Best of the Decade - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Tue, December 7, 2010 at 9:47 PM 
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Platforms: Windows, Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Release Date: March 20, 2006 (Windows and 360 versions)
Publisher: 2K Games; Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Most of the games on this list were carefully chosen as modern experiences that still hold up as such. I have previously discussed my modernist mindset when it comes to gaming, a mindset that makes it difficult to enjoy certain older titles. In the fast-moving gaming industry, a game doesn’t actually have to be that old to feel aged. A glance at many PS2-era titles is proof enough of this. Even in just 10 years, games have come a long way indeed.
Oblivion is a good example of this. It wasn’t the first of its kind, as one need only look at its predecessor, Morrowind, to see where it came from. But Oblivion did represent a huge leap forward from anything that had come before. When it was released, it was definitively a “next-gen” open-world RPG. It was gorgeous, stunningly large, and complex. Perhaps it feels dated in some respects now, but Oblivion raised the bar when it was released and it’s telling that, even after all this time, few games attempt the sheer scale and depth it delivered.
2k games, 360, 4, best, bethesda, decade, elder scrolls, iv, oblivion, ps3, windows in Best of the Decade, Video Games