I really enjoy this type of sandbox rpg - Fallout 3, New Vegas and Skyrim are among my favourite games. However I've never touched Oblivion before in my life.

Question is, will I still be able to enjoy Oblivion after having played these more recent games? Will the old graphics and clunky animations put me off or will I still be able to sink many hundred hours into it like I have skyrim?

I'm just worried I won't be able to really get into it now that I've been 'spoiled' by Skyrim's graphics....

If it's the gameplay and not the graphics or animations you care about then I'm sure you'll invest just as much, maybe more time into Oblivion than Skyrim. I started Morrowind for the first time not too long ago and absolutely love it.

It's not so much the graphics that kill me (I played Morrowind after Skyrim) it's that the game controls like you're a penguin on an ice rink. Your character has no weight, whether it be from gravity or from movement and frankly that kills the game for me.

If you can look past that there are mods that allow for a nice looking game (if you're on PC) and also some mods to create a better overall experience.

I'm on PS3 unfortunately. I also play for the story rather than graphics, but for example I was never able to play pokemon red again after pokemon gold. I've looked at some oblviion gameplay videos on youtube and the graphics seem fine, but the character does seem to move very fast and in a sort of clunky way. After skyrim's smoothness is that going to be a jarring slap back to reality every time I'm getting into oblvion's story?

edit: Also if I am to go and buy oblviion for the ps3, are there any things I should know about beforehand to get the most out of it? Thanks.

I'd suggest you rent the game and find out! Oblivion is an older sibling to Skyrim, some definite similarities will become obvious. I suspect you'll like the deeper questlines though. The drawback is that the dungeons are not as individualized, and can seem repetetive. Highly suggest you mix up the exploration as much as possible between types of dungeons. The questlines actually do a very good job of this for you, but if you just like to go out and explore, alternate between the caves, ayeleid ruins, etc. frequently. Oh , and if you need something more different than that, just pop over into the Shivering Isles!

Oblivion and Morrowind are both worth checking out and if you don't mind dated graphics you'll have plenty of fun playing them. I played both of them on PC originally with graphical mods. but chose to pick up GOTY editions of both (for $10 each) morrowind (xbox) and oblivion (ps3) and enjoyed them on my console just as much (note that morrowind has load time issues on xbox 360 but is perfectly playable)

if you're on a PC just get all the graphical mods and the drop won't be as significant.

Only you can answer that question. I played Oblivion first and still enjoyed Morrowind. I play Skyrim now on weekends and I just started a new Oblivion mage that I play during the week. The magic system in Oblivion is much more fun than magic in Skyrim IMO, but Oblivion's melee combat is not nearly as fun as Skyrim. Oblivion has long and interesting questlines. There is a lot to do in Oblivion, but only you can answer the question of whether you will enjoy it.

As I've said before...

There is no one 'best' TES game. Each of them does things worse and better than all the others. Daggerfall for example has by far the best dungeons in the series.

Oblivion does many things better than Skyrim. Theres a lot more customisation and weapon choices. Did you know TES used to have shortswords and spears?

It's worth trying. I'd recommend it.

Different people have different tolerance levels.

Personally, I cannot imagine finding any game released this generation too outdated. The idea is completely alien to me. I have no problem going back and playing games from the late 80s - early 90s, let alone games from the mid 2000s.

Just don't give up on the game during the 1st hour because you don't like how it looks / feels. Give it at least a few hours.

There sure is much more time spent with Oblivion content-wise, that's for sure. Skyrim is the only TES game ever I have pretty much "completed". Oblivion, Morrowind and Daggerfall (haven't played Arena)... well, not in my dreams!

These old graphics and clunky animations we all keep reading is mostly hyperbole when associated with oblivion. Only turn off was the heads on people and Skyrim does do better water. Oblivion should fit like a glove after what you said you played. Honestly in 5+ years nothing has improved by leaps and bounds since oblivion in the department of graphics I mean yes slightly but not leaps and bounds.

I personally loved Oblivion - it's my second favorite game in the TES series next to Skyrim. I think you'll really like it.

Thanks for the answers guys. It's all the excuse I need to fail my medical degree some more

Oblivion is a great game, one of my favorite games to date. if you don't mind the graphics because obviously they aren't as good as skyrims, then yes you'll love it. the questlines are great

Sounds like i'd enjoy it. Is there anything I should know before I start it? About the game itself or patches / DLC?

That doesn't mean that one of them can't be the best. It just matters to what degree each is better or worse at a given category. Yes, shortswords and spears, axes, clubs and medium armor, each with its own skill! Oh my!

Well, the Oblivion mainquest's where awesome.
The graphics where good, According to me.
And the other stuff was awesome, (like the enemies and such).

But, there's one thing i think you shall know before you buy it...

You... Need... THE SHIVERING ****ING ISLANDS TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....

seriously... Most of it's mainquest's where legendary... according to me...

Oh cool, is shivering isles the only expansion to keep an eye out for? And is there an ultimate / goty edition?

I don't think you're even going to notice much of a graphics downgrade. There is a GOTY addition.

But really, Oblivion after Skyrim is going to be mostly good for another big landmass and more questlines to occupy you. There's not much that it does better than Skyrim, unlike all the advantages and tradeoffs Morrowind and Daggerfall have over their counterparts.

If you liked Skyrim then you will like Oblivion. There are some differences that you will run into. The Faction Questlines are far better. You can do one, and feel content with the Game. Unlike Skyrim where some feel like they have to be Bugged/Broken. Enemies will be appear to be tougher, and less consistent. Due to a less polished Level Scaling System. The Menus will feel slow, and are ugly. The Animations are not too bad especially in First Person. Avoid Third Person at all cost though-you have been warned. How you go about using Speechcraft is completely different.

The biggest different is how your Character levels up, and progresses. Unlike Skyrim trying to change up your style mid-game in Oblivion can feel like a punishment, and make the 'ride' less enjoyable. You must choose seven http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Skills out of the list that you plan to use to Level Up. As well as two favorite http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Attributes to make a http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Classes. Leveling any of the Skills that you did not select will not help you progress to the Level. The three Links will give you some information to help give you a better idea of what you will be looking at. All of which lead to pages from The Unoffical Elder Scrolll Pages-UESPWiki. If you so choose to use them. Also beware of Alchemy.

Other then those mentioned above it is basically an Elder Scrolls Game. Free Roaming RPG Goodness. Cheers!

I think the Shivering Isles is the coolest part of any Elder Scrolls game. evur.

Gameplay > Graphics any day of the week. I'd be willing to play a game with orginal Xbox graphics, with good game play, than play Skyrim

To the OP: Skyrim isn't that far off from Oblivion's graphics. Skyrim graphics is, for the most part, mediocre and what saves it is the beautiful artistic design of the world.

I played both Oblivion and Skyrim, I like them both, but I will rate Skyrim a little higher.

With followers and fighting big dragon in Skyrim, i really can't stand the loneliness in Oblivion gate and the lacking of fighting big foes. I am sure you will miss something from Skyrim but Oblivion is definitely worth a try.