There’s been a lot of rumors lately that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is getting remastered, and Bethesda has seemingly confirmed it at some point. Well, on the day this post is published, the game’s already been shadow dropped and is currently available on multiple platforms.
I’m playing it on Game Pass as we speak, and if you’ve ever been a fan of TES, then I highly recommend you try it out! Oblivion was the first game I ever tried in the franchise, and then I worked my way down to Morrowind because Skyrim wouldn’t be a thing for at least five more years at that point.
Now, this also means that a lot of people who haven’t played it before are probably wondering what all the fuss is about. If you’re one of them, then hopefully the following sections will help you decide if you should pick it up.
Is the Game Worth It?
Simply put, YES.
Setting aside my nostalgia for the good ol’ days, Oblivion is just an incredibly charming game, flaws and all. Even if you ignore the fairly straightforward and compelling main story, there’s plenty to discover and enjoy in the region of Cyrodiil.
From the moment you leave the sewers at the start of the game, you’re free to explore the map at your own pace. Whether you go and clear the bandit-infested ruins just across the river (almost everybody does this), head straight towards the Imperial City in the distance, or wander off and stumble into all the other towns, the world is your oyster.
A Complete Visual Overhaul
With this remaster, the visuals have gotten a massive upgrade, which makes the already beautiful game world look even more stunning. Cyrodiil just looks so much more vibrant than Skyrim, and I’ve personally always liked the former more.
NPCs have been completely changed too. Gone are the shiny potato heads of the past, as Bethesda has given each race more distinctive facial features. It’s actually funny that of all games, an Oblivion remaster completely outdoes Starfield in the character design and animations department.
The game is a lot more immersive due to this too. NPCs actually react to your attacks now, recoiling in the correct direction as you swing your weapon around at their faces. It’s a far cry from the old days where you only had hit sounds and a small health bar to know if your attacks were even landing.
The UI has also gotten a fresh new coat of paint, and it’s like a blend of Skyrim’s and the original game’s look. It’s easy to navigate, and it maintains that lovely parchment paper aesthetic that I’ve always been a huge fan of.
Finally, while this isn’t related to visuals, they also added a few new voice actors. Bethesda opted to keep a lot of the old voiceovers, but they also mixed in some fresh new stuff to spice things up. It’s a very welcome change.
Solid Side Activities
There are plenty of side quests to take on in Oblivion, and I liked them far more than what Skyrim had to offer. The whole Dark Brotherhood storyline of this game is what I would call “peak”, especially with the murder mystery quest, in which you are the murderer.
That’s just one example too. There are too many riveting side quests in this game, and I don’t even remember most of them anymore. One that sticks out in my mind is the quest where you try to cure a village from an invisibility spell. There’s also the Arena quest that rewards you with the iconic conehead companion.
The DLCs are another story entirely (literally), and all I can say is that you should definitely play through The Shivering Isles as soon as you can. I won’t even spoil anything, because it’s something you need to experience on your own for the first time. It’s an amazing expansion pack, and it’s included with this remaster.
Perfectly Flawed
If there’s one phrase I would use to describe this game, it’s that it’s “perfectly flawed“. It has a weird leveling system that you can completely cheese in extremely silly ways, and I’m glad they kept it this way so that it stays true to its roots. I still remember using a rubber band on my controller to max out my sneak back then, lol.
Oblivion has such a colorful and lively world whose beauty is amplified with the remastered visuals, but gameplay-wise, the combat still continues to be “basic” as far as RPGs go. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, as that has always been the case with Elder Scrolls games.
It stands out among its peers in the same franchise with its absolute meme-worthy radiant dialogue juxtaposed with the amazing quest design and writing. Despite being considered the middle child, it’s a game that stands the test of time, especially now that they’ve updated it for the modern era.
If you’re a long-time fan of the franchise or just somebody who’s curious about why people are hyped about this release, I can tell you right now that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is definitely worth it!
I’m still playing through it as I write this conclusion, but it’s closing in on 2 AM and I should really go to bed. Oblivion‘s back, baby.
If you do decide to get it, consider checking out my post detailing six essential beginner’s tips that’ll help you out if you’re completely new to this!