Oblivion Remastered Still Has Todd Howard Hiding In The Game’s Files

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Summary

  • The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered hasn’t removed the game’s infamous test cells, and a character voiced by Todd Howard can still be found.
  • Hidden in the game’s files, Alban Corinus can be found by using the console commands to warp yourself to his house, and talking to him even reveals an early version of the disposition mechanic.
  • Pick the ‘Happy’ option multiple times, and you can rizz up Howard so much that he’ll be smitten by you.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is essentially a revamped version with a new title. It’s overhauled many aspects, incorporating fresh features like personal race origin stories and enhanced dialogue. Yet, it retains the elements that made the original game beloved, such as hidden Easter eggs and occasional voice acting flubs.

Interestingly enough, Oblivion Remastered is so true-to-origin that it preserves elements in the code that were initially intended to remain secret. In the initial version of Oblivion, players could access concealed characters through console commands, which were placed in the game for testing purposes. One such character was Alban Corinus, a non-playable character (NPC), who surprisingly had voiceovers provided by Bethesda’s Todd Howard during development.

Oblivion Remastered Still Has Todd Howard Hiding In The Game’s Files

According to PC Gamer’s explanation, as demonstrated by YouTube user Uzis, typing “coc toddtest” in the game console will transport you into a house filled with Non-Player Characters (NPCs). This location, known as a test cell, was used by Bethesda to experiment with various game features. A preliminary version of the disposition mechanic, which enables players to foster relationships with NPCs, can be observed when interacting with Albin Corinus.

In this game, Cornius is predominantly voiced by Wes Johnson, but it’s primarily Todd Howard who delivers the somewhat wooden voice acting. If you fancy, you can even cultivate a romantic relationship with the Bethesda director. By consistently choosing the ‘Happy’ dialogue option, Cornius will express his deep affection for you, saying something along the lines of “I find it hard to remember instances as delightful as this one, with you.

Alternatively, if you prefer not to be friendly with Todd Howard and would rather provoke him, you can consistently choose the ‘Angry’ response. Over time, his attitude will deteriorate significantly until he starts cursing at you, which is quite an unusual reprimand from Todd Howard.

Despite feeling a bit awkward, it’s pleasing to note that Bethesda has decided to incorporate some elements of Oblivion’s past into the game in this manner. They could have easily omitted the test cells, but they chose to recreate them alongside the rest of the game. However, one might argue that including more interaction with Todd Howard might be better left to our imaginative interpretations.

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2025-05-01 06:04