Oblivion Remastered: Bethesda's worst-kept secret

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The launch of Oblivion Remastered was unexpected for many. (Assuming you missed all the leaks beforehand) But what surprised me was that even I was excited. I've had mixed experiences with Bethesda's games. They're massive in scope, but the moment-to-moment gameplay never clicked with me. Looking at more recent open-world RPG's, it's not hard to see why. In Horizon, you'll be battling giant robot dinosaurs, frantically dodging each time it charges at you or Final Fantasy Rebirth, where you fight all manner of outlandish beasts with a sword so comically large it rivals its bearer. Bethesda's game design seems a little dated in comparison, lacking the fast-paced thrills modern competitors deliver so well. Even so, there's an undeniable charm to their games and a keen attention to detail that remains unmatched. The trailer won me over almost instantly, from the second that iconic score kicked in. Now I find myself completely obsessed with a game made almost 20 years ago, on a mission to "close shut the gates of Oblivion" and I'm loving it.

All visuals have been completely redone, yet the core experience from 2006 remains intact. The open world is vast, and the game invites you to explore every inch. Oblivion's biggest advantage over its competitors lies in its progression. Bethesda doesn't encourage the player to prioritise the main quest. What you choose to spend your time on is entirely up to you. My focus was to climb the ranks of the Dark Brotherhood. Then, after transforming into a vampire, my priorities quickly shifted to finding a cure in hopes of avoiding fatally burning up in the sunlight.

While talk amongst fans had been mostly positive, many are reporting poor performance, particularly on PC. It's true that the game struggles to maintain a consistent frame rate, but this didn't bother me as the gameplay never requires quick reactions where every second counts. However, the frequent crashes throughout my time playing did hinder my experience. Hopefully, this can be fixed in future updates.

Back in 2006, games made with this scale were a rarity. Now you'll be hard-pressed to find one without a giant open world. Interestingly, Oblivion's age is exactly what makes it unique to play today. Lacking the tropes you'd expect to see within its genre. World maps littered with towers to climb (Assassin's Creed style) or quests with recommended level requirements, designed to dissuade you from straying too far from your set path.

Oblivion may not be the most immersive RPG. Some aspects are a little janky, showing its age, but it offers an engaging fantasy adventure like no other. One that will vary depending on your playstyle and is entirely your own.