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In Shivering Isles the world is split between Mania and Dementia.  Not only is the new realm provided huge but there’s also new and intriguing things such as weapons, alchemy ingredients, armor and... enemies. In this new dimension you best be prepared to do a large amount of fighting. Almost all creatures encountered are out to harm you, and few of the townfolk are much more hospitable.

The main city is split right down the middle just like the rest of the world. On the happier, sunnier side you have Bliss. On the darker, more demented side you have Crucible. Each is ruled respectively by the Golden Saints and the Dark Seductresses, and of course they despise each other. These factions make up the bulk of the story in Shivering Isles. It's these two elements that revolve around the entire reason you are there. Without giving away too much, let's just say that it gets "interesting". 

In one wild example of the madness that is Shivering Isles. A man named Hirrus Clutumnus cannot bear the tortures of living, or the sheer pain of everyday life. He hires you out for a contract killing… on himself. He doesn’t want to see it coming or feel any pain. Once he’s dead, he tells you to rob his body of his house key and take whatever we want from inside. I chose to stalk him for an afternoon, and when he stopped to enjoy the view of the city from a high altitude vantage point, I shot him with an arrow in the back which sent him plummeting to his death. Upon hitting the street below, I hear a fain “finally, peace at last. Thank you.” That has to be one of the greatest highlights of the game considering it was so faint, I had to re-load the mission about 10 different times to catch exactly what he said. One word comes to mind, “brilliant”.

In true Elder Scrolls fashion, you play the game and the people any way you want. You can tinker around with side missions, or jump right into the meat of the story.  With this much new content, I don’t see why anyone would want to blaze through it. There’s so much to see and do in this oddly wonderful world. Exploring and collecting items is the name of the game, and with the ability to travel between Cirodil and the Shivering Isles, you can take all the time you've gained back to reality.

The game itself can even be considered a side-mission. You don’t even have to be finished with the main story in Oblvion to enjoy the madness that consumes the Shivering Isles. If you’re an Oblivion fan, in any way, shape or form, then you’ve got to own this newest addition to one of the greatest games of all time.