Review in Progress: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

Just like a surprise attack from a member of the Mythic Dawn, the remastered edition of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has suddenly made its entrance, and I must say, I’m ready to dive in headfirst. Oblivion has always been a favorite of mine, so it’s no shock that I’ve already clocked a solid day engrossed in its world. I’ve been busy saving the realm from Oblivion gates, trading favors with Daedric deities, reigning victoriously in the Imperial City’s arena, and progressing through a few faction quests. So far, the enhancements in this revamped version have left me quite impressed. Having revisited the original recently, the improvements in the user interface, the revamped voice lines, and especially the graphical facelift, make this nearly two-decade-old gem much more enjoyable. Yet, the occasional hiccups remain, like awkward animations when mounting a horse, some broken quests, and the occasional frame drop. But for someone like me, who doesn’t rely purely on nostalgia, revisiting this charmingly strange open world is an absolute delight.

It’s clear that the most significant upgrade in Oblivion Remastered is the graphical enhancement. While it might not rival the visual benchmarks of contemporary games, comparing it to its 2006 counterpart is dramatically eye-opening. The game map now boasts crisp visuals and a draw distance beyond my teenage imagination. The update to lighting, shadows, and character lip-syncing is startlingly good. However, some elements, like the NPC faces, didn’t see much improvement—many still look cartoonish with a good chance of having crossed eyes. Surprisingly, their quirky looks are almost endearing and feel like a nod to the original experience. Not every Nord or mudcrab shines with the allure of a high-budget game from 2025, but it’s a vibrant upgrade nonetheless. It’s the kind of visual refresh that tricks the mind into recalling the old version in a much better light than it ever was, maintaining the spirit and aesthetic of the beloved classic.

One of the most game-changing features in Oblivion Remastered is the addition of a sprint button. Hard to believe now, but Oblivion originally had no sprinting – seems wild, right? If you missed out on that era, consider yourself blessed by the gaming gods, because this feature is genuinely transformative. In fact, I find the stamina cost of sprinting a trivial trade-off in exchange for the speed it affords, even if it makes the game world feel more compact, notably in cities and dungeons. This tweak has made stamina management more crucial, prompting me to invest more in skills and magical enhancements that bolster stamina. Yet, the occasional extra micromanagement feels minor compared to the convenience of swiftly navigating familiar territories.

The remaster also introduces several noteworthy changes in the UI, skills, and leveling system, along with a new feature, Character Origins, which appears to further refine starting stats. The UI now aligns with modern design sensibilities, slipping in improvements you may not even consciously notice. For example, the compass now perches at the top of the screen providing greater detail. Health, magicka, and stamina meters are better spaced across the display instead of being crammed into one corner, and menu navigation feels far more intuitive, allowing for swift toggling between spells and character stats. While a few elements retain that old-school vibe—like the quest log awkwardly popping up mid-action—the old-time charm hasn’t bothered me much yet. I’m yet to fully explore the impact of the altered leveling system and skills to truly gauge if these changes are beneficial or not.

Despite the facelift, some things remain unwaveringly Bethesda—bugs. It’s part of the package, really. Even with Virtuous Games steering this remaster, the quirky glitches are aplenty. I’ve witnessed instances of disappearing Oblivion gates and chatty NPCs deciding they’d rather just wander off mid-conversation. Performance-wise, while playing on Xbox Series X, the game does stumble when auto-saving or when the screen is filled with combat chaos, causing some frame stutters. Thankfully, these hiccups have been more amusing than disruptive, but still, you’d think two decades would be enough to iron out such quirks in this fantasy realm.

That’s my early take, but I plan to dive deeper and provide a comprehensive review soon. I’m set to tackle the main questline, revisit the eccentric Shivering Isles, and maybe stir a bit of chaos across Cyrodiil just for the thrill of hearing the guards attempt to arrest me several more times. That’s all for now—I’m off to maybe get bitten by a vampire or something equally adventurous. See you!