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

Ask most gamers who were around during the Xbox 360 era, and aside from the infamous Red Ring of Death, they'll likely share many fond memories. For me, and countless other Xbox 360 owners, *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* was a source of many such memories. I was working at Official Xbox Magazine at the time, and while the port of *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind* to Xbox didn't quite capture my interest, *Oblivion* did so from the start. Initially planned as a day-one launch title for the Xbox 360, *Oblivion* was the subject of multiple cover stories in our magazine. The screenshots alone were mesmerizing, and I eagerly volunteered for every trip to Bethesda's offices in Rockville, Maryland, to cover the game's development.

When it came time to review *Oblivion*, and in an era where exclusive reviews were commonplace, I was again eager to participate. I returned to Rockville, spending four glorious days in a conference room in Bethesda's basement, immersing myself in the game. I spent nearly every waking moment exploring the vast, beautiful world of Cyrodiil. Before heading back home, I had logged 44 hours on a submission build on an Xbox 360 debug kit, which led to my enthusiastic 9.5 out of 10 review in OXM. *Oblivion* was a masterpiece, with its engaging quests, such as those from the Dark Brotherhood, and its delightful secrets like the unicorn. Upon receiving the final boxed copy, I had to start anew, but that didn't deter me. I gladly invested another 130 hours into the game, so it's no surprise I'm thrilled about its remastered release on modern platforms.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots

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For younger gamers who grew up with *Skyrim*, the release of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* is a special event. It marks their first "new" mainline Elder Scrolls game since *Skyrim* was first released over 13 years ago. As franchise fans of all ages eagerly await *The Elder Scrolls VI*, which is likely still 4-5 years away, this remaster offers a fresh experience. I'm envious of this generation who see *Skyrim* as their benchmark for the Elder Scrolls series because *Oblivion Remastered* will be their introduction to the earlier gem of the series.

However, I doubt *Oblivion* will have the same impact on them as it did for me back in March 2006. It's a two-decade-old game now, and many other titles, including Bethesda's own *Fallout 3*, *Skyrim*, *Fallout 4*, and *Starfield*, have built upon its foundation. Additionally, the visual impact of *Oblivion* isn't as groundbreaking now as it was then, when it was arguably the first true next-gen game of the HD era on Xbox 360. The remaster certainly looks better than the original, but it doesn't stand out as dramatically as it once did. Remasters aim to modernize older games for current platforms, unlike full remakes like *Resident Evil*, which start from scratch and aim to match or exceed contemporary graphics.

*The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* was truly the right game at the right time. It capitalized on the advent of HD televisions, expanding the scope and scale of what gamers could expect from an open-world game. It was a revelation for console gamers who had previously experienced games through interlaced 640x480 resolution screens. Just a month before *Oblivion's* release, *Fight Night Round 3* by EA also stunned with its graphics.

My memories of *Oblivion* are numerous, filled with exploration and discovery. For first-time players, I recommend either rushing through the main quest or saving it until you've explored every side quest and activity. The reason? Once you start the main quest, Oblivion gates will begin to spawn, disrupting your exploration. It's best to deal with them swiftly.

The leap from *Morrowind* to *Oblivion* was monumental, and while we might not see such a leap again until *The Elder Scrolls VI*, the remastered version of *Oblivion* remains a joy to play. It might not offer the same stark contrast to *Skyrim* as it did originally, but its fully realized medieval fantasy world and the adventures it holds still make it my favorite Elder Scrolls game. I'm delighted it's back, even if its release was anticipated and spoiled multiple times before its arrival.