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

Ask most gamers who were around during the Xbox 360 era, and despite the infamous Red Ring of Death, they'll likely share fond memories of their gaming experiences. For many, including myself, *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* stands out as a highlight. Working at Official Xbox Magazine at the time, I found that while the successful port of *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind* to Xbox didn't quite capture my interest, *Oblivion*—initially planned as a launch title for the Xbox 360—hooked me from the start. We featured multiple cover stories on *Oblivion* leading up to its launch, with the screenshots alone leaving everyone in awe. I eagerly volunteered for each trip to Bethesda's headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, to dive deeper into the game.

When it came time to review *Oblivion*, I jumped at the opportunity, especially since exclusive reviews were common back then. I returned to Rockville, spending four glorious days in a conference room in Bethesda's basement, immersing myself in the stunning, expansive world of Cyrodiil. Before heading back home, I had logged 44 hours on a submission build of the game on an Xbox 360 debug kit, which led to my enthusiastic 9.5 out of 10 review for OXM. *Oblivion* was an incredible game, filled with engaging quests like the Dark Brotherhood, unexpected discoveries such as the unicorn, and much more. Despite having to start over with the retail version, I eagerly poured another 130 hours into the game, so it's no surprise that I'm thrilled about its remastered and re-released version on modern platforms.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots

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For the younger generation who grew up with *Skyrim*, the newly released *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* will be their first "new" mainline Elder Scrolls game since *Skyrim* debuted over 13 years ago. While fans of all ages eagerly await *The Elder Scrolls VI*, which is likely still 4-5 years away, I'm envious of those who will experience *Oblivion* for the first time. However, I doubt it will have the same impact on them as it did for me back in March 2006. *Oblivion* is now a two-decade-old game, and while Bethesda deserves credit for releasing it this year rather than waiting for its 20th anniversary, it doesn't pack the same visual punch it did in 2006. Subsequent games, including *Fallout 3*, *Skyrim*, *Fallout 4*, and *Starfield*, have built upon what *Oblivion* achieved. The remaster looks better than the original, but it doesn't stand out as a groundbreaking experience the way it did back then.

*The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* was the perfect game at the perfect time. It fully utilized HD televisions and expanded the scope and scale of what gamers could expect from an open-world game, delivering a visual and experiential leap forward. Prior to *Oblivion's* release, *Fight Night Round 3* by EA had already set a high bar for graphics, but *Oblivion* took it to another level.

My memories of *Oblivion* are plentiful, as it offered a world brimming with discoveries and activities. For first-time players, I recommend either rushing through the main quest or saving it until you've explored every side quest and open-world activity. The reason? Once you start the main questline, Oblivion gates will begin to spawn randomly, which can become a nuisance. It's best to tackle them early on.

The technological leap from *Morrowind* to *Oblivion* might be unmatched, though perhaps *The Elder Scrolls 6* will bring a similar revolution if we wait long enough. However, playing *Oblivion Remastered* won't feel as starkly different from any version of *Skyrim* as it did back in 2006. Yet, whether you're experiencing *Oblivion* for the first time or revisiting it after hundreds of hours, its fully realized medieval fantasy world and the adventures it holds remain my favorite in the Elder Scrolls series. I'm thrilled it's back, even if its surprise release was anticipated by many.