Extensive world expansion and visual upgrade
Oblivion Remastered significantly enhances The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion by providing a substantial increase in exploration opportunities along with many new quests that enrich the game's lore and playtime. The mod introduces two new worldspaces with their own quest lines, upscaled textures, and adjusted gameplay mechanics, which are significant changes from the original game.
The mod introduces significant gameplay improvements, most notably the ability to dual wield, which adds new strategic options for combat. Pet or camping features enable players to pet animals and set up camps. Additionally, there are improved sprint systems and faster horses, and players are given the ability to command their mount. Improved assets modernize the visual experience with updated textures and an overhaul of graphical elements that feature HD characters, pet creatures, and command mounts that contribute to a more immersive and lively game environment.
Expanded gameplay mechanics and increased engagement
Moreover, Oblivion Remastered has a world that features improved draw distances (LODs), an aurora in the northern sky, and additional environmental effects like insects and small fish. The user interface has been updated to include a central compass, repositioned vitals that only appear when active, and an improved stealth icon that indicates detection status. The leveling system has been revised so that all skill gains contribute to character level progression, and players are given Virtue Points to freely assign to attributes, which reduces the need for min-maxing.
Streamlined installation and usability
Oblivion Remastered benefits from a simple setup process relative to other comprehensive mods, reducing installation complexity and allowing players to engage quickly with its expansive content. Like most large Oblivion mods, this mod requires the Oblivion Script Extender (OBSE) or other tools like texture optimizers or load order managers to properly install and run. It’s important to note that adding massive new areas and dual-wielding features might introduce significant performance hits and stability issues like crashes or bugs, since the expanded map size and updated HD textures are likely to place a heavy demand on system resources.
Balanced enhancement for a classic RPG
Oblivion Remastered delivers a thorough expansion of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion with major map growth, advanced graphics, and expanded gameplay mechanics. Its most notable strengths are the expanded world size, inclusion of new zones, updated visuals including HD characters and mounts, and gameplay improvements like dual wielding. Overall, the mod increases playtime significantly while maintaining a relatively simple installation process.
Pros
- New worldspaces
- Dual-wielding ability
- Redesigned user interface
Cons
- OBSE is a prerequisite installation
- Stability and performance risks