Review in Progress: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

Like an unexpected ambush from the Mythic Dawn itself, the remastered version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has appeared, and it’s one surprise I’m thrilled to dive into again. Considering it’s one of my all-time favorite RPGs, I’ve already sunk a good chunk of hours into it: I’ve heroically closed several Oblivion gates as the renowned champion of Kvatch, dabbled in deals with the elusive Daedric deities, fought my way to become the arena champion in the Imperial City, and I’m currently making progress on a few faction questlines. So far, I’ve been genuinely impressed by the upgraded features of this revamped edition. I recently revisited the original, so its flaws were fresh in my mind; seeing improvements like a refined interface, updated voice work, and a major graphical upgrade has made this nearly two-decade-old game immensely more accessible. However, I can’t ignore the familiar quirks like awkward horse animations, some glitchy quests, and occasional framerate drops. Yet, for someone who doesn’t succumb to mere nostalgia, I’m thoroughly enjoying this whimsically peculiar open-world saga all over again.

The graphical makeover in Oblivion Remastered undoubtedly stands as its most significant enhancement. Now, it might not rival today’s industry standards, but comparing it to its 2006 counterpart is astonishing. The map now unfolds crisply with a draw distance that my younger self could only fantasize about. The lighting, shadows, and character lips have all received such thorough rework that it’s quite startling. However, not everything made the transformation, and unfortunately, the character faces remain as comically unsettling as ever, with a surprisingly high chance of misaligned eyes. Honestly, part of Oblivion’s charm has always been its bizarre character faces. So, while every Nord and mudcrab might not match the visual splendor of a top-tier 2025 game, the facelift is significant. It’s one of those odd cases of memory where I recall things looking this stunning in 2006, despite knowing they certainly didn’t, which indicates how they’ve preserved the original’s essence and style remarkably well.

A noteworthy gameplay shift in Oblivion Remastered is the introduction of a sprint function. If you haven’t touched Oblivion in years, hearing there was no sprint might be astonishing. For newcomers, know that this addition is a divine gift. I don’t even mind the stamina drain from sprinting now, which I usually find annoying when you’re running everywhere. The payoff is well worth it, even though it makes the map, especially cities and dungeons, feel smaller since they can now be traversed in record time. This change has also motivated me to pay more attention to developing skills and magical enhancements that boost stamina, as I’m now depleting that gauge for nearly every action. Despite the extra tinkering needed, breezing through familiar territories is far less cumbersome.

There’s a slew of updates to the UI, skills, and leveling system, along with a brand-new feature called Character Origins that tweak starting stats. The UI has been refreshed to modern standards, offering additions you might overlook. The compass is now perched across the top of the screen, furnishing much-needed details; health, magicka, and stamina bars are intuitively spaced out rather than cluttered in a corner; and menus are impeccably organized for swift toggling between spells and character stats. Some aspects still feel dated – like the quest log popping up inappropriately right in the middle whenever you hit a milestone – though these annoyances haven’t grated on me excessively. I still require more time with the revamped leveling and skills system to evaluate whether these changes have improved the experience.

Despite Virtuous Games spearheading this remaster, it’s undeniably a Bethesda creation at heart, meaning bugs persist. I’ve encountered peculiar moments, like an Oblivion gate evaporating before my eyes or an NPC wandering off when I needed to speak with them, though I was still able to proceed with the questline. Oh, and on the Xbox Series X, I’ve experienced frame drops during autosaves or intense skirmishes with those pesky scamps of Kvatch. For now, these issues have been mostly minor hiccups that don’t detract from my enjoyment, but it’s a bit of a letdown to see the jankiness endure even after two decades.

That’s all I’ve got for the moment. I’m aiming for a comprehensive review soon, but not before I conclude the main story, visit the eccentric Shivering Isles, and perhaps go on a bit of a chaos spree through Cyrodil to delight in hearing the Imperial guards’ famous arrest speeches several times over. Alright. Time to see if I can pick up vampirism or something equally adventurous. See you around!