Oblivion Outshines Skyrim, Still Today

Ask any veteran gamer about the Xbox 360 era (beyond the infamous Red Ring of Death), and you'll likely hear passionate stories about The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. As a former Official Xbox Magazine editor, I witnessed firsthand how this fantasy epic captured players' imaginations differently than its predecessor - while Morrowind's Xbox port didn't quite click for me, Oblivion immediately became my obsession. We ran multiple cover stories previewing the game, and I eagerly visited Bethesda's Maryland headquarters several times to experience this revolutionary title before launch.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots

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My Oblivion journey truly began during the four-day review period, where I logged 44 glorious hours exploring Cyrodiil from Bethesda's basement conference room. Even after writing our 9.5/10 review, I happily invested another 130+ hours into the retail version. The game's brilliant quests (the unforgettable Dark Brotherhood storyline), hidden surprises (like that mythical unicorn), and expansive world cemented it as a masterpiece.

For younger gamers raised on Skyrim, Oblivion Remastered offers their first "new" Elder Scrolls experience since 2011. While it won't deliver the same visual shock we experienced in 2006 (when it defined next-gen gaming), the updated release makes this classic accessible to modern players during the long wait for The Elder Scrolls VI.

Oblivion arrived at the perfect moment in gaming history - its HD presentation and open-world ambition revolutionized console RPGs. Though later Bethesda titles have built upon its foundation, nothing quite matches the magic of discovering Cyrodiil for the first time. For newcomers, I recommend either rushing the main story or completing all side content first - those relentless Oblivion gates become quite the nuisance otherwise.

While the technological leap from Morrowind to Oblivion may never be replicated, this remaster ensures Tamriel's heartland remains as captivating as ever. Whether you're returning or discovering it anew, Oblivion's richly realized world continues to stand as my personal favorite in the series. Its surprise re-release - despite numerous leaks - gives us all reason to celebrate this RPG masterpiece once again.