Ask most gamers who experienced the Xbox 360 era, and beyond the infamous Red Ring of Death, you'll likely hear many fond memories. Among those, *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* stands out as a cherished experience for many Xbox 360 owners, including myself. At the time, I was working at Official Xbox Magazine, and while the successful port of *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind* to Xbox didn't quite captivate me, *Oblivion* grabbed my attention right from the start. Originally slated as a day-one launch title for the second Xbox, *Oblivion* was the subject of multiple cover stories, with its stunning screenshots captivating our imaginations. Eagerly, I volunteered for each trip to Bethesda's headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, to get a closer look at the game's development.

When the time came to review *Oblivion*—back in the days when exclusive reviews were the norm—I jumped at the chance once more. I returned to Rockville, spending four glorious, consecutive 11-hour days immersed in the game's world of Cyrodiil. Before heading home, I had logged 44 hours on a submission build at Bethesda, using an Xbox 360 debug kit. My review for OXM scored *Oblivion* a 9.5 out of 10, a rating I stand by to this day. The game was a masterpiece, filled with gripping quests like the Dark Brotherhood, delightful surprises such as the hidden unicorn, and much more. However, I had to start anew upon receiving the retail version of the game, which I had already invested nearly two full days into.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots

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I eagerly invested another 130 hours into *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*, so it's no surprise that I'm thrilled about its remastered and re-released version on modern platforms. For the younger generation who grew up with *Skyrim*, the newly released *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* marks their first "new" mainline Elder Scrolls game since *Skyrim* debuted over 13 years ago. While fans of all ages eagerly await *The Elder Scrolls VI*, which is still likely 4-5 years away, younger gamers get to experience the magic of *Oblivion* anew.

However, I must admit that *Oblivion* might not hit the same way for today's gamers as it did for me back in March 2006. It's a two-decade-old game, and numerous titles, including Bethesda's own *Fallout 3*, *Skyrim*, *Fallout 4*, and *Starfield*, have since built upon its innovations. Additionally, while the remaster enhances the visuals, it no longer stands out as the groundbreaking "next-gen" experience it was on the HD Era ushered in by the Xbox 360. Remasters aim to update older games for modern platforms, unlike remakes such as *Resident Evil*, which are built from scratch to meet contemporary visual standards.

*The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* was the perfect game at the perfect time. It leveraged HD televisions to expand the scope and scale of open-world gaming, delivering an unprecedented experience for console gamers accustomed to interlaced 640x480 displays. (Though, in February 2006, just before *Oblivion's* release, EA's *Fight Night Round 3* also made a visually stunning impression.)

My memories of *Oblivion* are rich, filled with endless discoveries and adventures. For first-time players, I recommend either rushing through the main quest or saving it until you've explored every sidequest and activity. The reason? Once you start the main questline, Oblivion gates will begin to spawn randomly, potentially disrupting your exploration.

The technological leap from *Morrowind* to *Oblivion* might be unmatched in the future, though *The Elder Scrolls VI* could surprise us. However, playing *Oblivion Remastered* won't feel as groundbreaking as the original did compared to *Skyrim*. Yet, whether you're diving into *Oblivion* for the first time or revisiting it after hundreds of hours, its fully realized medieval fantasy world and the surprises it holds have always made it my favorite Elder Scrolls game. I'm thrilled it's back, even if its surprise release was long anticipated.