IN PREPARATION FOR SKYRIM

My Fellow "Elder Scrolls" Gamers,

The fifth installment in one of the grandest series ever constructed will be here in just a month! 11.11.11 is the day our gaming schedules will change forever. While very much a niche game, those of us in it love it with an utmost passion. Over the past weeks and months we have been teased with plenty of "Skyrim"-related goodies. I thought I'd take the time this morning and put them all in one place for you! Enjoy.

* * *

MAP OF SKYRIM

Much like Bilbo Baggins, I love maps! I admire when developers include a map with their open world game. Bethesda and Rockstar seem to always do this. Check out the recently revealed map for "Skyrim" above! I imagine by the end of the year we will all become very familiar with it. Here is Kotaku's comments on the map, here is Game Informer's comments.

Reports are that it is roughly the same size as Cyrodiil, the beautiful land we roamed in "Oblivion." Looking at this map above will confirm that it is a little smaller, but more dense and compact. In any case, there is going to be a lot to explore!

In case you haven't heard. You need to pre-order the game to get the map this time. Yeah, it's a ploy, but those of us who are serious about the game are pre-ordering anyway so no big deal.

* * *

GAME MANUAL

Just yesterday the manual (which people are saying looks like the final retail version) was leaked, almost entirely as seen in dozen of pictures here. Here is Game Informer's comments on the manual, here is Kotaku's comments.

Looking through these screenshots I learned some very noteworthy things. For one, you can cook in "Skyrim." Heretofore it seemed the "Gothic" series was the only medieval-fantasy RPG that would let me refine my culinary skills as well as my bow skills. No longer the case! I imagine this will much like it was implemented in "Fallout: New Vegas," a neat feature that made all the edible items you acquired even more valuable. Also (and my heart leapt for joy at this one) it looks like the awful tumbler lockpicking mini-game from "Oblivion" has been done away with! Instead they are implementing a system similar to "Fallout 3" where you feel the lock open. It is far less frustration and more aesthetically pleasing.

What things do you learn from the manual?

* * *

ACHIEVEMENTS

Say what you will about the Xbox 360 Achievements (and the PS3 "trophy" equivalent - is that right?), but I still cannot deny the tinge of pride I feel with each and every one earned. Here is a full list of the Achievements that await unlocking in "Skyrim," though many are names of quests and currently won't mean much to us. Still the "Hard Worker" Achievement confirms that you can "Chop wood, mine ore, and cook food" in "Skyrim"! Yay! Chores! But honestly, they feel a lot more meaningful and rewarding in detail open-world games than the crap they have you do in "Farmville" and its siblings. Game Informer comments on the list.

* * *

CHARACTER CREATOR

"Oblivion" surprised and wooed us with an impressively robust character creator. "Skyrim" looks to be the same, check out some of the myriad options at this IGN gallery.

* * *

AND MORE!

Back in July IGN gave us "Five Reasons 'Skyrim' is Going to Make You its Bitch." (Hint: Two of the reasons are pretty cool tidbits about dragons!)

Also from July is a great interview with Todd Howard of Bethesda (the design director for the game) about his scope and vision for "Skyrim" found at Gamasutra.

The Bethesda Blog takes us inside "The Art of 'Skyrim'."

The Bethesda Blog informs us on some of the voice-talent behind the characters, including one of my favorite actors, Christopher Plummer.

Joel Johnson of Kotaku details his hour of gameplay with "Skyrim" here.

And, in case you missed it, here is my lengthy article of impression after watching the 20+ minutes of gameplay that were released last month.

Finally... Crab Armor DLC?! Kotaku has the whimsical wish.

* * *

Well, there you have plenty of information to keep you excited for when the game finally arrives. It probably is not enough to whet your appetite entirely, but thankfully you only have to wait one month!

Live on. Game on.

THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION - REVIEW (ORIGINAL)

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Released: 3.21.2011

Xbox 360

Developed by Bethesda Game Studios

Published by Bethesda Softworks and 2K Games

(Author's Note: What follows is the original review I wrote for "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" back in the spring of 2006, not long after the game released. The only changes were some formatting, an added comma, and the subtraction of opening sentences that I felt we could do without. I originally wrote this review for my high school newspaper, The Snow Canyon Nahuatl, when I was the editor for the technology page. I look forward to writing a new review in the next month or so before "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" is upon us. Cheers!)

    There are two words to describe this game: freaking unbelievable. I could easily take up the whole page ranting and raving about this game, but I’m going to keep it as straightforward and to-the-point as possible. 

     Basically "Oblivion" is an epic, mythical, medieval-era RPG (role-playing game) taking place in a living and breathing world with hundreds of unique characters, monsters, and items. You start out by creating your character, and let me inform you this is without a doubt the most extensive character creation system in any video game out there. After choosing one of ten races and giving yourself a noble and fitting name you go to work on your face. You can position your nose in literally hundreds of ways, age your character by simply moving the slider, and even determine how much sparkle is in your bugged out or sunken eyes. After the creation has taken place you find yourself in a dungeon cell, but within minutes you take part in a daring escape through caverns and sewers by following the emperor and his men. It turns out a secret passage was located in your cell. Coincidence? I think not. The player is quickly thrown into the action, battling against goblins and giant rats all while getting familiar with the genius control scheme. You eventually choose what sign you were born under and your class. I created a Wood Elf born under The Thief and appropriately chose the Thief class. I’m the type who lurks in shadows and uses a bow to dispose of my enemies rather that rush in swinging my sword around.  After you get through the tutorial which I spent two hours in (yes people, two hours in just the tutorial) you step out of the sewers and into the light with the most piercing image in video game history. Words can’t even begin to describe how gorgeous this game is.  That first view you get of the outside world was enough to make me never stop playing this game. You can see the enormous mountains with snow capped peaks miles away in the distance, and the stretching plains to your left; behind you is the Imperial City with the Golden Tower stretching high into the sky. 

     There is so much to do and see it makes other games bow in shame. You can try to complete the main quest which takes over thirty hours to beat, but even after that there is so much more. You can buy a house, steal a horse, hunt down deer, catch a disease that leads to vampirism, place bets on gladiatorial battles or even become a gladiator yourself, fight trolls, pick flowers, search for gold, invest in stores, make magical potions, the list goes on and on and on. The artificial intelligence in this game is groundbreaking and remarkable all the same. People live their lives, they go out and buy stuff, go to the local taverns and have a drink or two, then go home and sleep. Everyone is different and you can talk to any of them. "Oblivion" has over fifty hours of voice acting; that is simply unheard of.

     It has been in development by Bethesda Softworks since 2002 and it finally came out on March 21, 2006. I’ve been waiting for this game for years, but I nearly went insane until it arrived. I have already played for more hours than I’d like to admit, and saying I’m pathetically obsessed would be an understatement. Gamers everywhere need to try this game; it’ll be the best gift you could ever give yourself.

     GameDaily.com posted their review on "Oblivion" just days after the game hit the shelves. They gave very high regards and I quote, “Buy this game immediately, and if you don't have an Xbox 360; buy an Xbox 360 just to play this game.” That pretty much sums it up right there folks. They’re saying this game is worth a near $500 dollar investment; I agree. 

     I have been playing video games since the Super Nintendo days and now have the lovely Xbox 360. I have played countless games during this time, and "Oblivion" is the best I have ever played.