The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered | Review

Genre: Role-playing game

Developers: Virtuos, Bethesda Game Studios

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Initial release date: April 22, 2025

Artist(s): Daniel T. Lee; Yago Pérez Diaz

Designer(s): Elliot Ribeiro

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Solid recreation of the original in Unreal 5
• Retains it’s classic charm
• Great visuals
• Real player agency
• Played on Xbox Series X via Gamepass
• I’ve beaten the original
• Bugs, stuttering, glitches
• Shivering Isles good
• $49.99
• Deep Guild Quests
• Deep Side Quests
• Useful Quality of Life Improvements
• Modernized for 2025
• Played as Spell Sword
• Great music
• Better than the original IMO
• Put many dozens of hours into this game
• Main Quests were lacking just like in the original
• Jeremy Soule’s music

Introduction

Not much time had past after the Xbox 360’s launch back in 2005 before I was able to play Bethesda’s 2006 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Back then, I really enjoyed that game even with it’s rough exterior. Yet it needed a modern makeover.

Video games these days get makeovers at break neck speeds. I mean shit, it’s almost been two decades since the original Oblivion was released. It was time. Needless to say I was giddy as I watched the shadow drop stream showcasing Oblivion Remastered.

Presentation

Oblivion Remastered retains it’s charm, it’s bugs, it’s jank, it’s beauty in randomness and player agency much like the original. Added quality of life improvements along with Unreal Engine 5 visuals presents a modern Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion that, to me, makes it the best version of Oblivion.

Now it’s not to say this video game doesn’t have issues as it does. I had to back track and reload multiple saves during a particular Shivering isles dungeon mission because the exit door was covered in mystical fog. I couldn’t leave the dungeon.

Asides from the later stopping my gameplay flow many of it’s bugs and glitches were harmless and funny in which Besthesda’s games are known for. The Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered is a first and third person high fantasy video game that features copious amounts of player agency within it’s design.

Plenty of times I had accidentally killed quest NPCs by accident yet the game continued to ramble on. the music as in the original was amazing. Gameplay was improved with better hit detection elements. Visuals were solid as hell. Main story was meh like in the original. TES 4 Oblivion Remaster is a great remaster and it’s presentation presented that. Minus the bugs.

Story

I have to preface the story section by saying the best stories were in it’s side content such as guild quests and Shivering Isles expansion. The main story of defending Cyrodil from the Daedric forces via Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon wasn’t all that entertaining or captivating.

Gameplay

You can play Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered in either first or third person. There were so many improvements directly tied to the gameplay. Archery is now decent. I played mostly as a Spell Sword wielding sword and magic which was solid in first and or third person modes.

Quick traveling, mounts, load times, the ability to sprint, combat animations are some of the reasons why Oblivion Remastered is the best Oblivion in my opinion. The game as a whole felt modernized for 2025.

Oblivion Remastered’s gameplay beauty shines from it’s moment to moment exploration in Cyrodil. It’s a vibe. The music, the npcs the emergent quests with player agency is old school yet modernized and I’m all for it.

Visuals

The Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remaster looks really good on my Xbox Series X which to say technically it had issues. Plenty of stuttering and what not, some pop in etc.

Sound

Jeremy Soule’s music is classic and I’m happy to say it’s all in the Remaster version of Oblivion. Some of the dialogue has also when improved and changed for various races in Tamriel. Like I said, this is a great remaster.