Oblivion Remastered: A Nostalgic Return, But With a Twist
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has arrived, and for many long-time fans, including myself, it's a dream come true. The moment the announcement dropped, I practically teleported home, eager to dive back into Cyrodiil. While some hoped for a surprise Elder Scrolls VI reveal, the reality is that this remaster largely delivers on its promise of faithfully recreating the original experience.
From the quirky dialogue to the somewhat clunky gameplay, the core of what made Oblivion special remains intact. However, one particular change, while understandable in a modern context, has slightly soured the experience for me. It's the addition of new voice acting.
A Nostalgic Dive Back In Growing up, Oblivion was one of my go-to PC games. I poured countless hours into exploring Cyrodiil, becoming intimately familiar with its every nook and cranny. Even after numerous playthroughs, I never quite grasped the leveling system! The reveal of Oblivion Remastered brought a wave of nostalgia, flooding me with memories of the original. Oblivion Remastered feels more like a remake than a simple remaster. Bethesda and Virtuos have clearly poured a lot of effort into not only improving the visuals, but also adding subtle enhancements that make the game feel like it always should have been. It’s an undeniably better experience than the original in almost every way, and I've loved rediscovering Cyrodiil with these minor tweaks.
The Double-Edged Sword of New Voices One of the key improvements in Oblivion Remastered is the expanded voice cast. The original game a limited number of voice actors who voiced multiple characters. These actors did a commendable job, and their voices are now iconic thanks to countless memes. However, Bethesda and Virtuos opted for a more diverse cast for this modern update, which is understandable. The new voices fill roles previously held by the original actors. Now, different Imperial Watch guards deliver the infamous line, "Stop, you've violated the law!" Furthermore, each race now has a distinct sound, making the world of Oblivion Remastered feel more immersive and believable.
A Familiar World, But Different While I understand the rationale behind the new voice acting, it feels like a fundamental change to a key element of the original game. I’ve previously expressed my hope that Oblivion Remastered would avoid altering the best aspects of the original, including the voice acting. Despite the fact that many of the original voice actors and even some of the iconic flubbed lines are preserved, the new voices introduce an unfamiliar element to a world that I knew so well. Wandering through the Imperial City and hearing a completely new voice feels jarring. It’s a small detail, but it serves as a constant reminder that this isn't the Oblivion I played over a decade ago. Perhaps the issue lies in my own nostalgia. Playing Oblivion Remastered felt like a quest to recapture my youthful memories and the free-spirited creativity I once possessed. In my attempts to relive the past, I failed to fully embrace the improvements that make the game better.
A New Beginning for New Players Newcomers to the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion will likely appreciate the expanded voice cast, especially since they do a fantastic job of emulating the tone and style of the original actors. While these new voices may sound out of place to veterans, they will seamlessly integrate into the experience for those unfamiliar with the original Oblivion. The same holds true for the updated visuals, which, while lacking the ethereal atmosphere of the original, are more appealing to modern audiences. Similarly, updated features such as leveling, sprinting, and the third-person perspective enhance the overall experience. Oblivion Remastered occupies a unique space for me. It’s deeply rooted in nostalgia, perfectly poised to reignite that sense of wonder, yet I am no longer the same person I once was. That’s not to say I can't enjoy Oblivion Remastered – quite the opposite – but my experience will inevitably be different. I hope that my experience with Oblivion Remastered in 2025, while different, will be just as enjoyable as it was back in 2006.