For some strange reason,Bethesdais insisting thatOblivion Remasteredisn’t a remake, though players are saying it absolutely is.In a statement posted on Twitter, the studio said that it “never wanted to remake it – but remaster it – where the original game was there as you remember playing it, but seen through today’s technology”.
However, players are pretty sure that with all the changes to the game, it absolutely qualifies as a remake. So, is Oblivion a remake or a remaster? And does it matter? To answer these questions, I am making the foolish mistake of litigating the definitions of these terms. Spoiler if you somehow missed the title: the answers are yes, and… maybe?
The Remake/Remaster Debate, Summarised
Whether Oblivion Remastered is a remake or not depends on how you define those two things. Of course, those terms don’treallyhave definitions, because they’re labels publishers slap on games pretty much arbitrarily, but I’m going to attempt to define them regardless. Again, I’m being foolish.
Let’s say a remake is a game that modernises an older title with new graphics and new gameplay, for new hardware. It has the same title and the same general story. The overall gameplay will remain mostly the same, but controls and certain sections may be modernised, while quality of life additions are made. Think last year’sUntil Dawnand 2023’sDead SpaceandResident Evil 4.
This definition broadly holds, but then you get games likeFinal Fantasy 7 Remakethat go and tweak the plot in some meta way, and the definition is up in the air again.
A remaster, by contrast, is usually a more subtle graphical update for modern hardware, though games that are billed as remasters often add and remove things too. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness’ remasterrestored cut content, and Dead Rising’s remaster (which many also argued was a remake, due to the new engine)redesigned a character and removed a controversial point category, not to mention redid all of the voice acting.
Capcomeven admitted it was basically a remake.
What makes a game a remaster and not a remake is basically vibes-based – if a new version of a game is rebuilt with significant enough modernisation, it’s a remake and not a remaster. Going off this entirely vibes-based definition, god damn it, yes, Oblivion Remastered is a remake. It looks wildly different graphics-wise, the UI has been updated, and the gameplay has been tweaked (lock-picking, sprinting) or outright changed (the level-up system).
Vibes Dictate That Oblivion Remastered Is A Remake
It feels like Bethesda is calling this title a remaster and not a remake because it doesn’t want to deal with complaints that it hasn’t changedenough. The game very deliberately holds on tothe jank that characterises Bethesda games, with animations looking clunky andsome faces looking downright scary. It evenbrought over a well-known voice acting mistake from the original.
I’m sure there are some people who would argue that Oblivion doesn’t change enough to be considered a remake, because it’s still janky. Bethesda itself argues, “We looked at every part and carefully upgraded it. It’s still a game from a previous era and should feel like one.” Essentially, if it doesn’t feel current-gen, it’s a remaster, not a remake.
But nobody wanted that from an Oblivion remake. Remakes can be faithful to the spirit of the OG and still be remakes. We’re really just digging into semantics here, and since none of these definitions mean anything, I suppose it doesn’t really matter. It’s all marketing lingo, anyway, terms meant to signal something to a player without actually promising anything. But Oblivion Remastered is underselling itself. This is a full-blown remake, Bethesda be damned.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion™ Remastered modernizes the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay. Explore the vast landscape of Cyrodiil like never before and stop the forces of Oblivion from overtaking the land in one of the greatest RPGs ever from the award-winning Bethesda Game Studios.Rediscover CyrodiilJourney through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe-inspiring.Navigate Your Own StoryFrom the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.Experience an Epic AdventureStep inside a universe bursting with captivating stories and encounter an unforgettable cast of characters. Master swordcraft and wield powerful magic as you fight to save Tamriel from the Daedric invasion.The Complete StoryExperience everything Oblivion has to offer with previously released story expansions Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and additional downloadable content included in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
