While the next major installment is likely years away, a remake ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionmay be in the works. Rumors of the game’s development are relatively recent, and it’s hard to say how legitimate they are. IfThe Elder Scroll 4: Oblivionremake rumors are true though, then there is one area that can be improved upon.
The differences between a remake and a remaster can, at times, be slim, but most fans expect remakes to be massive overhauls of systems. Anytime something is built from the ground up, for example, major changes that bring it up to modern expectations can be expected. However, some remakes also tackle plot points that have otherwise become a little unwieldy or were simply perhaps too gamified. AnOblivionremake could take the latter within its plot, as theinvasion and fall of Kvatchlacks an urgency in gameplay that it is otherwise constantly associated with.
RELATED:The Best Oblivion Features That The Elder Scrolls 6 Should Include
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake Rumors
Rumors of a remaster or remake ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionfound their way onto the internet earlier this summer. If true, it would be the first time one of Bethesda Softworks' games got the full reimagining treatment. The alleged developer of the project is the Paris branch of Virtuos which specializes in remakes, remasters, and the ports of AAA games. Unfortunately, it’s not clear from these possible leaks whether it would be a full-blown remake or a more simplistic remaster, though many fans are hoping for the former. The leaks and rumors indicate that it could either be a full remake or a simple remaster with no indication of which the developer was leaning towards.
How A Remake Could Improve One of Oblivion’s Key Plot Points
One of the big moments early on in the game is the invasion and fall of Kvatch. Relatively early in the main story, a massive Oblivion gate was opened, and the city is overrun Daedra. Upon arriving at Kvatch, the player character must help drive the Daedra out of the city before venturing through the gate to close it. After emerging, theOblivionprotagonist is proclaimed the Hero of Kvatchwhich is a title that sticks with them throughout the game. The issue is that, despite being a major incident at an early stage of the story, it’s one that can be avoided for the longest time.
One of the most praised elements ofThe Elder Scrollsgames is how openthey are. Players can go anywhere anytime they want and there aren’t any real consequences for ignoring major world elements. This is something of a double-edged sword because it can result in a less coherent narrative that lacks any sense of urgency. Whenever any urgency is stressed in these games like it was inSkyrim, it was something of a lie. Players can choose to ignore every aspect of the main story and explore the world, doing whatever they want. This is something a remake ofOblivioncould fix by putting the players on a temporary narrative railroad up until this point before opening up the rest of the world to them. While railroading in open-world games may be frowned upon in general, it can be used to great effect when smartly done, and this is an area that would be significantly better if so.
The future of the franchise is currently in limbo while developer Bethesda works on other projects. Xbox HeadPhil Spencer recently statedThe Elder Scrolls 6would be at least five years away from any release date. If the rumors of anOblivionremake are true, it could keep fans satisfied for a time while the developer begins its work on the fantasy sequel in earnest. Only time will tell if the rumors of the remake turn out to be true or not, but if they are, the game will hopefully improve upon the Fall of Kvatch.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionis available now for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
