The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles
Developer(s)	Bethesda Softworks
Publisher(s)	Bethesda Softworks, 2K Games
Series	The Elder Scrolls
Engine	Custom Gamebryo engine using SpeedTree Technology, Radiant A.I., Havok 3.0 physics and FaceGen technology
Version	1.2.0416 (April 30, 2007)
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360
Release date	Xbox 360 NA March 26, 2007[1]
Genre(s)	Computer role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: M OFLC: M
Media	DVD, download
Input methods	Gamepad, keyboard, mouserole-playing game]] The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It was released for Microsoft Windows in a boxed retail edition on March 27, 2007, for US$29.99. The Xbox 360 version was released over the Xbox Live Marketplace, priced at 2400 Microsoft Points (equivalent to US$30).[2] Announced on January 18, 2007, the expansion was developed, published, and released over the Xbox Live Marketplace by Bethesda Softworks; its retail release was co-published with 2K Games.[3]

[edit] Production, release, and availability

The earliest news about Shivering Isles surfaced on January 4, 2007, when the then-current issue (#177) of PC Zone revealed the game. The issue revealed the basic plot and setting of the game, published its first screenshots, and announced its expected arrival in the second quarter of 2007.^[4] Bethesda had not yet announced the expansion,^[5] and continued on in silence until January 18, 2007,^[6] after the expansion had already been featured in both PC Zone and PC Gamer, after it had been scheduled for a February 6, 2007 appearance in Games for Windows,^[7] and after it had been reported in several online publications.^[8] The official announcement also confirmed an eventual release for the Xbox 360, something the magazines, as PC publications, had not mentioned.^[9] Further clarification came in early March, when Executive Producer Todd Howard revealed the specific release date of March 27, 2007, and announced prices for all releases.^[2]

Originally, the Xbox Live Marketplace release of Shivering Isles was scheduled for March 27, 2007, but an unscheduled Xbox Live maintenance was announced and the launch day was moved forward to March 26, 2007.^[10] The expansion adds to Oblivion a potential 250 Gamerscore points — the maximum allowed for downloadable content under current rules — split across ten achievements.^[11] An expansion disk version was announced on September 6, 2007, with a previously disallowed hard drive requirement.^[12] Intended to provide both the Shivering Isles and Knights Of The Nine content to customers unable to download them from Xbox Live, the disc contained a patch to allow Oblivion to recognise and use the expansions. Ubisoft discontinued the disc after customer feedback revealed the patch included was not the required 1.2.1 rendering both expansions useless without Live access.

The expansion was released as a standalone for the Playstation 3 version of the game on November 20, 2007^[13], and as a download from the PSN on November 29, 2007^[14]. It had been previously included in the Playstation 3 version of the Game of the Year edition of Oblivion.

[edit] Overview

The Gate to Shivering Isles from Cyrodiil.

The expansion pack takes place in the "Realm of Madness", also known as the Shivering Isles, a realm of Oblivion ruled by the daedric prince Sheogorath.^[15] The realm is divided into two sections: Mania, which is bright, colorful and over-saturated, and Dementia, which is dark, depressing and claustrophobic. Near the eastern shore of the Shivering Isles lies the capital and only city of New Sheoth. One third of the city (Crucible) looks like and represents Dementia. Another third (Bliss) looks like and represents Mania. The final third is divided into half of both and is known as the Palace District. The Isles are threatened by an event called the "Greymarch" which happens at the end of each era, in which Jyggalag, Daedric Prince of Order completely destroys Sheogorath's kingdom, therefore forcing Sheogorath to rebuild it from scratch.

The Realm of Madness is considerably different in both look and feel than anything in the land of Cyrodiil. Lead designer Mark Nelson stated that the reason for the drastic change in theme was because "People want to explore a new realm. Besides if you've played Oblivion for 200 hours, you've gotta be sick of gray stone castles." The new expansion pack has been estimated to have an additional 30–40 hours of gameplay available to players, and the Realm of Madness is said to be 25% of the size of Cyrodiil. There are 32 new types of unique ingredients added to the expansion, 10 new achievements, 10 new creatures (with different leveled versions), 9,500 new lines of dialogue, 200 new weapons and 80 pieces of armor and clothing^{[citation needed]}.

On entering the Shivering Isles the player is limited to an area called the "Fringe". The Fringe is a small area which acts as a portal from the mainland of the Shivering Isles. To enter the realm itself a massive guardian called the Gatekeeper must be defeated. Defeating the Gatekeeper may be a challenge as he has very high defense and attack power. The player can choose to team up with an NPC who is an archer to help defeat the Gatekeeper although this is not mandatory. As the Gatekeeper protects Sheogorath's realm from unwanted attacks, a later quest requires the player to construct a new one to replace the one he or she defeated. The new enemies include three types of mages (Heretics, Zealots and Apostles), a large insect that utilizes a variety of poisonous attacks (The Elytra), a tree-like humanoid (The Gnarl), a primitive frog-like species that is much like the goblins in Cyrodiil (Grummites), and their supposed larval form (Balliwogs) and last but not least the flesh and boned dog (more commonly known as the skinned hound). Also there is the Flesh Atronach and the Hunger. The Dark Seducers and Golden Saints are returning from previous installments in the series as the protectors of Dementia and Mania, respectively. Dark Seducers wear light armor and wield maces, axes, and/or bows, while the Golden Saints wear heavy armor and wield axes, bows, maces, and/or swords. Another Daedric creature making its comeback is the Hunger. There are new spells that include the ability to summon Sheogorath's personal servant, Haskill, and a creature returning from Daggerfall, the Flesh Atronach. Using materials found on the Isles called "Madness Ore" (easily found with Grummites or in their lairs; used to make heavy armor with high armor ratings) and "Amber" (easily found with Gnarls or in their lairs; used to make light armor with lower armor ratings than the Madness equivalent) new types of armor and weapons can be forged with the help of two NPCs. With templates for enchantment called "Matrices," enchanted versions of these weapons and armor can also be forged.

Promotional screenshot depicting a Golden Saint. Golden Saints were present in previous games, but did not make an appearance in Oblivion.

The player can also choose to side with either the Golden Saints or the Dark Seducers and become the duke/duchess of either Mania or Dementia during the main quest. To achieve the 250 gamer points for attaining both ranks the player will either be required to play through the Shivering Isles main plot line twice with different characters, or save the game prior to the moment the critical choice is made and play through this section of the plot line twice.

It is revealed during the course of the main quest that Sheogorath is actually Jyggalag, the Daedric Prince of Order that was cursed by the other princes to become the Prince of Madness, and he may only show his true form at the end of each era, during the "Greymarch." At the end of the main quest, the player fights and defeats Jyggalag, and is then proclaimed the new Prince of Madness, although Sheogorath tells you earlier that he does not think that the player can become a "real" daedric prince. The player receives several new powers including the ability to freeze enemies with Sheogorath's staff, the ability to change the weather in the Shivering Isles, which provides random stat boosts, and a protect spell which teleports the player to safety and healing in Sheogorath's castle when they are near death. These abilities can only be used within the Isles (excluding the staff's powers). You also have the opportunity to call for a dancer, have a Golden Saint or Dark Seducer royal guard escort you and have access to an unlimited supply of combat-based mini-quests that involve defending the Gates of Madness or any of the towns from intruders or wild creatures respectively. You can choose to perform these quests either by sending your guards (500 gold reward) or by taking care of it yourself (1,000 gold). As an end game reward, you are given a set of Sheogorath's powerful enchanted clothing, and Jyggalag's sword, which functions as an unenchanted claymore in the player's hands. Also, if one has not acquired Wabbajack, and has stopped the Greymarch beforehand, subsequently gaining lordship over the Isles, Sheogorath's shrine will have Haskill speaking in the Prince's stead.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Shivering Isles page
• UESP Wiki: Shivering Isles
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles at the Open Directory Project