The Rumored Oblivion Remake’s Alleged Soulslike Elements Would Be a Risk

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 15, 2025 11 Views 6 Min Read
The Rumored Oblivion Remake’s Alleged Soulslike Elements Would Be a Risk



The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion has been at the center of a lot of discussion recently, primarily due to the heavy rumors that the game will be receiving a remake in the near future. While a lot of the recent discourse around the franchise has concerned the likes of Skyrim and TES 6, Oblivion still stands as one of the most iconic entries in the series, with the response to these rumors already showing how high the demand is for such a project.

Many fans are expecting an official confirmation of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remake to surface in the near future, with a lot of evidence already pointing towards the game’s existence. More supposed details for the remake are surfacing by the day, with one contentious rumor suggesting that the title will use a Soulslike approach to overhaul one key combat mechanic of the original game. This approach could be beneficial if done well, but it seems extremely important that the remake does not overpower the charm and relative simplicity that made the combat and general exploration of the original Oblivion so beloved and memorable.

The Elder Scrolls 6 logo with Tamriel Background

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The Charm of Oblivion Should Not Be Lost in its Rumored Remake

Despite the massive cultural influence that The Elder Scrolls has had on the gaming industry as a franchise over the years, the IP has experienced a long downtime that has lasted well over a decade in terms of its mainline releases. The next major project for the series, The Elder Scrolls 6, was announced in 2018, but almost no major news about the title has surfaced ever since.

While it is true that Skyrim has received plenty of attention since its 2011 launch in the way of re-releases, 2006’s Oblivion has gotten practically no post-launch attention, despite the high esteem that the title is held in by many fans. With The Elder Scrolls 6 still seeming so far away, a unique project like an Oblivion remaster or remake would be a perfect way to bridge the gap. Insider leaks, job listings, and leaked internal documents all point towards this kind of project currently being in development.

A more recent leak claims that the Oblivion remake will be developed through Unreal Engine 5, with mention also being made that the remake will take great inspiration from Soulslike games with a revamped blocking system. This suggests that combat will be reworked for the Oblivion remake to allow for mechanics like parrying. While this could add a more rewarding twist to combat, it seems important that the in-game feel of the original is maintained at all costs.

A Balance of Old and New Needs to Be Found For the Oblivion Remake

Fans have fondly looked back on the often goofy NPC interactions and combat scenarios of Oblivion, with the unique charm that the game offers giving it a clear distinction away from other franchise entries like Skyrim. Of course, a full-scale remake should go out of its way to polish over a lot of the cracks that existed in the original game, but if these sweeping overhauls to core mechanics extend beyond a Soulslike inspiration behind blocking, then the remake runs the risk of alienating itself from the original appeal of Oblivion.

Blocking in the original Oblivion did not do much to establish itself as an iconic element of the title, and so a targeted overhaul of this specific mechanic can hopefully work as a general improvement that will only make the rumored remake more enjoyable. However, a focus on modernity would come at a great cost if it oversteps the mark and overpowers the unique feel of the classic title. A preservation of other original mechanics should be prioritized alongside these changes to create the perfect balance between old and new.

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