Is Cyrodiil Still Captivating? A Look Back Through Modern Eyes.

The winds of change have swept across Tamriel once more, not with the roar of dragons, but with the subtle hum of a modern engine! The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has arrived (albeit sneakily via a shadow-drop), promising to breathe new life into a beloved classic. For those who braved the Oblivion Crisis nearly two decades ago, and for newcomers eager to explore the sun-drenched fields of Cyrodiil, the question remains: can this remaster truly recapture the magic of the original, or is it merely a polished relic of the past? Read on to find out!

From Sewer Rat to Saviour: The Journey Revisited

Emerging from the dank Imperial Prison sewers into the radiant expanse of Cyrodiil remains an iconic moment in gaming. The main questline, steeped in political intrigue and the looming threat of the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon, still grips with its narrative of a fallen emperor and the desperate search for his heir. Alongside this central conflict, the diverse guild questlines – from the shadowy contracts of the Dark Brotherhood to the arcane mysteries of the Mages Guild – offer compelling and varied experiences.

The freedom to forge your own destiny, be it as a noble warrior, a stealthy thief, or a powerful mage, remains a cornerstone of the experience and is still just as fun as it was all those years ago.

The story remains largely the same, albeit with some slight modern-day adjustments. Interestingly, however, the bizarre aspects have also remained, such as at the very beginning where there just happens to be a secret tunnel entrance in the very cell that your character is being held in!

Blades and Spells: Mastering the Reforged Arts

The core gameplay loop of exploration, questing, and character progression has been thoughtfully updated. The levelling system, a point of contention in the original, has been refined, drawing inspiration from both Oblivion and Skyrim. Players now witness the progress of their skills in real-time, culminating in the opportunity to level up by resting. Upon levelling, Virtue Points can be allocated to attributes, offering a more direct and less punishing method of character development. The welcome addition of a sprint function enhances traversal across the vast landscapes, something which the original game didn’t have, and which was often a point of frustration across the gaming community.

Combat has also seen improvements with new animations and hit feedback, making encounters feel more impactful. Melee combat still lacks a certain weight, but this is made better with new combat animations and hit feedback. What this means is that when you strike a character with a sword, for example, they reel back and look as if they’ve been hit with a sword, rather than not reacting in any visible way as per the Oblivion. Ranged combat with bows and the frantic flinging of spells remain satisfying, and the fact that you can retrieve your spent arrows from your targets and/or the surrounding area feels great because it adds a sense of realism to the experience.

A New Coat of Paint

The most immediately noticeable upgrade comes in the form of the visuals. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Cyrodiil has been reborn with truly stunning new visuals. The textures are crisp, the draw distance is significantly improved, and the lighting and shadow effects breathe new life into familiar locations.

Sunsets and sunrises are particularly breathtaking, and the distant vistas are now rendered in impressive detail. While the environments have received a significant facelift, some of the character models, particularly facial features, still retain a degree of their original, somewhat dated charm (or lack thereof). Clipping is also present, but it somehow adds to the experience rather than detracting from it.

The audio has also been remastered, with enhanced sound effects and the welcome addition of more diverse voice acting for the various races, addressing a limitation of the original release. Characters’ voices are impressive and believable, although their dialogue is often quite bizarre, but in the most entertaining way possible, which makes the whole experience charming overall!

An Everlasting Adventure?

With a massive world to explore, countless quests to undertake, and a deep character progression system, Oblivion Remastered offers a huge amount of replay value. As with most RPGs, different character builds and choices within quests can lead to varied experiences. In addition to that, the inclusion of all previous DLC and expansions by default further bolsters the amount of content on offer. For those who missed it the first time, or for veterans looking to relive their adventures with a fresh perspective, these are all compelling reasons to return to Cyrodiil!

Conclusion

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered successfully revitalises a classic RPG for a modern audience. The visual overhaul is impressive, breathing new life into the world of Cyrodiil. Gameplay refinements, particularly the updated levelling system and combat enhancements, address some of the original game’s shortcomings. While some aspects, like certain character models and environmental clipping, haven’t seen as drastic a change, the overall experience is a significant improvement and it’s difficult not to become quickly engrossed in the stunning world around you. This remaster offers both a nostalgic trip for returning players and an excellent entry point for newcomers to experience one of the most beloved entries in the Elder Scrolls saga.

Grade: 8.5 – Great