The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
" Stunning RPG with immersive world and revamped gameplay but frequent crashes and poor optimization "
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Review
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered evokes deep nostalgia for many players, rekindling the magic of the original 2006 release with its expansive world and immersive RPG elements. The graphics overhaul using Unreal Engine 5 is widely praised for its stunning visuals, improved character models, and atmospheric environments. Veteran players appreciate that the remaster preserves the original game's charm, including its quirky NPC interactions and classic storylines, while introducing quality-of-life improvements like sprinting and a revamped leveling system.
However, the remaster suffers from significant technical issues that mar the experience. Frequent crashes, severe performance problems, and memory leaks plague many users, especially on PC and Steam Deck platforms. The difficulty balancing is also criticized for being inconsistent, with the game feeling too easy on default settings and punishingly hard on higher difficulties. Additionally, some players find the quest design and AI to be outdated and occasionally frustrating.
Overall, Oblivion Remastered offers a beautiful, faithful revisit to a beloved classic, but its current technical instability and bugs hinder its full potential.
Highlights
Players overwhelmingly praise the remaster's visual enhancements and detailed environments, noting that the game looks breathtaking and modern while retaining its original atmosphere. The faithful preservation of the original story and questlines delights fans who enjoy the depth and nostalgia of the Elder Scrolls universe. The revamped leveling system and improved combat animations add a fresh yet familiar feel. Many appreciate the lively NPCs with schedules and interactions, contributing to an immersive world. The addition of sprinting and UI improvements also enhance gameplay fluidity.
Criticisms
The remaster is widely criticized for poor optimization and frequent crashes, with many players experiencing game-breaking bugs, memory leaks, and performance drops even on high-end PCs. Steam Deck users report severe stuttering and unplayability despite the game being marked as verified. The difficulty curve is described as unbalanced, swinging between too easy and frustratingly hard, with AI and enemy scaling issues. Some quests are buggy or confusing, and the interface and quality-of-life features are seen as lacking. The absence of mod support further limits fixes and customization.
Pros
- • Stunning graphics overhaul using Unreal Engine 5 brings Oblivion to life beautifully.
- • Faithful preservation of original story, quests, and NPC interactions delights fans.
- • Revamped leveling system improves character progression and balance.
- • Improved combat animations make fights feel more satisfying and fluid.
- • Addition of sprinting enhances movement and exploration.
- • Immersive world with lively NPC schedules and personalities.
- • Rich guild questlines offer deep role-playing experiences.
Cons
- • Frequent crashes and memory leaks make the game unstable and frustrating.
- • Poor optimization causes severe performance issues even on high-end PCs.
- • Steam Deck version is unplayable despite being marked as verified.
- • Difficulty balancing is inconsistent, with enemies either too weak or too strong.
- • AI suffers from pathing issues and lack of challenge in combat.
- • Some quests are bugged or confusing, requiring workaround or restart.
- • Interface is clunky and lacks modern conveniences like helmet hiding or fast travel inside buildings.
Rating Criteria
Explore Cyrodiil like never before with stunning new visuals and refined gameplay in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion™ Remastered.