There’s a reason Oblivion Remastered’s new voice actors all sound familiar: It’s a huge Skyrim reunion

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In the updated version of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, what stands out the most are the enhancements made to both the graphics and gameplay, but one aspect that’s brought me immense pleasure is how exceptional and, significantly, how well-selected its new voiceovers are.

In its original form, Oblivion boasted an unusually compact character roster given its vast size. This aspect was ripe for enhancement in the remaster, yet it could potentially erase some of the game’s unique allure.

There seems to be a noticeable contrast between the assertion that “Wes Johnson and Linda Carter deliver iconic performances” and the notion that they often engage in conversations with themselves about mudcrabs.

By predominantly re-uniting voice actors from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was a clever approach to find a balance. From my personal playthrough, approximately half the dialogue has been re-done, but since these skilled veterans of the Elder Scrolls series have provided countless hours of entertainment for me in the past, their seamless integration into the remaster feels as if they were destined for this role all along. This blend of novelty and nostalgia is truly captivating.

Here’s all the returning Skyrim actors, going off credits on IMDB:

  • John Curry: Various (including the Ebony Warrior) in Skyrim, Imperials in Oblivion Remastered.
  • Tim Blaney: Argonians in both games.
  • Jason Marsden: Wood Elves in both, and you may also recognize his distinctive voice from Knights of the Old Republic, Jedi Academy, Tak and the Power of Juju, and more.
  • Colleen Delaney: Nords, including Lydia, in Skyrim, Wood Elves in Newblivion.
  • Noah Nelson: Orcs in both games.
  • Michael Gough: Nords in both.
  • Renee Victor: Argonians in Skyrim, Khajiit in Oblivion.
  • André Sogliuzzo: Khajiit in both.
  • Keith Szarabajka: Dark Elves in both games, memorably also played Joshua Graham in Fallout: New Vegas.
  • Ellen Dubin: Nords and Imperials in Skyrim, Imperials in Oblivion.
  • Cindy Robinson: Various (including Dark Brotherhood boss Astrid) in Skyrim, Dark Elves in Oblivion.

Apart from Jan Johns, Tommie Earl Jenkins, Nana Visitor (renowned for her work on Deep Space 9), Phillip Reich, and the versatile Debra Wilson, have all previously acted in other Bethesda productions such as The Elder Scrolls Online, Starfield, and various Fallout titles like 3, 4, 76, and New Vegas. This means that there’s a sense of continuity and familiarity in their performances across different games.

1) It’s wonderful to observe Bethesda preserving these connections throughout the years, and hearing those familiar voices is like catching up with old friends. They significantly add to a unique auditory atmosphere within the studio’s games. However, if there’s one Skyrim voice I yearn for in Newblivion, it’s none other than Stephen Russell – the greatest of them all.

In my opinion, the legendary gaming status that Russell holds will forever be associated with Garrett from Thief. However, it’s worth noting that he also has a deep and productive history with Bethesda, which might be partly influenced by the fact that Emil Pagliarulo, a former senior developer at Looking Glass Studios, held a prominent position there.

In Fallout 4, Russell delivered an unforgettable performance as the cyborg private investigator, Nick Valentine, and he also portrayed numerous Bretons NPCs in Skyrim, with Mercer Frey, the Thieves Guild boss, among them, appropriately so.

It seems that Russell’s involvement in the projects continues, as he has provided his voice to various NPCs in Fallout 76 and Starfield over the past years. However, despite this minor issue, many fans are delighted by the frequent encounters with Russell’s characters, even if it gives them a jump scare from time to time.

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2025-04-29 05:03