Bethesda’s Unapologetic Remaster: Oblivion Stays True to Its Roots with Quirks Intact

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Summary

  • Oblivion Remastered stays true to the original game’s quirks, bugs, and jank.
  • The game is a remaster, not a remake, focusing mainly on visual improvements.
  • Oblivion Remastered’s Deluxe Edition even includes the infamous Horse Armor DLC, showing commitment to the original game’s charm.

At last, it’s arrived! After numerous whispers and conjecture, “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered” has made its grand entrance, and it’s been making quite an impression since its stealth debut. For seasoned veterans, “Oblivion Remastered” is a nostalgic journey with a modern twist, while for newcomers, it offers the opportunity to savor one of the most influential Elder Scrolls games in style. Although it boasts a stylish presentation, it maintains much of the substance from the original game.

In essence, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered can be seen as Bethesda’s most truthful game to date. Unlike trying to persuade players that Oblivion Remastered is something different, the presentation and the game itself serve as evidence that Bethesda has no intention of deceiving. Instead, it understands its fans crave Oblivion, so they received exactly that – and for that, it’s commendable.

Oblivion Remastered Shows Bethesda’s Commitment to Its History

Oblivion Remastered Overhauls the Visuals But Embraces the Original’s Quirks

In anticipation for the launch of “Oblivion Remastered”, one of the main discussions surrounding the potential “Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion” remake revolved around whether it should preserve the peculiarities, glitches, and rough edges that define the original game. These elements are not only integral to what makes “Oblivion” unique, but they also contribute to the distinct character of an “Elder Scrolls” title. With the arrival of “Oblibion Remastered”, this dialogue has persisted, though it has taken a new direction within the broader argument about whether “Oblivion Remastered” qualifies as a remaster or a remake.

To clarify, while Oblivion Remastered offers numerous enhancements to the gameplay, it doesn’t quite qualify as a remake since it wasn’t created anew with fresh assets, a different direction, or overhauled mechanics. A genuine remake like Final Fantasy 7 Remake keeps the original story and mechanics but expands upon them to create something completely new. The main alteration in Oblivion Remastered is its graphics upgrade, although its gameplay has been refined as well.

In a simpler and more conversational style, “The updated version of Oblivion, titled Oblivion Remastered, has refined several aspects of the original game. These improvements include the third-person perspective, the leveling system, the stealth and sneak mechanics, and many other features as well.

The end result of these changes is that “Oblivion Remastered” has kept the unique characteristics of the original Cyrodiil instead of getting rid of or hiding them. Essentially, Bethesda is being truthful about what “Oblivion” was and continues to be, as shown by their decision to label it a remaster rather than a complete reimagining.

Oblivion Remastered Even Includes the Original’s Horse Armor DLC

In a modern gaming landscape where microtransactions are often met with skepticism, “Oblivion Remastered” has surprisingly included the Horse Armor DLC, one of the earliest and most successful examples of this content in single-player games from the original “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion”. This move underscores Bethesda’s dedication to preserving and enhancing the appeal of the original “Oblivion”, extending beyond the game itself.

Essentially, Bethesda is acknowledging the true essence of Oblivion, both then and now, by labeling it as a remaster instead of a full remake.

In a refreshing twist, Oblivion Remastered doesn’t strive for perfection but rather celebrates its imperfections, setting it apart as a Bethesda production. The developers had the chance to overhaul the gameplay of a nearly two-decade-old game, yet they opted to preserve the essence of Oblivion in this remaster. Instead, they’ve given it a much-needed facelift, ensuring that Oblivion Remastered remains true to its original form. Rather than attempting to persuade fans that their new game is without flaws, they’ve chosen to embrace the quirks inherent in their games, demonstrating their confidence and authenticity.

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2025-04-25 21:06