Oblivion Remastered has learned one big thing from Skyrim’s 14-year RPG reign: stealth archers are back, and I’m convinced they’re better than ever

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The initial launch of Oblivion Remastered took me by surprise, as I hadn’t anticipated these events. My goal was to engage in a familiar role as a spellsword, combining swordplay with fireballs in Cyrodiil, much like I’ve been doing for almost two decades. I deliberately focused on Intelligence and Willpower during character creation, trusting that the stats would reflect my choices accurately. However, unexpectedly…

occasionally, my thoughts stray; other times, I find myself with an arrow in hand, facing slain enemies I can’t recall engaging. My Marksman and Sneak abilities seem unusually honed, which is puzzling. The solutions are there, but they don’t add up. A silent, archery-focused character in Oblivion? By the Eight Divines, something seems amiss.

Must have been the wind

2006 saw a less satisfying experience for stealth archers in Oblivion. Compared to magic or melee combat, using a bow lacked the power, with neither of those options being particularly strong to begin with. To match the damage output of other combat styles, you often needed to tinker with poisons, making archery feel comparable. Stealth could set up a good initial shot, but by the time your Sneak skill was high enough for consistent use, it was more advantageous to approach enemies undetected and engage in hand-to-hand combat instead.

Throughout The Elder Scrolls V: Oblivion’s 19-year lifespan, I’ve experimented with archery, but I haven’t been a dedicated archer. I appreciate the realistic arrow physics in the game and how they differ from Skyrim’s medieval gunshots. However, I found it frustrating that I had to fire a shot before switching to my sword immediately – it was like throwing waterlogged fish at a target because bows without stealth didn’t do much damage. Consequently, over the 19 years, I can count the number of times I seriously built a Marksman character on one hand.

In my opinion, stepping back into Cyrodiil with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered feels like revisiting an old friend who’s had a fantastic makeover. It’s not just about enhancing the visual appeal of the land; it’s also about refining areas where the original game felt a bit rough around the edges.

For instance, leveling up is no longer this enigmatic monster as it once was. The enemy scaling has been adjusted, making combat feel smoother all-round. And let me tell you, the Marksman perks have seen some significant changes too! At higher levels, your arrows now have a “great” – and I quote the perk itself – chance of paralyzing your target. Granted, my character’s still in the early stages, but compared to the paltry 5% chance Oblivion offered back in 2006 (only at Master level), this new feature is a significant upgrade!

As a dedicated player, I can confidently attest: wielding a bow is an absolute game-changer. The somewhat challenging arrow drop at mid to long distances necessitates careful aiming, which adds a layer of realism that I genuinely appreciate. However, the true magic lies in the vibrancy of the experience. The animation for drawing and releasing arrows feels less rigid, while enemies display realistic reactions to being struck – from consistent staggering to gory blood splatter effects. It’s as if each arrow packs a punch, and I find myself taking down heavily armored foes before they can even get close enough for a melee encounter.

I’m really curious to see if the damage numbers in Oblivion Remastered are truly increased – it might just be a result of improved animations, or perhaps a psychological effect, but whatever the reason, I’m really enjoying myself. Instead of my usual go-to steel warhammer, I now find myself grabbing the old bow from my quickslot more frequently, especially when venturing into dungeons. I’ve been using swords and flares as much as ever, but there’s something about the bow that’s drawing me in. In fact, I’ve even started investing points in Agility during level-ups, which is a clear sign that I’m embracing my inner stealth archer.

Playing Oblivion with a style that’s unlike anything I usually do feels oddly unfamiliar, considering decades of instinctive actions (such as stabbing, bludgeoning, and spellcasting). If you’re returning to Cyrodiil with expectations, it would be wise to experiment and discover the changes for yourself. The game has certainly caught me off guard – though I’m not quite ready to retire my sword in the Arena, I suspect the dagger I’ve been hoarding for Dark Brotherhood tasks won’t see much action when the time arrives.

In this game I’ve been playing for close to two decades, recent updates on archery have brought an enjoyable surprise – something I intend to continue with, considering my consistently growing Agility. However, these adjustments also provide a comforting reference point for newcomers who may be venturing from Skyrim, where arrows popping up unexpectedly are the main reason for deaths in bandit camps and draugr tombs. There’s a reason we enjoy ambushing unsuspecting targets from the shadows, but I won’t delve into that topic of slaughterfish debate.

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2025-04-25 14:10