"New Oblivion: Remake Looks, Remaster Gameplay"

When Bethesda finally unveiled Oblivion Remastered earlier this week, it felt like a dream come true for fans of the 2006 classic. The game, once known for its quirky, potato-faced characters and low-resolution landscapes, has been transformed into the most visually stunning Elder Scrolls title to date. Thanks to the power of Unreal Engine 5 and ray tracing, the Imperial City I explored nearly two decades ago looks breathtakingly realistic. But it's not just the visuals; the game boasts enhancements in combat, RPG systems, and countless other details. This led me to question if Bethesda and developer Virtuos had misnamed the project. Could this be an Oblivion Remake rather than a mere remaster?

It seems I wasn't the only one pondering this. Many fans and even Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer on the original Oblivion, have suggested it's more of a remake. Yet, after playing for several hours, it became clear that while Oblivion Remastered may look like a remake, it plays like a remaster.

The reason *Oblivion* looks so fresh is because Virtuos has meticulously redesigned every asset from scratch. From trees to swords to crumbling castles, everything on screen is brand new, meeting today's graphical standards with stunning textures, lighting, and a revamped physics system that makes every interaction feel more lifelike. Although the NPCs are the same as those from 2006, each model has been entirely recreated. This overhaul aims to meet 2025's graphical expectations rather than simply recreating the past. It's the most visually impressive Bethesda Game Studios RPG yet, and had I seen it before the remaster rumors, I might have mistaken it for *The Elder Scrolls 6*.

But it's not just about looks. Combat has been significantly improved, making wielding a longsword feel more satisfying. A functional third-person camera with a reticule has been added, and every menu, from the quest journal to lockpicking and persuasion minigames, has been refreshed. The original problematic leveling system has been replaced with a more logical hybrid of Oblivion and Skyrim's approaches. And finally, players can sprint. With such extensive visual and gameplay upgrades, one might argue we're entering remake territory.

If I had seen Oblivion Remastered before the rumors began, I’d probably have believed it was The Elder Scrolls 6. However, the issue here isn't technology, game changes, or project scope, but semantics. There are no clear industry standards distinguishing remakes from remasters, and terms are often used interchangeably. For instance, Rockstar's "Definitive Edition" remasters of the Grand Theft Auto trilogy still show their PlayStation 2 roots, while the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, also called a remaster, features entirely new graphics that align with modern standards. Remakes like Bluepoint's Shadow of the Colossus and Demon's Souls rebuild games from the ground up, yet remain faithful to the originals. Resident Evil 2 redesigns gameplay while sticking to the original structure, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth overhaul design, script, and story significantly. These examples highlight the lack of a consistent philosophy in defining remakes.

Historically, a game rebuilt from scratch in a modern engine was considered a remake, while remasters were limited upgrades within the original technology. This definition is becoming outdated. Today, it might be more appropriate to define a remaster as a graphical overhaul that preserves the original game's design with minor gameplay enhancements, while a remake redesigns the game entirely, offering a fresh take on old ideas. Under these definitions, Demon's Souls and Metal Gear Solid: Delta might be seen as remasters, reserving the term "remake" for games that genuinely feel new.

New lighting, fur, and metallic effects are just the beginning of the extensive changes in Oblivion Remastered. Image credit: Bethesda / Virtuos

So, is Oblivion a remake or a remaster? After playing even just an hour, it's clear that Oblivion Remastered is aptly named. Despite the new assets and Unreal Engine 5's ray tracing making it look brand new, the core remains a 20-year-old game, preserved in its original form. As Bethesda stated, "We looked at every part and carefully upgraded it. But most of all, we never wanted to change the core. It’s still a game from a previous era and should feel like one."

The signs of its age are evident everywhere: from the loading screens behind every door to the perplexing persuasion minigame, the simplistic city designs, the awkward NPC movements, the still somewhat clunky combat, and the preserved bugs and glitches that add to the game's quirky charm.

Just a couple of months ago, Obsidian's Avowed showcased a modern take on some of The Elder Scrolls' foundational elements. Its dynamic combat and exploration mechanics make Oblivion Remastered feel like a relic. Yet, Oblivion Remastered still has much to offer in 2025. Its world remains enchanting, filled with mysteries and oddities across its Rohan-like fields. Its ambitious features, like dynamic goblin wars and satisfying quest structures, still shine brightly compared to Skyrim's repetitive dungeon missions. Its old-school approach to player freedom feels refreshing in today's more guided gaming landscape. However, the finer details of Oblivion show its age, with dated dialogue, disjointed systems, and ancient level designs. A true remake would modernize these elements, but Oblivion Remastered focuses on reliving the original experience.

What do you think the new Oblivion is? --------------------------------------

It's a remake. It's a remaster. It's a different thing and we need a new word for it.

AnswerSee Results

In the world of movies, remakes are new productions with new casts, crews, scripts, and sets, while remasters enhance existing films to match modern picture quality standards. Like the 4K restorations of Jaws and The Godfather, Oblivion pushes visual quality to its limits, recreating its "exterior" in a new engine but remaining a product of the 2000s at its core. Alex Murphy, executive producer at Virtuos, described it well during the reveal: "We think of the Oblivion game engine as the brain and Unreal 5 as the body. The brain drives all the world logic and gameplay and the body brings to life the experience that players have loved for almost 20 years."

Oblivion Remastered is precisely what it claims to be, and its achievements shouldn't be diminished. Instead of labeling it a remake, it should set the standard for how remasters from other major AAA companies should be approached. This is what Mass Effect Legendary Edition should have aimed for, rather than a simple cleaned-up re-release, and what Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy should have been instead of a perceived cash grab. Oblivion Remastered is a labor of love, looking like a remake crafted by passionate hands but playing like a remaster cherished by its fans, and that's exactly how it should be.