The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered is a reimagining of the legendary 2006 game. It experienced what is called a "shadowdrop," meaning a surprise release right after its announcement. Should we get carried away by the hype and buy this title at a high price? We played it all night, here's what it's worth.
Barely announced, already out! The surprise announcement of The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered sparked excitement. It must be said that the base game, released in 2006, left its mark on many players at the time. While waiting for TES VI, Bethesda, with the help of the French studio Virtuos, has decided to give it a new lease of life.
This remaster keeps the heart of the original game. The same map, the same story, the same quests, the same gameplay. However, it runs on a new graphics engine, Unreal Engine 5, benefits from revised ergonomics, a redesigned interface, a new level scaling system, and many other things. It is already available on PC and consoles, as well as on Game Pass. But at 55 euros, should you give in?
A remaster that almost deserves the name remake
The first thing that strikes you when playing this remaster is the extent to which Virtuos studio respects, even adores, the base game. With such a graphic overhaul, it's easy to lose the identity of a work, to give it a new look that isn't necessarily a failure, but that moves away from the old one. The risk is thus of annihilating the feeling of nostalgia that makes this kind of work so interesting. This is not the case here. Walking through Cyrodiil, we have the feeling that nothing has changed, that our memories are intact. Yet, it's night and day with Oblivion 2006!
Oblivion 2025 is simply jaw-dropping, well served by a UE5 that makes this virtual world tangible. PC players can also enjoy DLSS 4 as well as ray-tracing. This is evident from the beginning of our adventure, in the sordid corridors of the prison, but becomes evident when we step out into the sunlight. A real slap in the face that left us speechless. We spent our time stopping to admire the landscape, even if some slightly empty places betray the age of the game, notably the imperial city. The character models have also undergone a revamp, as have their animations, but they remain rather stiff.
The gameplay has also been thoroughly revised. Hundreds of small things have been improved for the player's comfort. The combat, previously sluggish, has become more dynamic. Movement is also more flexible and the interface clearer. The overall experience is thus more enjoyable, but manages to retain the harshness specific to the original game that may confuse some. Last but not least: the level scalling system, a real flaw of the 2006 title, has been overhauled to bring it closer to what Skyrim offers. This improvement brings a new dimension to our adventure. A delight!
It's back to 2006
Not everything is perfect, far from it. For example, we regret the presence of bugs (which are almost part of the specifications for Bethesda games). In one night, on PC, we experienced four impromptu Windows returns. We also deplore the absence of French versions (which were present in the 2006 game) as well as the lack of mod support, something that we hope will be corrected quickly. Of course, some of the base game's flaws are also back, like dungeons that all end up looking the same, excursions into Oblivion that aren't really engaging, and towns that feel a bit empty.
These flaws are no match for the hard work put into this remaster. The question remains: should we buy it? Oblivion Remastered is a reissue like we'd like to see more often: magnificent, pleasant to hold, and above all, still in its original form. A balancing act that will delight longtime fans. RPG fans who have never played this classic will also be delighted. On the other hand, players impervious to the Bethesda formula will remain unmoved, as the title plays on nostalgia and respect for the codes. A huge success, then, but marred by some somewhat curious choices.
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