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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has brought up a new question: should we all play the Remaster or stick to a modded Oblivion? Quite the dilemmas we face as gamers. Oblivion has been around for many years, and despite its age, the modding landscape is still growing. It might not reach Skyrim levels, but it definitely has a dedicated community. Yet, a shiny new Remaster is also interesting to try, right? Better visuals, less jank, a more modern feel without mods, what’s not to like? Still, many might want that 2006 feel for another 100-hour playthrough. Assuming you’re the one facing this conundrum, let’s see which game deserves your attention for the next months.
Oblivion Remastered Might Become the Next Modded Adventure Soon
Right off the bat, many players will believe that a “new” game, in this case, Oblivion Remastered, won’t be able to be modded quickly. Well, allow me to correct you there, or rather, let Reddit user Zealousideal_Pen9063 do it. In the link I’ve included, a Redditor has discovered that the TES Construction Kit from the original Oblivion can open files from the remaster, which is a way of saying “the modding floodgates will soon open.”
When or how will it happen is as uncertain as trying to sneak around a rat in the Cyrodiil sewers, but the option is there. Yet, if history has taught us anything, we might have to wait a few months to get proper mods that will greatly impact one’s playthrough. Cosmetic mods might be the first to appear there, so those roleplaying as the Lusty Argonian Maid won’t have to wait a lot. Then again, it’s all speculation, as nothing has been modded at the time of writing.
Oblivion (2006) With Mods Is An Absolute Joy to Play
Let’s take a look at Oblivion from 2006 and its modded landscape. At the time of writing, there are over 32,000 mods on Nexus. They range from massive overhauls to visual enhancements to even mods that fix how scaling works. In that sense, one would instantly go for a modded Oblivion playthrough instead of trying the Remastered version. But allow me to be the Daedra’s advocate.
Modded Oblivion is fantastic, but even with thousands of mods, there are core issues that the original game is dragging. Yes, modders have fixed many, but getting rid of a student loan might be easier than removing the jank. On the other hand, the modding tools might not be as powerful as those for Skyrim. Just take a look at the modded Dragonborn, and they are pulling off moves out of a gacha game. Yeah, it might not be everyone’s cup of Alto Wine, but the variety is there. Also, Oblivion is enhanced by mods, but more on the visual department, and that’s a good thing. This entry is already solid and doesn’t need as much fixing or narrative tweaking as the Nordic adventure does.
The Verdict
If it were a Skyrim thing, I would recommend a modded playthrough in a heartbeat. However, Oblivion and Oblivion Remastered are already superb experiences where modding isn’t as vital. In that regard, playing Oblivion Remastered is the best choice. This version fixes many issues, enhances the 2006 visuals, improves several uncanny valley faces, and presents players with the legendary adventure in a new light. Furthermore, it’s always nice to experience how a game was before adding Thomas the Tank Engine, isn’t it?
