When I first played The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion back in 2007, my dad casually walked into my room, tossed the game at me, and said, “Hey, thought you might like this.”
He was right — and I proceeded to play the hell out of it on PlayStation 3.
Fast forward almost 20 years, and Virtuos has given the game a much-needed breath of fresh air. The result? Oblivion now looks and feels right at home on current-gen consoles.
Visuals & Atmosphere
There’s no other way to say it — Oblivion Remastered looks and sounds incredible.
Voices echo in caves and sound crisp indoors, adding depth to an already expansive world. Lightning, weather effects and ambience look incredible. I was genuinely impressed to see raindrops bounce off surfaces and ripple across nearby ponds.
In the distance, I spotted the blue glow of an Ayleid ruin, the flicker of a campfire, and bandits wandering their outpost.
Walking through the Imperial City solidified it: a lot of care and attention went into this remaster. I found myself revisiting places I vaguely remembered from nearly two decades ago — everything felt familiar, but new. Amid the chatter of townsfolk and guards asking if I needed something, I picked up on a few new voices. A small addition, but one that adds real dimension.
Admittedly, character models still look… well, weird. But let’s be honest — that was always part of Oblivion’s oddball charm. It might feel jarring for newcomers, but for someone who overslept more than a few mornings because of this game, it’s just part of the DNA.
Menus have also been reworked and are much easier to navigate than before. They’re still not as sleek as Skyrim’s, but they’re a major improvement over the 2006 originals.
Combat, Gear & Enemies
Built in Unreal Engine 5, this remaster lets the armor and weapons shine. I’ve had a blast picking up random gear just to see how it looks now. Most of it? Badass.
Enemy designs have also been upgraded and now feel genuinely menacing. Oblivion has always had an undercurrent of unease, and this visual refresh leans into that feeling in the best way.
The controls, however, show their age.
They’re not bad — just dated. My character felt unusually light, almost floaty, compared to modern first-person games. I had to turn down the sensitivity just to feel grounded. It’s not game-breaking, but it’s definitely where the game’s age is most noticeable.
Editions, Balance & Replay Value
Here’s where things get a little strange.
I’ve logged around 120 hours and only died twice on Adept difficulty. That’s not a brag — it just feels like the difficulty balance could use some tweaking.
In one massive dungeon (I was around level 20), enemies dropped leveled gear. After one long sell-and-loot loop, my gold shot from 6,000 to over 150,000. My Mercantile and Armorer skills skyrocketed. I only ran it once, but still — it felt a little broken.
After buying every house in the game, upgrading them, and stocking up on potions, gold lost most of its value. Maybe I’ve just become a smarter player, but some balance adjustments would go a long way.
In terms of sheer content, I spent many, many hours doing side quests before I touched the main quest. And I’ve barely scratched the surface with Shivering Isles after beating the main quest.
Needless to say, there’s a ton to do in the game.
What You Get
There are two editions:
- Standard Edition ($49.99) includes the base game, Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and all DLC (Fighter’s Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrunes’ Razor, Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, The Orrery, and yes, Horse Armor).
- Deluxe Edition ($59.99) includes all of the above, plus unique digital Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon armor and weapon sets, horse armor, a digital artbook, and a soundtrack app.
Honestly, both versions are a good deal. The deluxe armor is nice early on, but gets outclassed pretty quickly by leveled loot. And the soundtrack? It’s already on Spotify — a lot easier than launching it from the console.
Final Thoughts: A Worthy Return to Cyrodiil
Remasters often feel lazy, and remakes sometimes lose the soul of the original (looking at you, Final Fantasy VII Remake).
But Oblivion Remastered sets a new bar.
I originally called this a remake, but after 100+ hours, “remaster” is the better term — and a damn good one. Virtuos managed to retain everything that made Oblivion special, while giving it a modern facelift that respects its roots.
Whether you’re returning to Cyrodiil or setting foot in it for the first time, there’s never been a better way to experience this classic.
The Good
- Visual details feel fresh and vibrant
- Audio enhancements make for an immersive world
- Weapons, armor, and enemies look fantastic
- Great value at either $50 or $60
The Bad
- Controls feel light and slightly outdated
- Some character models still look unsettling
- Difficulty and loot balance could use tuning
My Score: 8.5 / 10
Viking Wolf's Den Gaming Blog 
Leave a comment