How The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Paid Homage to The Series’ Roots

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How The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Paid Homage to The Series' Roots

As someone who has traversed through the vast landscapes of Tamriel for countless hours, I must say that The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is a gem that beautifully pays homage to its roots while also offering an immersive and engaging experience for both veterans and newcomers alike.

In contrast to popular belief, “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion” is part of a series initially conceived as a gladiator game called “The Elder Scrolls: Arena“. Although it began its life as a game where players fought in arenas across the Empire, over time, the side quests took center stage, causing the game to transform into the open-world RPG that we recognize today.

In “Oblivion,” the original concept of the “Elder Scrolls” narrative is given a fresh twist through an engaging, endearing, and at times emotional arena-based storyline. The Imperial City Arena offers ranked combat where the Hero of Kvatch ascends to the title of Grand Champion by overcoming challenges. Despite being the only arena in “Oblivion,” it skillfully references the “Elder Scrolls: Arena,” ensuring that the narrative remains satisfying for both seasoned players and newcomers alike.

The Arena Questline in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Explained

In the initial design for the storyline of ‘Oblivion’, the quest to conquer arenas in each city mirrored the arena quests from ‘The Elder Scrolls: Arena’. The Hero of Kvatch would journey through various cities in Cyrodiil, battling against the champions of each locale, similar to different guild missions. However, this design put too much strain on ‘Oblivion’s resources, so the arena questline was scaled back to a single arena in the Imperial City. Interestingly, the arena featured in ‘Oblivion’ wasn’t actually located within the Imperial City, but was instead the original arena planned for Chorrol. This is evident because all data assets related to the Imperial Arena bear the prefix “Chorrol”.

In the game “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion,” the Imperial City honors its early beginnings through an arena, where the Hero of Kvatch can engage in competitive gladiatorial combats. By progressing through the ranks and defeating opponents, the player eventually earns the prestigious title of Grand Champion of the Imperial Arena. The armory showcases this history with armor designs mimicking those worn by Roman gladiators. There are two main teams: Blue Team and Yellow Team. Initially joining the Blue Team, the Hero of Kvatch battles for their team’s honor until they achieve the title of Grand Champion of the Arena.

Callbacks to The Elder Scrolls: Arena in Oblivion

Delighting in the revival of the initial quest within The Elder Scrolls universe, I can’t help but notice the nod to The Elder Scrolls: Arena with the Imperial Arena sign. This is a wink to Arena’s cover art, echoing its design by displaying the word “Arena” in large, bold letters above four characters from various classes, all poised and ready for combat. Fans well-versed in The Elder Scrolls: Arena would likely have spotted this reference in Oblivion.

The original title of “The Elder Scrolls: Arena” was fitting when the game’s narrative revolved mainly around arena combat across Tamriel. However, as the storyline evolved to a more serious and complex plot, the name seemed less relevant. In “Oblivion,” a tribute to the initial arena-style gameplay is incorporated alongside the Gray Prince’s traditional RPG side quest, making it an ideal throwback to the first Elder Scrolls game for both longtime players and those who haven’t played Arena before.

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2024-09-02 13:07