RPG fans have recently received a powerful reminder of Bethesda’s one-time dominance in the genre in the form ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. Without even taking into account the remaster’s impressive graphical improvements, it’s clear to seewhy the 2006 original is so beloved: it was far ahead of its time, with unique social-sim dynamics, an expansive open-world, and subtle, rich environmental storytelling that was unparalleled at the time of its release.
Perhaps the greatest achievement ofOblivion Remastered’s many improvements is how they highlight one important truth:Oblivionhas aged incredibly well. Sure, the voice acting and character animations can be a bit wonky, and the combat isn’t exactly up to par with something likeElden Ring, but Cyrodiil is just as lovely, whimsical, and enthralling today as it was almost twenty years ago. In other words,Oblivion Remasteredmay not play “like new,” but it is polished to the point where players can better enjoy the strong fundamentals of the original release, repackaged for modern sensibilities. This makesOblivion Remastereda fantastic achievement, which is more than can be said aboutSkyrim’s myriad rereleases.
Oblivion Remastered Shows Skyrim’s Special Editions How It’s Done
Skyrim Has Been Released To Death, With Little To Show for It
As most gamers of a certain age are likely aware,The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimhas been ported, remastered, and rereleased ad nauseam since its initial launch in 2011 Bethesda itself has poked fun at this tendency for frivolous remasters and rereleases a number of times, with notable gags including the “port” ofSkyrimfor the Amazon Echo, which allowed players to explore the titular country exclusively through audio and voice commands.
But the humor of these innumerable rereleases has diminished over the years, and by the timeSkyrim: Anniversary Editionreleased for $50 in 2021, audiences had grown tired of such ostensibly low-effort ports. Indeed, Bethesda has been increasingly viewed as an opportunistic and greedy company in recent years, and theendless barrage ofSkyrimreleaseshas contributed to this shift in reputation.
It’s especially interesting, then, thatOblivion Remasteredis so polished, ambitious, and worth the cost of admission. Virtuos rebuilt the originalOblivionfrom the ground-up in Unreal Engine 5, totally transforming the visual experience while making meaningful quality-of-life improvements and tweaks. All of these improvements are even more significant due to the fact thatOblivionhas not been released nearly as many times asSkyrim, so this spruced-up version feels far more impactful and worthwhile.
Hopefully, Bethesda Learns from the Success of Oblivion Remastered
Oblivion Remastered’s reception has been immeasurably betterthan that ofSkyrim’s often-superfluous rereleases, so one can hope for a future where this sort of ambition is Bethesda’s modus operandi. It would be many gamers’ dream come true if, say,Fallout 3were to be remastered in Unreal Engine 5, rather than getting some sort of “anniversary edition” in a few years, which only featured higher resolution and frame rate options. Who knows, maybe evenSkyrimitself could be rebuilt in a similar manner asOblivion Remastered, to wonderful results.
With any luck,Oblivion Remasteredcould mark a pivotal point in Bethesda’s remake and remaster strategy, driving home a fact that many gamers already know quite well: an ambitious remaster will always be better received than a low-effort, high-cost cash grab. WhetherSkyrim’s bevy of rereleasescan be called “cash grabs” is a matter of opinion, of course, but they certainly look the part. Doubly so, now that audiences haveOblivion Remasteredto compare them to.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion™ Remastered modernizes the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay. Explore the vast landscape of Cyrodiil like never before and stop the forces of Oblivion from overtaking the land in one of the greatest RPGs ever from the award-winning Bethesda Game Studios.Rediscover CyrodiilJourney through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe-inspiring.Navigate Your Own StoryFrom the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.Experience an Epic AdventureStep inside a universe bursting with captivating stories and encounter an unforgettable cast of characters. Master swordcraft and wield powerful magic as you fight to save Tamriel from the Daedric invasion.The Complete StoryExperience everything Oblivion has to offer with previously released story expansions Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and additional downloadable content included in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
