Just returned from Skyrim, I only played this game a bit a year or so ago to work on my fighting skills in the Arena then had a save game malfunction and went back.

Some GOOD things I've noticed;

#1 Black and white, good vs. evil. Hurray!

#2 A Waterwalking necklace as well as the boots. Whoot!

#3 'Smarter' NPC's and dialogue. *Fist pump^

#4 Longer and deeper quests. A LOT longer and deeper.

#5 As Master of the Fighters guild you get PAID to LEAD. "Duh!"

A lot of players on the Skyrim forum rate Oblivion as the weakest in the TES series. What? Why the HELL do they feel THAT way? I love this game almost as much as Skyrim and have since my aborted first attempt. WTF?

I seem to notice that people who rate Oblivion the lowest rate Morrowind the highest, and view Skyrim as everything Oblivion did, but better.

I think everybody can agree that gameplay-wise, Skyrim is just a better game. But Oblivion has this charm that I don't think Skyrim could ever capture (though Skyrim with all DLC is close). And honestly, nothing beats Oblivion's quests.

Basically, people choose to remember Oblivion is that weird middle child, too much unlike Morrowind and not enough like Skyrim. The horrible character models don't really help, either.

As far as I'm concerned this is a weakness, not a strength. I like depth in my games, as much as I can get. Personally, I think "good vs evil" plots are juvenile.

In what way? Can you elaborate? What do you mean by "smarter?"

Deeper is a matter of opinion. Longer is not. I'll give you the Companions: that quest line was too short. But most of Skyrim's guild quest lines are longer than Oblivion's, not shorter. Here is a comparison of three:

Thieves Guild:

Oblivion 14

Skyrim 29

Dark Brotherhood:

Oblivion 25

Skyrim 31

Mages Guild/College of Winterhold:

Oblivion 21

Skyrim 23 (plus 5 Master Skill quests not found in Oblivion)

THERE'S A NIP IN THE AIR, THE COLD WON'T BE GOOD FOR MY CROPS, NEVER IS.

SOME PEOPLE CALL THIS JUNK, ME, I CALL THEM TREASURES.

DONE AND DONE.

OH LOOK, ANOTHER TRAVELER HERE TO LICK MY FATHER'S BOOTS, NICE JOB.

I WORK FOR BELETHOR AT THE GENERAL GOODS STORE. I WORK FOR BELETHOR AT THE GENERAL GOODS STORE.I WORK FOR BELETHOR AT THE GENERAL GOODS STORE.I WORK FOR BELETHOR AT THE GENERAL GOODS STORE.I WORK FOR BELETHOR AT THE GENERAL GOODS STORE. YOU KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH SKYRIM THESE DAYS? EVERYONE'S OBSESSED WITH DEATH.

I'm not yelling. These repeated lines echo in my brain to the point of all caps, if you will. If I detour around the market, Ysolda will hunt me down so she can deliver her line of the day. The same line as the last time my character passed by Whiterun and stopped to do a little trading. It just so happens, that it was the same line the last time I stopped by Whiterun, come to think of it.

There's an alchemist in Falkreach... I've traded with her on a number of occasions. I've never seen her face. She never looks up to trade with me. The guards with the convenient helmet with eyeholes. I don't think, " cool" I think, "lazy." They all have the same voice of course. Except the female guards, who all have the same voice.

That said. I think parts of Skyrim are outstanding and am having a hella time there, save some game issues.