I realize I'm behind the curve having just finished this yesterday, but I'll make up for that by being the first Alsherok blog to review it. Or something.
Thar's spoilers in them thar hills!
Now then.
1. Graphics. I trust that you won't be surprised when I say that they're really great, really supurb, because it's Oblivion. Bethesda's art people basically conquered the Internet with Morrowind, and have ruled it with an iron fist ever since. We exist as slaves to worship their greatness. It's ok, we like it. Our screenshot posts tell us this.
Speaking of Morrowind, SI sure does make me want to go load up some Morrowind and play my Telvanni guy. Little Diablo II Act 3 vibe off some of the ruin architecture. I kept waiting for the blowguns to hit.
The transition scene when you first enter the portal? That's amazing. In ways it's even more amazing than Oblivion's endgame, which right there all by itself sets new standards for amazing. You've done something right in your game when I see that, pause, alt-tab out, and then proceed to rave to everyone about how awesome that thing I just saw was.
2. Plot/Setting. Now, to be honest with you, SI wasn't what I really wanted in an xpack for Oblivion. I mean, there's so much that could be going on in Cyrodiil after the main game. You've got all these rumor topics talking about all the other provinces, some of which we've seen, some of which we haven't, but come on. You hear about all the stuff going down in Morrowind, and who doesn't want to go see what's up with that? Much like in Tribunal, which was very closely integrated with the main Morrowind storyline. Sheogorath? Who expected that? Pretty left field. Not what I expected. I'd still rather see the Morrowind revisited thing.
That having been said, they sure did a good job with it. Shivering Isles is a fucked up place with fucked up people in it, and that's cool. I like it. I mostly liked the plot, too, though with a few caveats:
A - SI was in no way suited for my Knights of the Nine Crusader character. In no way, shape, or form, plotwise. "I am a champion who has restored order, goodness, and light to the land! I shall...become the champion of an insane Daedric prince? And fight minions of Order? What?"
B - Being able to join Jyggalag would've been cool. Alas.
C - There are, and let me be quite serious here, only so many dungeons full of gruumites that I can stand to go through to do anything. Especially as a heavy armor melee fighter. Spending 5 minutes fighting the same dude is pretty tiresome, when I have to repeat it constantly for an entire dungeon. I realize that's an Oblivion interface quirk, but seriously, Morrowind wasn't nearly that tiresome to fight through.
3. Odds and Ends.
- Sheogorath sure was cool. Although Jason never gets to play it, because if he does, we will never hear the end of his utterly bizzare not-really-Irish accent. EVER. And you have no idea the kind of dread that fills me with.
- While I did like the forged equipment, I do have to say that finding the matrices was a serious pain in the ass. Very very serious. Very annoying.
- The magic gear in general was tight, though. Duskfang/Dawnfang, thanks for showing up. I appreciate it.
- I really hate clutter quests. I TORE SI APART LOOKING FOR TONGS AND ALL I FOUND WAS CALIPERS. ANGER. DWIP SMASH.
- Also, if I need a sweetroll for your goddamn quest, I should not have to scour the world for one. I still need one.
- I could go on, but I should be sleeping. Just go play it.
Posted by Dwip at April 14, 2007 11:26 PM