TES 4 Oblivion Remastered; STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL SCUM!!!!

[FakeSympathy]

Well fuck, did not see this shadow drop coming. It dropped at the announcement!

Oblivion was one of my all-time favorite games back in the day. Actually, I am gonna guess it was like that for many. The hilarious dialogs, janky controls, and ridiculously OP builds were all part of the charm. For years, I wondered what the remake would be like. And after a few hours, here are my thoughts

Let's start off with the good sutff first; The game looks amazing! It helps the fact that they ditched the creation club and used UE5 instead for their engine. However, I have to wonder if this means it's not mod-compatible? I am not a mod creator, so I don't know how mods on UE5 works.

Character dialogs and line deliveries, for the most part, has been left untouched. You still go into zoomed-in dialogs, but the zoom-in has a sudden cut, and not the transition that we saw in the past. But the facial animation is definite step-up. I think there are only handful of new lines. I'd say this is a good thing, because it was one of the original game's charms.

As I got more into ths game, I realized why this is called "Remastered". Because gameplay has remained mostly the same. Do not play on the hardest difficulty; It's the same shit where you take more dmage and deal less, without any substantial rewards.

Combat feels "improved". Minus the difficulty balance mentioend above, the hit detection and hitboxes definitely feels improved.

The best way I can describe this game is "That classic game, but nostalgia goggle is now a reality"

 

[Drathnoxis]

And Morrowind was the one everybody has been clamoring for all these years.

 

[meiam]

As I got more into ths game, I realized why this is called "Remastered". Because gameplay has remained mostly the same. Do not play on the hardest difficulty; It's the same shit where you take more dmage and deal less, without any substantial rewards.

Ahhh disappointing, really hate the leveling system in oblivion and basic gameplay isn't all that great either.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

...fifty dollars?

Hahahahahahahahahahaha no.

 

[BrawlMan]

...fifty dollars?

Hahahahahahahahahahaha no.

That's pretty much what Ninja Gaiden II: Black charged. For me, NG2B was worth it at full price. Though understandable either way from your perspective or anyone else's. Shadows of The Damned: Hella Remastered launched at $24.99 digital, and $29.99 physical, if pre-ordered through Limited Run Games. I did both, and payed $50 altogether.

 

[Dreiko]

I actually never played oblivion cause I never owned a 360. FO3 was my first bethesda style rpg, I'm kinda confused about why they'd release this instead of making TES6 but either way, might as well play it now for the first time. Apparently it's out on ps5 too this time around so that's neat.

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

The first Bethesda game I've ever played and the one that made me realize that I don't really enjoy Bethesda games which every subsequent I've tried out confirmed for me.

People keep telling me that Morrowind was their masterpiece but I couldn't get into it. I'm willing to concede that that's probably on me.

Oblivion, Skyrim, the Fallouts, Starfield... wasn't into them. Bland main quests. Extremely rudimentary character writing. Weightless combat. And every single interior having to be loaded separately which was already an anachronism when Oblivion originally came out and the fact that they're still doing it now is honestly just shameful.

Oblivion, for what it's worth, at least still had inspired quest design and I liked the Shivering Isles Expansion. But do I have any interest in replaying it? Not really.

 

[FakeSympathy]

I also stupidly bought the $60 deluxe edition; IDK why, guess it was on impulse. And I am also past the refund limit, so guess there's no turning back now.

The UI is much more player friendly, especially on the skills screen. Now they show what achieving each rank in a skill does, which is surprsingly motivating to level them up. I'm level 5 and already got illusion to 50.

The lockpicking minigame is still the same. Which means I am just gonna spam the auto attempt until I get the skeleton key.

They changed the leveling system, for the better. This hybrid system simplifies leveling up, with players adjusting specific attributes using virtue points. While not a precise copy of the simple skill tree used in Skyrim, this feature does make leveling up feel similarly smooth and satisfying. Simply add points to increase attributes, improving your skills as desired. This is a big change from the technically unwieldy system of the original, which broke skills down into Major and Minor skills based on your character’s class.

In other words, no more fucking up your character build! This means your character will become even more OP than in the original game. Granted the "builds" are gonna become meaningless once you max out the main skills and start leveling up other ones, but it's good to know that you no longer can fuck up your build.

I'm actually kinda impressed how well they captured the gameplay of creation engine. There's even console command on the pc version, and it's the exact same lines as the original! (player.additem FTW! especially for that lockpick spamming!)

But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. First and foremost, it was recently annouced that it will have no mod support.... at least from Bethesda. Apparently data miners are already messing around with the game file and found out it is still moddable, just not as convinient as before. No idea how the modding for this game is gonna work going onward, but good luck to all of the modders. Let's see those skimpy armors in UE5 engine again! /s

I've said the facial expression feels a lot more natural compared to the original, but it's nothing to write home about. During dialog, it looks like all their facial muscle is paralyzed, except their mouth area.

Also, the pie minigame for speechcraft is still there, just not in that obnoxious red-orange color anymore.

Despite still retaining the jankiness of the original, it still a gravitating experience. I think that's the beauty of these sandbox games. They can be really hard to get into, but you will sink tons of hours into this game. This game will make you lose track of time as the original did all those years ago.

But if you didn’t like the gameplay back then, you’re not going to like it any more now.

I am sure I will eventually get burned out and stop playing this game, but for now I gotta get some sleep.... in the game so that I can level up. Then I gotta do the dark brotherhood quest, then join the thieves guild, return to the main story, then start the mages guild quest, then do the arena, and then I gotta remember to_

rambles on about all the stuff to do in the game

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I've said the facial expression feels a lot more natural compared to the original, but it's nothing to write home about. During dialog, it looks like all their facial muscle is paralyzed, except their mouth area.

I've watched others play the game, and the crappy animation system is still there; you can see a character's expressions shift gears like a clunky manual transmission once they hit the end of a line of dialogue.

 

[Agema]

People keep telling me that Morrowind was their masterpiece but I couldn't get into it. I'm willing to concede that that's probably on me.

Oblivion, Skyrim, the Fallouts, Starfield... wasn't into them. Bland main quests. Extremely rudimentary character writing. Weightless combat. And every single interior having to be loaded separately which was already an anachronism when Oblivion originally came out and the fact that they're still doing it now is honestly just shameful.

What Bethesda really have going for them is the resources and experience to make a massive open world game.

Having recently played Avowed and Atomfall and read some of the devs talk about them, it's clear that it most studios just don't have the resources to take on that sort of project - or at least not without assuming critically dangerous levels of risk. So it generally needs a really major outfit - but how many are out there making that sort of RPG?

Thus Bethesda can probably afford to not be particularly good, because it has so few competitors for that type of game. Risk raises its ugly head here also, as it favours a safety-first approach, so bland is likely. Effort has to also be spread across multiple domains. An Elder Scrolls or Fallout game is also complex and needs to involve several types of gameplay, and so it is likely that some of the gameplay ends up inferior in those domains compared to a game that specialises in just one - for instance, a FPS just needs to be an FPS and so concentrates on being one, not having to waste time on working out and integrating dialogue, skill points, inventory systems, choices, etc.

I don't see how some degree of loading for interiors is avoidable, at least within a reasonable budget. I think Star Citizen plans on much deeper integration between gameplay elements (e.g. walking v. piloting and moving between locations), so it's much more seamless, but Star Citizen is also funded up the wazoo to a truly insane degree.

 

[Dreiko]

What Bethesda really have going for them is the resources and experience to make a massive open world game.

Having recently played Avowed and Atomfall and read some of the devs talk about them, it's clear that it most studios just don't have the resources to take on that sort of project - or at least not without assuming critically dangerous levels of risk. So it generally needs a really major outfit - but how many are out there making that sort of RPG?

Thus Bethesda can probably afford to not be particularly good, because it has so few competitors for that type of game. Risk raises its ugly head here also, as it favours a safety-first approach, so bland is likely. Effort has to also be spread across multiple domains. An Elder Scrolls or Fallout game is also complex and needs to involve several types of gameplay, and so it is likely that some of the gameplay ends up inferior in those domains compared to a game that specialises in just one - for instance, a FPS just needs to be an FPS and so concentrates on being one, not having to waste time on working out and integrating dialogue, skill points, inventory systems, choices, etc.

I don't see how some degree of loading for interiors is avoidable, at least within a reasonable budget. I think Star Citizen plans on much deeper integration between gameplay elements (e.g. walking v. piloting and moving between locations), so it's much more seamless, but Star Citizen is also funded up the wazoo to a truly insane degree.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 cost just 40 million dollars to make, and the game is both huge and full of dialogue with a script larger than BG3, and was made by a formerly indie studio who had to kickstart their only other game, so I think it's mainly about how you spend your money and what you emphasize that matters most.


Now, I understand that even 40m is a lot of money for a ton of studios, but it's not some insane GTA6 tier budget.

 

[Xprimentyl]

Great, another remaster no one asked for, and of a game so exhausted, very few will even be interested to bother with it.

And Morrowind was the one everybody has been clamoring for all these years.

Yes. Yes, we have.

People keep telling me that Morrowind was their masterpiece but I couldn't get into it. I'm willing to concede that that's probably on me.

Morrowind really was their masterpiece, and every Elder Scrolls since only improved on visuals and combat. That may sound substantial, improving graphics and fundamental gameplay, but that's peanuts compared to the sheer depth Morrowind had that the newer ones simply lack in abundance.

In newer Elder Scrolls' leveling system abso-fucking-lutely SUCK. Every aspect of the world levels up with you so you're never out of your depth. That means that no matter where you go a level 5 character faces level ~5 enemies, and only finds rudimentary, level ~5 loot and gear, so the best items are gated behind personal progression, and are effectively moot given a level 50 character is facing level 50 enemies; "a rising tide raises all ships," so to speak. This all amounts to an experience in an open world that doesn't reward exploration; there's literally no point in doing anything but following the main quest.

Morrowind 's world on the other hand, is static from the outset. There are places that aren't safe for a low-level character, but are accessible regardless, so a low-level character can find high-level gear almost immediately from the start, so exploring is highly rewarding and offers actual challenge. Atop that, it offers the kind of side quests that are so in name only; they are substantial questlines that you can explore for literal HOURS before ever starting the main questline.

Morrowind is high fantasy, i.e.: rich lore, austerity, complex and conflicting politics, powerful, god-like beings, etc.; Oblivion/Skyrim are Saturday morning cartoons fashioned with only the barest of bones from their predecessor.

 

[BrawlMan]

Morrowind really was their masterpiece, and every Elder Scrolls since only improved on visuals and combat. That may sound substantial, improving graphics and fundamental gameplay, but that's peanuts compared to the sheer depth Morrowind had that the newer ones simply lack in abundance.

Though it wasn't their biggest seller and didn't hit mainstream appeal on 360. Morrowind's accomplishments I am not diminishing, but it didn't make the big bank Oblivion did, nor is the most casual fans nor mainstream gaming remembers. Morrowind and its prequels are still stuck on PC with the various mods and etc. I do wish for the best for your sake and the Morrowind fans, but we all know it's probably never going to happen.

Morrowind is high fantasy, i.e.: rich lore, austerity, complex and conflicting politics, powerful, god-like beings, etc.;

ART!

Morrowind 's world on the other hand, is static from the outset. There are places that aren't safe for a low-level character, but are accessible regardless, so a low-level character can find high-level gear almost immediately from the start, so exploring is highly rewarding and offers actual challenge. Atop that, it offers the kind of side quests that are so in name only; they are substantial questlines that you can explore for literal HOURS before ever starting the main questline.

Reminds me of these videos.

​

 

[Xprimentyl]

Though it wasn't their biggest seller and didn't hit mainstream appeal on 360. Morrowind's accomplishments I am not diminishing, but it didn't make the big bank Oblivion did, nor is the most casual fans nor mainstream gaming remembers. Morrowind and its prequels are still stuck on PC with the various mods and etc. I do wish for the best for your sake and the Morrowind fans, but we all know it's probably never going to happen.

Mainstream appeal and financial success are not necessarily indicators of what makes a "masterpiece," i.e.: I don't consider Madden or Call of Duty masterpieces. Morrowind is the best execution of TES formula and most embodies what can make them special. It's the only one that actually feels like a true adventure: the world actually feels massive, you can get lost, you can find yourself in trouble, you can miss things if you don't engage with the inhabitants, your actions have permanence and consequences, everything the sequels did away with for "quality of life" improvements that only ultimately diminished the quality of the games.

Oblivion had the benefit being impressively shiny and new and a shiny and new console, but, while still a decent game, it's ultimately plastic, hollow, and a cheap experience, and Bethesda has been chasing that dragon of relevance ever since with games that are fundamentally identical covered in different skins. Will I play TES 6 if Bethesda can ever get their heads out of their remastered asses and actually make it? Probably, but I expect to be underwhelmed, breeze through it in a week or two and never think about it again.

 

[BrawlMan]

Mainstream appeal and financial success are not necessarily indicators of what makes a "masterpiece,"

I never said nor implied it did. Morrowind is most definitely a masterpiece by yours and most peoples standard definitions, but as show in any media, you can have the biggest masterpiece and not make the most money nor any money at all. Bethsheda is looking for the easy money, no different Capcom did with Resident Evil 4. Ironic, as both games are the 4th mainline entry in a long running franchise.

Bayonetta 2 is Platinum's masterpiece in my opinion, but didn't sell the most on Wii U. Not the worst thankfully, but that's mainly because of the platform it was one. Though the game sold great on Switch, and Platinum and Nintendo especially were more than satisfied. Regardless, it's Platinum's masterpiece because they fixed all the issues I had with the first game, added much better level design, new and crazier weapons while stilling bringing back some of the olds weapons, new and addictive bonus modes you don't have to spend 1000s of hours of unlocking or trying to find some dumb collectible by just beating the game once, and has multiple characters you can play in Tag Climax. All who play differently from each other. You can still only play as Bayonetta, Jeanne, or Rosa (Bayo's mother) in the main campaign, but that makes sense and I have 0 complaints about that.

Will I play TES 6 if Bethesda can ever get their heads out of their remastered asses and actually make it? Probably, but I expect to be underwhelmed, breeze through it in a week or two and never think about it again.

I still never played (aside from playing on my older brother's save file for a couple of hours) nor completed an full in-house Betheshda game. Nor will ever entertain the idea.

 

[Agema]

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 cost just 40 million dollars to make, and the game is both huge and full of dialogue with a script larger than BG3, and was made by a formerly indie studio who had to kickstart their only other game, so I think it's mainly about how you spend your money and what you emphasize that matters most.

Now, I understand that even 40m is a lot of money for a ton of studios, but it's not some insane GTA6 tier budget.

It was massively better funded than you think.

When we think about game development budgets, our mental picture is still that they are made in highly developed countries - Western Europe, North America, Japan, etc. These are places with high salaries, and computer game development is an industry where salaries are an unusually high proportion of production costs.

However, KC: D2 was made in the Czech Republic, where salaries are about a third of the USA. Thus had it been made in the USA, almost certainly KC: D2 would have cost over $100 million. From another perspective, the studio has 250 staff, all working on one game (/series). It's actually a large, AAA-scale operation.

 

[Gergar12]

Yes, another game to mod.

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[CriticalGaming]

I started the game last night as well and basically just played long enough to get to the open world. And yep, it is a Bethesda game for sure. You can immediately feel it in the controls and npc behavior right out the gate.

It looks pretty and the sword swing feels pretty good. I probably won't finish this game because it doesn't feel interesting to play beyond being a relic of the past that has been freshly polished.

I can see how this game would blow people's minds back in the day even without the glow up though. It has epic music and great landscapes, and Patrick Stewart telling you about adventure and shit. How could you not love it back in the day?

 

[Xprimentyl]

I started the game last night as well and basically just played long enough to get to the open world. And yep, it is a Bethesda game for sure. You can immediately feel it in the controls and npc behavior right out the gate.

It looks pretty and the sword swing feels pretty good. I probably won't finish this game because it doesn't feel interesting to play beyond being a relic of the past that has been freshly polished.

I can see how this game would blow people's minds back in the day even without the glow up though. It has epic music and great landscapes, and Patrick Stewart telling you about adventure and shit. How could you not love it back in the day?

Oh, for sure. For all of my gushing over Morrowind, there's no denying how impressive the first step out into the sunlight was in Oblivion way back in March of 2006, a jaw-dropper that most remember fondly as the "we have arrived" moment of the last gen to truly innovate over its predecessor. And the music is absolutely gorgeous; Jeremy Soule has done all of the TES as far as I recall, and his music remains probably one of the more timeless aspects from each game. It took a while, but once the newness wore off, I eventually came to miss the aspect from Morrowind that were stripped out.

 

[Drathnoxis]

The guild questlines were really good, though. The Dark Brotherhood in particular was fantastic. Has there ever been a game where being part of a gang of deranged murderers was more fun?