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There are a lot of changes inThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, but at its core, the remake still feels like the original game – it just looks and plays a lot better. TheOblivionRemasteredimprovements overhaul much of the 2006 classic for modern audienceswithout losing what makesOblivionspecial.
When comparingOblivion Remasteredand the original version ofOblivion, the most obvious updates are the visual improvements. But graphics are far from the only thing that has been touched up or updated – these seven updates are the biggest differencesOblivion Remasteredplayers should knowbefore jumping into (or returning to) the revamped world of Cyrodiil.
7Vast Visual Improvements In Oblivion Remastered
Pushing Unreal Engine 5 To Its Limits
The most obvious changes players will notice first inOblivion Remasteredare the major visual updates. The original game looks quite dated nowadays, but theOblivion Remasterdoes a great job ofmaintaining what makesOblivionso special, as it remasters the original graphics with a gorgeous, modern coat of paint.
OblivionRemasteredtakes full advantage of Unreal Engine 5 capabilities with modern lighting effects like ray tracing, new effects and models for every spell, item, and character in the game, and tons of other visual overhauls that bringOblivioninto the modern age.
It’s a complete refresh from the ground up of the game’s graphics, and for a remaster of a game from 2006, it looks phenomenal – no wonderOblivion Remasteredis more than 20 times the size of the original game.
6Overhauled Combat In Oblivion Remastered
Archery & Melee Have Received Significant Updates
Among the many differencesOblivion Remasteredplayers should know before jumping in is the overhauled combat mechanics. Bow combat and melee combat have received major overhauls that make these systems less rigid and more fun to engage with.
Additionally, enemies will now react differently when hit, and striking an enemy on the top or bottom of their model will elicit different reactions. Combat animations for enemy attacks and player attacks both have been remade, too. For example, daggers now have a four-hit combo that ends with a harder two-handed stab. In general, combat is much more engaging on a moment-to-moment basis thanks to these manyOblivion Remasteredcombat differences.
5Updated Sneak & Stealth Mechanics
Oblivon Remastered Stealth Is More Informative & Responsive
One update that players who like to play Sneak builds inOblivionwill appreciate is the Stealth rework. In the original game, a small eye would either be open or closed based on whether you could be seen while sneaking.
InOblivion Remastered, the Sneak system is more likeSkyrim’s stealth system. Now, when you Sneak, the eye will slowly open and close as you enter and leave enemy sight.
Sneaking is not binary anymore; thieves can tell whether they are getting too close to an enemy before it’s too late.
It’s a small change, but compared to the obtuse Sneak system in the original game,Oblivion Remastered’s stealth systemfeels much more engaging and informs playersmore effectively as they plan their next move.
4New Oblivion Remastered Leveling System
More Control Over How You Level Your Character
One of the biggest differencesOblivion Remastereddeviates from the original game with is the overhauled leveling system.Oblivion Remasteredtakes a new approach to leveling. In the original game, you would get the ability to choose three Attributes and gain points based on how much you leveled their associated skills.
In theOblivion Remasteredleveling system, you get 12 Virtue Points to allocate across Attributes when you level up. Players still level up their Skills to progress to the next level, but Minor Skills will now provide XP, while the original game required players to increase their Major Skills to level up.
3A Modernized, Yet Familiar, UI
Oblivion Remastered Updates The UI In Subtle Ways
The originalOblivionUI was made to work for both console and PC players, but in the end, it ended up being clunky on both platforms – many PC players evenresorted to usingOblivionUI modslike Darnified UI. TheOblivion RemasteredUI updates bring major improvements to the original game’s menus and significant updates to the inventory system and UI navigation.
Oblivion Remasteredfeatures menus that display more information, show more of the items in your inventory, and are generally easier to navigate than the original game. The UI updates don’t lose the storybook aesthetic of the originalOblivionUI, they just make it easier to navigate and more user-friendly.
2A Reworked Difficulty System
In the original version ofOblivion, there was a Difficulty slider that vaguely adjusted enemy Health and damage as you slid it to the right. Soon after starting the game, you will have the option tochange the difficulty inOblivion Remasteredto one of five settings. Just open your game menu, tab over to the Gameplay options menu, and select which Difficulty suits you. By default, you will be on Adept difficulty.
InOblivion Remastered, there are five Difficulty options instead of a slider. The default is the middle Adept option – if you select either of the two lower options, enemies will deal less damage and have less health, while higher options increase enemy damage and health.
1Additional Voices & Sound Effects
It Keeps Most Original Voices, But Adds Newly Recorded Lines & Sounds
The original version ofOblivionwas released in 2006, when storage limits on game disks were much more limited than storage devices available now. As a result, developers could not have unique voice lines for every NPC, nor could they afford to have multiple voice actors for each race.
InOblivion Remastered, the original voices that players have come to have a fondness for over the years remain in the game. But now, they are supplemented by a vast array of new lines, and new voice actors behind them. The new voices feel in keeping withthe quirky dialogue of the original game, including both the newly written voice lines just for the remaster and the new readings of classic lines.
Just wander around the Imperial City after committing a crime for a little bit, and you’ll hear plenty of Guards tell you to “pay with your blood” with these newly recorded voices.
