The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered – A Return to Tamriel

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The wait is over for fans of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion as the highly anticipated remaster dropped on April 22. This re-release breathes new life into the iconic 2006 RPG, offering a nostalgia-filled adventure with a handful of modern improvements. With over 100 hours already spent in the remastered world, it’s clear that the return to Tamriel has been a journey worth taking.

Originally developed by Bethesda, Oblivion was one of the defining open-world RPGs of its time, paving the way for future hits like Skyrim and Starfield. This remastered edition, developed by Virtuous, provides an opportunity to revisit the sprawling world of Cyrodiil with enhanced visuals, a more intuitive user interface, and an improved leveling system. While the core experience remains familiar, several key upgrades have refined the game, making it more accessible without losing its original charm.

---

---

A Visual Overhaul for the Ages

The biggest draw for many will undoubtedly be the graphical upgrades. Oblivion Remastered is a visual feast compared to the 2006 original, thanks to the team’s work at Virtuous. The game now boasts sharp textures, better lighting, improved shadows, and far better draw distances. While the characters’ facial animations are still somewhat rough around the edges, the overall graphical improvement is a significant step forward for the title, especially when compared to its older counterpart.

For those who experienced the original on older hardware, the remaster feels like a dream come true. The map is now crisp, and the lighting—especially the enhanced lip-syncing—adds a fresh layer of immersion. However, the faces of NPCs, while still offering a glimpse into their animated expressions, are sometimes comically off, adding a touch of unintended humor to the experience.

---

New Features for a New Era

One of the most impactful changes comes in the form of a sprint button—something that Oblivion originally lacked. For fans who haven’t revisited Cyrodiil in over a decade, this might seem like a small change, but it’s a welcome addition that significantly speeds up exploration. Of course, sprinting comes at a cost: stamina depletion. While some may find this mechanic a bit tedious, it adds a layer of strategy and makes investing in stamina-related skills more meaningful.

Another notable tweak is the leveling system. In the original Oblivion, players could only level up by improving specific skills tied to their character’s class, leading to frustrating enemy scaling as you leveled up. In the remaster, this has been adjusted to reflect a system more akin to Skyrim, where all actions contribute to character progression. This should alleviate some of the frustration for players who found the original system a bit too punishing.

---

Content that Defined a Generation

The remastered version of Oblivion stays true to its roots, allowing players to explore a world brimming with quests, secrets, and countless hours of gameplay. Whether it’s climbing the ranks of the Dark Brotherhood, stealing from the rich in the Thieves Guild, or uncovering a conspiracy involving the death of an emperor, Oblivion’s faction questlines still stand the test of time.

One of the highlights of this remaster is the inclusion of the Shivering Isles expansion, which remains one of the best DLCs ever created. The twisted, Wonderland-inspired world of madness is a perfect fit for the game, offering a unique and engaging storyline that has withstood the test of time. The bizarre antics of the Mad God, Sheogorath, have never been more enjoyable.

---

The Jank Remains

However, despite the improvements, Oblivion Remastered retains some of the jank that made the original so memorable. While the technical performance has been polished, issues like broken quests, disappearing NPCs, and the occasional game crash still plague the experience. The game’s overall performance, especially on newer hardware like the Xbox Series X, can still be inconsistent, with frame rate drops and texture loading issues. For those who are familiar with Oblivion’s original quirks, this may feel like part of the authentic experience, but for newcomers, it can be a frustrating reminder of the game’s age.

Additionally, the level design, particularly the procedurally generated Oblivion gates, remains one of the weakest points of the game. These gates, which serve as a major component of the story and side quests, still feel repetitive and lack variety, making the experience feel somewhat monotonous after several encounters.

---

A Mixed Bag for Newcomers and Veterans Alike

For long-time fans of the series, Oblivion Remastered offers a rewarding return to a classic RPG. The improved visuals, new features like sprinting, and slight tweaks to the leveling system make it a great way to experience the game again. However, its old flaws, such as enemy scaling and the repetitive nature of some quests, may not have aged as well.

If you’re new to Oblivion, the remaster might feel like a great entry point to the world of Tamriel, but be aware that the game’s age shows in certain areas, and you might find the experience a bit uneven. Whether you’ll love it or hate it will likely depend on your tolerance for retro RPG design and your expectations from modern remasters.

In conclusion, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered successfully recaptures the magic of the original while addressing some of its most prominent issues. Though it may not be a groundbreaking remake, it offers a fantastic way to relive the adventures in Cyrodiil with a fresh coat of paint and a few modern conveniences. For fans who’ve been longing to return to this beloved RPG, the remaster is a journey well worth taking.

About The Author