I've always been a fan of psychological stories or at least those with an underside to them. The human brain is such an intricate part of our being, that which motivates how we live each moment of our life, and yet with the slightest crack or break in that armor, whole lives can fall to ruin. So when I heard the Oblivion expansion Shivering Isles was going to deal with that exact mechanic in its story and new world, rest assured I couldn't wait to descend into that madness. Whether I came back from it with my sanity intact is a whole other matter to be dealt with.

THE STORY SO FAR
Unlike some content of other games where you must've hit the end game to properly take advantage of new content, Oblivion lets you download the new content of Shivering Isles and get playing in this new world, no matter if you are a level one noob or a level 15 veteran who has already completed the original main quest, joined every guild, and has seen all the sights. So how do you get to this new realm? Simple – sleep 24 hours and look to the waters east of Bravil. See that crazy monument with the three faces – welcome to your new world.

The story of Shivering Isles is that Sheogorath – the Daedric Prince of Madness – has instilled in the world a passage to his domain. Much like how the Oblivion gates were the portals to that being's world, so to is this passage into the Realm of Sheogorath. Simply put, Sheogorath is looking for a champion of his realm and you have stepped up to the call. What awaits you in this new world?

Part of the charm of the Shivering Isles is its main quest, where you find yourself a lackey of Sheogorath himself as he sends you out on various quests, preparing you for the Greymarch. What is the Greymarch you say? Ah, but that is a mystery best left up to would-be explorers, but I will say it involves a holy order of – um – Order that arrives in crystalline structures, zap the world of its power, and send out thick crystal knights and sorcerers to take out any that oppose it.

The problem with telling you how fun and interesting many of the quests are, I'd have to spoil them for you, and the fun is actually watching as they unfold for yourself. However, since some have been talked about before I will recount those, as you'll have to put together a new Gatekeeper (a hulking man of flesh and random body parts); drive explorers insane in your new mousetrap; and in general rise up the ranks through the Court of Madness as you try to help Sheogorath save his realm from the Greymarch.

GAMEPLAY
The gameplay is the exact same as that found in every single one of our reviews of the other Oblivion games, so there is no reason to recount that again. Instead, let's focus on the new world, more adventures, weapons, armor, and new enemies.

The Realm of Sheogorath is an interesting entity all by itself, as half the world is split into Mania and the other into Dementia – each with its own visual quirks and characters to represent that state of mind. Mania is the side of the Shivering Isles that reflects manic personalities, drugged induced states, eccentrics and others. Mania is the home of the poets, the songwriters, the tortured artists who slaved for their craft essentially. The Mania side is a bright wonderland of giant mushrooms, glowing plants, and all the world around you reflects the inner workings of a mind that, though different and a bit strange, is a world still where beauty is possible – think of a writer who wrote the most wondrous books, but was a tortured soul. On the Dementia side, however, the world is dark, decayed, with barren trees, gnarled roots reaching out almost to entangle you and strangle you, and it is the side where depression and darkness rains – it is the side of lost hope.

The great thing about the Shivering Isles is when these two forces meet – the Mania and Dementia – and you see just how close they are to each other and yet how different and far apart they are. For example, entering into realm beyond the Fringe, you can choose which side to enter on, though by looking left or right you can easily see the other. Here, there almost seems to be an invisible line where you can see beauty blooming and depression raging. Sheogorath's palace itself is a wondrous place, where it is equally split, and he even sits on a throne that basically rests slap dab between the two. Also of interest in this intersection is the town of Split, where everyone has a double – a Mania and Dementia side; here you'll have to decide who to favor and shape their town for one or the other.

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