The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Game of the Year Edition Deluxe

I put God knows how many hours into this game on Xbox 360, over a decade ago now (!). This is unabashedly my favorite game of all time, I know it's goofy at times, I know the graphics/voice acting/combat are clunky, but you know what? This is the first game that made me realize that video games could be beautiful. Most of my time in Oblivion has not been spent doing heroic quests, downloading mods, or even fighting enemies. No, most of my time has been spent simply walking around, a tourist in a virtual world, standing in awe at the breathtaking views, music, and overall scenery. I know my nostalgia makes me biased, but in all honesty, in the now eleven years that this game has been out, I haven't found a reason to put it down for good. There is always something to do, whether it''s visiting a familiar location or quest, or discovering something new for the first time, I am always, magnificently, blown away. If it's on sale, all the better, but this is a game that I would recommend to anyone, regardless of whether or not they've played Morrowind or Skyrim.

It wasn't easy to ignore the trailer when it came out, featuring the voice of Patrick Stewart as the emperor, yet this is far from the best reason to pick this up. Although the graphics are a bit dated today, the game has a strong story, tons of things to do in different ways. It really is a mid-ground between the charm, possibilities (and terrible combat system) of Morrowind and the generic action (but extremely fun) gameplay of Skyrim. But most of all, if you want to immerse yourself in the world of TES, this is a great game, because it has a bit of everything. The amount of content the deluxe edition has will more than make up for the price demanded, especially on sale.

When this game was first released it was a sign of things to come. The first time you saw footage of this game you just had to admire everything and not be able to speak. Several years later, as all 3D games, the time was not too kind with it. BUT, that does not mean the game is still not gorgeous to look at, at least in parts. Besides, there is far more to this game than good graphics. As usual for the series, you find yourself a prisoner given a second chance. You can focus on the main story, or explore. TONS of side missions and world to explore. The game has some negative parts, at least for me. I found the main storyline annoying to deal with. I won't spoil anything, but something happens from time to time you have to deal with or it will make your life more difficult in exploring the beautiful world of ESIV. What I suggest is to focus on dealing with the main story line so that then you have nothing to annoy you as you go ahead and live your virtual life in this world. There are many many missions to complete, side quests if you prefer, you can join various guilds and explore the many dungeons of this world. Combat is far more natural than in the previous games of the series, though not as good as in Skyrim. Still, at no point does it feel bad or awkward. Voice acting, music, visuals, gameplay, they are all top notch. Definitely a game to have. There is also one side quest I want to mention. One that has to do with a painting. This quest I found so difficult that it made me stop playing the game for weeks. Just make sure when you arrive at the...outside of this mission, do not get into it before you are very powerful.

Though not as polished visually or gameplay-wise as Skyrim, Oblivion remains my favorite of the series. The combat and leveling system hasn't aged too well, perhaps, but IV maintains an undeniable level of charm that I feel lacks even in Skyrim. The world is smaller and less detailed, the quests are fewer, the plot more linear - but the general quirkiness of certain NPCs and accompanying quests are so memorable, Plus, the Oblivion Crisis felt real, like there truly was an apocalypse taking place. I mean you, alone, descend into fantasy Hell to quell Daedra! Not to mention one of the most entertaining and unique pieces of DLC/expansion I've ever played in Shivering Isles. Couple this with Jeremy Soule's magnum opus (in my humble opinion), and you have an imperfect, but amazingly unforgettable open world RPG. Sheogorath bless you! Or not!