You do not want an Oblivion Remaster, you want Boblivion, the mod that makes Oblivion Bob

It is Oblivion time, people. No, March 20—Oblivion’s authentic launch date. No, not a type of weekends the place I get up and stare on the ceiling for 3 hours, both. It is lastly time for the much-anticipated and maddening The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remaster, which was leaked and rumoured for therefore lengthy that it was beginning to drive followers off the rails.

However who cares? Nicely, me. I care. I used to be actually liveblogging in regards to the remaster’s launch yesterday. However I should not. As a result of I do not really want Oblivion Remastered. What I want is Boblivion, a challenge I wrestle to translate into phrases and but translate into highly effective emotions unconsciously.

From visionary artist assman3000, Boblivion is a mod for OG Oblivion that “adjustments actually each single factor within the base sport to ‘Bob’ actually every part, properly, 99% of every part.” Though I am barely disconcerted by assman’s narrative crumbling below zero exterior stress, I am nonetheless impressed/amused by the entire effort. It actually does change all issues to Bob. Predominant menu objects? Bob. Pause menu objects? Bob. Bar menu objects? Wall to wall Bob, my pal. Each cheesewheel, each sword, each misaimed arrow: it is all Bob so far as the attention can see.

Which is a really silly joke in a convention of silly jokes I can not assist however admire. However what I actually like about Boblivion is its willingness to decide to the bit to an invisible-yet-game-breaking diploma. Our writer delved into the Oblivion Creation Equipment sufficiently to even rename all the sport’s races to, properly, you understand. “This breaks dialogue although, as a result of all races at the moment are Bob. However you’ll be able to nonetheless discuss to folks telepathically. Though all they should say is ‘Bob’.” Which is smart, given the character of the challenge at hand.

It is a dumb, throwaway gag that I’ve possible already devoted extra thought to than it strictly deserves, however this is some extra considering: I like this. Not as a result of I believe the joke is gut-bustingly hilarious, however as a result of it is the sort of bizarre, baffling, meta outgrowth that comes while you go away a neighborhood to tinker with a sport—proper all the way down to the basics—for 19 years.

It is like a plant that is been left in a single pot too lengthy: mutated and unusual and sort of fantastic. It is the sort of factor I am excited to see develop round this new, shinier Oblivion. Which implies it is also the sort of factor that may hold OG Oblivion related even with its jazzed-up successor on the scene.