Oblivion underrated within the TES community?

[Aralvar]

Of course, a ton of people both new and old TES fans like and/or love Oblivion. But I feel like within the original Morrowind, Daggerfall, or Arena fans, it was very poorly received. Why is this? I'm thinking it might be because too many Morrowind fans ignored the vast improvements in the game and cool new features and instead looked at the flaws like less weapon types, armor sets being in less pieces, etc. which are minor flaws. Or the (debatably) more major flaws like how the bandits have armor that is way too good for a bandit at higher levels.

Like the other two modern TES games, It has it's areas where it's superior and inferior to the other games.

Anyone else feel the same way?

[Witchery]

Yeah, I do. Oblivion gets very little love for the most part. . . but I'm sure it will be cherished when the next one comes out. Maybe not to the degree of Morrowind, but a bit more. Nostalgia and whatnot. Skyrim seems to be 50/50 when it comes to reception . . many love it, but some completely hate it and will remind you how much better the older games were at every turn.

[Archer]

I really liked Oblivion. It was my first TES game, and I have plenty of good memories playing it. I do think it was better than Morrowind, but I, personally, don't think its better than Skyrim. For all of those who say its harder to roleplay in skyrim, I think its actually a lot easier in skyrim than in oblivion. I pretty much agree with you.

[Spelling Police]

Perhaps. Bought Oblivion around when it came out, played it for several years, bought Skyrim last February and logged 300ish hours in it, then decided to go back to Oblivion. So Oblivion is my favorite between the two, I think (though I haven't played Morrowind). For what it's worth, the things that I like about Oblivion are kind of hard for me to pin down, and there are a lot of more easily identified things I think are wrong with it - e.g. in terms of base game mechanics, Skyrim is far superior IMO. Those elusive positive qualities just far outweigh the problems for me. If I had to name a few things I prefer about Oblivion, I guess I'd say atmosphere, NPCs (godawful animation notwithstanding), and quests.

Any time you're comparing ES games, though, you kind of have to specify whether you're comparing them vanilla or with mods. A lot of the most glaring flaws of both Oblivion and Skyrim can be fixed nicely with mods. Besides, Oblivion just has a hell of a lot more content-adding mods, even though Skyrim's been out a year and a half with a much larger playerbase, so that's a big point in Oblivion's favor for me.

Ultimately, though (at the risk of being something of a party pooper) I don't see much reason to care which is the most popular; tastes vary and all that. The only reason I'd wish Oblivion were more popular these days would be so that the current mod scene would be more active. (Yes, I'm greedy.) That's my two septims.

[Mr.Argonian]

I agree with you, between the people who think Morrowind is the holy grail of gaming and all the Skyrim lovers, Oblivion seems to me to get the least amour of love. Whether this is because it had to follow Morrowind, or some other reason, it does seem underated by the community

[Avron the S'wit]

It definitely is. I wouldn't place it on a pedestal or anything, but Oblivion was still a great title and the one with the most replay value for me. I don't care how many times I leave the sewers - it's still the same joy, time after time.

I think the problem for folks like me who came from Morrowind and prior is that we're used to a deep story where we're big, grand, central heroes. In Oblivion you certainly are a hero, but you're not in the spotlight: Martin is the golden boy, and you're sort of the strong support, the unsung Champion of a great king. Most of the main quest is pretty much fetching as well, without a great depth of values. (Morrowind had us questioning honesty, history, the values of honor and gods, stuff like that - I find Oblivion more into "Save the world!") But Cyrodiil is beautiful, colorful, and bright. The towns feel homelike. The characters are believable. The skills are improved and under appreciated, which one doesn't necessarily realize at first - but it isn't a game where you die 10 times in the starter dungeon (Daggerfall) or spend 10 levels before your sword stops feeling like a stick (Morrowind). It's a game that's easy to really jump right into, which is a big part of its charm for me.

I do love Oblivion, though, and in truth that's really come in time, looking back, after revisiting other titles. Plus, it still has the best soundtrack for the environment, in my opinion.

[Br3admax]

It's not that you aren't the central person, it's that no one knows you are. The fact is Martin does absolutely nothing except put himself in danger and

Spoiler:

die.

Some golden boy.

[all_freed]

Only played III and IV so far and I like the latter more. I bet there would be no contest if I could play IV with max graphics.

To me, Morrowind gameplay difficulty is definitely more feasible/easier than Oblivion. True, no need to worry about chance to hit % in IV but it can get frustrating to have to hit an opponent a bazillion times whereas they just need 2-5 (early levels). In Morrowind I feel like I stand a better chance cause it feels you're on equal ground if you plan properly (except for Bloodmoon, those guys are though).

Otherwise I think IV is improved in every other way gameplay-wise.

[Aralvar]

Glad to see at least a few people agree with me. I've always loved the atmosphere of Oblivion, something about it just makes me feel... good. Which I know sounds cheesy and stupid, but I just can't put my finger on it. I think it might be a combination of the soundtrack and the graphics, I'm not sure.

Anyways, I don't have a favorite TES game. I can't possibly pick one to be my favorite. Seriously, if someone put a gun to my head and told me to pick a favorite TES game, I would have to lie to them. There's just something great from all the games, Oblivion included. I really am shocked to see how many people ignored the ENORMOUS improvements in the game in favor of complaining about the new quest marker. I mean come on, NPCs have a daily routine instead of walking back and forth all day like a lifeless robot, the combat system is much better, voiced dialogue, physics, the graphics, Marksman is actually a useful skill without you having to waste a thousand arrows just to train it to be able to hit something consistently, "STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM!", a fresh and new setting for the game, awesome new soundtrack, refreshing new atmosphere, it seems the "true" Elder Scrolls fans are the ones who admit how great a game it really is.

Of course it's not flawless, but none of the TES games are. I would love to see TES VI take everything good from each game, but I know that's nothing more than a dream.

[Mattbott]

yes, i also noticed that. Oblivion was the first big step in popularising the series and it's a trend they continued in Skyrim. It has been often noted on this forum that when a new game comes out the last one is remembered fondly and imo that's the sign of a changing series and a good thing. We need to be taken out of our TES comfort zones every new game, otherwise the series becomes predictable and dies out

my favourite TES game is usually the one i am currently playing, because so far Beth have managed to exceed my expectations and come up with the goods. I loved morrowind for the story and open ended danger but hated it for the frustrating awkwardness. I loved Oblivion for the sheer theatre and a real combat system that allowed amazing duels in spectacular places but hated it for the levelling system, and in a couple of years i will be able to say why i love and hate skyrim

i think the series has alienated a lot of hard core fans to gain new followers , that's probably why people didn't like Oblivion

[Aralvar]

yes, i also noticed that. Oblivion was the first big step in popularising the series and it's a trend they continued in Skyrim. It has been often noted on this forum that when a new game comes out the last one is remembered fondly and imo that's the sign of a changing series and a good thing. We need to be taken out of our TES comfort zones every new game, otherwise the series becomes predictable and dies out

my favourite TES game is usually the one i am currently playing, because so far Beth have managed to exceed my expectations and come up with the goods. I loved morrowind for the story and open ended danger but hated it for the frustrating awkwardness. I loved Oblivion for the sheer theatre and a real combat system that allowed amazing duels in spectacular places but hated it for the levelling system, and in a couple of years i will be able to say why i love and hate skyrim

i think the series has alienated a lot of hard core fans to gain new followers , that's probably why people didn't like Oblivion

I don't see how it alienated their fans. What exactly did they change that was so wrong? I'll compile a list of negative changes:

1. High level bandits have armor that is way too expensive for them
2. Not as many weapon types.
3. Level scaling (which isn't as noticeable as everyone says it is, in my opinion)
4. Armor sets are in less pieces.
5. Story is criticized as being not as good as Morrowind, but what defines good? Originality, or just how good it is overall? It may not be the most original story ever, but I still enjoyed it. In some ways it was better than Morrowind's, like having to travel to the Plains of Oblivion to shut the gates. That was an awesome feature.
6. Quest Marker.... on a map that's not only bigger than Morrowind, but much less memorable to navigate. It's no longer "Find this cave that you can find from the road because of the super obvious path." I would rather have it not be there, but some people like it.

I feel like I'm missing something but I can't think of anything else. Anywyas, notice how most of these flaws are not a big deal in the long run? And I've already made a list of the many improvements/cool features that Oblivion has. And here's a few more: Ayleid Ruins, Arena Fights, Dark Brotherhood quests. As I said before, I simply cannot understand why this game was so poorly received with so many improvements.

[Mattbott]

I agree with you, but TES fans saw Oblivion as a serious dumbing down of the series. The argument has mellowed with Skyrim, but take a look at how many posts/threads there have been about the user friendliness/accessibility of Skyrim?

They have kept the lore aspect of the game as keen as ever throughout Ob and Sk (and that has been key to bringing the "traditional die hard" TES followers through the evolution of the games) , but other aspects have been lost and this has alienated some fans imo.

Like I say, most people have come to terms with the way the series is going cos Skyrim is building on changes made in TES4, but Oblivion was a bit of a shock to a lot of people (including me, but i managed to roll with it) who liked open ended enchanting, scarily dangerous land for low level characters, levitation, and who didn't like the chocolate box psychedelic colour scheme, modular mission structures with shallower plots, compass pointer giving you everything on a plate and fast travel (holy crapwads the debate time spent on that issue alone is worth an elder scroll itself) etc..

I think youre right about the long term effect of these changes and a review of Ob written today would be a lot more generous but back then it put the cat amongst the cliff racers

[Avron the S'wit]

Honestly, I think Skyrim is pretty dumbed down. There's some lore in there that you'd have to be familiar with (the Oblivion Crisis, some familiarity with the Blades, the Septim Empires), but it really feels like just a huge and typical fantasy RPG to me. The quest overload sometimes ruins the experience. At least in Oblivion I didn't feel like the quests piled on faster than I could complete them! But it has so many other amazing features that this is a small gripe in the grand scheme of things and doesn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the game.

It's not that you aren't the central person, it's that no one knows you are. The fact is Martin does absolutely nothing except put himself in danger and

Spoiler:

die.

Some golden boy.

Which is why I said you're the "unsung Champion." Truth of the matter is that, unlike the other TES titles, the story isn't about you: it's about Martin at the end of the day. You're there for support and to get things done because it's too risky for him, but he's the one who the history books remember. You're a passing glimpse in Cyrodilic history, at best. Your biggest claim to fame is probably

Spoiler:

becoming the next Mad God, but you fill Sheo's shoes so snuggly you all but forget who you are, it seems.

No one is singing songs about the Champion of Cyrodiil.

All in all, everyone has their favorites, and it definitely depends a little on what game was your first (most people who played Morrowind first love that, for instance) and what your personality is as a gamer. I love old school games, so even Daggerfall is really exciting; newer gamers sometimes look for graphics or mechanics first, story next, I think.

[imnotok1983]

Honestly, I think Skyrim is pretty dumbed down.

For me, it feels more like Skyrim was made to have more mass appeal than Oblivion, rather than dumbed down (Maybe, though, they are one and the same). Maybe rose tinted glasses for Oblivion has clouded my judgement for Skyrim, I don't know, but to me, Oblivion is the better game. While Skyrim is a fantastic game, I can't help but feel that it's world is a little too bleak, slightly less believable,

Spoiler:

And with all the dragon attacks, it's almost like the game is trying to force you to complete the main quest. After all, it's a lot easier to avoid the Oblivion gates than it is to run from a dragon.

it definitely depends a little on what game was your first

Definitely agree with that one. I, for one, will never forget the first time I exited the sewers in Oblivion and realised that the game had delivered what it promised; unlimited possibilities.

[Avron the S'wit]

Good observation! I would agree on the appealing to a bigger mass note, certainly. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, either. There are ups and downs to things like that - as with all.

[Spelling Police]

No one is singing songs about the Champion of Cyrodiil.

Maybe not, but everybody's talking about the Hero of Kvatch. They say he actually went into an Oblivion gate and destroyed it!

Good observation! I would agree on the appealing to a bigger mass note, certainly. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, either. There are ups and downs to things like that - as with all.

Perhaps. I'm not entirely convinced that accessibility has to involve dumbing things down. Maybe you could do the former without the latter by making a game that was simple and straightforward on the surface, but had a lot of hidden complexity? I dunno.

[Kerr]

No it isn't underrated in my eyes. I like Oblivion a lot. It's a great game. But Morrowind and Skyrim are better. I have a video by MrBtongue to explain my views on the matter.

Hidden:

YouTube Link

[sevenindasun]

I played oblivion twice as much as I played Morrowind but I have to say Morrowind was better hands down.. The fast travel and quest marker really kept me from exploring until I finished the quest, I explored every inch or Morrowind... And the city's were epic, the side quest were epic, the story was rich and the npcs were charming...graphics in oblivion is why I stopped playing Morrowind oh and the combat... I might be one of the biggest Morrowind fans but oblivion wowed me in so many ways... So yea I like Morrowind better but I play oblivion still to this day, sadly my pc crashed so no Morrowind, not until I get the Xbox version which I'm sure will not be the same....

[ZackyZombify]

I find oblivion to be my favorite. I've spent many thousands of hours on that game across many characters and accounts. I haven't played morrowind and the more I see all the morrowind fanatics the more I don't want to play it.

[skullclutter]

Oblivion was my first Elder Scrolls game, so it will always have a special place with me for that reason alone.

I feel Oblivion has done fantastically well as a 'gateway drug' - it's induced me to play both Morrowind and Skyrim (although I haven't finished any of them yet). I wonder how many people talking about the superiority of another game in the franchise wouldn't have played it at all if not for Oblivion.

[The SheoDovah]

It depends who you ask. Some people will claim it is awful whilst others will claim it is the best. Personally, i believe that Oblivion serves as a game that was designed to introduce people to the ES franchise and it is a decent game, with a lot of flaws. Oblivion introduced me to both the Scrolls and RPGs in general. It's not the best game but it's not the worst either. I would say it's an average TES game that can be very addictive. And it's guilds are far better then Skyrim's guilds. But Skyrim improves on the combat and so forth.

Certain Morrowind fans will claim that Oblivion is a disgrace as well as Skyrim but those fans are blinded by their fanboyism and view anything that isn't Morrowind as rubbish. They are known as Morrowhiners. When i get or build myself a gaming PC, i will pick up Oblivion and install the mods that correct the flaws as it's a decent game. Same with Skyrim and with Morrowind. Each game has it's own flaws and strengths. If there was a perfect TES game, the franchise would suffer as Bethesda would be unable to improve on the next game and would give modders very little to work with thus killing off the modding community. I'm going to say that Oblivion is the marmite of the TES franchise. You either love it or hate it or like it but will choose something else if available.

[sevenindasun]

Im one of them guys that swear by Morrowind but oblivion revolutionized the whole genre IMO... Morrowind was great in its own way but oblivion was so much better and much more user friendly... Most TESIII nuts only hate the emotionless story in oblivion.. Well that's how I feel... I never got choked up in oblivion like I did in Morrowind.. TESIV was more combat and less story... But that's what I wanted it to be... Skyrim has a good mix of both...

[Hissien]

Oblvion is my favorite game of all time, I have so much time invested in that game and I regret none of it.

[Minor Edits]

Oblivion had a lot of potential that wasn't fulfilled. In their desire to meet deadlines, Bethesda made a lot of compromises. So is it "underrated"? I think the only reason that's being asked of Oblivion in the first place is because most people have a sentimental attachment to the game which introduced them to the series, and this inevitably leads opinions of that game to be inflated. A lot of people joined TES with Oblivion, and thus many of them have concluded it was the best one. Of course, they've encountered detractors who remember the sand-boxed joy of Daggerfall, the pixellated crack-cocaine that was Morrowind, and, more recently, the pre-pubescent Skyrim hordes. So here we are.

[Hissien]

I agree with what Minor Edits says, I love it more because it was the first one I played. That said each TES brought something new to the table, for me personally it was the bright fantasy oblivion was that really sucked me into the game.