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How excited are we to replay a shinier version of Oblivion 19 years later?

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Following close to two years of anticipation, and a premature disclosure that spoiled the secret, Bethesda has confirmed it: Oblivion Remastered indeed exists, and its grand reveal is set for April 22nd. There’s an enormous amount of enthusiasm surrounding this announcement, but I believe we might be overlooking a significant, albeit somewhat awkward query in all the excitement.

Is our enthusiasm about Oblivion being an exceptional RPG purely excitement, or are we simply craving, eagerly and intensely, any new installment in the Elder Scrolls series?

To put it simply, I hold no enthusiasm for the Oblivion remaster. Not a speck. I enjoyed Oblivion quite a bit when it first came out: I even bought the collector’s edition on its release day and invested a considerable amount of time into it, and yes, it was decent. However, what made it stand out was also its downfall – it was overly cautious. In comparison to other games in The Elder Scrolls series, Oblivion is a run-of-the-mill fantasy open world game designed for the masses, the game that catapulted Bethesda into the limelight and whose guiding principle was thus one of carefulness: Avoid alienation, avoid offense, avoid being too unconventional.

Compared to the extraordinary grandeur of Morrowind and the vastness of Daggerfall, Oblivion feels more like a mainstream, high-production-value adaptation of The Elder Scrolls series, which were originally known for their boldness and ambition.

The emphasis on appearance over content in this game is succinctly illustrated through its two main characters, Patrick Stewart and Sean Bean. They both make appearances, only to meet their untimely ends – one at the start and another at the finish of the game. These instances are arguably some of the most underwhelming “is that it?” moments in video gaming history.

After we finally get our hands on the remastered version of Oblivion, I believe many of us will still be filled with excitement, despite PC Gamer giving it a score of 93% back in 2006. However, let me clarify that my discontent isn’t about horse armor (I don’t have any issues with that) or the fact that Bethesda didn’t remaster Morrowind (I do wish they had). I’m also not here to say you shouldn’t be excited for an Oblivion update (okay, maybe a little), but it seems to me like overly exuberant expectations given Oblivion’s status as a good, but not extraordinary game.

Fans are eagerly anticipating a new Elder Scrolls game, lining up and cheering for even a polished version of what might be the third or fourth best game in the series. As soon as it’s released, I predict that feeling of “it’s okay” will settle in quickly, followed by a sense of wistfulness upon realizing that past triumphs are better left in fading, dim memories. Then, we’ll all return to playing Skyrim and speculating about The Elder Scrolls 6. (And yes, I fully intend to say “I told you so” when that happens.)

As usual, though, others on the PC Gamer team are a little more optimistic than I am.

Lincoln: Oblivion was likely my initial open-world RPG experience, and back then, I was awestruck as I stumbled through it while getting thrashed by those pesky dremora minions and struggling to grasp the magic system. Now, with my gaming sense evolved more towards Morrowind, most of my remaining interest in Oblivion is centered on how comically the guards sound. If they’ve switched out their voice clips for anything less ridiculous, I’d view it as a breach of trust.

Reflecting on it now, it seems rather preposterous if a person resembling a chunk of cooked meat were to approach me, shouting about law violation, especially if he didn’t have a facial expression akin to a roasted ham. In that case, it might turn out to be an amusing situation.

Lauren mentioned that she didn’t start playing Oblivion until around 2016, which means she hasn’t felt the need for updated textures or any “next-gen upgrade” similar to Skyrim Anniversary Edition offered by Bethesda, as it wouldn’t make her play another extensive amount of time without resolving the Oblivion crisis. However, if they were to enhance the HD quality of the opening cutscene aerial shot of Imperial City, she might find herself getting goosebumps. She can’t help but feel this way.

It’s important that they didn’t remove the dreadful discussion mini-game, as I actually take pleasure in using it.

Morgan: Absolutely, Oblivion is the secure remaster, but it’s also the ideal remaster for 2025. As a 28-year-old, I can tell you that nostalgia for the early Xbox 360 era is particularly strong right now, and for many of us, our first Oblivion gaming experience is a cherished memory. Just like Lincoln, it was my introduction to open world RPGs, and it taught me that some games allow you to make mistakes by saving immediately after striking an innkeeper!

If the price is right—as in closer to $30 than $70—I’m on board just for the novelty.

User: I’m still wondering how extensive this remaster is going to be: There have been whispers about it since 2021, with some suggesting a comprehensive overhaul at the engine level. However, other sources seem to indicate that, despite the long lead time, it might be more of a cosmetic update similar to the Metroid Prime Remaster.

I’m feeling anxious as Oblivion, despite its stunning visuals, had combat that was less than impressive and rigid, intrusive enemy and gear progression that I haven’t encountered in such a degree in other RPGs. It seems to be in dire need of the kind of mechanics overhaul we expect from the Skyblivion mod, yet the official remaster remains uncertain until tomorrow’s reveal.

Even if this game doesn’t meet expectations, there’s always another Oblivion remaster coming up. If it turns out to be great, I’ll just end up with two fantastic games!

I’m more than willing to revisit some discussions about which game in the series is the best. While Morrowind has exceptional writing and world-building that Bethesda excelled at, it was with Oblivion that they truly mastered quest design. For instance, compare “The Ultimate Heist” from Oblivion to the final Thieves Guild quest “Kill Hard-Heart” in Morrowind – the difference is striking!

Chris: So far, I haven’t been convinced by remasters; I find satisfaction in playing the lower-quality versions of most games. However, if there’s one aspect Oblivion could improve, it’s adding more activity and liveliness. Towns appear deserted, the wilderness looks bare, and even in Imperial City, you won’t often see more than a handful of people. I’m not suggesting filling the world with endless random characters, as that didn’t make Starfield feel more lively; but increasing the population in towns and cities slightly, and adding more wildlife in the forests could greatly enhance the experience.

If it’s only an aesthetic upgrade, I’m unsure of its appeal for me to play it. As it stands, I enjoy Oblivion in its current state, and as Tyler mentioned, I fervently hope they haven’t made the NPCs overly attractive.

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2025-04-22 04:02

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