"Oblivion's Impact Surpasses Skyrim's, Even Today"

Ask most gamers who were around during the Xbox 360 era, and despite the infamous Red Ring of Death, you'll likely hear many fond memories. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion certainly contributed to those memories for countless Xbox 360 owners, and I'm one of them. Back then, I was working at Official Xbox Magazine, and while the successful port of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind to Xbox didn't fully capture my interest, Oblivion hooked me from the start. Originally slated to be a launch title for the second Xbox, Oblivion became the subject of multiple cover stories at OXM, with its stunning screenshots leaving us all in awe. I eagerly took every opportunity to visit Bethesda in Rockville, Maryland, to get a firsthand look.

When the time came to review Oblivion, I jumped at the chance again. In those days, exclusive reviews were the norm, and I found myself back in Rockville, spending four glorious 11-hour days in a conference room at Bethesda's basement. I was almost living in Cyrodiil, exploring the breathtaking, expansive world of medieval fantasy. By the time I boarded my flight home, I had already logged 44 hours on a submission build of the game on an Xbox 360 debug kit. My review for OXM scored Oblivion a well-deserved 9.5 out of 10, a rating I stand by to this day. The game was packed with engaging quests, like the Dark Brotherhood, unexpected surprises such as the unicorn, and so much more. However, because I played a pre-release build, I had to start over when I got the final retail version, which I eagerly dove into, clocking another 130 hours without hesitation. Naturally, I'm thrilled that Oblivion has been remastered and re-released on modern platforms.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots

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For the younger generation of gamers who grew up with Skyrim, the newly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered will be their first "new" mainline Elder Scrolls game since Skyrim's debut over 13 years ago. As we all continue to wait for The Elder Scrolls VI, which is still likely 4-5 years away, I'm envious of these younger gamers. However, I doubt Oblivion will have the same impact on them as it did for me back in March 2006. Not only is it a two-decade-old game, but other titles have since built upon what Oblivion pioneered, including Bethesda's own Fallout 3, Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield. Moreover, while the remaster undoubtedly looks better than the original, it doesn't carry the same visual shock value it did in 2006, when it was arguably the first true next-gen game of the HD era. Remasters aim to modernize older games for current platforms, contrasting with complete remakes like Resident Evil, which start from scratch and aim to match or surpass contemporary visual standards.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was the perfect game at the perfect time. By fully utilizing HD televisions and expanding the scope and scale of open-world gaming, it delivered a stunning visual and interactive experience to console gamers who were used to 640x480 resolution. It's worth noting that just a month before Oblivion's release, EA's Fight Night Round 3 also set a high visual standard.

My memories of Oblivion are plentiful, as it offered a world brimming with discovery and activities. For those experiencing Oblivion for the first time, I recommend either rushing through the main quest or saving it until you've explored every side quest and open-world activity. The reason? Once you start the main quest, Oblivion gates will begin to spawn randomly and can become a nuisance, so it's best to deal with them quickly.

The technological leap from Morrowind to Oblivion might be unmatched, though perhaps The Elder Scrolls 6 will bring a similar evolution. While playing Oblivion Remastered won't feel as groundbreaking as it did back then, especially for those who grew up with Skyrim, the fully realized medieval fantasy world and its myriad adventures remain my favorite in the Elder Scrolls series. I'm thrilled it's back, even if its surprise release was anticipated by many.