The originalOblivionwas the firstElder Scrollsgame that I played, and at the time, it was mind-blowing.Oblivionwas a major step forward for open world fantasy games, filled with interesting places to explore and fascinating stories to discover.Elder Scrollsfans hungry to revisit the classic game have been calling for anOblivionremake or remaster for years, especially in the wake of so manySkyrimre-releases. WithThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda and Virtuos have finally answered the call.The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredsuccessfully updates the classic for modern audiences, while simultaneously staying true to its roots.
Even thoughOblivion Remasteredis billed as a “remaster,” it honestly does more than some games that claim to be remakes.Oblivion Remasteredoffers a complete visual overhaul ofOblivion, with far more realistic character models, lighting, and textures.Oblivion Remasteredmakes great use ofUnreal Engine 5 to deliver a version of Cyrodiilthat is nothing short of drop-dead gorgeous. From the snarling faces of attacking goblins to the light of a torch illuminating a cave,Oblivion Remasteredlooks stunning. There is something to be said about the goofy, glowing bloom of the original’s art style, but there’s no denyingOblivion Remastered’s graphics are a massive improvement.
Oblivion Remastered’s upgrades don’t stop with the graphics. Virtuos also revampedOblivion’s UI and made smart changes to the gameplay without going too far and robbing the game of its quirky identity. Perhaps most notably,Oblivion Remastered’s combat is way better than the 2006 original. Combat is still not quite at the level of modern games likeAvowed, but battles inOblivion Remasteredare far more engaging and dynamic than in the OG, elevated by detailed animations to make it all feel more intense. Whether one is blasting enemies with spells or going with the traditional sword and shield approach, they should have a good time cutting down foes inOblivion Remastered’s sprawling open world.
ExploringOblivion Remastered’s open world is a treat for newcomers and veterans alike. Those nostalgic for the original game will have a blast taking a trip down memory lane andcomparingOblivion Remastered’s locations to how they looked in 2006. Those that have never playedOblivionbefore will especially enjoy discovering what Cyrodiil has to offer. Whereas many modern open world games are needlessly large and have a severe lack of interesting things to find,Oblivion Remasteredhas little in the way of wasted space.
Oblivion Remastered is Full of Smart Improvements
While players are walking aroundOblivion Remastered’s Cyrodiil, they have the choice to do so in first-person or third-person. Back in the day,Oblivion’s third-person mode was little more than a gimmick. The movement was awkward, and it was vastly inferior to playing the game in first-person. WithOblivion Remastered, Virtuos has radically improved the third-person experience. Like how the combat is elevated by improved animations, so too is third-person, withOblivion Remasteredcharacters moving in a far more realistic way than their 2006 counterparts. Third-person in the 2006Oblivionwas silly and immersion-breaking, but it’s a 100% viable alternative to first-person mode inOblivion Remastered.
Whether in third-person or first-person, nearly every major action players take inOblivion Remasteredcan help improve their skills in that category, in turn granting XP that lets them level up. The originalOblivion’s level system was clunky and weird, but had its own unique charm.Oblivion Remasteredretains elements of it, like having players sleep in order to level up, but also makes it less annoying by not forcing players to focus only on their major skills. All skills provide XP, and when players level up, they are able to freely choose which attributes they want to improve.
From a gameplay standpoint,Oblivion Remasteredis clearly leagues ahead of the original, offering a better way to experience some of the best stories ever told in anElder Scrollsgame.Oblivion Remasteredhas all the quests and Guilds intact, letting players once again experience thetwisted Dark Brotherhood questline, join the Mages Guild, or take up arms with the Fighters Guild.Oblivionis full of memorable quests, and getting to relive those stories with the gameplay improvements provided by the remaster is a real treat.
Is Oblivion Remastered’s Premium Edition Worth It?
Oblivion Remasteredfeatures all the base game content from the original, but it also incorporates the 2006 game’s post-launch DLC packs and major story expansions, including Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles.Shivering Isles is a particularly fun expansionwith a wild story that is definitely worth experiencing. Those willing to shell out extra cash forOblivion Remastered’s Premium Edition get even more quests to complete in the form of two questlines that grant players unique weapons and armor.
The Premium Edition costs $59.99 and the Premium Edition Upgrade costs $9.99 for those that already own the base game or are playing through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Both questlines are an excuse to get outfitted with sleek new equipment. One of the questlines is fairly interesting, though it does have some annoying back-tracking, while the other is a rather obnoxious scavenger hunt. None of the equipment one gets from these quests can be sold to merchants, which is frustrating, but they’re otherwise fine and look cool, if nothing else. The quests themselves aren’t particularly fun, though, so I don’t think that the Premium Edition is really worth the price of admission. There is so much to do and see in the base game that players will hardly miss the fairly mediocre and shortPremium Edition exclusive quests.
New quests may be tempting for longtimeOblivionplayers that want to experience something new in the remaster, and that’s understandable. Beyond these quests,Oblivion Remasteredoffers a near-identical experience to the original game in terms of actual content, warts and all.Oblivion Remasteredhas frustrating bugs and technical problems, including the occasional chugging frame rate, that were unfortunately not ironed out ahead of release. Some of theOblivion Remasteredbugs are goofy and nostalgic, but others are annoying and game-breaking, like the issue where some unlucky players have reportedly been losing their save files.
Some would argue thatOblivion Remastered’s technical problems are part of the charm, but I would have rather seen a more polished game. But even with the occasional headache,Oblivion Remasteredis still such an impressive “remaster” that it’s honestly more of a remake.Oblivion Remastereddelivers a breathtaking open world full of engaging quests and characters and makes smart gameplay improvements to bring the 2006 classic to modern standards. It’s an easy recommendation for newcomers and nostalgic vets alike.
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredis available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. Game Rant was provided with a Premium Edition Xbox Series X code for this review.
