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When we look at some of the most anticipated games of the decade, GTA 6 and Elder Scrolls 6 will be the talk of many. Fortunately, the former isn’t far away. However, the latter is a fleeting dream and something that doesn’t feel tangible at all. Still, there are a few games out there that we can all sink a few hours into that will make the wait feel way more bearable. The particular game I’m talking about is Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which surprised us all with a shadow drop, and it is the perfect title to keep us occupied while we wait a few more years for the next big Elder Scrolls.
Filling The Elder Scrolls Gap
We can say many things about Elder Scrolls as a whole or any other Bethesda RPG. The jank is there, some bugs may pop up, and a lot of wild shenanigans might appear during a playthrough. Yet, we can all agree that when it comes to world-building, games that hook us for years, an extensive list of mods, and replayability, Bethesda nails it all.
A lot of us are likely playing a heavily-modded Skyrim playthrough for the 20th time. I know I am. I have a 2TB storage drive just to store my modlists there and swap between them whenever I want. Yet, there comes a time when I need a break, and I’m left with an Elder Scrolls-sized hole in my life. Fortunately, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has come to fill the gap. It took me roughly half an hour to realize I would start sleeping late and probably ask for days off at work to play Oblivion (sorry editors). But that’s the magic of RPGs such as this.
Now, this isn’t just a simple remaster or a re-release. It feels more like a remake in many aspects. I shamefully admit I never finished the original Oblivion. For that matter, I’ve only finished Skyrim once, and don’t you dare judge me. I know all of you spend 20 hours with one character and then get the good old “restartitis” that makes you create a new Argonian. So yeah, that was the same for me in Oblivion, but it feels different now in the Remastered version. Much of the controls feel tighter, the visuals are gorgeous, and the jank, while still there, is not as bad as I remember it. Maybe, just maybe, it may’ve been part of its core charm all along, though your personal mileage may vary.
One More Stop Before Hammerfell (Most Likely)
Many players speculate Hammerfell is the series’ next setting, but reaching it without stopping in Cyrodiil first feels like a crime. Before Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls IV was one, if not the best, RPG around. I dare even say it has better things than Skyrim, and I could die on that hill. In that regard, I’m glad to have Oblivion Remastered before Elder Scrolls 6. Yet, that’s me looking at this shadow drop from an old fan’s perspective; new fans will enjoy it even more.
While you can jump between each Elder Scrolls without worrying about the previous one, Oblivion is a must-play. Skyrim is almost flawless. Its side stories are fantastic, the world-building is great, and many of us know how to navigate the frozen province better than our own hometowns, or at least I do. Still, it was bland in a few ways. For instance, the main story didn’t capture me as quickly as the Thieves’ Guild plot or the fantastic Dark Brotherhood questline. In Oblivion, though, everything is much better. Mechanically, though, it’s up for debate. But when it comes to narrative and world-building, Cyrodiil will make your jaws drop.
Hopefully, many players will give Oblivion Remastered a chance. Yes, Elder Scrolls 6 is the big thing we want, but let’s be real: it won’t arrive anytime soon. There’s a higher chance of seeing Skyrim on the Nintendo Switch 2 with a new version than seeing the rumored Hammerfell, so why not stick with Oblivion? I know I will, at least for the coming weeks, nay, months.
