"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, many will recount fond memories. For me, *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* was a game that created countless unforgettable moments. I was working at Official Xbox Magazine at the time, and while the successful port of *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind* to Xbox didn't quite capture my interest, *Oblivion* did from the very start. Originally slated to be a launch title for the second Xbox, *Oblivion* had us at OXM doing multiple cover stories in anticipation of its release. The screenshots alone were breathtaking, and I eagerly took every opportunity to visit Bethesda in Rockville, Maryland.

When the time came to review *Oblivion*, in an era where exclusive reviews were common, I was thrilled to take on the task. I returned to Rockville and spent four days in a conference room in Bethesda’s basement, immersing myself in the game. Over four glorious 11-hour days, I lived in Cyrodiil, exploring its stunning, wide-open medieval fantasy world. Before heading back home, I had logged 44 hours on the game, which led to OXM's 9.5 out of 10 review of *Oblivion*—a score I stand by to this day. The game was incredible, filled with captivating quests like the Dark Brotherhood, unexpected surprises such as the unicorn, and much more. Since I played a submission build on an Xbox 360 debug kit, I had to start over with the final retail version, but that didn't stop me from investing another 130 hours into the game. It's no surprise that I'm thrilled about the remastered and re-released version on modern platforms.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots

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For younger 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* first hit the shelves over 13 years ago. While fans of all ages eagerly await *The Elder Scrolls VI*, which is likely still 4-5 years away, I'm envious of this generation who get to experience *Oblivion* for the first time. However, I doubt *Oblivion* will have the same impact on them as it did for me back in March 2006. As a two-decade-old game, it's been surpassed by subsequent titles such as *Fallout 3*, *Skyrim*, *Fallout 4*, and *Starfield*. Moreover, while the remaster looks better than the original, it doesn't have the same visual punch it had in 2006 when it was one of the first true next-gen games of the HD era introduced by the Xbox 360. Remasters aim to modernize older games on current platforms, unlike remakes such as *Resident Evil* that start from scratch and aim to match or exceed current visual standards.

*The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* was the right game at the right time, taking full advantage of HD televisions and expanding the scope and scale of open-world gaming. It was a game-changer for console gamers who had previously experienced their interactive worlds through interlaced 640x480 TVs. (Notably, in February 2006, EA released *Fight Night Round 3*, which was also visually stunning.)

My memories of *Oblivion* are plentiful, as the game offered so much to explore and do. For those playing *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 is simple: once you start the main questline, Oblivion gates will begin to spawn randomly, so it's best to tackle them early on.

The technological leap from *Morrowind* to *Oblivion* might never be replicated, though perhaps *The Elder Scrolls 6* will surprise us if we wait long enough. However, playing *Oblivion Remastered* won't feel as starkly different from *Skyrim* as it did for me back then. Yet, whether you're a first-timer or a veteran with hundreds of hours logged, *Oblivion's* fully realized medieval fantasy world and its myriad surprises and adventures remain my favorite in the Elder Scrolls series. I'm thrilled it's back, even if the surprise of its release was spoiled multiple times before its eventual return.