Oblivion Remastered: Why It Beats Skyrim

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Summary

  • Oblivion Remastered offers a deeper class system with more customization options for character builds.
  • The leveling system in Oblivion is more immersive, with every action contributing to character progression.
  • Oblivion’s NPCs look better, and monsters are more terrifying, enhancing the overall game experience.

In 2006, the role-playing game “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion” was launched for Xbox 360 consoles, swiftly earning a spot among its best early RPGs due to its expansive open world, numerous quests and character classes, and many other features. Later, in 2011, the sequel “The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim” was released and surpassed fans’ anticipations.

The game “Skyrim” has been re-released multiple times, with a remaster in 2016 and an upgrade in 2021. However, the time and effort poured into “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered” surpasses that of any version of Skyrim. To clarify, both games are excellent, but this latest remaster excels and for years, the core experience of Oblivion has outshone Skyrim. Both games are fantastic, but let’s delve into what makes this recent remaster exceptional and why the fundamental Oblivion experience has surpassed that of Skyrim for a long time.

6. The Class System

Go Beyond Dragonborn

At the onset of a Skyrim adventure, players are presented with an array of races and character personalization choices. This versatility remained consistent across multiple updates, beginning as a generic warrior, then expanding from there. However, in the remastered version of Oblivion, players now have access to a wider range of customization options for their characters.

In the game of Oblivion, there are three primary class divisions: Combat, Magic, and Stealth, each branching out into seven specialized areas. For instance, a Magic user might choose between a Battlemage or a Sorcerer. Additionally, Birthsigns are another factor to consider in this game, influencing your character’s development. While some players may find the abundance of choices overwhelming, others appreciate the depth it offers, reminiscent of classic Dungeons & Dragons games; an immersive RPG adventure at its finest.

5. A Deeper Leveling System

Everything You Do Matters

In the game ‘Skyrim’, players typically fight off enemies to gain experience points (EXP) and progress by leveling up. Repeating certain techniques can also help individual leveling, such as using magic. Compared to ‘Skyrim’, ‘Oblivion’ is reminiscent of a ‘SaGa’ game from Square Enix, as every action has a greater impact on the player’s progress than in ‘Skyrim’.

In the enchanting world of Oblivion, I find myself dashing, diving, dodging attacks, weaving spells, and engaging in a myriad of other activities to boost my character’s rank. As random attributes keep climbing, my character’s overall level gets a well-deserved promotion. When this occurs, it’s time for a much-needed rest—much like the old D&D rules—and while it can be tedious, it adds an extra layer of realism to the gaming experience.

4. NPCs Look Better

Good-Bye Monster Creator

It’s worth noting that when considering the overall quality, the remastered version of “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion” surpasses all of the remakes of “Skyrim” in terms of visual appeal. To put it mildly, the character models in both games’ original versions seem quite odd by today’s standards, with faces resembling softened wax sculptures and robotic movements.

In The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, the characters’ dialogues appear more authentic, and this is noticeable from the beginning. If players compare Emperor Septim’s appearance in the original game to his animation in the remaster, they will see a marked improvement. However, players can still customize their character to look monstrous for amusement if they wish. While it may not be the most visually impressive character creator in an RPG, it certainly has made significant strides forward.

3. Monsters And Lighting

You’ve Never Been So Afraid Of A Goblin Before

In the remastered version of “Oblivion,” not only has the gameplay been enhanced, but so have the monsters that inhabit it. For instance, goblins, a frequent creature often encountered in role-playing games (RPGs), are now more detailed and realistic. They’re typically easier to create and defeat due to their status as early combat fodder in game lore.

In the remastered version of “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion”, the goblins remain simple to defeat, but have been made more intimidating to face, which is quite an achievement. These creatures have never appeared so fearsome in a game before. If they surprise players in a dark cave, they can genuinely elicit some frightened yells. Fortunately, they aren’t overly graphic with their violence like they might be in a “Resident Evil” game.

2. The Guild Quests

And The Quest System Overall

Back in the day, Skyrim was promoted as one of the most expansive open-world games available. People still recall Todd Howard discussing the ability to scale mountains, which spawned some entertaining memes. The game’s visuals were captivating, but it also boasted almost an infinite number of quests thanks to a built-in quest generation system.

A game that offers endless adventures seems like a fantastic deal for your money, but in the case of Skyrim, it didn’t necessarily mean the quests were high-quality. Contrarily, Oblivion provides fewer quests, yet they are more impactful because they were crafted specifically and tended to go beyond common fetch quests found in RPGs. Among the various types of quests available in the game, fans often believe that the Guild quests are among the best the series has to offer.

1. It’s Not Just Snow

Behold The Oblivion Portals

Skyrim’s world is strongly rooted in Nordic lifestyle, making it a perfect winter game as many of its locations are blanketed with snow, from the plains to the peaks. Unlike most open-world games, this unique feature sets it apart, which is fantastic.

For individuals who dislike snow, the game “Oblivion” might offer a more enjoyable experience due to its diverse open-world settings and unique features like the Oblivion gates. These gates, however, can become repetitive since they share a common quality that may grow tiresome over time. Nonetheless, the world of “Oblivion” offers a more captivating allure with an abundance of environments that are unlikely to lose their appeal swiftly.

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2025-04-29 10:44