The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered – Everything You Need to Know

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Following all the whispers, sneak peeks, and a hint in Microsoft’s court documents during its case with the FTC, it turns out that The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is indeed authentic and now at your disposal. Bethesda unveiled this fantasy action RPG during a dedicated live stream, and it’s currently available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Game Pass subscribers. However, what exactly awaits you in this surprise launch? How has Cyrodiil transformed, and what can be anticipated as you plunge into the Oblivion Crisis? Here are 15 points to consider before diving in.

Developed in Unreal Engine 5

In Unreal Engine 5, developer Virtuos has leveraged almost all significant features to elevate the visuals even further, as they stated. They’ve completely redesigned and crafted anew every asset from the ground up. The enhancement of texture quality, facial details, and other aspects in the gameplay are readily apparent. This high-definition appearance is evident in numerous subtle details, whether you’re immersed in a school of fish underwater, admiring fluttering butterflies, or appreciating the picturesque weather.

Brand New Character Models

Virtuos not only developed fresh character models but paid meticulous care to every detail. Enhancements in skin texture, more authentic-looking hair and fur – even the scales of the Argonians are finely crafted. The enemies and diverse creatures appear awe-inspiringly realistic. Moreover, the environments have undergone remarkable upgrades, maintaining the iconic Elder Scrolls style while making them appear more lifelike.

Advanced Real-Time Lighting

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, the game takes realism to a whole new level! With its state-of-the-art real-time lighting system, every environment and effect shines with authenticity. The way dynamic shadows sweep across the entire world changes the vibe depending on the hour, making each moment feel unique. And let me tell you, exploring a dungeon with just a torch is an unforgettable experience all thanks to the mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow.

New Dialogue

Because of limitations in the original game’s storage capacity, Oblivion had a limited number of unique character voices. However, the remastered version rectified this issue by introducing fresh dialogue and voiceovers for each race, ensuring they all sound distinct. Rest assured, though, that the classic lines such as being called “criminal scum,” told you’re breaking the law, and many more familiar insults will still be part of your adventure.

Sprinting, At Last

Originally, there wasn’t a separate button for sprinting in the game. Characters were always moving at a slow pace, which seemed like running. However, to increase their speed, players had to level up Athletics by walking and swimming. In the remastered version, you can now sprint, thanks to Virtuos improving the character movement system. This enables you to chase enemies more efficiently or simply run across the vast landscape of Cyrodiil freely.

New Lip-Sync Technology

Enhancing the realism when conversing with characters is the latest lip-synchronization technology, making it appear more authentic. Since each race has been meticulously crafted to fit the base mesh, they all exhibit realistic lip-syncing, even with their distinct characteristics. The improvements are striking and a significant advancement compared to the initial version.

Leveling System Changes

In the original version, I found leveling to be a real challenge because enemies would become tougher as I progressed, leading to longer, tedious battles. But with Oblivion Remastered, it seems like they’ve addressed this issue by incorporating aspects from Skyrim. No more agonizing over leveling up my skills or pulling all-nighters just to avoid the chaos caused by unbalanced level scaling. Xbox Wire mentions that enemy scaling has been enhanced, but I’m eager to see for myself how this improvement unfolds in practice.

Combat Improvements

Although there’s more to discover regarding battle enhancements, Virtuos has indeed enriched the experience by incorporating elements that heighten realism and intensity. For instance, they’ve included responsive hit reactions and authentic sound effects. Additionally, you’ll notice visual details such as sparks and even blood splatter. When battling foes, these aspects, along with tactile controller feedback, contribute to a more immersive and brutal confrontation.

Improved Combat Animations

In addition to the updated character designs, the enhanced combat movements provide a sense of realism by offering more intricate details. There’s a clear distinction between the upper and lower body actions, making characters look less rigid during battles and more graceful overall.

Crosshair

Some gamers might prefer a first-person viewpoint for a more immersive experience, while others choose third-person to appreciate their character and have a wider view of the surroundings. Unfortunately, in Oblivion, the third-person perspective lacked a crosshair, making it challenging, especially for archery or ranged gameplay builds. However, rejoice as a crosshair has been incorporated, improving control and precision when defeating enemies or wildlife.

As a diehard fan, I can’t help but be excited about Oblivion Remastered! Following in the footsteps of Starfield, it provides an immersive experience by offering both third-person and first-person control options. While more testing is needed, this design choice should guarantee that gameplay feels just as smooth and satisfying in first-person as it does in third (and vice versa).

Includes Story Expansions and All Add-Ons

In essence, the fundamental version of “Oblivion Remastered” sells for $49.99 and encompasses two narrative extensions – Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine. Moreover, you’ll receive extra features such as Vile Lair, Mehrune’s Razor, Wizard’s Tower, Orrery, The Thieves Den, Spell Tome Treasures, free of charge. Notably, the Horse Pack Armor, a notorious favorite among players, is also included in the package. Given the length of the base game, this deal offers exceptional value solely based on the content provided.

Deluxe Edition and New Content

Regarding the Deluxe Edition, priced at $59.99, it encompasses the core game along with all its additional content, yet offers exclusive quests for armor sets such as Weapons of Order and Cataclysm, and the horse armor sets for both Order and Cataclysm. Additionally, it provides access to an app that allows you to peruse the art book and soundtrack associated with the game.

PC Requirements

The remastered version of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion appears stunning, and it’s good to note that the system specifications aren’t excessively demanding (with the 125 GB space needed for installation being the main requirement). For the minimum system requirements, you’ll need an AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or Intel Core i7-6800K processor, 16 GB of RAM, and either an AMD Radeon RX 5700 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Ti graphics card. If you’re aiming for the recommended requirements, you should have a Ryzen 5 3600X or Intel Core i5-10600K processor, 32 GB of RAM, and a Radeon RX 6800XT or GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card.

4K and 60 FPS

In order for this upgrade to be truly impressive, it’s essential that it offers 4K resolution and a smooth 60 frames per second performance. Fortunately, these features are included, and Xbox gamers can enjoy owning the same game on multiple platforms thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere. This cross-platform ownership includes Windows PC, consoles, and even the cloud, with the convenience of cross-save support.

No “Official” Mod Support

If you’re eager to customize the Oblivion Remastered, I regret to inform you that official support for modding is not available at the moment. However, it’s important to note that Bethesda Support’s statement applies only to the formal aspect. It might take a while for Virtuos and Bethesda to roll out the same feature, but unofficial modifications could potentially surface earlier. In the meantime, this provides an opportunity to savor the remastered experience in its pristine state before making any adjustments.

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2025-04-23 15:43