In-Depth Look at The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

In a surprise move reminiscent of the Mythic Dawn’s sneaky antics, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has re-emerged as a remastered edition. This unexpected release is a nostalgic dagger I’d gladly embrace. As a longtime fan of this classic RPG, I’ve dived headfirst into this revamped adventure, dedicating an entire day to it. I’ve been busy closing Oblivion gates, striking deals with Daedric gods, conquering the arena in the Imperial City, and diving into faction quests. So far, I’m quite taken with the significant upgrades in this new version. Having recently revisited the original Oblivion, I had its flaws fresh in my mind, making the improved user interface, updated voice work, and especially the graphical overhaul all the more impressive. Sure, there’s still a familiar amount of quirks, like clunky horse animations and broken questlines, along with some framerate issues. But even for someone who isn’t swayed by nostalgia alone, this quirky open-world journey is as enjoyable as ever.

It’s no secret that the graphical enhancements are the standout feature of Oblivion Remastered. While it might not match the visuals of today’s top games, comparing this iteration to its 2006 counterpart is undeniably impressive. The map is vibrant, and the draw distance vastly exceeds anything I would’ve dared hope for back in the day. The lighting, shadows, and even character lip syncing have been transformed to such a degree that it’s almost jarring. However, some aspects, like the NPC faces, missed the memo—they remain comically hideous, often cartoonish, with a good chance of cross-eyes. Yet, perhaps this adds to Oblivion’s authentic charm. While not all characters and creatures match the beauty of 2025’s big-budget titles, it’s an undeniable upgrade. It’s funny how memory plays tricks on us; I remember things looking just like this back in 2006, even though they clearly didn’t.

One of the most impactful changes in Oblivion Remastered is the addition of a sprint button. If it’s been years since you last explored Cyrodil, yes, you remember correctly—there was no sprinting. And if you’re new to it, enjoy this divine gift from Akatosh! Surprisingly, I don’t mind that sprinting drains stamina (a feature that usually annoys me when I’m always on the move in RPGs). The added stamina management is worth it, even if it makes the entire map, especially the cities and dungeons, feel smaller and quicker to explore. This change also makes me more invested in boosting skills and magical enhancements that increase stamina since I’m now using it for nearly every action. Despite this added layer of complexity, zipping through familiar areas certainly feels less tedious.

The remaster also overhauls the user interface, skills, and leveling system, with a fresh feature called Character Origins that tweaks starting stats. The UI has embraced modern design, featuring welcome changes you might easily miss. The compass now sits at the top of your screen, offering more information; the health, magicka, and stamina bars have been redistributed across the screen for clarity; and the menus are far more intuitive and quicker to navigate. However, some old habits die hard, like the quest log awkwardly popping up mid-screen when you hit a milestone, interrupting your progress. These quirks are mildly annoying, but I’m yet to be truly bothered. I also need more time to dive deep into the revised leveling and skill systems to see if they’ve genuinely improved the experience.

Virtuous Games might be at the helm of this remaster, but this is still very much a Bethesda game, bugs and all. I’ve encountered my share of unexpected moments, like an Oblivion gate vanishing before my eyes or essential NPCs wandering off when I needed to chat. Thankfully, despite these quirks, I could still advance quests even when the logs didn’t update, preventing major frustration. However, the Xbox Series X version struggles with performance issues, like frame drops during autosaves or battles with too many pesky foes. So far, these bugs are more amusing than game-breaking, but it’s disappointing that two decades weren’t enough to fully smooth out this janky fantasy realm.

That’s my take for now, but I’m aiming to deliver a complete review soon. Before that, I want to see the main quest through, journey to the Shivering Isles, and perhaps stir up some trouble around Cyrodil if only to hear those iconic arrest lines from the Imperial guards a few more times. Alright, that’s a wrap for now. Time to catch vampirism or something. Goodbye!