The debate between which is better,SkyrimorOblivion, has been going on for a long time within theElder Scrollsfandom, with many newer players avoiding the series' fourth entry due to its dated graphics. However, with the release ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, a whole new set of players will get to experience this epic RPG for the first time. This is fantastic, but for those who have only playedSkyrim, diving intoOblivionmight be a little jarring.
Originally released in 2006,Oblivionwas a phenomenon that is hard to explain to those who didn’t experience it the first time around. Bethesda built on this success wonderfully withSkyrim, but also changed elements of gameplay from one installment to the next to take advantage of advances in technology available to them. Whileplenty ofOblivion Remasteredwill feel familiar toSkyrimplayers, there are a few things that are still a step backward.
10There Is No Romance Or Marriage
Sorry, You Have To Stay Single
While it doesn’t play a huge role inSkyrim,there is the option to ‘romance’ an NPC and get married. This is done by simply completing a quest for the chosen character and wearing an Amulet of Mara around them. After the wedding in Riften, you will be able to collect gold and a home-cooked meal from your spouse on a regular basis, but romance itself is very surface-level.
Skyrimhas 66 potential spouses, 30 female and 36 male.
However,Obliviondoesn’t even have this basic system, with no marriage options. Alas, despite being the eventual savior of all of Tamriel,the Hero of Kvatch doesn’t get to find love. There is still hope, as the game’s dedicated modding scene may yet find a way aroundOblivion Remastered’s lack of mod supportto add in some romance. This is a very small thing, but given the number of marriage options inSkyrim, it is one worth remembering.
9Oblivion’s NPCs Are Ugly
Even With New Character Models, They Don’t Look Right
One of thebiggest differences betweenOblivion Remasteredand the originalis the graphics overhaul. There is no doubt thatCyrodiil has never looked so beautiful, and I’ve found myself stopping to take screenshots of the world around me, just as I’ve done inSkyrimin the past. However, one area where the graphics are still a little odd are the characters who inhabit the world.
While they are definitely still an upgrade from the potato-faced NPCs of the original,Oblivion Remastered’s characters are still really ugly. This is most noticeable with elven characters, the dunmer, bosmer, and altmer, who look very different from theirSkyrimorElder Scrolls Onlinecounterparts. While I’m not saying thatSkyrimwas filled with supermodels, compared toOblivion Remastered’s NPCs, those Nords are starting to look pretty good.
8Oblivion’s Voice Acting Is Still Bad
Not Even An Extended Cast Can Save Some Of Those Lines
One of the charming things about the originalOblivionwas its amusingly small number of voice actors, which has been somewhat expanded in the remaster. However, even with a few more voice actorsadding some much-needed variety to Cyrodiil,some of the acting is still subpar. With flubbed lines, odd deliveries, and ridiculously over-the-top takes on random lines,Oblivion’s voicework is legendary in some ways but not necessarily in a good way.
The originalOblivionhad only 14 voice actors in the base game, including Todd Howard.
Skyrim, by comparison, had more voice actors from the start, withbetter consistency in line delivery, which improved immersion. WhileOblivionhad Patrick Stewart and Sean Bean,Skyrimfeatured an impressive cast that included Christopher Plummer, Michael Hogan, and Claudia Christian. Thankfully, the amazing Wes Johnson is still present in both games, chewing the scenery as Sheogorath and Lucien Lachance.
7Far Fewer Followers To Recruit
Oblivion Is Mainly A Solo Experience Without Mods
Whether you love to use them or hate them,Skyrimhas a wider range of followers available to back up the Dragonborn in a fight. With over 70 to choose from, there are many ways to gain them, with some of the easiest being mercenaries who just want to be paid up front. In contrast,Oblivionhas only nine permanent followers on offer, with most of those linked to long questlines.
Perhaps the most famousOblivionfollower is the Adoring Fan, who will follow the Hero around after their final fight in the Arena. On top of being extremely irritating, the enthusiastic bosmer doesn’t fight and will flee during battle. OtherOblivionfollowers include Dark Brotherhood Murderers, available after finishing the Dark Brotherhood questline, and Mage Apprentices who can be recruited after finishing the Mages Guild quests.
6No Dual Wielding In Oblivion
Your Hero Can Only Use One Weapon At A Time
One of my favorite builds forSkyrimis dual-wielding. Although you have to trade the ability to block well for extra damage, once you’ve mastered the particulars, I’ve always found it to be a really fun way to fight. Unfortunately, there is nodual-wielding inOblivion Remastered,with the Hero of Kvatch limited in how they can use their weapons.
Oblivionstill allows a spell to be used alongside a melee weapon, but the option to use two daggers, axes, or swords at the same time is sadly not there. I understand why this is missing, as it wasn’t available in the originalOblivioneither, and Bethesda and Virtuos have been very firm in their dedication to remaining as faithful as possible to the original. However, players coming fromSkyrimmay have to tweak their favorite character buildsbefore venturing into Cyrodiil.
5Oblivion Has A Reputation System
Gain Fame Or Infamy Based On Your Actions
One area whereOblivionis an upgrade toSkyrimis the fame/infamy system. The mechanic is fairly simple; As the Hero goes about their quests in Cyrodiil,they will gain either fame or infamy based on whether the deeds were deemed good or bad. This, in turn, influenced the disposition of NPCs, depending on their own alignment. Lawful NPCs preferred characters with high fame, while criminals favored those with high infamy.
Skyrimlacked this system, which at times could make the world feel less immersive. InOblivion, the more quests you complete, the more it feels as though the character will react, such asearning a fame point each time you win an Arena match or close an Oblivion gate. This will make playingOblivionfeel very different fromSkyrim, but in a positive way.
4Magic Is Much More Powerful In Oblivion
Better Options & Create Custom Spells
Magic inSkyrimis sort of fun, although playing as a mage can have some drawbacks early in the game. However, magic inOblivionis like a completely different animal, and is much more powerful, with many more options. The more a mage levels up inOblivion, the more powerful they become, andit is very easy to create incredibly OP characters, with some of the bestclasses inOblivionbeing a mixture of melee and magic.
Custom spells can only use known spell effects, so make sure to buy new spells whenever you’re able to to expand your repertoire.
One of the best aspects ofOblivion’s magic system isthe ability to create custom spells. This is unlocked by joining the Mages Guild and getting access to the Arcane University to use the Altar of Spellmaking. Even without custom spells,Oblivionhas a great range of spells on offer, such as Open to unlock locks, and has a great number of available creatures to summon.
3The Locking Mini-Game
A More Complex Game To Master
Speaking of opening locks, the lock-picking mini-game inOblivionis very different from the oneSkyrimplayers will be used to. Anyone who has playedFallout 4,New Vegas, orSkyrimwill be familiar with the rotating lock mechanic; however,Oblivion’s is significantly harder. Rather than rotating a lockpick, you must slide it along the various tumbler, lifting them and attempting to fix them into place.
This gets easier as the Security skill is increased, with each rank making it so fewer tumblers reset when a lockpick breaks. I find this a refreshing change fromSkyrim’s Lockpicking skill, which is virtually useless to level up. There is also an Auto-Attempt option inOblivion; however, it more often than not results in wasted lockpicks, and my recommendation is to buy the Open spell from the Mages Guild.
2No Equipment Crafting In Oblivion
Weapons & Armor Can Be Repaired
One thing that I know I’m going to miss as I playOblivion Remasteredis the crafting thatSkyrimoffered. InSkyrim,weapons and armor could be crafted and improvedright from the start of the game. As more perk points were put into Smithing, better quality equipment could be made, and I’ve always enjoyed crafting full sets for all my Dragonborn rather than looting or buying equipment.
Unfortunately, there is no crafting for equipment inOblivion. However,weapons and armor can be repaired using repair hammersfound throughout the world. Using these will improve the Armorer skill, which will eventually allow even magical items to be repaired. I don’t find it as good asSkyrim’s Smithing, and I know I’m not the only one who will eagerly be awaiting a mod for this particular feature.
1Enemy Scaling Works Differently
The Biggest Difference Between Skyrim & Oblivion
Finally, the biggest difference for those playingOblivionfor the first time after playingSkyrimis enemy levels/scaling. InSkyrim,most enemies leveled with the player, although some had static levels, such as giants, and most types of enemies had level caps. This means that each group of enemies would only level so far, such as a draugr can’t go above level 45 or dragons above level 75. This meant that after a certain level, the Dragonborn was basically an unstoppable god.
Oblivion Remasteredhas stuck to the original’s level scaling, meaning that loot and enemies scale with the player. Low-level Heroes will face low-level foes like bandits, while level 30 characters will face tougher opponents, like Minotaur Lords. UnlikeSkyrimthough, there is no cap and enemies will continue to match the Hero level for level, with leveled equipment andafter a certain point they essentially become damage spongeswhich can suck some of the fun out of the game.
