Temple Guardian: Morrowind VS Oblivion Part 1

Bethesda has always made great RPG's, particularly with the Elder Scrolls Series. Each one has been a milestone and just amazing in their own ways. Many people began with The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. So naturally, they moved to The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion when it was released. But a lot of people began to wonder, which one is better? So far, they are the only fully 3D Elder Scrolls titles. (I guess Daggerfall and Arena would count as 3D, but they moved old, Hexen style, and not everything was fully 3D) Naturally, it comes down to preference between which one is better. But I couldn't decide, so I made out a list. I will be counting the expansions to both games. Bloodmoon and Tribunal for Morrowind, and Shivering Isles for Oblivion (Knights of the Nine was only a mod, not a real "expansion").

-The Land of Vvardenfell vs Cyrodiil-
Morrowind's land takes place in the island of Vvardenfell, a district in the whole province of Morrowind. The island has swampy areas, mountains, grasslands, and beaches. Up to the north, there is the island of Solstheim (introduced in Bloodmoon) creates a new snowy area. Then Tribunal added the big-ass city of Mournhold. The cities are varied and memorable. You remember Seyda Neen because of Fargoth and well...it's the place you start. You remember Balmora because it's just awesome. You remember Suran because of the strip club. You remember Ald-Ruhn because of the shell. You remember Sadrith Mora because of Wolverine Hall and the twistedness of the town. Each town sticks out and is greatly different from the next. In between towns, giant mushrooms, lakes, and naked Nords will be your company.

Oblivion takes place in Cyrodiil. Everywhere is a grassy/forest place except up north where it's snowy. The towns are not very memorable. There are fewer of them and none that stick out. They all have a basic guild/shop/inn with no real special variation. In Morrowind, the towns had manors, or plantations nearby, or odd quirks like that spread around. There is a lack of them in Oblivion, making the towns harder to be memorable. However, Shivering Isles seems to have remembered that fact. Shivering Isles is very memorable. You'll even remember the tiny little towns you'll come across, along with New Sheoth. Both parts of the island, Mania and Dementia, are interesting (and even have giant mushrooms). When Haskill gets up, and the walls around you turn to butterflies, you sit there for a minute in awe at the mushrooms and the Morrowind like atmosphere.

Morrowind wins this one. As cool as Shivering Isles is, an expansions can't make all of it up. Morrowind: 1 Oblivion: 0

-Guilds-
This is simple. Morrowind has 16 joinable guilds. House Hlaalu, Redoran, Televanni, Fighter's Guild, Mage's Guild, Thieves Guild, Morang Tong, Clan Aundae, Berne, Quarra, The Blades, East Empire Company, Ashlanders, Imperial Cult, Imperial Legion, and The Temple. True, some of them are part of the maint quest, or have little quests, or don't allow you to advance, but you still get the opportunity to join. Not counting the tiny ones, that still leaves 11.

Oblivion has 7. Fighter's Guild, Mage's Guild, Thieves Guild, The Blades, Dark Brotherhood, The Arena, and the Court of Madness. These are all full guilds. You do quests, advance up, and reap the rewards. Of course, numbers aren't everything. The quests themselves are more interesting in Oblivion. For example, in the Thieves Guild for Morrowind, you stole random objects, and eventually become guild master somehow. In Oblivion, it's this long and sweet process. First there is the legendary Gray Fox, who is mentioned so much that you'll be weak at the knees to see him. The last quest, stealing an Elder Scroll, for the guild is so epic. Not only are you stealing one of *THE* Elder Scrolls, it's such a long and difficult quest, commonly said to be one of the toughest quests in the game.

Oblivion wins this. Morrowind does have more to join, but it feels so much better in Oblivion to rise above all others. Morrowind: 1 Oblivion: 1

-Main Quest-
In Morrowind, you go about this long, long, long, long, long quest to stop Dagoth Ur, and eventually become the Nerevarine. It's more focused than the guild quests. Every thing you do has/had some effect on your whole main objective. It's also possible to do the main quest, even if you had itchy fingers one day and accidentally killed Vivec, then saved. The ending reward is so sweet. You are actually the Nerevarine. What a fucking awesome reward. You're a reincarnation of Lord Indoril Nerevar. The lore behind this goes pretty deep, so I won't get into that. Overall it's such a cool story. You feel so powerful when NPC's wet themselves when they see you and refer to you as the Nerevarine.

Oblivion's main goal is to put Martin on the throne and stop the Oblivion gates from opening. As dull at that sounds in comparison, it was actually very detailed and addicting. The quest "Paradise" was SO AWESOME. You went into this Shivering Isles like world. Mankar Camoran gives you a lot of interesting information when you walk in and as you go on. Beside that, the quest is very powerful. The last quest is very epic, with the Imperial City being attacked and falling apart. Then you go through a door and there is fucking Mehrunes Dagon being giant and scary and in your way. The ending is cool too, with Martin turning into a dragon and all. But, the reward is less so. The armor isn't very powerful and it doesn't feel the same being called "Champion" Would you rather be a champion or a reincarnated god-destroyer?

I say it's a tie. They are both very interesting and each have their own cool moments. Morrowind has a better ending reward, but Oblivion is more fun to play through. If I counted the expansions, then Oblivion would win. Shivering Isles just combines fun and the best reward EVER. You actually become the new Sheogorath, and rule over the Shivering Isles. Morrowind: 2 Oblivion: 2

-Quests in General-
Morrowind's quests range from "Hey, go fetch that dagger for me" to interesting and cool things. Like getting back a woman's valuables, only to share the gold reward with the thief and he steals them back later anyway. The quests become more interesting in Bloodmoon and Tribunal. Oblivion's quests, are much more interesting however. They take more to do and pull you in better. Shivering Isles greatly improves on it. It's so much more fascinating doing "chores" for the insane.

Oblivion wins this round. Morrowind: 2 Oblivion: 3

It'll take a while before I"m done. Both games are huge and have tons to cover. I'll be posting it in parts as to not destroy anybody's eyes. Oblivion is ahead, but only by a single point.

Temple Guardian

Morrowind VS Oblivion Part 1

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