Spot On: Living in Oblivion

Just by virtue of being a sequel to the acclaimed 2002 role-playing game Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion garnered a lot of attention. Anticipation for the game was further heightened by the fact that, in addition to its PC edition, it was originally set to be an Xbox 360 launch title. Its last-minute delay last fall only increased gamers' desire to play Oblivion when it finally came out this month.

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion shipped to stores this week. And some precious hours before most prospective players could get it in their hands, GameSpot subscribers got a chance to vicariously experience the Xbox 360 version. Via a 12-hour marathon broadcast of nonstop gameplay, GameSpot editor Greg Kasavin not only earned some good mileage toward his full review, but also brought players a detailed and candid look at this ambitious sequel. While the complete broadcast will not be aired again, a highlights reel containing some of the unexpected surprises that cropped up during the course of the event is now online. [PLEASE NOTE: this footage may contain minor plot spoilers.]

Due to its vast size and scope, the jury is still out on Oblivion. However, viewers of GameSpot's live broadcast could clearly infer the positive first impression that executive editor Greg Kasavin came away with. Noting the game's similarity to Morrowind, Oblivion's well-received 2002 predecessor, Kasavin remarked that some of the game's fundamentals, from its combat to its quest system, work better this time around.

Meanwhile, the integral parts of the Oblivion experience, including a huge, open-ended world and a variety of types of interconnected game mechanics, are still readily apparent. Despite having spent 12 consecutive hours delving into the main storyline and numerous side quests, Kasavin nevertheless noted this stretch just seemed to be a small part of the game's total scope. Other players' experiences would naturally differ, given the game's free-form structure, apart from the relatively linear main story. Even replaying combat scenarios repeatedly tended to yield varied results.

Expect GameSpot's full review and video review of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion soon. For now, take a look at the marathon-broadcast highlight reel or tune into GameSpot's weekly show, On the Spot, this Thursday at 4:00 p.m. PST.