Summary
BeforeSkyrim, there wasThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.Oblivionwas highly anticipated before its release in 2006, thanks to the success of its predecessors, particularly Morrowind which established the franchise as an RPG giant.Oblivionbecame a beloved entry intoThe Elder Scrollsseries that is still remembered fondly by many fans, so much so that there’s rumored to be a remaster in the works by Bethesda.
A remasteredObliviondoesn’t have to do too much as the original game is already so compelling, but a few updates are definitely in order. Here are some that would make anOblivionremaster something special.
Updates to The World of The Elder Scrolls
A Beautiful World
One of the hallmarks ofThe Elder Scrollsseries is its beautiful, vibrant, open worlds.Oblivion’s Cyrodiil is no different, and even today it stands the test of time to be a gorgeous entry inThe Elder Scrolls. However, a remaster could make it all the better, especially with the improved snow physics Bethesda developed for Skyrim and better technology to fill the landscape with plants and curiosities.
At the same time, Cyrodiil isn’t the only place the player travels to inOblivion, as there is frequent travel to theDaedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon’s Plane of Oblivion, the Deadlands, via the Oblivion Gates. The remaster is an opportunity to overhaul the Deadlands and make it truly a place of nightmares.
NPC AI Improvements
Oblivionis the source of many memesin the gaming community, and most of them come from the very awkward NPCs who populate the towns and cities ofOblivion. From stilted conversations to inappropriate remarks, falling into lava then continuing conversations as if nothing happened, NPC shenanigans abound thanks to an ambitious but imperfect AI system. Weirdly, the NPC AI inOblivionis more reactive than in Skyrim, where the characters react to world and character changes better, but a more streamlined system that makes the NPCS less awkward would be welcomed.
Bug Fixes
Like many Bethesda games,Oblivionis plagued by many bugs, some of which result in a broken game. AnOblivionremaster will need a serious overhaul of the known bugs that weren’t fixed in the years since its original release, the bugs that have been fixed in the years since with mods, and the bugs that modders haven’t been able to fix, with the game-breaking bugs a priority.
Take Inspiration From The Elder Scrolls Games Beyond Oblivion
Include Oblivion’s DLC
Oblivionincluded one of the best expansion packs in the series:The Shivering Isles. Set in the plane of Oblivion of the Daedric Prince Sheogorath,The Shivering Isleswas praised by criticsand players alike because of its fun story, colorful characters, and vibrant world, which would also look incredible if remastered. Any attempt at remasteringOblivionwould be incomplete without includingThe Shivering Islesand the more substantial DLC such asKnights of the Nine.
More Music
Music is one of the triumphs ofThe Elder Scrollsand took a great leap betweenOblivionandSkyrim. That said,Oblivionhas a beautiful and distinctive theme, as well as some standout tracks in its soundtrack. More music like it, with the lessons learned from the music inSkyrimwould create a better music experience.Unbroken Road, a track that appears inSkyrim, is a tribute toOblivionbut wouldn’t go amiss in anOblivionremake as it is an extension of its main theme song.
Improve Combat
One of the frustrations ofOblivionis the combat, thanks partially to the physics. An overhaul of the combat system, even a change to one more similar toSkyrim’s, would be an improvement. That said, themagic system forOblivionis better thanSkyrim’s in many ways, and a balance between the mundane and magic combat would be preferable. Adding more weight to the animation, improving the physics of combat, and improving the appearances of weapons and armor would go a long way to updating the aesthetics ofOblivionand removing the frustrations of combat.
