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Life & Arts

‘Oblivion' is a game of epic proportions 

Gorgeous graphics, plot lines will make for a good Spring Break for game aficianodos

by STEPHEN CLEBOSKI 
The Daily Cougar 

The guards rudely interrupt your thoughts as they rattle the iron door to your prison cell. They order you to move toward the window or risk being run through. Then a creepy old man walks in, claims to be the emperor and tells you that you are the man/woman of his dreams. Welcome to Oblivion. 

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion starts the player at the humble status of prison dog in the land of Cyrodil. Almost immediately upon awakening, however, the weird and wrinkled emperor charges you with the task of defending the world against a colossal demonic invasion using the only one tool: an amulet. 

What's worse is the fact that the amulet does nothing unless it resides in the hands of one the emperor's sons, who have been recently murdered. Fortunately for the people of Cyrodil, the emperor's illegitimate son Martin still lives in a secluded village as a monk. The adventure begins when a cult of red-robed demon worshipers attack and you are called to take up arms to defend the emperor. After a few waves of suicidal attacks by crazed fanatics, you escape through the sewers and emerge into the wondrous world above. 

But before the game truly begins, players must create digital version of themselves to control in Oblivion. The character creation system is one of the more spectacular aspects of the game. Players must first choose a male or female form from one of the many races that inhabit Cyrodil. Highlights include the reptilian Argonians, whose scales come in a variety of shimmering colors; the feline Khajiti, the forest-dwelling, red-skinned Wood Elves, the High Elves with their oddly shaped heads and the Dark Elves with glowing red eyes.

Of course, you can always choose to be human, but why do that when you can have an oversized mango for a head or gag on the occasional fur ball? 

Players can then fully customize the skills they want for their character. Like using axes, wearing plate mail and shooting electricity? No problem. Enjoy being naked, speaking with eloquence and making potions? Well, you could do that -- just try not to tell anyone about it. 

Only after the escape do you truly have an opportunity to appreciate the splendor of the rendered world. The creators obviously went to enormous lengths detailing and texturing the world, and the game fully immerses the player in its majesty. The sun rises and sets, rainstorms occasionally blow through, and the grass flutters softly in the wind. The area accessible to the player is massive and all of it received attention in its creation. There are hidden ruins and musty caves, unexplored swampy holes, and even underwater dungeons, all of which feature side stories and histories. 

Players are unfettered by the tradition constraints of average games. Almost any action is possible. Players can literally pick flowers and put them on display in a vase of their choosing -- or they can eat them. Ever wonder what nightshade tastes like? Go ahead; try one of those purple petals. But why stop to pick poisonous flowers when there is killing to be done?

Oblivion offers a huge bestiary of enemy monsters. From demons and ghosts to trolls, zombies, goblins, ogres and demigods, everything can be slain by the swing of a sword. Players shouldn't neglect the non-player characters of the game, though. That's right: If that snobby elf shoots you a dirty look, what better way to repay him than shooting him in the spine with an arrow? Most NPCs can be killed at the player's leisure without any serious detriment to the main storyline. 

In fact, Oblivion actually encourages a bit of murder by offering the bloodthirsty player membership in a secret assassin's guild called the Dark Brotherhood. So if you're feeling a little lucky, swing away at the nearest innocent bystander. Just watch out for those guards, as they will arrest or kill you.

Oblivion offers a huge amount of game time. Players can ignore the main plotline entirely and carve their own path in one of the guilds of Oblivion. Each guild caters to a particular playing style. Fighters join the Fighter's Guild, mages join the Mage's Guild, and thieves join the Thief's Guild. To counteract character profiling, any character is welcome in the Dark Brotherhood, providing he or she enjoys killing. Just remember to stab in moderation, lest you dull your daggers. 

The game is truly epic in scope. The designers put a great deal of effort into creating a world that sucks players in, enveloping them with gorgeous graphics, an extensive plotline and the freedom to pillage the countryside or save the world. 
 

Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu