Oblivion - Dissapointing
 

I'll quickly repost a summary of what I posted on the ES forums.

First of all, one of the developers has stated over and over and I've seen it everywhere that Bethesda redesigns each new game in the series from the ground up to give each a different feel.



Oblivion failed.


If you love franchise games (ie: repackaged games) and you loved Morrowind, then fine, you'll love this game.

However, if you were expecting expanded rules, a ton of new features and customization options (For an analogy, compare the Feats in D&D 3.0), you'll not find them.

Essentially, Oblivion feels like, plays like, and practically is just Morrowind 2. It is NOT Elder Scrolls 4.

When Morrowind was released, it took the idea behind Daggerfall, removed features, added features, and it was a new game.

Oblivion didn't remove or add new features. At most, they fixed some annoying issues. But essentially, Oblivion is just a pretty version of Morrowind.

From what I've seen today on my friend's Xbox360, it is a very pretty version of Morrowind.

I was excited about trees man, trees...the rain was purtty too.

I don't know too much about changes to the gameplay, as I have never any other games in the series. I was enjoying the puzzles, though, and combat was entertaining.

Also, it's funny to get a message saying "Your Acrobatic skill has increased" when you're jumping around town like an idiot.

I knew it would end up like that. As the time old saying goes, "if it is too good to be true, than it is too good to be true."

They put more effort into graphics and not into gameplay...because with graphics like that theres no room for anything brand spankin' new. Just goes to show that graphics aren't everything.

I'm actually having a lot of fun with the game, myself. I did love Morrowind though, so I'm not unbiased. My only problem is with the menu system and it being so counter-intuitive.

Speaking as one who kinda-sorta loved Morrowind, yet wished that they had done some different stuff with it (quest leaders, showing you where to go, fix the damn combat system, and for hells sake make it slightly LESS open ended!)...

So, it sounds like Oblivion is a "perfected" Morrowind... except for the menu system. Ick.

Too bad my computer won't run it. ;_;

I am so incredibly thankful that I can't play Morrowind. It's like playing an offline Everquest II or World of Warcraft. Feels like it defeats the very point. Too much to do, nobody to ask for help, and you're all alone.

Saves me 60 bucks and a computer upgrade.

Thats unfortunate. I'm still waiting for my preorder, but I was really looking forward to the new AI system, the new stealth system, and the physics engine. But from what you're saying, they don't make an impact? Hmmmm... makes me suspicious, but I shall withhold any judgement till I try it out myself.

Which is fine with me, honestly.

I'm enjoying this game to no end. I love open endedness, I love the new customization, I love the new actual dialogue NPCs give you, I love the beautiful graphics, and I love the removal of all the crappy features.

So yea, I like the game. A little.

What IS the new AI like? That's what had/has me excited.

How much of an impact does it make and how different is it?

I respectfully dissagree
 

Perhaps you have not played Morrowind in a while. At any rate, this game plays nothing like Morrowind. I'll list some differences.

Elder Scrolls 4:

Controlable and useful blocking, cast spells with weapons, horses, new abilities (such as rolls, dodges), new (and enjoyably challenging) persuade and lockpick minigames, 16 square miles of explorable terrain (morrowind had 6 square miles, half of which is covered in annoying ashlands region and that volcano), NPCs don't always spit out the same exact answers like machines, npcs have jobs and needs that they must fulfill, the guards and NPCs give you correct directions to places, exciting and fun combat, large and beutiful forests, and the last thing I care to mention is the graphics which really help set the mood for the game.