Review Computer Games disappointed with Oblivion

[dagamer667]

This is no question a huge mistake on Bethesdas part. I think they did it, to appeal to the average gamer more and make sure that they could experience everything in the world. In reality, they are going to ruin the experience for the average gamer, because he/she will not create an optimized build likely and when it scales it will get too difficult.

My guess would be that they assumed casual gamers would not play far enough to run into those scaling problems (i.e. bandits in daedric armor) . At least, that would explain why so many reviews never picked up on it. Up until level 6 or 8, the scaling system works OK. Insanity starts after lvl 10, and it messes up a good number of character builds that weren't made by powergamers who built lvl100 chars in Morrowind in 20 hours.

I simply don't want to resort to the cheesy lvl1 trick. It's pretty easy to create a char with major skills that are never used, and to start pumping your actual skills w/o leveling up. As far as I can tell, enchanting is probably key to higher level play. According to the strategery guide I got, most monsters are weak/neutral against either fire or shock. When I get through the mage guild recommendations quest and get access to enchating, I'll try to post some Kvatch test results in case anyone is interested.

 

[sheek]

I remember back when I used to buy/take seriously gaming magazines (mid to late 90's) a score of 84% would be almost 'game of the year'. It's the kind of score you'd give to Civilization II, UFO: Enemy Unknown, Diablo, the original Quake, MDK, Myth: The Fallen Lords, SimCity 200 etc. Games people remember and possible even play five to ten years after release.

What the hell has happened since then? Is this inflation or something?

And you know reading your review any objective person would think a 65-70%. You talk about Oblivion more negatively than I do and I gave it a 73% in my review.

Is someone putting you under pressure?

 

[El Dee]

As far as I can tell, enchanting is probably key to higher level play. According to the strategery guide I got, most monsters are weak/neutral against either fire or shock. When I get through the mage guild recommendations quest and get access to enchating, I'll try to post some Kvatch test results in case anyone is interested.

And therein lies the problem. I'm probably beating a dead horse here, but I am playing a warrior char and I don't think I should have to use magic to be successful in the game. When I play any sort of RPG (yes, I know most here don't consider OB an RPG and I'm pretty much in agreement) I try to stay true to my class, ie a warrior doesn't use magic. I'm just not a fan of the "experience everything" with one character school of thought.

 

[dagamer667]

Well, I can now safely conclude that a magic-free warrior just isn't a viable char in the long run w/o rebalancing mods. Blank weapons just don't do enough damage, and only silver weapons can harm a certain number of enemies. For the record my char is lvl15. After getting the recommendations quest done, I took my elven warhammer (doing about 15 dmg on my char w/o enchantments) and added an extra 24 points of elemental damage (8 fire/8 frost/8 shock), which is good for about 40 strikes on a Greater type soul gem. Bandits now die in about two or three strikes again, instead of 10+.

 

[Nightjed]

It's also interesting to note this guy is calling reviews in the 80% range to be bad.

Well of course they're bad, haven't you seen what everyone else thinks of the game? All the rave reviews?

80% bad?! i praise the lord-a every time i get a 40 or 60 on my college tests ..., 80 is freaking excellent, specially for a review where in the end you basicly recomend the reader not to buy the game and dust old ones instead while waiting for gothic 3

 

[sheek]

It's also interesting to note this guy is calling reviews in the 80% range to be bad.

Well of course they're bad, haven't you seen what everyone else thinks of the game? All the rave reviews?

80% bad?! i praise the lord-a every time i get a 40 or 60 on my college tests ..., 80 is freaking excellent, specially for a review where in the end you basicly recomend the reader not to buy the game and dust old ones instead while waiting for gothic 3

Lol. In a few years they'll start marking out of 110... 120... etc.

Games just keep getting BETTER!

 

[Jung]

Lol. In a few years they'll start marking out of 110... 120... etc.

Games just keep getting BETTER!

MaximumPC gave Half Life 2 an 11!

 

[Nightjed]

i dont think theyll go over 100 but theyll soon start using decimals ...

oblivion is better than morrowind! oblivion has 99.92 while morrowind just has 99.83 !!!!

then maybe theyll wake up one day and remove the % (its always 99 anyway) and just use the decimals so it will go back to 80 ~ 99, its a vicious circle

 

[Pr()ZaC]

I'm glad some of you see how the level system is flawed. When I posted about it before the release, exposing part of the problem, I knew that the whole leveling up will create issues. Now that we saw rare objects being used by "pretty much everybody" once you reach high levels, I hope modders can come up with a fix (there're some WIPs already) for that.

Waiting for the RPGCODEX review!

 

[kingcomrade]

http://www.rpgcodex.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=11817

Overall oblivion score: 844 golden stars and a Cap'n Crunch Super Sailor Merit Badge
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[jiujitsu]

Level scaling is fucking stupid. Good review. Tell it like it is.

 

[dagamer667]

Level scaling is fucking stupid. Good review. Tell it like it is.

Level scaling works great if done right. Oblivion's implementation of level scaling would be OK for Dungeon Lords, but not for the most anticipated (and now one of the greatest letdowns) games of 2006.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Then they realized the skills aren't locked - but you have to earn enough skill points to cover the reward before they advance again.

Which is completely stupid in terms of game design as well as a practical model of realistic skill development. If it's not a bug, then there's some amazingly stupid people working for Bethesda.

 

[Lemunde]

The modders are already hard at work on fixing the balance issues. The consolers are SOL.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Was looking forward to this plugin but some cunt of a mod closed it.

 

[Tintin]

Was looking forward to this plugin but some cunt of a mod closed it.

...because it was over 200 posts, meaning it was time to start a new thread. Meaning the mod still continues. You just click "thread 2" instead of "thread 1". Like all other threads.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

It's a pain in the arse navigating that forum, anyway apparently the mod has been released.

http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=321340

 

[Thrawn05]

It's a pain in the arse navigating that forum, anyway apparently the mod has been released.

http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=321340

The problem with mods like this, is that it gives Beth an excuse not to provide a patch.

 

[Micmu]

A patch? They patch bugs, not retarded mechanics that have been designed like this deliberately.

 

[Bossman]

Not to brag or anything, but it seems that my little review caused quite a stir on the official forums. The thread hit the 200 reply mark rather quickly and has already been closed.

But I couldn't help but be amused at the energy all the Oblivion fanboys dedicated on bashing the article. Can you imagine what sacrifices they must've made to stop playing Oblivion and post on the forums? :D

Also, you might want to drop by and leave a reply here

Edit: fucked up the second link, now it's fixed.

 

[kohla]

Yes, indeed. Perhaps next time you should stop using "OMG" in your reviews, brush up on your grammer and stop being a moron all together. Really.
And Desslock's opinions matter more because he writes for a really important pc gaming magazine and you do not. Anyway, you are a east European. So there!:evil:
OMG, OMG, u sux!!

 

[Bossman]

Yes, indeed. Perhaps next time you should stop using "OMG" in your reviews, brush up on your grammer and stop being a moron all together. Really.

Sure, that's why Oblivion has such obvious flaws, because I used OMG in the review.

P.S: and I think it's grammar... just a thought. :wink:

 

[kohla]

Hmm...sarcasm (not directed at you but at the ESF posters) sorta flew over your head.
Let me try again.
[begin sarcasm]
Yes, indeed. Perhaps next time you should stop using "OMG" in your reviews, brush up on your grammer and stop being a moron all together. Really.
And Desslock's opinions matter more because he writes for a really important pc gaming magazine and you do not. Anyway, you are a east European. So there!:evil:
OMG, OMG, u sux!!
[end sarcasm]

 

[Bossman]

Oh, hehe, my bad then. :shock:

 

[Kingcomrade's twin]

Bossman, a very honest and personal review that I enjoyed reading.

.02:

I've heard a couple people suggest that the leveling system should have been scaled either within a range (I.E. first encounter Dremora Lvl 10, then every 5 PC levels they increase 1 or 2 etc..) or to have the enemies begin to scale after the PC has reached their level or exceeded it.

These solutions may be helpful, and I am totally for increasing the longevity of the game by making the fights actually challenging even for an "uber" high level character.

However, the item scaling thing is just fucking stupid. I like when items have rarity so they feel valuable...now everyone gets auto-upgrades? Are there any special chests with items that are unique or at least reasonably powerful for your level? I don't even see the retarded fanboy logic behind this choice...