You Won’t Believe How Stunning The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered Looks and Plays!

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Back in the day, I was captivated by the very first Elder Scrolls game I laid my hands on – Oblivion. At that time, it felt like nothing short of a revelation for open-world fantasy games, brimming with captivating locations to delve into and tales waiting to be uncovered. As an avid Elder Scrolls fan, I’ve longed for years to revisit the classic title, particularly as Skyrim saw multiple re-releases. Now, my dreams have come true with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. This remaster brings a fresh coat of paint for modern gamers while preserving its original charm and essence.

Despite being categorized as a “remaster,” Oblivion Remastered exceeds the expectations of some games that market themselves as remakes. This enhanced version of Oblivion boasts a comprehensive visual transformation, featuring more lifelike character models, lighting, and textures. With the aid of Unreal Engine 5, Oblivion Remastered showcases an exquisite rendition of Cyrodiil that is nothing less than visually stunning. From the ferocious expressions of attacking goblins to the glow of a torch brightening a cave, Oblivion Remastered presents a breathtaking sight. While the quirky, radiant glow of the original’s art style has its charm, there’s no arguing that the graphics in Oblivion Remastered represent a significant upgrade.

The enhancements in Oblivion Remastered extend beyond just graphic upgrades. Virtuos has also improved the user interface and subtly tweaked gameplay mechanics, ensuring that it maintains its unique charm rather than straying too far. Notably, the combat system in Oblivion Remastered has seen significant improvements compared to the 2006 original. Although it may not yet rival modern games like Avowed, battles in the remaster are more immersive and dynamic, thanks to detailed animations that heighten the intensity of the fights. Regardless of whether one prefers to cast spells or wield a sword and shield, they’re likely to enjoy vanquishing foes across Oblivion Remastered‘s expansive open world.

Delving into the revamped version of ‘Oblivion Remastered’ is an enjoyable experience for both novices and seasoned players. Fans who yearn for the original game will find joy in reminiscing and contrasting the appearances of ‘Oblivion Remastered’s locales with how they looked back in 2006. For those unfamiliar with ‘Oblivion’, this remaster offers a captivating introduction to the wonders of Cyrodiil. Unlike many contemporary open-world games that are excessively large and offer little of interest, ‘Oblivion Remastered’ effectively minimizes unnecessary space.

Oblivion Remastered is Full of Smart Improvements

In the virtual world of Oblivion Remastered known as Cyrodiil, players can traverse either from a first-person or third-person perspective. Back then, the third-person view in Oblivion was more of an added feature rather than a fully functional option. The movement felt clumsy, and it paled in comparison to the immersive experience offered by playing in the first-person mode. However, with the remastered version, Virtuos has significantly upgraded the third-person experience. Just as combat has been enhanced through better animations, so too has the third-person perspective. Characters in Oblivion Remastered move much more realistically compared to their 2006 counterparts. What was once a silly and immersion-breaking option in the original Oblivion is now a valid alternative to the first-person mode in Oblivion Remastered.

In both personal perspective or observing others, most significant actions taken within the game ‘Oblivion Remastered’ tend to enhance specific skill areas, thereby earning experience points (XP) that allow for character advancement. The original ‘Oblivion’ had a quirky level system, but it held a certain allure. The revamped version retains some aspects of this system, such as the need for players to sleep to level up, but also streamlines it by ensuring that all skills offer XP and not just major ones. When players advance, they have the freedom to select which traits they wish to boost.

From a player’s perspective, the remastered version of “Oblivion” significantly enhances the original game, providing an enhanced way to revisit some of the most compelling tales ever crafted within the Elder Scrolls universe. The remastered version retains all the quests and guilds, allowing players to embark on the twisted Dark Brotherhood questline, join the Mages Guild, or fight alongside the Fighters Guild once more. Reliving the iconic quests of “Oblivion” with the gameplay enhancements offered by the remaster is truly a delightful experience.

Is Oblivion Remastered’s Premium Edition Worth It?

The remastered version of “Oblivion” encompasses all the original game’s content, along with additional material from the 2006 release, such as downloadable content packs and significant story expansions like Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles. The Shivering Isles expansion, in particular, offers an engaging narrative that players shouldn’t miss out on. For those who opt for the Premium Edition, there are additional questlines to complete, which reward players with exclusive weapons and armor upon their successful completion.

The Premium Version costs $59.99, and an upgrade for it costs $9.99 if you already own the basic game or are using Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. These versions offer two storylines that serve as opportunities to acquire stylish new gear. One of these stories is somewhat intriguing, but it has some tedious backtracking, while the other is a bothersome treasure hunt. The equipment obtained from these stories can’t be sold, which can be frustrating, but they look good if nothing else. However, the stories themselves aren’t enjoyable, so I don’t believe that the Premium Version provides enough value for its price. There’s plenty of content and exploration in the basic game, so players may not even notice the rather ordinary and brief Premium Edition exclusive stories.

For veteran “Oblivion” gamers eager for a fresh take in the remastered version, it’s natural to anticipate new adventures. However, beyond these quests, the experience provided by “Oblivion Remastered” is largely similar to the original game when it comes to content. This includes all the original’s flaws, such as persistent bugs and technical issues, which unfortunately were not addressed before the release. Among these issues are some amusing and nostalgic ones, but others are frustrating and potentially game-breaking, like the report of players losing their save files.

Some might contend that the technical hiccups in Oblivion Remastered add to its appeal, yet I personally would have preferred a more refined game. However, despite occasional discomfort, Oblivion Remastered is so remarkably enhanced that it feels more like a fresh adaptation than a simple remaster. With its stunning open-world landscape, captivating quests, and characters, and strategic gameplay improvements to align with contemporary standards, Oblivion Remastered makes an inviting offer for both newcomers and veterans yearning for nostalgia.

You can now get your hands on the enhanced version of “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered” on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. For this review, we were given a Premium Edition code for Xbox Series X by Game Rant.

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2025-04-26 23:05