The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is as my childhood heart remembers it — I’m in tears from Virtuos and Bethesda’s efforts

by

2006 finds us in its stride, with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion debuting on a frosty Monday in March. At the time, a disgruntled 16-year-old me had recently lost my job at a pizza oven, but witnessing gameplay for The Elder Scrolls sparked an unwavering resolve within me to acquire an Xbox 360.

For several tough months, I took on small jobs in the neighborhood for as little as ten dollars and carefully watched my spending, but come September, I found myself still falling short of money. To my delight and happiness, I received the funds from my parents as a birthday gift during that very month.

For hours upon end, I’d never invested myself as deeply into a game like this one. Only EverQuest from 1999 came close to such immersion. As a novice gamer, I had yet to encounter the vast open worlds of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind or other role-playing games outside of that MMO realm.

Oblivion established a fresh standard, serving as an influential open-world RPG that future games in this genre would strive to surpass. Its precursor, Morrowind, had already laid such a benchmark.

For quite a few years, I thoroughly enjoyed playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion on my Xbox 360, investing more than 700 hours in the game. Before setting it aside, I had unlocked each and every one of its achievements long before that point.

Ever since then, I’ve occasionally fired up Oblivion for a bit of nostalgia. The gameplay remained true to what I thought it used to be, but the passage of time was evident. Despite its vibrant and luminous appearance, Oblivion didn’t quite meet the beauty my sentimental mind recalled.

I found satisfaction in it, since I opted for Skyrim when fulfilling my Elder Scrolls desires, and I’ve consistently gone back to it. I’ve added numerous mods to elevate and alter the experience from a role-playing game into something resembling a Souls-like title, and even to a cooperative journey with elements like Skyrim Together.

My very first authentic single-player role-playing game (RPG) adventure was Oblivion, an unforgettable experience that I hold dear to my heart.

Initially, whispers about a remake surfaced. Frankly, I assumed it was all talk that wouldn’t amount to anything. After all, the charm and uniqueness of my childhood memories seemed too precious to tamper with. But lo and behold, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has actually been launched!

New game, familiar face

Together with countless others, I swiftly grabbed Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered as soon as it hit the shelves. Given the chance, how could I resist diving into this updated adventure?

In this fresh game, I navigated straight to the character creation phase where the Dark Elf once again captivated my attention. This time around, I was going to craft an agile, archer character with a focus on Destruction abilities. To make him as human-like as possible among the Dark Elves, I took great care in fine-tuning every facial detail, much like how I had done when I was 16 years old.

Patrick Stewart’s voice, which I hadn’t heard in such clarity before due to using regular headphones for gaming, resonated vividly within my ears this time. The last time I had listened to the Emperor’s voice, it was nothing like the immersive audio experience I had now. His voice was undeniably familiar as he declared our fates were linked, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

In my eyes, he appeared far more haggard than before – the increased detail in his digital model certainly contributed to this, yet there was no mistaking it was him. Just as I recalled, he was a man of stoic demeanor, weathered by the hardships of his time and the impending moment that loomed ahead.

Exploring the Capitol sewers brought back memories of my teenage years. It was like stepping into a time machine and finding myself in front of an old, boxy TV, even though twenty years have gone by. A wave of powerful feelings started to well up within me.

As a loyal servant, I relentlessly stood by the Emperor’s side, disregarding my impending doom as the guards persistently urged me to abandon my post and safeguard him instead. In time, it seemed that the bodies of my fellow assassins began mysteriously vanishing, a testament to the overwhelming number we had managed to eliminate together.

I returned to him one last time to watch the inevitable as I had all those years ago.

The moment relived — Exiting the Sewers

Progressing, I strode towards the sewer’s exit, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to customize my character’s class in this game called Oblivion – a feature I found particularly enjoyable. The chance to mold my character according to my preferred playstyle was an exciting prospect.

Self-discipline and swiftness shall pave the path, with Athleticism, Demolition, Sharpshooting, Healing, Stealth, Light Protective Gear, and Bladework in tow. I’ll be the silent specter, a glimpse of whom would mean the end for your vision.

Upon unlocking the ancient sewer doors, it seemed like stepping back in time about two decades. The lively, enchanting scenery I recalled from childhood rekindled my youthful spirit. I dashed through the terrain, drinking it all in.

Though nothing appeared identical, everything felt comfortably familiar and pristine. The trees and meadows, as my memories had always suggested, were preserved not in reality, but in a flawed, sentimental time capsule. What remained etched in my memory was never accurate, yet it retained the charm of looking as beautiful as a remastered version does to this day.

I rarely find myself on the verge of tears while playing video games, but when it happens, it’s usually because a character has died. In those instances, memories from years past would suddenly resurface, leaving me overwhelmed and close to tears. Playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion felt like a return to my childhood, filled with the same magic, mystery, and even a few glitches that I had known before.

It seems many people share my sentiment when they encounter this feeling. Whether it’s the Gates of Oblivion or another cherished game, gamers are straightforward in their simplicity. When a significant moment from our youth is revisited, it’s challenging to articulate the emotion, yet we all experience it profoundly.

You don’t need an explanation if someone refers to something you’re familiar with. If there’s something new you haven’t experienced yet, maybe revisiting a discounted, improved version of Virtuoso could bring you back to that enjoyable moment. For me, it certainly did, and I can hardly wait to dive back in as soon as I finish writing this!

Read More

2025-04-25 14:09