How Does The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Fare In 2025?

Hey there, folks! It’s me in 2025, and it seems like we’re in for another year filled with remakes and remasters. The latest buzz is surrounding none other than “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion“. Given that Bethesda’s highly anticipated Starfield didn’t quite hit the mark and Elder Scrolls VI is still years away, a successful comeback of one of their classic games could be just what they need. But let’s address the elephant in the room – are these rumors for real?

Well, if we go by the credibility of the rumors, it’s almost a certainty that Oblivion will see a remake or remaster this year. The game was actually listed on FTC court case filings, and trusted sources like Xbox insider Jez Corden, along with leakers Kobrille and NateDrake, have hinted at an Oblivion remaster/remake announcement during January’s Xbox Direct event.

The leaks suggest that this Oblivion remake is being developed by Virtuos, using Unreal Engine 5 as a sort of ‘graphics wrapper’ on top of the original Creation Engine. This approach should help maintain the essence of the game while giving it a modern visual overhaul. Exciting times ahead, indeed!

I’m genuinely thrilled about the idea of a reboot or even an enhanced version of “Oblivion” – to be honest, a remaster could have significant consequences. Would this new version maintain the same level of modding flexibility as the original? If it’s just a polished up remaster with UE5 effects, wouldn’t it be more logical to use the numerous existing mods that not only enhance visuals but also optimize core gameplay aspects? There’s a lot of discussion about how this reboot might influence the progress of the “Skyblivion” fan project – an ambitious endeavor to recreate “Oblivion” within the “Skyrim” engine, while upgrading outdated features such as dungeon design.

Pondering the possibility of a remastered version, one might ask: does Oblivion still measure up in today’s gaming landscape? Let’s delve into what a remake should modify and preserve to deliver an optimal Elder Scrolls IV experience. However, before we proceed, let’s acknowledge the proverbial elephant in the room – not the iconic potato faces or humorous voice lines, but the problematic difficulty level scaling. Oblivion is notorious for having one of the most flawed level scaling systems among games I’ve played. The ‘use it to level it’ system is common across the series, but when combined with enemies that adjust to the player’s overall level, it creates a significant imbalance filled with issues.

My initial adventure through Oblivion mirrors many others’. Upon witnessing the grandiose opening featuring Patrick Stewart as the emperor and Jeremy Soule’s renowned music, I frequently pressed the crouch button to discover, much to my joy, that I had leveled up. Naturally, I continued crouching whenever possible after this discovery. However, this habit ceased when I leaped to see my Acrobatics skill increase. It wasn’t difficult to predict where this would lead me. I eventually found myself with acrobatics and sneak levels significantly higher than the rest of my attributes. This gave me the impression that I was rapidly outpacing my adversaries, as attribute levels do influence overall level advancement. Consequently, I often suffered at the hands of high-ranking Daedra clad in glass armor during the Battle of Kvatch, with only seemingly useless acrobatics, stealth, and mercantile attributes to protect myself. In essence, Oblivion provides a false sense of freedom while penalizing players for emphasizing non-combat skills and attributes. A remake or remaster of Oblivion should rectify this unbalanced level progression to project the quality required for success… unless you opt for a level scaling mod, provided the remake accommodates such modifications.

In simpler terms, playing vanilla Oblivion felt old-fashioned because the NPCs, despite being pioneers in game AI, had a small pool of voice actors and repeated lines that were tiresome. However, it’s important to note that Oblivion introduced radiant AI in games, but its implementation was somewhat rough due to its novelty. Hearing the same NPC with multiple voices and repetitive dialogue really took away from the immersion of a lively world. Additionally, NPCs often died or malfunctioned unexpectedly. Despite these flaws, the detailed daily schedules of the NPCs, including their sleep patterns, meals, and social interactions, were groundbreaking and are rarely matched in other games. Oblivion was truly ahead of its time when it was released in 2006.

In the groundbreaking game Oblivion, one standout feature was the cutting-edge Havok physics engine, enabling players to interact with various objects, including enemy remains and everyday items like sweets rolls. I still recall my astonishment when I shot my initial arrow at a bucket in the sewer tutorial, marveling at how lifelike it responded to weight and force. Many open-world games today still struggle to replicate that visceral physics experience in terms of ragdoll effects and manipulation of environmental objects. This remains an area where even remakes or remasters could leave a lasting impression with added realism and detail.

Absolutely, the heart of every TES game lies in its open-world exploration, and Oblivion certainly delivered on this aspect. The grand landscapes of Cyrodiil offered a rich tapestry of cities, ruins, dungeons, Oblivion Gates, and numerous other intriguing locations yet to be discovered. The detailed NPC routines and engaging questlines added depth to Oblivion’s open-world experience. A potential remake could alleviate the sense of monotony that Cyrodiil sometimes presents by introducing more varied architecture and a greater range in the types of terrain, such as breaking up the ubiquitous oak tree forests with new and distinct environments.

In contrast to the diverse outdoor landscapes, the dungeons in Oblivion appeared generic and lacked distinctive design and character. Each dungeon seemed remarkably similar, filled with haphazardly placed items, traps, and without a shortcut leading back to the entrance, making exploration tedious. However, Skyblivion is addressing this issue by crafting unique dungeons with custom layouts and traps, an aspect that we hope will be addressed in any upcoming remake or remaster.

In most games, battles can liven up a monotonous dungeon, but that’s not the case with Oblivion. Like other titles in the Elder Scrolls series, combat in Oblivion feels light and uninspired. Your melee attacks are limited to a basic one-two punch, a heavy attack, and a block. Magic is more engaging, but it’s still quite simple and lacks the intense feeling of impact. A remake could introduce unique combo attacks for different weapon types or at least improve the sound effects and add more visceral impacts.

In contrast to other games in the series, the storylines within Oblivion are often considered among the most engaging and fulfilling. The Dark Brotherhood and Shivering Isles questlines stand out, but even the main quest is remarkably captivating. This is unusual for the Elder Scrolls series, which has a reputation for weak main storylines. In Oblivion, Sean Bean provides the voice talent for Brother Martin, the rightful heir to the late Uriel Septim. The dialogue between you and Martin is well crafted, and significantly, it positions Martin as the central figure of the story rather than your character. Unlike other Elder Scrolls games, Oblivion does not suffer from “main character syndrome,” a recurring trope where the entire narrative revolves around the player. Assisting in establishing an heir to the vacant throne is rewarding in Oblivion, and the grandeur of the set-pieces (such as the Daedric Prince rampaging through the Imperial City) cannot be ignored. The best part? When you complete the main quest, you can permanently seal all Oblivion gates, and what greater reward could there be than that?

As a dedicated gamer, I still find myself drawn to the enchanting world of Oblivion, boasting an innovative AI schedule system, a breathtaking open landscape, and engaging quests that are hard to resist. Yet, despite its enduring allure and meme-worthy status, returning to Oblivion in its original form can be quite challenging. The rough combat mechanics and the confounding level scaling systems have deterred many gamers from revisiting this classic title. Fortunately, there are numerous mods available that enhance various aspects of gameplay and visuals.

However, the question arises: why remake it after all these years? Clearly, there’s a strong interest in an Oblivion remake, as evident by the continuous support for the mod project Skyblivion. But will this potential remake measure up against the ambitions of Skyblivion? Only time will tell. The remake’s direction remains uncertain, be it a comprehensive overhaul or a more subtle polish, but here’s hoping that some of its major shortcomings are addressed in the process. We’ll have to wait for the Xbox Direct to see where this goes, but I can’t help but feel excited at the prospect!

Please take note that the opinions expressed within this piece belong solely to the writer, and may not align with or be endorsed by GamingBolt as a collective entity.

2025-01-12 13:11

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