The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The fourth entry in Elder Scrolls is both a triumph and disappointment at the same time. The new engine is marvelous, the graphics are now dated of course, but at the time no game looked half as good. It also started to steer the series into less RPG territory and more into a roller coaster style game experience where you are allowed to experience everything. It is also hampered by some very generic world design, quests, and wooden characters. But it still stands as one of the greats.

Hasn't aged great (mostly because of Skyrim) but still one of the most densely-built and alluring open-worlds ever made.

My early 2010s favorite game.

Bethesda’s fantasy opus immerses you in a radiant, bug-filled paradise—where Patrick Stewart’s doomed emperor shares the stage with potato-faced NPCs and perfect “STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL SCUM!” chaos. The guild quests (Dark Brotherhood!) and spellcrafting shine, but level-scaling turns bandits into demigods by mid-game

music, dumb npcs, quests, lore, voice acting, locations, nostalgia. yeah, I'm giving this a 100

Yes, it’s sort of janky, but this game will always have a special place in my heart because it really got me into the genre. I had never played anything like it at the time, and it was so special. It hasn’t aged particularly well, and almost all of the mechanics had areas for improvement, but it just has a charm that is really unique to this style of RPG.

STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM!!!!

Great game, such a huge world to explore.

By Azura, it's the Grand Champion! Less dull than Skyrim, but less interesting than Morrowind. Plot and setting suffer heavily from trying to ape LOTR too hard; gameplay is pretty alright, though, A bit above average, but the dull environs really hurt the open world. Naturally, a hell of a lot better with mods.

back then it was one of the top games i ever played. affectionately called oblivon. i wish my few game states never broke so i woulda finished it. loved being a vampire in one save. that fright when you out at night and fight music starts. going into gates was cool but always too confusing. this introduced me to the lovable bethesda rpg shit and journeys, side quests etc. it's funny cuz this might hold up as well as skyrim unmodded cuz both have the trash combat