No Other Game Capitalises On Nostalgia Quite Like Oblivion Remastered

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As a child, I opened up my first PS3 on Christmas morning, a thrilling start to games that had previously been just dreams. The console has since provided me with countless joyful memories in the intricately crafted world of LittleBigPlanet, the skateboarding paradise of Skate’s San Vanelona and Port Carverton, and the expansive island of Just Cause 2’s Panau – just a few examples among many.

That Christmas morning, what stands out most in my memory is immersing myself in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Up until then, I hadn’t played any games from Bethesda, and wasn’t familiar with the concept of ‘Elder Scrolls’. Despite this, I jumped right in without hesitation. The memorable opening scene, where you emerge from the Imperial sewers into a vast, verdant landscape, was not just a pivotal moment in my gameplay, but also a transformative one for me and my personal connection with video games.

Now, I’m 27 years old, and Oblivion Remastered just gave me that moment all over again.

An Oblivion Gateway Into Fantasy

For over ten years, I’ve yearned for a remaster or remake of Oblivion, and every time Skyrim was released anew, my longing only intensified. While I adore Skyrim, there’s a unique charm about Oblivion that makes me feel a tinge of sadness each time it seems to fade further into the past.

For the first time, this game, notably a genuine fantasy title, offered me an experience beyond any other I’d had playing Harry Potter on PS1 or The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on PS2. Oblivion granted me the freedom to craft my own adventure without restricting me to predefined characters or paths. What truly set this game apart was its approach where we didn’t have to be ‘the chosen one’, but rather, we were tasked with aiding the chosen one instead.

Am I the Dragonborn? No, I’m his bodyguard.

Returning to Oblivion Remastered after so many years feels invigorating: most games let you assume the role of a significant character, which makes sense given that we’re often the ones tasked with saving the world or wielding some sort of ancient power. However, this merely serves to underscore Oblivion’s uniqueness; our insignificance means that any greatness must be earned within a world far greater than ourselves.

Oblivion Remastered Takes Me Back To The Way I Used To Play Games

Beyond appreciating Cyrodiil in a fresh, breathtaking perspective, I’m unconsciously slipping back into the routine of playing games similar to how I did as a child long ago. As a novice to such expansive video games, I failed to grasp the idea of saving my progress when things went awry; whatever transpired, simply happened, and there’s an allure in that simplicity that I yearn to recreate in this modern age.

Rather than frequently reloading saved games to achieve desired outcomes, I’ve come to understand the significant impact this can have on the gaming experience. However, during my initial playthrough of Oblivion, this practice was not a common occurrence for me.

Seriously, I feel like I’m going to wake up and Oblivion Remastered was just a dream.

As a youngster, my horse in the game Oblivion perished somewhere within the northern mountains. I can’t recall the specifics, but it was an extremely sorrowful event for me. The idea of reloading an earlier save never occurred to me. Instead, I took some fabric from my inventory and used it to cover my deceased horse. I then positioned torches on both sides as a makeshift funeral pyre, bidding farewell to my loyal steed before venturing forth through the unforgiving cold on foot.

Over the years, a cherished, innocent memory from my encounter with Oblivion has stayed with me, often the first thing that comes to mind when I reminisce about it. As I embark on this new journey with Oblivion Remastered, with nearly two decades having passed since then, this memory remains vivid in my thoughts. To maintain this perspective, I’m choosing to embrace whatever unfolds – for better or worse. And as before, I look forward to immersing myself once again in the enchantment of Cyrodiil.

Opening the gates to Oblivion ignited a passion for fantasy within me, and now, after nearly two decades, those gates have reopened, prompting me to walk right in without a moment’s pause.

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2025-04-29 03:04