Action RPG

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Impressions – An Incredible RPG Facelift

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When you hear the term “remaster,” it usually conjures images of an enhanced version of a fantastic game, with visual updates and tweaks. In essence, remasters are essentially revamped versions of existing games, boasting improved graphics, resolution, frame rates, and general quality-of-life improvements that preserve the original game’s essence. However, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered deviates from this norm. Instead of simply refining elements, Bethesda and Virtuos comprehensively upgraded nearly every aspect of the 2006 RPG, from visuals and gameplay to dialogue and leveling systems, making it significantly different from the original.

Redefining Boundaries in Remakes and Remasters – The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

By employing Unreal Engine 5.1 along with the Creation Engine, Virtuos breathes new life into the realm of Cyrodiil, offering an unparalleled visual spectacle in the entire series. This remarkable revamp will undoubtedly captivate both veterans who have conquered The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and novices alike. Dive into the mesmerizing RPG world of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for an unforgettable gaming experience. I’ve had the privilege to test out the PS5 version, and it remains impressive as ever.

Let the Wings of Kynareth Take You Anywhere in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered 

In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, the fundamental structure of the original game remains unchanged, meaning you’ll still start in an Imperial prison cell, witness Emperor Uriel Septim’s final moments, and set off on a journey as a potential hero in Cyrodiil. Since I only played a handful of hours of the original game on Xbox 360, most of my experience with it is now hazy and far away. Stepping out of the sewers into the Imperial City of Cyrodiil felt like embarking on an entirely new adventure, and that initial sense of awe has either persisted or grown even stronger.

As a dedicated fan, I must say that experiencing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is nothing short of breathtaking. The crystal-clear rendition of Wings of Kynareil, echoing through Cyrodiil, creates an unparalleled sense of immersion. The dynamic time of day and weather effects make this remaster’s game world feel authentic and definitive. Every aspect of the game, from the lush foliage to the intricately designed world map, has been painstakingly enhanced, leaving no stone unturned. Even the textures on armor, once ordinary, now seem real and tangible. Compared to many fan-made Unreal Engine concepts we’ve seen lately for game remakes, this remaster stands tall as a testament to quality and attention to detail.

If you’ve played the original Oblivion, you might appreciate the improvements in quality of life. The Clairvoyance spell, featured in Skyrim, is now included, making it easier to move between areas and dungeons. Interestingly, I found this spell more useful in Oblivion Remastered than in Skyrim. The spawn locations have been adjusted, and there were modifications made to the monster level scaling, which were noticeable. Even on Adept difficulty, there’s a good level of challenge here, perhaps even greater than that offered by Skyrim’s corresponding setting.

A Swifter Sword

In the revamped combat system of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, both swordplay and bludgeoning weaponry have been made more dynamic during battles, thanks to fresh animations and behavioral changes. The leveling balance has been adjusted to resemble that of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Enhanced sound effects and 3D audio contribute to a more engrossing experience. The overhauled locomotion, together with the inclusion of sprinting and refined sneaking, makes certain combat encounters feel smoother and faster-paced.

Essentially, the fundamental gameplay of the original Oblivion remains largely intact. You’ll still find a variety of skills and attributes to develop, such as light and heavy armor, security, acrobatics, and numerous others. If you’re familiar with Skyrim, you might observe that Oblivion’s RPG mechanics are slightly more complex, but they’re user-friendly and quickly adaptable. Additionally, many of the distinctive features from Oblivion have been revamped and reintroduced, including the Persuasion mini-game.

After immersing myself for about 35 hours into the world of Oblivion Remastered, I must admit that the combat is an enjoyable yet occasionally cumbersome experience. Given that it’s built on the Creation Engine, there are moments when the idiosyncrasies and characteristics of the original title come into play, shaping my overall journey through this game.

Modernized for Current Hardware

As a gamer immersed in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, I’ve got to say the user interface and experience are top-notch, echoing the original game’s design philosophy flawlessly. Switching between first-person and third-person views feels smooth as ever, and the controls, having transitioned from Skyrim, feel just right. Oblivion may have been modernized beautifully, but occasionally, it stumbles, reminding us that Unreal Engine 5.1 is still a heavyweight when it comes to hardware demands, even on the base PlayStation 5.

On Performance mode, the PS5 version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered experiences frequent frame rate hiccups and freezing, as well as occasional crashes, particularly upon leaving a dungeon. This is due to the game taking a few seconds to fully load its Nanite and Lumen effects, as well as any ray tracing features that are active. Additionally, there were instances where the lighting in the game world didn’t load properly, causing bright spots where more accurate and detailed lighting should have been present. Despite these issues, when it runs smoothly, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on PS5 plays extremely well.

Regardless of any flaws, I just can’t resist playing more of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Though there are some issues with the game, they don’t significantly detract from my enjoyment. With the ability to quicksave and manually save, I haven’t lost any progress. In the end, the remaster employs the Creation Engine as its foundation, but it doesn’t feel outdated. To top it off, I haven’t encountered any quest- or game-breaking bugs thus far, which is a definite advantage.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Overdelivers on Expectations

The official announcement of Bethesda’s “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered” genuinely excited me, but actually experiencing the game surpassed my anticipation. It’s evident that this remaster is a testament to dedication and not an overstatement. “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered” has raised the bar for not just Bethesda’s remasters, but also for their future games. My expectations were blown away, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into Cyrodiil as I discover all its secrets.

Which game will be released next? It could be either a remastered version of “Fallout 3” or a significantly enhanced edition of “The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind,” similar to “Oblivion Remastered.” As for the future, only time will reveal what we can anticipate in “The Elder Scrolls VI” and future Bethesda games. There’s much more to learn from “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered,” and Final Weapon will be sharing a review on it at a later date, so keep an eye out for that!

Note: We received a digital PlayStation 5 game code for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered for the purpose of writing a review.

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2025-05-05 17:00

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