A lot of discussion has been had concerningThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionin recent months, taking the franchise’s spotlight away from the dominance thatSkyrimhas experienced for almost 14 years. WhileOblivionhas always been considered an excellent entry toThe Elder Scrollsfranchise in the eyes of many fans, a lot of the recent attention that the title has received is thanks to the intense rumors and reports of a fullOblivionremake.
The benefits of a potential remake ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionare clear to see, with such a project introducing the game to a whole new generation ofTESfans while creating a fresh experience for more longstanding players. Of course, the legacy ofOblivionspeaks for itself in terms of how it positively evolved the franchise in many regards, yet there are some clear low points of the original game that would be prime candidates for reworks within anOblivionremake, and the combat mechanics of the game are perhaps most in need of this treatment.
An Oblivion Remake Would Do Well to Modernize Its Approach to Combat
Rumors of an official remake ofOblivionhave existed for some time now, with the consistent attention that these rumors have generated being a testament to just how anticipated this project is in the eyes of so manyThe Elder Scrollsfans. Despite this positive sentiment, the growing likelihood of an officialOblivionremake is the source of a lot of controversy, with the project seriously encroaching on thefan-ledSkyblivionmod, which itself has been in development for over a decade.
TheSkyblivionmod is currently aiming for a 2025 release window, with the currently unconfirmedOblivionremake’s release date being shrouded in mystery as things stand.
Bethesda is seemingly aiming to beat this ambitious mod to the punch with its own official remaster of the 2006 title, with leaks and reports suggesting that the project could even be shadow-launched in the very near future. With there still beingno updates on the massively anticipatedThe Elder Scrolls 6ever since Bethesda revealed the project in 2018, it seems as if the heavily rumored remake ofOblivionmight make up the bulk of the franchise’s near future prospects.
Of course, aremake ofOblivionwould feature a much higher level of graphical fidelity compared to the 2006 original, and it only seems right that Bethesda really goes out of its way to make the remake a fresh experience in many more ways for both new and returning fans. A lot ofOblivion’s unique charm is derived from its perceived “clunky” nature in certain areas, such as NPC interaction, and combat seems to be the most obvious candidate for change without compromising the overall feel of the iconic title.
Parrying and Enemy Intelligence Could Be the Key to the Oblivion Remake’s Combat
Oblivion’s combatis arguably one of its most criticized gameplay elements for its lack of real variety, as well as things like staggers often making high-difficulty gameplay more of an annoyance than anything else. The expectations of a comprehensive combat system are much greater in 2025 than they were around the time ofOblivion’s release, and a parrying system could, at the very least, be one way that Bethesda revamps this for the remake.
A Soulslike parrying systemcould be a great way to add depth and reactivity to melee combat, with the remake also needing to make enemy reactions and responses to damage more visceral. The one-dimensional and often goofy combat interactions of the originalOblivionare looked back at with fondness by many fans, but a remake would need to make a real statement to justify its existence. Beyond graphical overhauls, things like parrying mechanics and more dynamic enemy intelligence could be a great way to revamp combat without losing the identity and overall feel that madeOblivionso popular to begin with.
