The Shivering Isles is certainly not the first expansion pack to the amazing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion but it is one of the deepest and most involving ones to give gamers yet another reason to go exploring in the world Bethesda Softworks created for the PC and the two next-generation consoles. On the PlayStation 3, The Elder Scrolls IV came complete with the Knights of the Nine expansion included but it doesn’t hold a candle to the Shivering Isles expansion you can download via the PlayStation Store or the retail version. Oblivions fans, this is one expansion pack you do not want to miss.

The retail version requires 5400 MB of hard disk space but once installed you will find that nothing changes … that is until you get a message after a day goes by in the game. The message is simple and to the point: a strange portal just appeared in Niben Bay near the town of Bravil and you should investigate.  Crossing the bay, you’ll notice that the portal is situated on an island where a rock door that looks like a head with three faces. You come realize that the appearance of the door seems to attract adventurers but those who manage to travel back through the portal back to Tamriel come back raving lunatics.

Taking a chance, you step into the portal only to be met by a mysterious gentleman named Haskill who informs you that the new territory you get to explore is broken up into two regions. One region is called Dementia and the other is Mania that is ruled by Sheogorath (who also happens to be one of the liveliest characters you will meet). Both Dementia and Mania are each run by two distinct personalities and thus both regions appear quite differently. This means you will have quite a lot of ground to cover in this expansion such as the Hill of Suicides, the Isle of Flame as well as New Sheoth. Even the road will take you through new and interesting areas not found anywhere in all of Tamriel.

The highlight of the expansion pack, however, is the various quests. Shegorath will send you on a number of interesting (and crazy) quests that will take you to dungeons as well as other key locales in the Isles. The good news is that the missions aren’t the usual fetch quests but rather some inventive and fun quests. There are some quests - like the one where you are tasked will assassinating the very person who assigned you the very quest - are inventive. Like the core game, you can spend your time completing the main quests as well as explore to your heart’s content and unravel the mysteries of places like the Hill of Suicides where the ghosts of those who committed suicide walk the land. 

Other quests will be offered by the rulers of Dementia and Mania and that will have you going up against new kind of monsters, many of them tougher than most of Tamriel’s strongest creatures. Both lands are also ripe with new types of weapons, magical items and a new armor class that would certainly be more helpful in completing the later mission from the core game’s main quest … assuming you haven’t finished Oblivion’s main quest. You can begin the Shivering Isles quest line at any point so you can - if you like - create a new character just to play it or take on the new lands after having completed the core game’s main quest. This is also a lengthy adventure that takes more than 30 hours to complete if you get right to the main quests. Just about the only negative thing I can find in the game is that you’re not able to purchase a horse to cover the land more quickly.

Graphically, the expansion looks as good as the core game so expect some detailed environments and character models (although the faces still look atrocious). The new locales do have their own unique look and the night sky over Mania is just plain gorgeous. As I mentioned above, there are new monsters and they look good but it is nothing we haven’t already seen. The game soundtrack is equally good since it is familiar territory for fans of the game. Even the voice acting is solid, although Shegorath is by far the most hysterical to listen to since his dialogue is excellent.

Shivering Isles is a worthy expansion with new territories to explore and tons to do so if you’ve been itching for more to do in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the PlayStation 3 then you really must pick this one up. Fans of the RPG will simply love another chance to get lost in Mania but, more importantly, simply enjoy extending the life of this amazing title.

Gameplay: 8.5
Mania is an intriguing place to explore and the new quest lines are just as absorbing as the ones already available in Oblivion. Gamers will miss the ability to explore on horseback but this expansion makes up for it with new items and weapons to procure along the way.

Graphics: 9.0
Visually, the expansion will seamlessly blend in with the main game’s graphics so the game doesn’t change the graphics in any way. Still, the new territory is lovely and the night sky is something to relish. There are also some decent visual effects.

Sound: 9.0
The game’s original score mixes in nicely enough with some new orchestrated music but everything here will sound familiar. There’s more of the same on the voice acting front (which is still good) as well as the sound effects (also good).

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
The new quests and side quests range from simple-yet-challenging to why-didn’t-I-buy-more-healing-potions. There are some new monsters that aren’t easy to defeat and a few enemies that will make short work of you if you don’t have the right weapons or spell casting level.

Concept: 9.0
The expansion beautifully introduces you to Mania and will hold you in to its new environment nicely enough unlike other downloadable expansions. There are new weapons and items to obtain including an excellent new armor.

Overall: 8.5
Shivering Isles for the PS3 is an excellent expansion to the main game and one that will have you loving every minute of this new setting. As far as expansions go, this one is a deep and involving addition to an already massive game and, like most fans, this is perfectly fine with us. If you own The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, you really can’t go wrong with this expansion.