You can rest assured that you're gonna wake up and want to play Oblivion!
Oblivion is quite simply amazing. I don't think I've ever been so pleasently surprised by a game like this before. It'll become all you can think about, and all you ever want to do.
And it's easier to get into than say, Morrowind. It thrusts you right in to the game's main quest and some new additions make it much more fast-paced then Morrowind and more accessible to a much wider audience.
These are fast travel and the new combat system. Plus the controls are easier this time around, and you can hotkey weapons and cast spells with one button press.
The gameplay is quite simply awesome. You control swinging and blocking during combat now, casting spells is easy, and there is nearly no end to what you can do. This game could suck away at your life and drag you to the couch to play.
If you've ever seen the game in real time, you know how amazing. Textures look great, and the lighting effects are done well. It's crispy clear on and HDTV because of the AA. Also, worth noting are the subtle HDR effects, and the lip-syncing in the game. A beautiful masterpiece that nails the little details. The physics are a blast to play around with, as nothing is better than knocking junk around and messing with dead stuff.
Sound is also quite good. The epic music is as good as ever, but the biggest thing here is that every NPC has full voice-overs, so conversations are no longer like talking to an encyclopedia like in Morrowind, and the voices are done well. There are a bunch of repeated lines, however. Furthermore, combay noise is done well and casting spells sounds good.
However, as close as it is, it isn't perfect. Loading happens a little too often, but load times are nice and zippy, and other than that, only an inconsistent frame rate can keep you from truly being in your little fantasy world.
There isn't a game out there more worth the $60 it costs. You could very well spend a couple hundred hours playing this gem of a game. None of it seems like filler either.
The Xbox 360 killer app so far. Get it. Now. And maybe the massive (368pg.) strategy guide while you're at it. It really helps sometimes.
AMAZING.
FREAKISHLY AWESOME!!!!!
Seriously, game of the year so far.