Sadly, you read that title correctly. For all my years entrenched in the gaming world and playing some of the most memorable classics the industry has to offer, there have been an unfortunate few that I never got around to. In the case of Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, I felt that the outdated graphics and mechanics of a 20 year old game would lend itself more to frustration than enjoyment. The same can be said of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas (please don’t come at me I’m just a girl), but I recognize and appreciate the influence and lasting impact they have had on modern gaming. So imagine my surprise when I see that not only is Oblivion getting a remastered re-release, but it would be available before I’d even finished my lunch.
I believe I am the perfect audience for this remaster. Back in 2013. I played Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for the first time, my first foray into the Elder Scrolls series. Now, 12 years and over 3000 hours later, Skyrim remains one of my all time favorite games, with the soundtrack consistently my most played focus music during the work day. Skyrim changed my life in a lot of ways. The intimidation and exhilaration of being able to make my mark in a massive world, to forge my own path and ally myself with groups that shared my convictions, it still makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy. But of course, even without having played its predecessor, I knew that Oblivion had walked so that Skyrim could run. And, hopefully, so that Elder Scrolls VI could sprint… someday.
So, as soon as I had shrugged off the daily chains of capitalism (read: finished my work day), I hopped over to my PC and booted up. My first thought when the voice of Emperor Uriel Septim graced my ears was, “Wait, is that Patrick Stewart? THE Patrick Stewart? Captain Picard? Professor X? Bambi’s dad?” I immediately knew I was in for a treat, even in the nearly two hours I spent just in character creation (I know I have a problem, again, I’m just a girl).
A good story needs to begin with what I like to call that “Oh shit” moment. Think of games like The Last of Us or Final Fantasy VII, or Uncharted 2. Games that kick off with the proverbial “shit hitting the fan,” and forcing player investment immediately. Even though the Emperor spoke very plainly that he was not going to make it through those early minutes in the sewer alive, I still found myself gasping when he was killed. The assassination of a monarch is a quick way to get thrown into a world of political tension and intrigue, and that felt just as true with Oblivion. The Emperor trusted me enough in the final moments of his life to entrust me with the task of protecting his empire and assuring its continuity, and the big question I had to answer for myself is “Why?” And just like that, I was invested.
And then came the moment when I at last exited the sewers and found myself in the province of Cyrodiil for the very first time. The best way I can describe it is that it felt like meeting up with an old friend after many years apart. That moment where you find yourself choked up and give them a hug, then sit down and talk for hours and hours, as if no time has passed at all. I got that same warm and full feeling in my stomach, the exact same sensation that I had felt and been comforted by in the thousands of hours I’d spent in Skyrim. In that moment, I understood. I was salivating. A gorgeous open world fresh to explore. Yes, a game that is 20 years old and well loved and explored by many, but never by me. This is what it felt like to explore Tamriel before there was ever a Skyrim. This is the foundational experience for what would come after.
I’m only about 15 hours into my adventure by the time of publication, but as someone who has always craved the sensation of a slow trot through mystical woods on horseback, or gazing up at towering snowy peaks, or admiring a sky packed with stars, the Oblivion remaster is scratching an old itch. I have no idea what to expect as I continue to fight off the jaws of Oblivion, but I can tell you that I will be invested for every moment of it, quirks and all.
I hope this remaster sets into motion a trend of more remastered titles. Games that have laid the foundation for our beloved industry’s evolution but need a fresh coat of paint for a modern audience. Everyone deserves to experience a good story, and if a mechanical and graphical reboot are the only obstacles to games like Oblivion, then this is certainly attainable. I have no idea what to expect next here in Cyrodiil, but I know it’ll be memorable, and I’m grateful that Bethesda saw fit to give me and so many other players another chance. Because it’s been worth every single moment.
