Summary
- Spellcrafting and diverse voices should remain complex and vibrant.
- Factions should have barriers for climbing and avoid feeling like pushovers.
- Oblivion‘s colorful identity should be retained, showing geographical diversity indoors and outdoors.
Speculation is rife among fans that a remake of “Oblivion” may be forthcoming (presumably before “The Elder Scrolls 6”), leading many to ponder the modifications Virtuos might implement in their version of the Imperial homeland within “TES: 4”.
Based on recent reports, the upcoming remake appears to draw influences not just from games within the Elder Scrolls series, but also from games like Dark Souls. Additionally, elements of Skyrim, the last official entry point into Tamriel, could potentially serve as inspiration. This is because Skyrim’s design decisions were directly influenced by Oblivion, both positively and negatively.
Retaining Complexity In Spellcrafting
Allowing Mages To Tackle Their Complex, Intellectual Interests
In terms of sheer enjoyment, many fans believe that spellcasting reached its zenith in the game Oblivion. While the spells in Skyrim had similar flair and tangible impact on the environment, there was significantly less variety (presumably to avoid encroaching on the territory of shouts and their effects).
Moreover, in contrast to Skyrim, Oblivion’s spell-making feature was eliminated, which left many mage players displeased. Reducing or streamlining spells in Oblivion could result in the loss of one of The Elder Scrolls 4’s standout aspects. Despite Virtuos discussing enhancing the combat experience, it’s crucial not to overlook the importance of magic when considering a remake.
A Cast Of Diverse Voices (And Races)
Cyrodiil Is A Vibrant And Fun-Loving Tapestry Of Culture
It’s common knowledge that the NPCs in Oblivion are famous for their meme-worthy performances, which were handled by four and a half voice actors. Skyrim took this a step further by enlisting more talented actors to deliver its dialogue. However, while there was progress made in the audio department, there was a regression visually as Skyrim struggled to differentiate between the ten races of Tamriel.
Distinguishing an Argonian from a Khajiit is quite straightforward, but identifying a Nord, Imperial, Breton, or Redguard in Skyrim can sometimes be challenging for players, as well as telling apart wood elves, dark elves, or high elves. Oblivion made these distinctions more apparent with notable height, skin tones, and a remake should aim to avoid the uniformity of races. An Oblivion remake could benefit from incorporating some aspects of Skyrim, such as beard, tattoo, and scar customization options, which added depth to the rather generic-looking humans and mer in Skyrim.
Steep Faction Climbing
The Higher The Mountain, The More Impressive The View
Becoming the leader of a faction within Skyrim is similar to hopping onto a rollercoaster and holding tight until you reach the end – it’s an exhilarating experience that goes by quickly. In contrast, joining factions in Oblivion required more effort and time, but this made the sense of accomplishment when reaching higher positions even more rewarding for the player.
Virtuos should consider the feedback from fans, as they felt that factions were weak or insubstantial. Players should not be able to lead the mage’s guild without having some knowledge of magic, even if it makes the storyline easier for those who want a quicker experience. A bit of challenge can make the game more enjoyable and engaging, especially since players expect to spend hundreds of hours playing it.
Adding A Touch Of Color (And Humor) To The World
Oblivion Shouldn’t Lose Its Colorful Identity To Graphical Fidelity
Players who have experienced different versions of Skyrim, starting from its 2011 debut up to the Anniversary Edition, might have observed a significant shift in the vividness of the setting. This transformation could be due to changes in gaming aesthetics, considering many games in the early 2010s had muted and desaturated colors. Nowadays, games tend to be more vibrant and generous with their color palettes. For instance, Oblivion was criticized for its oversaturation, while Skyrim’s gradual embrace of color could suggest what fans might appreciate in the future.
Alongside enriching Cyrodiil with vibrant colors, Virtuos should take fan input seriously regarding the tone of Skyrim. Many players find that unlike Oblivion, Skyrim’s tone is excessively serious in its quest narratives and NPC portrayals. For instance, the “The Hangover” quest has a somber mood compared to the playful “honey trap” or “magical painted world” missions from the previous game. The theatrical and occasionally humorous aspect of Cyrodiil is one of Oblivion’s appealing features, offering a refreshing contrast to its eerie or oppressive locales.
Reactivity, Rumors, And Radiant Dialogue
Give The Citizens Of Cyrodiil Something Interesting To Talk About
In other words, it makes perfect sense that Bethesda reduced the complexity of radiant NPC behavior in Skyrim, especially when it came to ordinary conversations between NPCs. Instead of natural interactions, Skyrim opted for scripted scenes that activated upon the player’s arrival. NPCs had limited interactions with each other, but they were more responsive to the player’s abilities, alliances, or equipment. This reactivity is something RPG enthusiasts often desire and could be a beneficial addition in the remake. However, it sometimes gave players the impression that the world was centered around them.
One significant flaw in the dialogues of the game Oblivion was due to the limited voice lines for characters and vague guidance provided to voice actors. A potential enhancement for the remake could be to let Non-Player Characters (NPCs) engage in conversations about rumors, with a variety of generic responses. In the original game, there are numerous rumors that can only be heard by directly interacting with an NPC, but it would feel more natural if these rumors were overheard organically through casual chatter between characters. This method is similar to how quests are initiated in Skyrim, and many of the rumors in Oblivion also lead to quests.
Attribute Speed Versus Sprinting
Build Freedom Versus Balance
It’s quite clear why Skyrim decided to reduce or eliminate many of the statistical aspects present in Oblivion. Computing movement distance can be far more complex than having all characters move at the same pace, and this complexity is further amplified by the fact that short-burst sprinting has become a common feature in modern video games. However, combining the time allotted for sprinting, attacking, and defending under a single statistic called stamina can simplify character builds excessively, which might be why it was done.
Stripping away statistical aspects from Oblivion, much like its younger counterpart, might not be advisable. While Skyrim was widely acclaimed for its more user-friendly design, some fans felt that eliminating attributes entirely was excessive. To strike a balance between the two games, Virtuos could potentially link sprinting to the Speed attribute and make the transition from slow to fast movement smoother when players are not sprinting (like during walking or running).
Diversity Of Locations – Indoors And Outdoors
Showcase The Many Biomes Of The Heartlands
In Skyrim, you’d find everything from frigid swamps to autumnal forests, towering highlands and flat plains, as well as tundras and riverlands. The variety of landscapes across its map exceeded what most Empire citizens might expect given Skyrim’s cold reputation. And let me tell you, the dungeons were just as diverse. It’s surprising that despite Cyrodiil’s proximity to many other provinces, the heartlands in Oblivion resembled a single Tolkienesque forest.
In a fresh adaptation, it’s crucial to tackle the issue of limited geographical variety both on the surface and beneath it. Repeated visits to Ayleid ruins, caves, and Imperial tower dungeons can quickly become monotonous. The lore suggests that Mehrunes Dagon’s Deadlands encompass diverse landscapes such as ashen forests, colossal volcanoes, and frigid wastes struck by lightning. Introducing some of these unique environments during Oblivion gate dungeon expeditions could help alleviate the sense of repetition that sets in after the ninth or tenth visit.
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2025-03-12 15:37