I got a look at Oblivion at the computer store and the graphics look awesome! I love first person RPGs, but have a limitation around playing anything that requires speed. So my question is - if I have lousy reflexes, can I still play this without getting constantly chewed up and spit out?

Thanks.

Do you mean in real life you have limited reflexes to hit keys/mouse etc.?

Yes, that's right. I have bad eyesight and as a result, poor hand-eye coordination. I point-and-click all the time, but I'm not what you'd call fast and accurate at it (you don't have to be with icons etc!), and I'm wondering how fast you have to be to play the game. Unfortunately there's no demo for me to try.

Ok well to be honest the targetting system is annoying enough as it is. I myself have no physical problems interfering but still the camera and crosshair can, at times go all over the place or at least, become inaccurate. There's no target lock unfortunately (I wish there was) and an accidental click in the wrong place can lead to you hitting an NPC or stealing a horse!

I would try play the game in 800 x 600 resolution and also remap some keys to better suit yourself (you can remap the default attack buttom from the mouse to a key if you wish). I amn't sure if there are mods out there that can help...I know theres one that darknes the UI for photosensitive people, you may wanna browse around and check.

I hope you can play this game well though as it is beautiful like you said. Make sure your system can handle this game though, it is a beast and requires a rather high-end computer.

Edit: BTW The system specs on the box aren't accurate. You'd want a 1g ram, a 2.5ghz - 3ghz + processor and a good video card. Nvidia 6600gt and higher or it's ATI equivalant to play the game smooth.

[ 04-17-2006, 12:31 AM: Message edited by: SpiritWarrior ]

The ATI recommended card (the x800) runs the game fine, though there's a balance between amazingly pretty and running at a solid framerate.

In my experience, as a fighter-type character, there's not a heck of a lot of rapid-fire stuff in the game. I dodge in, swing my sword, jump back out of the pesky critter's range. Repeat. It doesn't require me to click fast, and the targets are plenty big enough...and all my left hand has to do is jockey the "W" and "S" keys. Not really too intensive at all.

But I mean, there is the actual dodging/blocking kinda "twitch" aspect to this game as opposed to locking targets and just hitting keys. Like in NWN's, you don't bother actually moving your char to dodge since it's already figured into the engine. No matter how fast you strafe to the side you may still be hit if they land a hit and if you do nothing you may still dodge if you roll for a dodge. Here in Oblivion, we see at least some utilization of real-time combat although I agree it isn't hardcore.

IMO, it is a fast game. Not Quake fast or anything but there are times when you're up against several foes and precise blocking and attacking is called for. People keep saying it's an Action-RPG which is not altogether innacurate, but when i think ARGP i think Diablo, Dungeon Siege, Sacred etc. An action game with RP elements, not an RP game with action elements.

If you love 1PP RPGs, then i suppose the question is which ones have you played? That'll give us (and you) a benchmark to compare Oblivion to.

I've never really played anything that didn't have some sort of turn-based combat system (eg Wizardry 8, Wizards and Warriors), so I'm not sure if it can really be speed-compared. Is there an option of how difficult you want the game to be (eg a complete wimp mode, which might help me survive)?

Yep. A whole difficulty slider. -100 is easiest, whereas 200 is hardest :D

Though, that's me just guessing hte numbers [img]tongue.gif[/img]

There is a slider but no numbers on it, just a slider and a pointer telling you that if you slide to the right the game gets harder.

The first time you look at the list of game play options just after starting the game you click on gameplay and a new screen comes up with a number of auto save game options and at the top of the list is the slider. The slide is set dead center. I would assume as the normal Default setting and that gives you the option to move to the right for Harder or move to the left to make the game easier.
I left the slider in the middle (Default) because I really didn't think about it when I started. Maybe next game I'll try a higher setting but for now default works for me.

As far as the rest of the game I think you shouldn't have any problem playing.
most of the game is point at someone close and hit space bar or hit the right and left mouse buttons.

Click on the link below and you can test your system to see it your computer can run Oblivion. The site is safe and free most everybody here at Ironworks has used it.
After you click on the link the main page comes up and you need to click on
Select Product by pressing on the arrow to the right and find:
The Elder Scrolls Oblivion, and click on that. Then Click CAN you Run it?
and sit back for a minute or so while it checks your computer, when the test is over it tells you what upgrade is needed if any.

http://www.srtest.com/referrer/srtest