2025 is shaping up to be a major year for gaming, especially with anticipated titles like the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake and Doom: The Dark Ages on the horizon. But what came as a genuine surprise was the remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Having never touched an Elder Scrolls game before — and with Black Ops 6 starting to feel stale — Oblivion deserved a shot.
At its core, Oblivion is a massive open-world fantasy RPG, not typically a personal genre of choice. But something about this remake felt different. The character creation system, in particular, stood out. It offered a level of customization that felt fresh and creative, leading the player to attempt a recreation of Solid Snake’s likeness under the Breton race.
The game’s opening was initially confusing. The story kicks off with the player waking up in a prison cell, soon meeting the Emperor, and then following him through a dungeon alongside a couple of knights. It was a bit jarring at first, but the narrative quickly picked up.
Combat mechanics at the start didn’t impress. Early battles involved goblins and a lone zombie, and the system felt clunky and awkward. Still, the visually stunning world was compelling enough to keep the player engaged. One standout feature was the specialized skills system, allowing users to tailor their combat style. Although the exact attributes selected were forgotten, the player distinctly remembers choosing hand-to-hand combat paired with the Lord birth sign. The Lord’s bonuses to armor rating and magic resistance proved powerful, making it a viable pick for nearly any build.
That said, the game wasn’t without its issues. Beyond the slightly awkward combat, the remake carried over one of the original game’s most infamous quirks: its difficulty scaling. On higher settings, enemies become serious damage sponges while dishing out excessive punishment themselves. This can be punishing for newcomers who haven’t optimized their builds. Fortunately, the game allows players to adjust difficulty at any point through the settings menu, offering a way to tune the experience to individual comfort levels.
Exploring the open world was a highlight, with no complaints in that department. For those who enjoy open-world RPGs, Oblivion comes highly recommended. After just one playthrough, this newcomer is now interested in exploring the ARPG genre further, particularly with titles like Dark Souls. Oblivion’s mix of monster-slaying and majestic environments left a strong impression.
For players burned out on shooters or gaming in general, Oblivion might just be the refresh they need. Its immersive world, excellent graphics, and fresh-feeling gameplay make it easy to lose track of time.
And in completely unrelated (but equally tragic) news: GTA 6 has reportedly been delayed until May 2026. At this rate, it feels like it might never come out.
