The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered modernizes the most dated aspects of the original game while keeping all the classic goodness intact as it brings this iconic title to the modern age – with admittedly dated combat. This is a great example of how to do a remaster right, as it’s overall easier than ever to get into Oblivion thanks to this remaster.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Developer: Virtuos and Bethesda Game Studios
Price: $50
Platform: PS5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, and PC
MonsterVine was supplied with a PS5 code for review.
I first played The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion when it was released for the PS3, and I had an absolutely wonderful experience running around for hours. The huge world, janky physics, and goofy voice acting cemented the game in my mind as a favorite, so I was cautiously optimistic about the idea of a remaster. At the same time, I was a little worried the silly magic of the original would be lost. Luckily, it wasn’t, as this is one of the best remasters in recent years.
The two biggest changes to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered are its visuals and the levelling system. The characters have been updated to look impressively modern – a stark contrast to the original’s admittedly dated models that have been memed on for some time now. At the same time, they still look like the characters they’re meant to be, maintaining all the charm that has held up over the years.
Then there’s the level system in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Previously, choosing major and minor skills that suited the character you were making was a notoriously confusing process, with only major skill increases contributing to your leveling. Now, minor and major skills both contribute, and you’re given twelve skill points to spend on attributes. It’s a great change that streamlines the process and makes it easy to make your character exactly the way you want, massively improving upon the original release.
Some things haven’t changed a bit, though, and I mean that in the best way. All of the janky charm that made The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion so (often unintentionally) funny is intact, from voiceover flubs to conversation AI between NPCs. There were plenty of laughs to be had as I played the remaster, and I’m so glad that one of my favorite aspects of the game was kept completely intact. No changes were made that didn’t need to be, which I deeply appreciate.
Granted, this also means that the somewhat floaty combat is still intact, too. Just hacking and slashing away at enemies feels lighter than it should, while magic doesn’t quite have the weight of a game like Skyrim. It’s perfectly serviceable and fun to exploit, but it’s never been the strongest aspect of Oblivion, and that remains the case here.
“All of these different explorable areas being scattered throughout Cyrodiil give the world an almost endless feeling, which warped me back to being a kid with plenty of free time when playing this for the first time.“
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered’s story is still enjoyable to this day, in part thanks to excellent performances from Patrick Stewart and Sean Bean. That being said, the side and guild quests of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered are even more excellent, as they’re filled with memorable characters and objectives. From clearing a rat-loving woman’s basement of mountain lions to joining the murderous Dark Brotherhood, there are adventures of every kind for players to experience. No matter where you go, there’s some strange new quest to take on, making the world feel enormous and diverse.
The world of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered still feels huge
That’s in addition to the many caves and dungeons you can find while exploring the world. This includes the titular Oblivion gates, which task you with climbing a tower to obtain a sigil stone to close the destructive gates. All of these different explorable areas being scattered throughout Cyrodiil give the world an almost endless feeling, which warped me back to being a kid with plenty of free time when playing this for the first time.
Having both Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine – the two major and top-notch DLC expansions from the game – included with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered for no extra cost is a great move, granting access to some incredible quests without making you pay extra. I admire Bethesda’s restraint here, as many other companies would charge for the expansions on top of the game.
The Final Word
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a fantastic update to one of Bethesda’s most classic titles. Almost everything that needed to be revised or fixed has been, while everything else – every bit of goofy charm and jank – has been kept intact. This is a brilliant example of how to remaster a dated game, and I hope the same process is applied to Fallout 3 and New Vegas in the future.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
