You've heard me blathering on about how madly in love I am with Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion...which is the hottest PC and console game right now. Great though it may be, it is replete with numerous bugs, some of which impact game play. Some are just outright comical. One bug in particular that I have come to know and love is something I affectionately refer to as "Anarchy Apocalypse". It doesn't always happen, but when it does, look out. The premise works like this. When you are in any city, attack a citizen or guard, preferably while other characters are nearby. Then run like hell. Now obviously doing this will cause AI characters to chase after you, which can be quite a laugh factory in itself. But where things turn comical is when, if you are able to, hide or somehow remain outside the range of contact from the AI, the characters will suddenly begin turning on each other. Guards vs. civilians, civilians vs. civilians, guards vs. guards, it's a total blood orgy.

I single-handedly wiped out the entire population of the city of Cheydinhal by inflicting a single stab wound on a local beggar, which then triggered a widespread murder rampage among the civilian population who (armed with swords and other stabbing weapons) set upon each other like a pack of bloodthirsty Huns. A feeding frenzy of violence ensued. The city guard soon joined in this murderous melee, and in no time the city was a ghost town, streets littered with corpses. I ask you, what could be more fun than watching a whole city descend into bloodrage? Nothing else compares to witnessing an elderly woman slashing away at mace wielding guards while being attacked by a high elf armed with an Axe. Pure comedy.

The screenshots below are merely a sample of some of the antics I've witnessed during these Anarchy Apocalypse outbreaks. But you get the idea.

("Don't panic, I'll slay you...err, save you." Guards attacking members of the local Fighter's Guild. Want to see something even funnier? Get members of the Mages Guild to go after the Fighter's Guild. Two words..."Shock Spell")

(Don't ask me where in the hell the ghost came from, he appeared out of nowhere. I guess even the dead like a good brawl as well.)

There's nothing I love more than an exceptionally well designed piece of software or game title. Bethesda's hot new role-playing game, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, is quite simply the most innovative game I have played in years. It's an instant classic that rivals such legendary names as LucasArts Jedi Knight series. Over the past month that I've played Oblivion I can't put it down. I plan on writing a more lengthy review I've been working in my spare time, later in the week. But needless to say if you haven't yet played Oblivion, run to your nearest retailer and buy a copy. You won't be disappointed.