It’s not always easy to distinguish between a remake and an enhancement, such as the recent re-launch of “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” is often considered a remake at first glance. However, the team responsible for this project argues that it’s actually a remaster. After approximately 50 hours of playing “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered”, I can confidently say I appreciate their perspective.
Beneath its updated exterior, the game feels remarkably similar to the Oblivion from 2006 that you’re familiar with. Playing it today offers just as delightful an experience as it did back then, despite a few nagging technical glitches. Nonetheless, the unexpected arrival of Oblivion Remastered in 2025 has to be one of the most pleasant surprises this year.
An Old Adventure Made New Again in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at how Oblivion Remastered seamlessly blends the charm of the past with the allure of the present. Stepping back into the breathtaking world of Cyrodiil feels like slipping on a beloved old jacket – it’s comfortably familiar, yet surprisingly fresh. Even when I crank down the graphics settings to medium, I find myself mesmerized by the stunning visual overhaul. The beauty of the modernized landscapes is simply captivating!
The game’s world remains captivating, teeming with life even compared to newer releases. Oblivion keeps players engrossed, making it hard to tire of its content. Exploring the map can lead to endless discoveries and diversions, keeping you entertained at every turn.
Experiencing “Oblivion” to its fullest often involves establishing an objective for your character and following it, discovering where it takes you along the way. With a good dose of spontaneous gameplay elements, you might find yourself chuckling at some unexpectedly amusing situations that become cherished memories.
This moment is surprisingly peaceful, making it simple to lose track of time. Consequently, it’s common to fire up the game ‘Oblivion’ and play for just a while, but before you know it, three hours have passed. The world of Cyrodiil captivates me in a manner that few other game worlds can manage.
Be Anyone, Do Anything
In most of my leisure time, I assumed the character of a cunning Khajiit thief, always on the hunt for immense treasures. Following the delivery of the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre, I tended to veer away from the main storyline and focus on my own endeavors instead. There was no dearth of activities as I pursued wealth and riches.
After overlooking that I had battled some vampires a few days prior and developed Porphyric Hemophilia as a result, I transformed into a vampire just one day after winning the grand championship in the arena. Instead of returning to an earlier save point and curing myself, I opted to deal with the ramifications of my oversight.
These instances make “Oblivion” an exceptionally unique game. It’s a role-playing environment where players have the freedom to create their character’s narratives. Whether you decide to spend a little or a lot of time, every moment is valuable and rewarding.
You’ll probably find yourself spending plenty of time on this game because it’s quite addictive, right? And if you ever get tired of one character, why not create another? The options are almost limitless!
A Bottomless Sea of Content
Although Oblivion might consume countless hours of a player’s time, it’s essential to remember that quantity doesn’t matter if the quality is lacking. Interestingly enough, a significant portion of what Oblivion offers is truly worth savoring. Admittedly, delving into repetitive caves and Oblivion Gates can grow monotonous over time. However, numerous quests within this game are so captivating that they remain etched in memory.
If you’re uncertain about where to begin your adventure, consider joining a guild instead. Following one of their questlines can be quite engaging and time-consuming, but it will lead you to numerous places across Cyrodiil. As you progress, the amount of content you encounter may feel almost overwhelming.
Venturing in most directions promises a fascinating discovery. Cryodiil invites exploration beyond the ordinary to uncover hidden gems or untold tales. If you’re a bookworm, Oblivion offers endless reading material. Yet, if what you crave is excitement, this game delivers on that front without fail.
Furthermore, the remastered version of “Oblivion” offers both the “Shivering Isles” and “Knights of the Nine” expansions, ensuring that the price of this game represents great value. At just $50 US dollars, this package is an outstanding deal given the amount of gaming experience it provides.
Living a Fantasy Life
Moreover, the game Oblivion excels at creating the impression of a bustling world teeming with life. The non-player characters (NPCs) continue their routines indifferently to the player, sometimes following schedules that may seem peculiar. Yet, these inconsistencies serve to immerse the player, giving an uncanny feeling as if every NPC possesses a unique spirit or personality.
Despite some amusing quirks like guards with extraordinary senses or an irrational persuasion system potentially disrupting the immersion, these aspects are often reminisced fondly by players. These seemingly awkward elements can be seen as a byproduct of the game’s grand ambition.
In this digital realm, the flaws might be apparent, but they add a charming appeal. Roaming through Cyrodiil remains a captivating experience, regardless of whether I have a specific goal or not. This game is so engaging that replaying it feels effortless and never-ending – there’s always something new to discover that keeps me coming back for more.
Regardless if your aim is just to accumulate wealth or embark on an extraordinary adventure with your tailored ‘Punch Mage’ character, Oblivion promises endless fun. It’s not just the combination of its features that make it exceptional, but also its ability to cater to a wide range of playstyles, which is nothing short of remarkable.
Oblivion Remastered Is a Technical Mess
In Oblivion Remastered, while many of its original quirks are still present, there are some technical problems that aren’t quite as endearing. Given that it was put together by blending the original Gamebryo engine and Unreal Engine 5, these issues might not be entirely unexpected. Still, these shortcomings shouldn’t be accepted in their current form.
If high-end users struggle to play the game smoothly, it becomes even more challenging for those with less powerful systems. The game may stutter frequently and outdoor areas often perform poorly. You might need unusual adjustments like manually disabling Lumen in the engine settings file based on your system’s hardware capabilities.
As a gamer, I’ve got to admit that the Elder Scrolls games aren’t exactly known for their smooth gameplay. Now, don’t get me wrong, crashes aren’t an everyday occurrence, but they’re not unheard of either. It’s sort of their… unique charm, I guess you could say. However, when it comes to remasters of classic titles, I believe we can hope for a more polished and stable experience. After all, who doesn’t want to explore Tamriel without frequent hiccups?
As a gamer, I’d be more than happy to sing praises about Oblivion Remastered if it weren’t for a few hiccups. Regrettably, those of us with less powerful hardware or who are sensitive to instability and performance issues might want to hold off for the moment. However, the sheer joy I derive from the core gameplay is so immense that some may find it in their hearts to overlook these flaws.
A Worrying Sign
Despite this, it persists as an alarming pattern where optimization is decreasing in high-cost games. I’m generally adamantly opposed to activating frame rate generation, but I did so specifically to capture some seamless gameplay videos for this critique. Though I still had a great time playing it, the issues with Oblivion Remastered came very close to testing my patience with these problems. It’s disheartening to observe that AI technology is being utilized as a substitute for optimization.
A few months ago, I encountered numerous issues with the PC version of “Rise of the Ronin,” but at least the visuals in “Oblivion Remastered” are simply stunning. I hope that the performance will be improved significantly on release day, given the dedication and enthusiasm evident in this project. It’s important to note that any performance issues aren’t a result of the player’s choice to use hardware older than four years or a PlayStation 5.
As Good as You Remember
Moving on to some good news, the remastered version of Oblivion, titled “Oblivion Remastered“, brings about numerous upgrades that transcend mere aesthetics. One such improvement addresses a frequent criticism of the original game: it significantly overhauls the leveling system. In this revamped system, with each level-up, players can distribute twelve virtues across any three attributes they prefer.
At each level-up, an individual’s attributes can gain a maximum of five virtues. This might disappoint some players who are strategically building their characters, or min-maxing. However, the Luck attribute is different; it can only increase by one point, but this requires four virtues to achieve. So, carefully consider your choice for that one.
By approximately level 16, I had maximized all my desired attributes apart from Luck, and my advancement primarily shifted towards enhancing my Major and Minor Skills. Fortunately, the game remained anything but monotonous even as progress slowed. Indeed, Oblivion skillfully kept me engaged.
As a gamer, I find this new system a breeze to grasp – it doesn’t encroach on the immersive role-playing aspects of the game, but rather amplifies my ability to sculpt my character exactly as I envisioned. The user interface has also undergone a refreshing makeover, making it gentler on the eyes and enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Better Than Before
In addition to improvements in progression and user interface, significant efforts have been made to enhance the game’s overall feel. For example, encounters now offer more immediate feedback, as enemies react involuntarily upon impact rather than standing motionless and waiting for their demise. However, the current implementation is not quite on par with the top-tier real-time combat systems found in other RPGs.
In this game, statistics often matter more than a player’s raw skill. Careful planning is crucial and grows more important as the game advances. If you aren’t saving regularly, you probably won’t succeed with an uncluttered inventory.
As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed that beyond the enhanced combat experience, the remastered version has subtly refined the game’s overall feel. The third-person perspective, once merely an optional feature, has transformed into a fully viable play style. Furthermore, the character movement animations appear more fluid and realistic, although they could still use some fine-tuning.
Taking everything into account, the revamped version of “Oblivion Remastered” does an impressive job of modernizing a timeless game. It surpasses typical remasters, possibly setting new standards for what makes a remarkable one. There are some imperfections in its execution, but it’s still a remarkable accomplishment overall.
Oblivion Remastered Proves the Worth of a Classic
Exploring the beautiful countryside of Cyrodiil is like walking through a spellbound landscape. While the game may exhibit signs of aging, it’s hard not to be amazed by its grandeur when it was first released in 2006. It remains an exceptional experience.
Regardless of any technical flaws, the fact that playing Oblivion remains enjoyable speaks volumes about its enduring appeal. In numerous aspects, its idiosyncrasies enhance rather than diminish the gameplay experience. From amusing NPC exchanges to spontaneous, humorous moments, Oblivion never fails to keep things interesting.
For users with less powerful hardware, it might be wise to stay with the initial version. However, if you’re a fan of The Elder Scrolls series, this remastered edition is something you wouldn’t want to skip over. Whether you’ve grown tired of investing countless hours into modded Skyrim or are curious about the buzz, Oblivion Remastered is definitely worth your attention.
At present, you can buy The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered digitally for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam. Additionally, gamers with an Xbox Series X|S or PC subscription can play the game via Game Pass. Don’t forget to check out reviews on Final Weapon!
Note: Bethesda generously offered us a review copy of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered for our consideration.
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2025-05-26 18:01