Almost two decades have passed since the launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Obliviona game that marked a turning point in the open world role genre. His enormous world, his unique progression system and his surrounding narrative made him a reference title that, in addition, could accompany the launch of a new generation of consoles at a time when Western role was not yet a common genre on these platforms. Now, with Oblivion RemasteredBethesda seeks to return new life to this classic, modernizing its graphics and improving some key aspects without altering its essence.
If there is something that impressed in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion It was time to go out for the first time to the open world. That moment, to be able to explore that immensity with that impressive graphic section for the time, was recorded on fire in the retina of innumerable playersbecoming a symbol of the technical jump that came from the new generation.
Now, twenty years later, we are less impressionable, but from the first moment Oblivion Remastered Try to replicate the impact caused by the original game with a renewed visual section. Thanks to the use of Unreal Engine 5, Cyrodiil’s scenarios have been rebuilt with high quality textures, advanced lighting and detailed models that provide a visual depth never seen before seen in the saga. Cities, forests and mountains have a much more realistic appearance, and climatic effects have been improved as well as the new lighting has achieved softer transitions between cycles of day and night. However, although the graphic improvement is remarkable, the price to be paid for it is also high, affecting the fluidity of the game in all available graphic modes. Hopefully, with the arrival of new patches, it can be achieved a little more a performance that may be too unstable for the current standard.
One of the most debatible aspects of this remastering is derived from this technical jump, because It has meant numerous changes in the artistic section that are not always too faithful with original art. The lighting makes the tone of the game radically different and, where there were previously saturated colors and an excess of Bloom that together managed to reflect a fantasy atmosphere that gave the game a lot of live, now everything has a much more off and realistic tone. This has also taken to the models of the characters, being some of the most fantasy races, such as the Khajiit, the most affected by the changes.
Where Bethesda has been more conservative is in the modification of the original playable nucleus, since the progression, combat and exploration systems have been practically unchanged. This will surely generate divided opinions, because, although some players are going to appreciate the fidelity to the original game, it is undeniable that substantial improvements could have been made in certain elements that have aged and that make the game feel much less refined than other modern titles.
The characters progression system remains one of the most characteristic elements of Oblivion. Unlike other RPG, where the characters rise exclusively by the accumulation of experience, here the progression is based on the constant use of specific skills. Each action carried out by the player contributes to the character’s development, making growth organic and adapted to the game style. However, this system also entails certain limitations: You can feel unbalanced if it is not managed correctly, and some new players can find it less intuitive compared to more traditional level mechanics.
Of course, one of the main playable novelties comes hand in hand with trying to make the problems that this progression system caused in conjunction with one of the most criticized elements of the game: the self -leveling of enemies that remains present and generates situations as absurd as seeing bandits equipped with daedric armor. In the original version each ability only contributes to increasing the attribute that ruled it, which could cause you to end with a practically useless character if we raised too much levels using skills that were not linked to the important attributes for our character, While in remastering we have greater freedom to assign to the attribute that we want the points obtained with each level rise.
The combat continues to maintain the original approach, combining real -time action with classic RPG mechanics. Melee attacks, the use of remote weapons and magic are the fundamental pillars of the battle system, but their execution still presents some inconveniences. Despite the improvement in animations, combat continues to feel rigid, without the fluidity offered by more recent titles. Compared to Skyrimwhere clashes have a greater visual and mechanical impact, Oblivion Remastered is perceived as a less refined title in this area. In addition, the collision system still has occasional failures, which can affect the accuracy of attacks and generate frustrating situations in combat.
The artificial intelligence of NPC and enemies has not received significant improvements, which implies that The characters continue to behave erratically in some situations. This is particularly notable in combat, where enemies often follow predictable patterns and can react in a very strategic way. NPC also present dialogues with unnatural responses, which makes some interactions feel less immersive. Although this contributes to the classic charm of the game, players waiting for a more polished AI may feel disappointed by the lack of improvements.
The stealth system continues and retains its original mechanics, based on the level of skill and perception of enemies. Infiltrating in restricted places or eliminating objectives without being detected is still a viable option for players who prefer a more stealthy style of play, but the implementation of the system still has certain problems. The detection of NPC sometimes does not respond in a consistent way, which can make stealth feel inconsistent in certain situations.
Exploration is another of the fundamental pillars of the game and remains one of the most rewarding aspects of Oblivion Remastered. Cyrodiil continues to offer a lot of ruins, abandoned castles and dungeons full of hidden enemies and treasures, encouraging free exploration. Yes indeed, Now we have the possibility of sprinting at any timesomething that is appreciated during the exploration of the world.
Bethesda He has made small adjustments in the interface to improve inventory management and facilitate access to relevant information about the character’s skills. Although these changes help improve the general experience, the menus system still retains certain limitations that could have been optimized to offer more efficient navigation.
The sound section has received significant improvements. Jeremy Soule’s original music has been remastered with higher audio quality, which allows you to enjoy its iconic melodies with improved fidelity. The sound effects have also been refined, providing greater immersion in the different scenarios of the game. However, NPC’s voices have not been re -recordedwhich means that some lines may sound less natural compared to current voice performance standards in video games.
Play Oblivion Remastered After 20 years it is an experience full of nostalgia and emotions found. For those who spent countless hours touring Cyrodiil in their youth, returning to this renewed world is like visiting a place full of memories. The small details that previously went unnoticed now highlight more than ever, such as buildings textures, reflexes of water or the most lush vegetation in forests. The main story, focused on the Daedra invasion and the fight for Tamriel’s throne, remains exciting and secondary missions continue to be brilliant. The dark brotherhood, the thieves guild and the random events found in Cyrodiil continue to offer some of the best plots within the genre even today.
However, that same nostalgia can play against. While the graphics have improved, the gameplay remains exactly the same, with their strengths and their intact defects. What was previously felt as innovative, can now be perceived as outdated compared to modern standards. This generates a duality in experience: On the one hand, there is the emotion of reliving a classic at its maximum visual splendor, but on the other there is the feeling that some aspects have not evolved enough.
In short, Oblivion Remastered It is a love letter to fans of the original game. The graphic improvements, the remastered sound and the small adjustments in the interface make the experience more enjoyable, but there are numerous aspects of the game that have become outdated, which, together with the performance problems, can prevent new players from getting to connect with the game. For players seeking to revive adventure without drastic changes, this is an excellent opportunity to return to Cyrodiil with a renewed visual section. But for those who expected a deep transformation of the title, their limitations may leave them wanting more.
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