Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Review: Modern Upgrades, Same Timeless Adventure

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered adds an intriguing new feature: facial hair, something that was noticeably missing in the original version. Despite the addition of beards and improved graphics, the characters still manage to look unsettling. However, this quirky detail contributes to the game’s unique charm, which is further preserved in the remaster with the inclusion of the original voice acting and the introduction of some new features, making Oblivion Remastered a beautiful balance of familiarity and innovation.

– The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has made significant graphic improvements, including the addition of facial hair to characters, elevating the game’s visuals through its use of Unreal Engine 5.
– The remaster respects the original game’s unique charm and quirkiness, keeping beloved voice acting and character models intact while gently refining some of the dated mechanics.
– Despite the revamp, some elements of the gameplay, like combat and leveling systems, remain less polished or still feel somewhat awkward; however, these aspects are often seen as part of the game’s distinct and appealing identity.

In Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, facial hair has made its bold debut. The original Oblivion was unquestionably beard-free; neither player-created characters nor the vast population of Cyrodiil could boast a mustache or a semblance of whiskers. Now, numerous NPCs sport beards, yet this addition doesn’t fundamentally alter the quintessential Oblivion experience. Although graphical enhancements and facial hair on characters impart a degree of modernity, half the characters I encountered on my epic journey continued to exude an eerie vibe. The quirky character avatars are part of the game’s unique “charm” that game director Todd Howard alluded to during the reveal stream.

Virtuous, the developers, seem to have a grasp on the Oblivion’s distinct quirkiness, keeping the best components of the Bethesda jank intact while subtly updating elements of its antiquated mechanics. Diehard fans may take issue with certain aspects, and newcomers might be perplexed at some of the eccentricities retained, but overall, Oblivion Remastered toes the delicate line between the familiar and the novel quite successfully. Despite the graphical overhaul leveraged on Unreal Engine 5, the character models are still oddly off. Combat remains flawed, despite improved animations. The newer leveling system maintains the class structure, yet it is less prone to getting players stuck. Though the user interface and menus benefit from a rework, Oblivion’s iconic map screen stays faithful to its original version.

The remaster’s stunning visual presentation is its highest triumph. Virtuous and Bethesda Game Studios’ use of Unreal Engine 5 render Oblivion Remastered as Bethesda’s most visually advanced game till date. The remaster features dynamic lighting, lively skyboxes, a robust color palette, and ultrarealistic textures, giving it the polished aesthetics one would expect from a contemporary AAA game. While character models exhibit exquisite detail, from individual beard strands to facial pores, their uncanniness remains. Especially when they talk, their hyperrealistic appearance clashes with the oddity of their facial expressions and antiquated animations. Yet, this strangeness is a key part of Oblivion’s inherent allure – a quality that the remaster abundantly retains.

One of the distinctive features of this game is its voice acting, which Virtuous and BGS have wisely retained. Wes Johnson’s resounding voice is ubiquitous, and even some of the original game’s bloopers are included. However, new voice actors have been introduced to rerecord lines for different races. This was essential, considering that roughly eight actors recorded lines for hundreds of characters in the original game. While this change is logical, I sometimes yearn for the old voice acting. Some of the dialogue, like the line delivered by beggars, “thank you, kind sir,” have been recreated and it feels a bit off. I have come to accept the strange switching of voices as part of the game’s legacy, and seeing them tweak this while retaining the blunders is somewhat disappointing.

Remastering a game uniquely messy as Oblivion is indeed a peculiar task. On paper, it’s overshadowed by its successor, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, in nearly every aspect. However, an attempt to outclass Oblivion with Skyrim would have been a futile endeavor. Remastered successfully captures the essence of Oblivion’s charm and, in doing so, it pays deserving respect to one of Bethesda Game Studios’ most treasured games.

RATING: 4 out of 5 stars.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is available for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X.

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