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'Knights of the Nine' Review (Xbox 360 - Oblivion Downloadable Content)


Submitted by thankeeka on November 27, 2006 - 9:59am. Exclusive Game Review

Nice ArmorEvil people get to have all the fun! No matter what game it is, it seems that if there is the option to choose between good and evil, and you lean towards the evil side, typically your game will be more fun. As for the knights in shining armor like myself, who dream of doing good and abiding by mankind, we are left out in the cold. Thankfully, with the newest downloadable content for Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Bethesda has addressed this issue and gave us an enjoyable journey only the pure may partake in.

What do we think of Elder Scrolls: Oblivion? Well, we only gave both the PC and Xbox 360 versions perfect scores of five out of five, if that is any indicator of what we thought. So if you want a traditional review of the game as a whole, then head on over to those two reviews to read the full thoughts. Since this is downloadable content, we'll just focus on what you get in the actual content.

If I wanted to, I could sit here and type out every plot point by plot point, detailing every single last thing you'll get to experience. However, if you already know what to expect, will you be that likely to go and experience it for yourself? With that in mind, we'll try to keep "specific" spoilers rather mild if not completely non-existent, and focus only on the "generals" so you'll know what you are getting for your money and whether it is money worth being spent.

Unlike past content, you don't get a message indicating where the quest starts or what even you must do for it to activate and make it available. If you read our recent QA on the game content, then you'd know where it starts, but incase that wasn't read head on over to Anvil and check out the chapel to see what awaits you. After this ominous beginning, you must next head out on a quest to walk the path of the pilgrim and prove yourself worthy to embark on the real quest. The pilgrim's walk seems a bit too much like busy work, but it will take some time and a little investigating, as you'll constantly have to cross check between the map that was handed to you and the map you've been using all this time to move from one place to the next in the game; at times it can be rather challenging, but for the most part as long as you have some spatial recognition you'll find things relatively easy. I did notice one error in the game, because though you have several spots you must visit to mark off your list, I found one particular one in two different locations, so that when I came upon it for the second time (in what should have been its only and proper position), it was already checked off – not a huge problem, but an error worth mentioning all the same.

Evil GuyThe big thing about the Knights of the Nine content is what exactly makes up the title – Knights of the Nine. In the new content, you'll find yourself taking up the quests the original Knights of the Nine once held, and find yourself reestablishing their sacred order and becoming the head knight and amassing your own troops to follow you. It's fun to go through the game and discover people throughout the content's journey who want to join up, but the knights are pretty wasted and only used in the final moments. Still, the priory is nice and really starts to look pretty spectacular as you garner troops.

As the head of the new Knights of the Nine, you'll be heading out to gather all the great crusaders' weapons and armor, that he used to slew the evil villain who has once again returned to seek vengeance on the world that cast him out. The villain is pretty worthless and the new single enemy type is pretty much a pushover as well. However, what you must do to fight against these new villains is what is really worth it.

My elf archer doesn't have an affinity for swords and maces, so whether the ones you gather are the strongest in the game remains to be seen. I do like the armor, which looks both beautiful in its design, but it's also the best armor I now currently own, so I sport it day and night now; it also looks spectacular with me riding in to save the day on my horse of white. Though the goods are great, what makes up the content is the journey, as it is definitely more fulfilling than I originally thought. The trials you must face to get the great crusader's armaments feel like that of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where to advance you had to use your brain power a bit or be stuck forever. This is the part of the game I don't want to spoil, so I'll just say it is very supernatural in many ways, and works because of that reason. The story is definitely the reason why you'll play the game to completion.

Nice PlaceMuch like Oblivion by itself, the time it takes you to complete really depends on a variety of matters, such as your spell levels, strength of your weapons, defensive power of your armor, and how many places you've currently visited. If you played the game without ever quick traveling, then it would take you easily the 10 – 15 hours that were reported in our QA. However, if you do like me and quick travel as close as you can and then trek it by horse to get to your destination, then the time spent walking the pilgrim's way, collecting all the crusader's relics, and ultimately beating the content will take you roughly the five to six hours I beat the game in. The time spent traveling makes up most of the adventure, though the handful of new dungeons you'll encounter are nicely thought out, and the first one you go to in particular had me in a state of awe. There are also a few plot points that happen in unique places, which are really creative and memorable.

If you've been wanting some new Oblivion content that lets you be the shining hero you've always dreamed of being, then the Knights of the Nine downloadable content is most definitely worth your time and money as the rewards are plentiful, but the journey is what is really the sticking point. Though Knights of the Nine seems like a must buy for the good guys and gals out there, if you fancy yourself a patron of evil, then you could probably pass since one kill against a good natured person will automatically make you start the pilgrim's walk again. However, I'd still openly suggest to you to redeem yourself and make yourself worthy of this adventure, cause it still remains a great time to be had.

Rating: 4star
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