As a longtime Oblivion advocate, I wasn’t tremendous desirous about Oblivion Remastered. Whereas the rumors swirled and pleasure grew I simply did not see the necessity for a brand new version of Bethesda’s 2006 RPG. “The unique Oblivion remains to be nice as it’s!” I might yell from my porch at anybody who walked by. It is undoubtedly displaying its age nearly 20 years later, however I actually was having a superb time replaying it proper up till the remaster arrived this week.
I ready myself to complain concerning the modifications Oblivion Remastered made and gripe about how the unique RPG did not want a facelift, however then I began taking part in it, and… I noticed I kinda appreciated it. Regardless of the modifications, it nonetheless feels precisely like good ol’ janky Oblivion. Even a bunch of the previous exploits nonetheless work.
And it is actually, actually fairly in there (apart from among the locals). It is not a complete new world, it is only a extra pretty and fascinating model of the unique with out feeling prefer it’s been reworked into one thing else completely.
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It would not really feel just like the previous recreation has been changed: the feeling is extra like re-watching a traditional film I might solely seen in normal definition on TV, however now it has been restored in widescreen and the picture is sweet and crisp. I am a bit shocked, however I am actually having fun with my time with Oblivion Remastered. (And I recognize that Bethesda is holding the previous model accessible, relatively than overwriting it George-Lucas model).
Now I am discovering it just a bit bizarre that right here in 2025 Oblivion seems rather a lot prettier than Skyrim does. It seems so good in there, and I am unable to imagine I am saying this: I actually would not thoughts if Skyrim acquired the identical remedy. Convey on the Skyrim remaster. Re-remaster, I imply.
I admit, it might be fairly darn brazen of Bethesda to make one more model of Skyrim, after 2016’s remastered Particular Version and 2021’s poorly acquired Anniversary Version. But when anybody can bundle up Skyrim and promote it to us once more, it is Bethesda—and I am solely a bit ashamed to say if it appeared as good as Oblivion Remastered, I might actually take into account shopping for it.
I am not saying Skyrim wants one other remaster. First off, it nonetheless seems completely superb and fairly pretty in lots of respects. I additionally know there are tons of visible mods that make Skyrim prettier without spending a dime for anybody who has a bit of endurance and a powerful want to present it a glow-up. There’s a complete part of our information to the most effective Skyrim mods dedicated to ’em. However the identical will be stated for Oblivion, and but right here I’m, tromping world wide I’ve already spent a whole bunch of hours in, gawking at stuff as if I am seeing it for the primary time.
We all know we’re not getting The Elder Scrolls 6 for fairly some time. Possibly 2028? 2030? Who may even say. Within the meantime, as soon as I’ve put Oblivion Remastered again down I am in all probability gonna play some Skyrim once more in some unspecified time in the future. And perhaps it is superficial of me, however I am in all probability going to spend my time in previous Skyrim wishing it appeared extra like new Oblivion.
