Below are user reviews of Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles and on the right are links to professionally written reviews.
The summary of review scores shows the distribution of scores given by the professional reviewers for Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles.
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User Reviews (1 - 11 of 37)
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Suprisingly Excellent...
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 30 / 32
Date: April 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User
I was truly suprised at just how good this expansion turned out to be. Not only does it introduce a completly new realm full of fantastical scenery, objects, and characters, but it also introduces a broad range of vibrante and involving quests.
Upon entering the Shivering Isles, you are automatically presented with two sides of a coin - mania or dementia. The manic half of the Isles are vibrantly colored, producing wacky landscape and crazy characters. The dementia half, however, is more suited for the darker characters with its gothic scenery and clothing. As you begin to explore, you'll encounter a variety of new creatures, including an uber-goblin-like creature that makes its home in extensive, bellow ground networks. It is also of note that the newly introduced creatures of the Shivering Isles are really tough to beat, even at a higher level. To some extent, even with the leveling system, Oblivion's creatures had become rote kills - one or two blows and your done. Not so in Shivering Isles - a nice change. New items are also present, including some kick butt weaponry (which are overall much better than those found in your earlier adventures), as well as the opportunity to harvest certain ingredients and have weapons and armor custom made.
The quests are extremely enjoyable. For instance, in one side quest, you have the option of completly trashing another characters home - havok's real world physics made this a real treat. In addition, nearly every quest following the main storyline presents a new and creative opportunity to create a little chaos. In one quest, you're given the opportunity to torture uncooporative suspects, and in another you are able to choose a life of insanity or a 'dead end' for a band of unwary adventurers.
Overall, Shivering Isles introduces a realm that is built upon fantasy - a nice break from the more realistic style of Cyrodil. It is a truly involving game, making for a very fun play. I might even be tempted to say that its a bit better than Oblivion itself...
Shivering Isles is Hot!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 14 / 15
Date: March 31, 2007
Author: Amazon User
Alright, I only started playing the Shivering Isles expansion two days ago, and I have only been able to play about three hours, but I love it. It's probably not for everyone, since it can be dark and kinda twisted (alright, it's actually really twisted), but I tend to think it's the best thing I've played yet from Bethesda and the Elder Scrolls world.
Don't read any further if you don't want any details revealed.
From the moment I entered the Strange Door in Niben Bay and had to figure a way to get past the Gatekeeper, I was hooked. It only got better. It wasn't long before I found myself in a village where all the residents had each been magically split into two persons, one manic and the other one really out there. Naturally, owing to the nature of Sheogorath's realm, the solution they want you to implement for them is to kill their doubles so they can have some peace and get their work done. Later, you get to direct the progress of a group of adventurers as they make their way through a dungeon. You can kill them off one by one, or make things happen that cause them to go insane. Then, if you last long enough to meet the Duchess of Dementia, if you play your cards right, she will make you her Grand Inquisitor and you get to go through her capitol city and interrogate all the residents and torture anyone who can't answer your questions. Of course, at your command, the torturer will inflict pain on them for no other reason than just because.
If you like Oblivion, especially if you like the Dark Brotherhood set of quests, you will love the Shivering Isles. So what are you waiting for?
It's basically "The Elder Scrolls Part 5"
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 16 / 24
Date: April 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User
It is an expansion pack, meaning that you need the original game to be installed (Oblivion). After loading your saved game, just keep playing Oblivion for a few minutes and eventually you will receive a message telling you that you heard a rumor about something. That is where the Shivering Isles quest begins.
The content on the Shivering Isles dvd is copy protected and cannot be copied to one's hard drive or other media for a later installation or for backup. You need the original dvd to install the expansion pack.
Unlike the Knights of the Nine downloadable content, Shivering Isles does *not* take place in Cyrodiil. It is a whole other realm and dimension altogether. It's like a completely new Elder Scrolls game, but with the same game engine, and you get to keep all of your character's attributes, ammo, items, etc. There are new enemies, quests, vegetation, weapons, armor, you name it. It's such a detailed expansion pack, that there's a whole 176 page strategy guide sold separately for it. Shivering Isles is going to keep me busy for a long time.
A great expansion that surpasses the original!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User
There really isn't much more to say. The strange environments, exotic creatures, interesting quests and compelling core story all make this expansion an excellent investment for owners of Oblivion.
Oblivion Expansion
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 3
Date: May 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User
As stunning as the original Oblivion game. Incredible new creatures and island to explore. A must have if you liked the first. The best game and expansion in years.
More of the same, which is what you wanted.
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User
ES4: Oblivion was an amazing game. The combat system has gotten a lot better than it was in Morrowind, the story is deep and engaging, the side quests are plentiful and the personalities diverse. So once I had played through all of Cyrodiil, I made a new character and did it again. And again. Each time the game was different because of the strengths and weaknesses of each archetype. But eventually the whole game was "Been there, done that, killed it." Shivering Isles (and Knights of the Nine, for that matter) gives additional content, professionally done with voice-overs and quest progressions worthy of inclusion in the original release. It's more of the same great, diverse content, which is what you wanted to begin with. Pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isle
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 3 / 6
Date: May 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User
Simply put....AWESOME!! : ) In some aspects even better than the first. If you liked the first or even just like roleplaying games in general pick- up this series!
Mostly more of the same, but same doesn't get any better than Oblivion!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User
New creatures, characters, landscape. Same basic music, gameplay, etc. But why fix what isn't broken? I've only been playing it for a couple hours, so there may be more that I haven't seen yet. One minor detail I've noted is store owners are sitting until you enter. I guess that's more realistic than them standing all the time!
Great game
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User
Although it's not as fresh as oblivion, it's quite good. New spells, new ingredients to make potions and new armor are excellent aditions. I would've liked more side quests though.
Fun expansion!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User
This expansion adds new content to the already amazing Elder Scrolls game and is a must have. The quests are more designed for fun factor and is a great add on for 25+ hours of play.
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