Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Review

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

Release: April 22, 2025
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Genre: Role-playing, XBox One Reviews, Xbox Series X Reviews
PEGI: 16
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Originally released in 2006, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion changed the standards for open-world RPGs. Its vast world, dynamic AI, and emergent gameplay set the stage for Skyrim and several other genre efforts. Oblivion Remastered now, nearly two decades later, comes not just as a visual facelift but also as a creative reinterpretation that treads the line between respect and innovation.

Created in partnership with Virtuos, this remaster is a statement rather than just a nostalgia trip. It queries: What if the game you recall could finally have the appearance and feel you imagined it did back then? The visual makeover offers the quickest and most amazing transformation. Driven by Unreal Engine 5, Oblivion Remastered turns Cyrodiil into a live, breathing planet.

Golden sunsets immerse the Imperial City in warm light, lush forests sway with volumetric wind, and the hellish Oblivion gates now burst with terrible magnificence. Textures are sharp, character models are more expressive (albeit still rather peculiar), and lighting has been totally changed to match dynamic weather systems and global illumination.

With more fluid animations and more spatial awareness, the previously uncomfortable third-person camera is now absolutely practical. Still, the game keeps its character. The art direction has been improved, not replaced. The cities remain familiar, the Daedric kingdoms still oppressive, and the Ayleid ruins still cry with mystery.

Bethesda has smartly decided not to revolutionize the wheel. Exploration, questing, dungeon crawling, and character development—the basic gameplay loop—remain unchanged. Under the hood, though, several processes have been slightly improved: Leveling and Scaling: Rebalancing has been done on the notorious for scaling. Although enemies continue to level with you, the curve is more gradual and gear progression feels more gratifying.

Melee and ranged fighting both gain from better hit detection and animation merging. Magic casting is more fluid with enhanced feedback and new spell effects. Modern stealth systems have been developed together with reactive AI behavior. Guards’ awareness is no longer all-encompassing, and NPCs display more realistic behaviors.

The UI has undergone a complete overhaul. Inventory management is now intuitive, quest logs are easier to browse, and the map is more complex and sensitive. These modifications greatly increase the game’s accessibility without compromising depth.

Though its presentation is more cinematic, the main quest—focused on Emperor Uriel Septim’s murder and the development of the Oblivion crisis—remains the same. Patrick Stewart’s portrayal as the cursed emperor continues to strike, and Sean Bean’s performance as Martin Septim is as noble and heartbreaking as ever.

The side material in Oblivion Remastered is what genuinely lifts it. Now improved with more realistic lighting and ambiance, the Dark Brotherhood storyline still ranks among the best in RPG history. Returning with their branching tales and ethical conundrums are the Thieves Guild, Mages Guild, and Fighters Guild. Included and totally remastered, the Shivering Isles extension gives the other Cyrodiil a weird, psychedelic contrast.

Sheogorath’s insanity is now more real than it has ever been. Bethesda made a daring decision: retain some of Oblivion’s original eccentricities. NPCs yet provide phrases with awkward pauses. Recycled voice lines are shouted by guards still. And sure, the notorious “stop right there, criminal scum!” still intact. Rather than being obsolete, these components now provide lovely reminders. They remind gamers that Oblivion was always about potential by anchoring the remake in its roots.

Oblivion Remastered works very smoothly on contemporary hardware. Load times are almost instantaneous, and frame rates remain consistent even in hectic fights or crowded areas. Still, some bugs persist: floating NPCs, mild clipping, and sporadic quest glitches. Though they are unusual and mostly benign, these serve as reminders of the intricate processes of the game.

With customisable controls, a scalable user interface, and colorblind modes, accessibility choices have been extended. Mod support is strong as Bethesda has pledged complete Creation Kit compatibility later this year. More than simply a technical enhancement, Oblivion Remastered honors one of the most ambitious and adored RPGs in gaming. It honors its history while welcoming contemporary demands and provides both a true reconstruction and a new encounter.

For veterans, it’s a victorious return to the planet that helped to define their love of RPGs. For newbies, it’s a chance to see a fundamental game in its best form.

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