Oblivion Remastered’s BIG Missed Opportunity

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Summary

  • Oblivion Remastered attracted 4 million players in its first week thanks to updated controls and graphics, but missed out on a few changes.
  • Unique items in the game lacked distinct appearances despite their importance to the role-playing experience.
  • The absence of unique item models disappointed some fans and missed an opportunity to encourage meaningful exploration.

The remastered version of “Oblivion” has been a blockbuster among fans of “The Elder Scrolls,” attracting over 4 million players within its initial week. For many enthusiasts of “Skyrim,” it was their first opportunity to delve into Cyrodiil, and the awe they experienced mirrors that felt when they played “TES 5” for the first time. The improved controls, redesigned leveling, and overall enhanced user-friendliness demonstrate that games from two decades ago can still be significant in today’s gaming world.

In Virtuos’ work on Oblivion Remastered, they significantly enhanced the visual appeal of the game, particularly the graphics. The original version had a unique aesthetic, but this remaster has given it a fresh, polished look that is both metaphorical and literal. The Empire’s heartland has been beautifully detailed, with numerous visual improvements making it stand out dramatically. Unfortunately, the remaster missed an opportunity to distinguish itself from the original in a significant way that could have boosted its role-playing aspect.

Unique Items Should Have Received Unique Appearances in Oblivion Remastered

Collecting all the named items in Oblivion Remastered would be quite the time-consuming task for any player. The game offers 16 Daedric Shrines, multiple guild questline rewards, and a multitude of world quests, which could potentially hold hundreds of unique items scattered across Cyrodiil. One of the early missions many players embark on is defending Odiil Farm from goblins, and if both his sons survive, Valus Odiil will reward the player with Chillrend – a striking ice-blue, frosty shortsword. Despite being a Glass Shortsword at its core, its unique color sets it apart in a pile.

Unlike regular unique items found in Cyrodiil, Chillrend stands out as an exception. It, along with rewards from Daedric Shrines, Dawnfang/Duskfang, and a few other special items, possess a singular appearance that sets them apart. Most unique items placed by Bethesda initially in Cyrodiil resemble common, unenchanted objects. Chests may contain randomly enchanted loot, but Bethesda designed these distinctive items with their own names and enchantments to be found, although they never created a unique model for them.

A good example of this is at Dive Rock, far to the north-east.

A player might discover a campsite that was once home to two Nord hunters named Agnar and Svenja. Their tent is perched precariously on a rock offering stunning vistas of Cyrodiil. Below lies the Uderfrykte Matron, a troll camouflaged like a chameleon, which the hunters were unable to defeat. Nearby, you’ll find Agnar’s dead body, and at the feet of the troll is Svenja’s skeleton, along with the distinctive Frostwyrm Bow. It appears that Bethesda crafted this scenario to share the tale of how Agnar and Svenja met their end at the hands of this unique enemy. However, the final reward resembles an Elven bow with a few enchantments rather than something more fitting for a Nord hunter. This is similar in other instances, such as Umbra’s Armor or the Blade of Woe, where exceptional items have ordinary appearances.

As an avid fan of the epic saga that is Oblivion, I’ve often found myself yearning for a more immersive and visually striking experience in the game’s item design – something that Morrowind managed to deliver exceptionally well. While it wasn’t essential to give every single named item its own unique appearance, doing so significantly heightened the memorability of those items, even when their utility was questionable at best. The Mace of Slurring, a relic from the Tribunal DLC, stands out in my memory due to its imposing, grotesque face – a testament to the power and detail that can make even seemingly insignificant objects unforgettable in the vast world of Tamriel.

It’s disappointing that the remaster of Oblivion didn’t give each unique item a distinct model, as many players enjoy collecting artifacts in The Elder Scrolls games and discovering rare items not found elsewhere could have motivated them to delve deeper into the game world. This change would also have added more role-playing possibilities, such as a Bosmer archer wanting the Uderfrykte slain for a bow that truly embodies its fearsome name. Fingers crossed Bethesda improves unique item appearances in The Elder Scrolls 6, but it might be a while until we see it.

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2025-05-10 01:55