, I am getting it TODAY no matter what anybody says.

I'll post later when I have it, I'm picking it up in a few hours.

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:57 am

Well, it'll be interesting to see how and if it can perform at the minimum, I'm sure there are plenty of people who with systems around the minimum specs....like myself.

REal953 · Post by **REal953** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:07 pm

I bought a Dell XPS just to play it.

TonyMontana1638 · Post by **TonyMontana1638** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:18 pm

I have a Dell XPS too (which I love more than my family and miniature schnauzer) and lemme tell ya...

OBLIVION IS EVERYTHING I HOPED IT WOULD BE!

The graphics are positively stunning: everything looks incredibly lifelike and they are by far the best I've seen on any game yet. I'm only in the introduction right now (you all owe me for taking time away from my Breton mage

), but the combat system has honestly impressed me the most. It's not all that different from the Morrowind one, but infinitely more realistic. It feels positively amazing. The right mouse button functions as a block-at-will ability (though it works every time in the intro I doubt it does later on) that's useful and works (feels pretty lifelike, like you actually have to go "block, block, wait for a hole... swing!" people who've played Chronicles of Riddick know what I'm talking about) but they've completely done away with that God-awful old "hit the button as quick as you can to have your dude swing 37 times per second, thus increasing your chances of hitting". One click is still one attack, but it results in you swinging your warhammer with crushing strength that doesn't always hit, but it's no longer a click-fest. Feels just wonderful. There's been some dialogue already and the facial animations are pretty good (not the best I've ever seen) but the lips move with the sound pretty accurately at least. I'm loving this: even if the rest of the game becomes as repetitive as Morrowind did for me, it's still an amzing experience. Never has a fantasy game, any game for that matter, felt so damn realistic. I'm in awe.

Sorry this was kind of breathless but I have a kingdom to save.

Ragin Cajun · Post by **Ragin Cajun** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:53 pm

I played the intro section with the default levels and it worked fine.

However, when I exited into the surface world, the game has locked up multiple times or lagged so bad I can't get anywhere. Typing this now, I've been stuck (frozen) for about 5 minutes.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:04 pm

[QUOTE=Ragin Cajun]I played the intro section with the default levels and it worked fine.

However, when I exited into the surface world, the game has locked up multiple times or lagged so bad I can't get anywhere. Typing this now, I've been stuck (frozen) for about 5 minutes.[/QUOTE]

How much RAM do you have? Is anything such as a virus checker running in the background? And did you check for incompabilities in the readme file with your video card?

darkpark · Post by **darkpark** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:10 pm

I agree with TonyMontana1638. The game is amazing! Although, the quality of graphics and framerate will decrease once you're outside. The landscape looks like a little like ink blots but as you move towards landmarks (buildings, hills, trees, etc...) the detail improves a lot. I guess the game does its best to keep the game looking good AND run at a decent pace.
As for the gameplay itself, it's very fun. Killing rats and goblins has a very satisfying feel although things change a little once you're past the introduction (sewers). Swinging your weapon and blocking is a little sluggish later on but that's only because you're performing proportionally to your level of skill.

Anyway, I'm having a lot of fun and I highly recommend this game to anyone that likes computer role playing games but is unsure about buying this game.

Frodo1 · Post by **Frodo1** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:58 pm

It's a blast so far. I'll give specific impression tmo, after I spend the whole day in Tamriel.

Ragin Cajun · Post by **Ragin Cajun** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:09 am

[QUOTE=fable]How much RAM do you have? Is anything such as a virus checker running in the background? And did you check for incompabilities in the readme file with your video card?[/QUOTE]

448 MB of ram on the desktop, 512 on the laptop. Turning off all my background stuff helped immensely however there are still a few sections (they appear like gravel) that the game is still lagging. But I've gotten more done in 10 minutes this morning than in an hour yesterday.

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:18 am

[QUOTE=Ragin Cajun]448 MB of ram on the desktop, 512 on the laptop. Turning off all my background stuff helped immensely however there are still a few sections (they appear like gravel) that the game is still lagging. But I've gotten more done in 10 minutes this morning than in an hour yesterday.[/QUOTE]

There's your problem: your RAM is towards the bottom of the system requirements. By freeing up memory, you were making it possible to play.

You might also (assuming you're using WinXP) right-click on My Computer, then select System Properties. Go to the Advanced tab, then click on Performance. Click on "adjust for best performance." This will turn off many of the visual lollipops Microsoft added to the desktop, and free up still more memory for you.

cgardenh · Post by **cgardenh** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:29 am

My game play is ok but not great even at low levels of res. I have about 750 mb of ram. It is still fun though. I can't afford another computer so I guess I'll have to deal. I love it so far. It's great even with the limited res and visual distance

ch85us2001 · Post by **ch85us2001** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:33 am

I managed to get the last Xbox 360 and Oblivion copy out of Target an hour after they closed. I booted it up, and I'm ashamed to say this, but I got a tear in my eye during the intro video. I had been waiting so long, it was so beautiful, it represented something more than a video game. Im a nerd/softie.

*dances*

Combat is great, but I'm going to have to turn up the difficulty. I am pwning (

) this game, already very far in the MQ without a strategy guide.

It seems easier than Morrowind, and that wasnt to hard.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:05 pm

Dangit, I ordered it and I have to wait a bit, so I can't give my opinion as of yet, but I hope it's as good as you all say it is.

Ashen · Post by **Ashen** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:13 pm

Ok by now I'm out of the sewers and pass the first outdoors, even explored a castle or two ... excellent. I do not have one of those high end systems by no means, and I have the effects on about medium and it looks great.

The loading times are excellent, I am really pleased about that.

The graphics are good, even for my g.card - though I am guessing it is my CPU that helps - no lagging, it looks rather good. The woods, the grass, the draft (!!!) in the tunnels, the reflexion of lights, looks really well.

Had some annoying times with the inventory and disposal of items, as well as lockpicking but that was finished with by the time I was out of the sewers. Few other glitches that so far do not kill the enjoyment as well.

Horses - well a bit difficult but still all right - something I was wondering about actually. Fighting - bit odd with the blocking and I have the feeling there will be some tough ones ahead that will last for a while if these initial ones are to be judged by.

All in all, seems great but I am just starting.

Dyre Straits · Post by **Dyre Straits** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:07 pm

Been Playing since Tuesday afternoon.....

I'm so enthralled with the game, I forgot to stop by here and check out and post thoughts about OBLIVION.

First, for those having trouble with performance, be sure to turn off AntiAliasing. It's the only thing my system/card doesn't handle well and it's made the game run much, much smoother. It still looks great, too!

I have the PC version and am playing it on my 21 inch CRT monitor.

I've also seen it on my son's XBOX 360 that he has connected to a Toshiba 62 inch HDTV.

With very few exceptions, the game has lived up to the hype very well.

However, I've had one experience where I fell through the game when trying to pass through the gates while still mounted on my horse. UGH! That was UGLY!!

I've had only one ingame CTD that happened when leaving the ArchMage in Skingrad. That happened right after trying to exit the room.

More annoying, however, has been the numerous Windows Error Report messages I get when I exit the game entirely. I can't recall having this particular problem on such a consistent basis.

A lot of people have complained about the Inventory setup. It did take me a while to get used to it, but I find it working out quite well now that I have a better handle on how it's compiled.

Otherwise, I'm finding the story lines and side quests very interesting.

Now...back to finding a Cure for Vampirism.

I was quite surprised to come upon this so early in the game.

mordib · Post by **mordib** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 5:37 am

very beatiful, i actually enjoying walking around instead of jumping to locations, its like a relaxing country walk!

annoyances so far - dropping items is confusing and annoying, some of the conversation choices are truly horrible (basically situations where you just want to tell the truth but the computer only gives you the choice between two really stupid lies). the mix of lovely interactive animated scenery and scenery that looks like it should be interactive but isnt is annoying as well.

but then apart from that its proving very addictive and ive only had it hours!

Ashen · Post by **Ashen** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 5:55 am

[QUOTE=Dyre Straits]

I've had only one ingame CTD that happened when leaving the ArchMage in Skingrad. That happened right after trying to exit the room.

More annoying, however, has been the numerous Windows Error Report messages I get when I exit the game entirely. I can't recall having this particular problem on such a consistent basis.[/QUOTE]

Aha, so you've had these as well ... me too, on both accounts. What bugs me is that I can't find fault with my system, and therefore cannot correct it.

mordib · Post by **mordib** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:16 am

on exiting the game i also get a windows error message, plus about 20 instances of some graphics thing ('FF', 'FD' i cant rememebr right now) in the quick tray. but still, crashing when you exit the game is better than in the game!