"New Oblivion: Remake Look, Remaster Feel"

When Bethesda unveiled Oblivion Remastered earlier this week, it was nothing short of a visual spectacle. The 2006 classic, once known for its quirky, potato-faced characters and the lush, albeit low-resolution, landscapes of Tamriel, has now been transformed into the most visually stunning Elder Scrolls game to date. With past experiences of HD remasters like Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Dark Souls Remastered, which barely diverged from their original Xbox 360 versions, I was skeptical. Yet, seeing the Imperial City reborn in Unreal Engine 5 with ray tracing was nothing short of breathtaking. Beyond the visual overhaul, the game boasts enhancements in combat, RPG mechanics, and numerous other refinements. This led me to question whether Bethesda and developer Virtuos had misnamed their project—could this be an Oblivion Remake instead of a remaster?

I wasn't the only one pondering this. The gaming community, along with Bruce Nesmith, a senior designer on the original Oblivion, felt the term "remaster" might not fully encapsulate the extent of the changes. However, after diving into the game for several hours, it became evident that despite its remake-like appearance, Oblivion Remastered indeed plays like a remaster.

But it's not just about visuals. Combat has been significantly improved; wielding a longsword now feels impactful rather than like dueling with a balloon. The third-person camera is now equipped with a functional reticule, enhancing gameplay. Menus, from the quest journal to dialogue and minigames like lockpicking and persuasion, have been given a modern interface update. The original, problematic leveling system has been replaced with a more intuitive hybrid of Oblivion and Skyrim's systems. Sprinting has been added, further enhancing the gameplay experience. With such extensive visual and gameplay upgrades, one might argue this ventures into remake territory.

However, the distinction between remakes and remasters is murky. There are no strict industry guidelines, and terms are often used loosely. For instance, Rockstar's "Definitive Edition" remasters of the Grand Theft Auto trilogy retain their PlayStation 2-era feel despite upscaled textures and modern lighting. In contrast, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, also called a remaster, features entirely new graphical assets, resembling a modern game. Remakes like Bluepoint's Shadow of the Colossus and Demon's Souls are rebuilt from scratch yet remain faithful to the originals, while Resident Evil 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth take significant liberties with design and narrative.

If we define a remaster as a graphical overhaul that preserves the core design of the original game, with some quality-of-life improvements, and a remake as a complete redesign from scratch, then Oblivion Remastered fits the former. Despite its new assets and Unreal Engine 5 enhancements, the game retains the essence of the original, with its quirks and limitations intact.

New lighting, fur, and metallic effects are just the tip of the iceberg of Oblivion Remastered's changes. Image credit: Bethesda / Virtuos

Oblivion Remastered, while visually stunning, still feels like a game from the 2000s at its core. The loading screens, the quirky persuasion minigame, the simplistic city designs, the stilted NPC interactions, and the somewhat clunky combat all hark back to the game's original era. Even the preserved bugs and glitches add to its charm.

Compared to modern games like Obsidian's Avowed, which showcases advanced combat and exploration mechanics, Oblivion Remastered's elements seem dated. Yet, the game retains its magic; its open fields are filled with mysteries and the ambition of its questing structure remains impressive. The old-school approach to player freedom feels refreshing in today's gaming landscape. However, the dialogue, system interconnectivity, and level design feel antiquated. A true remake would have modernized these elements, but Oblivion Remastered focuses on reliving the past.

In film, remakes are new productions with new casts and scripts, while remasters enhance existing films to meet modern quality standards. Oblivion Remastered is akin to a 4K restoration of a classic film; it pushes the visual envelope but remains a product of its time. As Alex Murphy, executive producer at Virtuos, aptly put it, "We think of the Oblivion game engine as the brain and Unreal 5 as the body. The brain drives all the world logic and gameplay and the body brings to life the experience that players have loved for almost 20 years."

Oblivion Remastered is a testament to what a remaster can achieve. It sets a new standard for how other AAA remasters should be approached. Unlike the minimal updates seen in Mass Effect Legendary Edition or the controversial Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, Oblivion Remastered is a labor of love that respects its origins while delivering a visually and functionally enhanced experience. It's not a cynical cash grab but a passionate tribute to a beloved classic, perfectly balancing the line between a remake and a remaster.