Back in 2006, Bethesda delighted the gaming world with the release of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Its expansive open world, a plethora of intriguing quests, and countless ways to customize characters with skills in magic, melee, and archery set it apart from other games at the time. But let’s be honest, part of Oblivion’s charm came from its unexpected quirks. Players couldn’t get enough of the awkward NPC dialogues, bizarre NPC antics, goofy voiceovers, and those delightful physics glitches that kept the laughs coming.
Now, here we are two decades later (doesn’t that make you feel old?) and fans still reminisce fondly about Oblivion’s endearing imperfections. Viral memes and hilarious clips capturing Oblivion’s unique moments, especially on platforms like YouTube, have only cemented its legacy. So, you can imagine the mixed feelings when Bethesda unexpectedly dropped Oblivion Remastered earlier this week. There was some trepidation—did Bethesda and their partners at Virtuos Games decide to “fix” the accidental hilarity that made the original such an entertaining experience?
It didn’t take long to find out. Right from the get-go, it’s clear: while Oblivion Remastered has polished up its visuals and mechanics, it’s kept all of its charming oddities intact. A quick browse through the top posts in the Oblivion subreddit confirms this, but one standout is a classic scene revisited by the YouTuber Bacon_. He recreated a popular meme from seven years ago, bringing it to life once more in the remastered version.
Take a trip down memory lane with a clip from early 2018 — which astonishingly has racked up 18 million views on YouTube. In it, an NPC robber threatens the player for 100 Gold, only to amusingly shrug it off as “worthless” when the player steals it right back. It’s a delightful example of Oblivion’s charming absurdity, so I was thrilled to see Bacon_ capture this moment anew in the remake, right at the same spot on the map. While Oblivion Remastered boasts snazzy Unreal Engine 5 graphics and smoother combat mechanics, it still has the heart and soul of the original.
Bacon_ even reimagined another of his classic moments: a clip featuring Rena Bruiant professing her love for dogs, only for her partner to suddenly attack one in the very next scene. Though, I have to say, the iconic “YEEHAUGH!” battle cry from the original video outshines the newer, toned-down “Hough.”
This dedication to preserving Oblivion’s original spirit is likely a big reason why the remaster is such a hit. Many young players are experiencing what feels like a brand-new addition to the Elder Scrolls series. Oblivion Remastered is currently a hot commodity on Steam and is also available on Xbox and PC through Xbox Game Pass (not on PS5, unfortunately), retailing at $49.99. However, savvy buyers can catch a deal on Fanatical, where it’s offered for $41.49.
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