The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles

"An expansion that gives players choices on how to be naughty"

Some feel that Oblivion is one of the greatest games ever created. With its great game play options and deep character customization, the game is no small feat in any way. However, veterans of the Elder Scrolls series know that although Oblivion improved upon graphics, character customization, and game play, the game itself was lacking in player interaction and allowed very little real choice. Sure, the game contained some really great side quests and faction missions, but in the long run there were very few consequences that followed the player's actions. The Shivering Isles expansion gives players a chance to finally choose how their character will act in the Shivering Isles, and almost immediately throws players into quick decision-making situations with real consequences.

One of the first things players will notice about the Shivering Isles is the atmosphere of Sheogorath's Realm. It's like Morrowind in look and feel, and it even has more open villages that aren't walled up, allowing for less loading times during travels across the realm. New enemies consist of Morrowind favorites, such as hungers, and the former Morrowind Golden Saints are no longer direct threats because they act as city guards and soldiers of Sheogorath instead.

Graphics: 9/10
The game looks better than before in this new land, and walking through Mania and Dementia presents players with a different look and feel for the game play. Mania is bright and similar to the twisted world of Alice in Wonderland, while Dementia is dark and evil in look and feel. Both are dangerous and offer challenges to players, and both remind Morrowind players of the terrain in Morrowind. Dungeons and caves look new, but really don't offer anything amazing to look at. The new enemy designs and textures of new weaponry are beautiful, and seeing old enemies from Morrowind in Oblivion graphics is a treat to the eyes.

Game Play: 9/10
Because the actual game play itself is identical to Oblivion's standard fare and because the game attempts to give players choice and consequences to actions made, the game play is great.

Story: 8/10
A random portal to the Shivering Isles appears literally out of the blue, and it's up to a hero to check out the portal and investigate where it leads to. It turns out that Sheogorath, Daedric Prince of Madness, has created the portal to find a champion who will take lead of his insane realm. Sheogorath is the lord of both Dementia and Mania-- two somewhat different forms of madness-- and he wishes for the player's character to help him restore disorder to his sobering kingdom before proper order comes about.

Characters: 8/10
The characters in the Shivering Isles are a mixed breed. There are several sick and evil/insane characters to be encountered, but there are also several regular people to be discovered as well. Of the purely sadistic characters, almost all are extremely neat and fun to listen to and interact with; however, Sheogorath himself is a letdown, and is simply a silly-looking old man with amber eyes.

Sound: 7/10
This refers entirely to voice acting and background noises, as there is no new music to this expansion (a disappointment). Sheogorath sounds terrible. Sheogorath's voice is a mix of a fake Scottish accent and unnecessary loudness. There are times in which the game is obviously trying to make the player laugh, but Sheogorath's voice actor can't pull of the lines. He's just annoying, and there are several actors out there that could've possibly been used in the actor's stead (Albedo from Xenosaga would have been perfect). The voice for Haskill (the Madgod's butler) is great, however, and fits the role perfectly.

Overall: 8/10
If this expansion creates an improvement over the game's original game play system, why doesn't the game have a higher score? The answer is simple: because the main problem with Oblivion carries over into this expansion, and the most exciting aspect of the game (choosing the characters' destinies) turns out to be of little consequence. Players eventually find that choices made don't really go too far in the long run, and that their characters will once again look identical no matter what choices are made. Choosing to side with Dementia or Mania, for example, becomes a minor detail of things to come later on during the expansion, so once again the game makes it so that players are identical to each other. This defeats the purpose of letting players choose their characters' destinies, especially since the game basically makes players conform to the wishes of the annoying Madgod Sheogorath. It would have been an awesome expansion had the game allowed players to decide which side they'd rather support, whether that decision be Mania or Dementia, Order or Disorder, etc. Despite this complaint, the game is definitely enjoyable and offers veterans a chance to explore another fairly large area for fun. For those who have not played ESIV: Oblivion all the way through, however, there is little need to purchase or play this expansion.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/26/07