Review in Progress: The Remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Just when you thought the world of Tamriel couldn’t surprise you anymore, here comes a sudden remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, stealthily emerging like a Mythic Dawn agent about to shake things up. As someone who counts this RPG among my all-time favorites, I couldn’t resist diving right in. I’ve already closed a dozen Oblivion gates in my role as Kvatch’s savior, made some decidedly questionable deals with Daedric deities, risen through the ranks to become the Imperial City arena champion, and have a growing list of completed faction quests. So far, these potential upgrades have blown me away. Having recently played the original, the improvement in the UI, voice lines, and particularly the updated graphics make this nearly 20-year-old gem feel fresh again. However, a fair share of glitches remains, including awkward animations when mounting horses, questline hiccups, and the occasional framerate stutter. Despite these issues, I’m thoroughly enjoying this quirky open-world experience once again, beyond simple nostalgia.

It’s no shocker that the standout feature of Oblivion Remastered is its visual facelift. While it doesn’t quite match up to the graphics of today’s high-end games, compared to its 2006 version, the difference is astonishing. The world is now clearer than ever, with a draw distance that teenage me could only dream of. The lighting, shadows, and even character lip-synching have been so dramatically upgraded that it’s quite impressive. However, some aspects seemed to have been overlooked, like the bizarrely comical NPC faces, many of which exhibit cross-eyed expressions. Still, these peculiarities might just be a nod to the quintessential Oblivion experience. Despite every character not being a visual masterpiece like those in top 2025 games, the remaster retains the charm and essence of the original, making the world appear just as I nostalgically imagined it in 2006.

One of the most notable gameplay changes in this remaster is the inclusion of a sprint button. For those who played Oblivion back in the day, this might seem like a minor addition, but it’s game-changing. Sprinting is now a thing, and if you haven’t experienced Oblivion without it, let me tell you, you’ve received a blessing direct from Akatosh. Surprisingly, even the stamina depletion from sprinting, which usually bothers me in any RPG, seems like a small price to pay. This feature has also made the world feel more compact, with cities and dungeons navigable in half the time. As a result, I find myself more invested in boosting skills and magical abilities that enhance my stamina, making the meter more central to the gameplay. This tweak has made revisiting familiar areas feel significantly less cumbersome and much more dynamic.

In addition to the new sprint mechanic, the remaster introduces significant changes to the UI, skills, and leveling system, along with a feature known as Character Origins that adjusts starting stats. The UI revamp aligns with contemporary design standards, offering enhancements that might go unnoticed at first. The compass now occupies a top-screen position, displaying more information, while health, magicka, and stamina are thoughtfully distributed across the screen. Menu navigation has been streamlined, allowing quicker access to spells and character stats. While the quest log’s mid-screen pop-up still offers an old-school interruption, these minor annoyances haven’t detracted from the experience. I still need to dive deeper into the modified leveling system to assess its impact.

Despite developer Virtuous Games spearheading this remaster, the presence of Bethesda-like bugs is undeniable. Already, I’ve encountered strange occurrences: disappearing Oblivion gates, uncooperative NPCs, and other quirks. Performance issues on the Xbox Series X, such as frame drops and autosave-induced hitches, remind me that even after two decades, some jank persists. Yet, these glitches haven’t dampened my enjoyment; they merely add to Oblivion’s endearing quirks.

That’s my take for now, but I’m gearing up for a full review soon. I’ve yet to complete the main storyline, explore the Shivering Isles, or instigate chaos across Cyrodiil to hear those iconic guard dialogues just a few more times. For now, though, I’d better get on with catching vampirism or something equally adventurous. See you around.