Role-playing games (RPGs) are all about freedom of choice and playing the game the way that you want. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is the best yet, and there's no multiplayer option in sight.
What you get is the most detailed game world we've come across. The landscape is huge and the cities are bustling and busy. All the characters you come across are unique and have a daily schedule; watch them for a bit, and you'll be convinced they've got their own lives. While they feel as though they're real, talking to them throws up new quests that you can undertake as and when you want to gain experience and new items.
The central plot sees you searching for the Emperor's long-lost son so you can prevent an ancient evil entering the world. With so many other distractions, excellent voice acting and the immense size of the world, the slightly cliched plot works well, while leaving you the freedom to do what you want.
Graphically, Oblivion is one of the most stunning games you're likely to see this year. The incredible level of detail is breathtaking, but anyone with a slightly older PC should think about upgrading in order to run it properly. Control is through a first-person view, which has proved problematic for other games, but Oblivion has nailed it.
Judging distance, timing, when to use a powerful strike and when to block all come into play and make for truly exciting fights. Add the huge range of spells, and these are the most inventive battle scenes we've seen in a long time. Finally, there are countless ways you can develop your character and skills.
Oblivion is the most stunning, playable and customisable RPG to hit PCs. Make sure your PC is powerful enough to get the most from it.
System Specifications
ROLE-PLAYING GAME Requires Windows XP, 512MB RAM, 2GHz processor, 128MB graphics card, 4.6GB disk space
Author: David Ludlow
Computer Shopper Online