Bethesda Is Back To Winning Ways!
It’s finally here. After months of rumours and speculation, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has arrived – and it absolutely delivers on the hype.
There’s a reason fans of the franchise have been clamoring for an Oblivion remaster – and it’s not just because they’re tired of the endless Skyrim re-releases. Oblivion features one of the best stories and some of the most memorable quests in the series. The world is richly immersive and impressively large. Say what you will about Skyrim, but I’ve always believed Oblivion is the better game.
This remaster brings the original 2006 experience to modern hardware with updated visuals and refined systems. There’s often a blurry line between a “remake” and a “remaster,” and this release blurs it further. Officially, it’s a remaster – but the entire game has been rebuilt in a new engine. All the original content, voice acting, dialogue, and story remain intact, yet everything looks and feels fresh with its seriously impressive visual overhaul!
An Unforgettable Journey
The moment players step out of those sewers right at the start of the game they are going to be hit by a complete sense of wonder which I haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing in a long time. This game is visually stunning and Virtuos have done masterful work with remastering the entirety of Cyrodiil. Along my journey, even after putting tens of hours into this game, I just couldn’t stop halting what I was doing in-game and staring at the beautiful trees, leaves and grass, or the atmospheric skies, clouds or weather effects. It’s a jaw-dropping game that looks good 100% of the time.
The lighting is the real highlight when it comes to updated visuals though. The original version had a very saturated look which worked because it highlighted the magical feel of Cyrodiil, and really felt special – this version manages to maintain some of that magical feel by placing a clear emphasis on dynamic lighting and volumetric details which interacts beautifully with the surrounding environments. It loses that saturated look though, which might be a downside for some fans of the original.
The only thing that could have really improved the visual fidelity would be adding more animation and movement to the environment. The leaves on trees do sway in the wind, and some petals and butterflies float across the screen – but this is only on close inspection. Trees are incredibly static and smaller bushes aren’t very animated either. It feels like a bit of a missed opportunity that could have made the world feel a little bit more alive, especially as there’s clearly an updated focus on the weather effects.
That being said, the overall world contains so much to see and do that it’s often hard not to feel a bit overwhelmed. You’ll be stacking quests up just by interacting with NPCs, and wherever you go you’ll be sure to discover a new cave, dungeon or fort before too long. With treasure to loot and secrets to uncover, Oblivion is still one of the fullest RPGs out there when it comes to content.
Dungeon Crawling Galore
One of the highlights of Oblivion is the dungeon crawling through the many caves, mines and ruins. They were great in the original and they’re even better in this remaster, with so many secrets and loot to discover. Some of the veins and tunnels are so expansive that it can be tricky not to get lost, and this keen sense of exploration manages to make the map feel useful when it comes to these areas, instead of mindlessly following waypoints and markers – a trait that so many contemporary RPGs fall victim to.
In the main overworld, however, waypoint markers can sometimes break immersion. A toggle option to disable them would have been a great addition for those seeking a more authentic adventuring experience.
Some of the best fights and enemy encounters occur in dungeons, where some of the best items can also be discovered. A variety of quests will take you to specific dungeons and you’ll end up getting sidetracked exploring them fully. It captures that old school sense of dungeon crawling from the earlier Elder Scrolls like Daggerfall, and other franchises like Wizardry, in such a perfect way!
Engaging Storyline and World
The main story of Oblivion is one of the best in the franchise and the rich, vibrant world presented in this remaster adds a whole new layer of depth and immersion to the narrative. It feels like a living and breathing fantasy world where you really can do anything you want. It’s so easy to get sidetracked from the main quests and focus solely on side quests for large parts of the game – but that’s all part of the experience!
The guilds (or factions) from the franchise are all present in full capacity, and in my playthrough I played through the entirety of the Thieves Guild, Fighters Guild and Mages Guild questlines, all of which were thoroughly engaging and rewarding. The only critique I’d offer is that some of the quests, especially for the Fighters Guild, are essentially just fetch quests with little scope. However, the overall progression and impact of being involved in guilds is satisfying and engaging, and further adds to the world building.
Oblivion Retains its Charming Quirks
As touched on earlier, this is the exact same game that released in 2006, simply updated. That means all the hilariously quirky aspects of the original are all present and intact. This includes all the memes and dialogue snippets that have become so infamous over the years; even the one where the voice actor asks to redo her line in game!
Usually, you’d expect these peculiarities to be patched out in a modern remaster, but Bethesda knows its audience. These oddball moments have become beloved, viral parts of Oblivion’s legacy, and it’s fantastic to see them preserved. Longtime fans will be delighted. From clunky NPC paths to absurdly abrupt dialogue closures, it’s all in there and looks better than ever!
Some of the goofiness is less charming however, such as the jarringly strange sprinting animation in third person view which looks so abnormal. Oblivion Remastered also retains that clunky, janky feel that many Bethesda titles are known for and it’s a bit of a shame the experience couldn’t be streamlined in terms of smoothness. If you’ve played any Elder Scrolls or Fallout title I’m sure you know what I mean by that.
A Labour of Love
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a phenomenal achievement that hits so many highs. It’s an overall fantastic and unforgettable experience. I’d honestly go so far as saying it is now THE best title in the Elder Scrolls franchise (at least until Morrowind receives the same treatment), and that’s saying something!
Passion oozes from every beautifully detailed pixel – Virtuos has cemented their place in history here and established them as a team to keep a keen eye on.
No matter if you’re a long time Elder Scrolls fan or you’re completely new to the franchise, there is something for everyone to enjoy here. With a fantastic narrative, hundreds of quests and a richly detailed world to explore, Oblivion Remastered will captivate gamers for hours – and I’m sure it will leave quite the impression!
Important Links
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered SHADOW DROPS onto Game Pass, Xbox, PC and Play Anywhere – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion-remastered-shadow-drops-onto-game-pass-xbox-pc-and-play-anywhere/
Buy Oblivion Remastered (or play on Game Pass) – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/the-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion-remastered/9NQR437K7PQH/0010
Or enjoy the Deluxe Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/the-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion-remastered-deluxe-edition/9NF62X1QH3CM/0010
