Summary
Action RPGsbring a unique flavor to fun, customization, and exploration on a scale unlike anything before. Obsidian’sAvowedplays similar to Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls series, and scratches that fantasy RPG itch of the series.
Thesurprise launchofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredbrings back the world, atmosphere, and iconic set pieces with a new coat of paint to a brand-new audience on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Between Avowed and Oblivion Remastered, which adventure should you undertake?
10Graphics
Oblivion Remastered
Oblivion Remastered has pioneered itself in the graphics department. The Creation engine was not utilized for the graphical upgrade for the first time since its use in Morrowind. Instead,Bethesda teamed up with Virtuosto use Unreal Engine 5. As a result, the entire game has been given a huge upgrade in effects, physics, and the graphical appearances of regions and NPCs.
This graphical upgrade and shift puts Oblivion Remastered above many of Bethesda’s previous works, including Skyrim and Fallout 4. Avowed is not bad graphically, but its art style and overall design aesthetic takes some getting used to for fans of the Elder Scrolls style and realistic approach to the world and its people.
9Story
Oblivion Remastered brings you back into the setting of Tamriel, with you being a prisoner in the Imperial City. After meeting the prophetic Emperor, Uriel Septim VII, you’re released from the dungeon and thrust into the wide world of Tamriel, where there are dozens of factions and side-stories you can venture towards as you face the threats of Oblivion, a realm filled with monsters.
The story of Oblivion has always done a great job of setting up the wide world and the different ways you can experience the world of The Elder Scrolls. The funniest part of these stories are the ones you can create for yourself and your character outside of quests and adventures. From your first visit to a Guild to a hilarious situation that happened.
8Enemy Variety
Avowed
Avowed contains a wide array of viscous monsters you can face. The wild frontier of Eora is filled with all manner of dangers and foes, from constructs to spores, the corrupted kith, and the lizardman Xaurip. This diversity of enemies and foes keeps the combat fresh and interesting, especially once you get to the boss battles.
Oblivion Remastered doesn’t have this diversity, with most of your enemies being either other factions of humanoids that are assassins, bandits, or guards. There are also a few wild animals that you face while out in the wild. As the Oblivion Crisis escalates, members of the Daedra will also appear outside the Gates of Oblivion. Bosses are generally nondescript and considered elite versions of other enemies.
7Music
Music is the heart and soul of many games. It brings you into the world, invites you with emotions and actions. The Elder Scrolls has always had incredible, atmospheric, and epic tracks, and Oblivion is no exception. The musical track is the same as the original edition, which Jeremy Soule, a veteran composer of The Elder Scrolls series, did.
Some of the best pieces include Reign of the Septims, King and Country, Through the Valleys, and the main battle theme in combat, Death Knell. Avowed’s musical tracks offer a similar atmosphere and can be as epic as several Elder Scrolls tracks, but the memorable and nostalgic tunes in Oblivion Remastered.
6Combat
Tie
Combat in Avowed and Oblivion Remastered has a lot of contrasting and similar elements. You default in a first-person view of the world, and you have access to a weapon to wield one or two-handed, and magic tools with spells are also configured like this. You can also dual-wield in a different way to get the maximum effect between physical and magical combat.
Because the combat of the two games is fairly similar in style and effective gameplay, they’re basically made perfect for fans of this style of gameplay. They have their pros and several janky cons that complete the overall experience players enjoy about The Elder Scrolls.
5Party Allies
Like many traditional RPGs, you will come across unique NPC characters in your adventure in Avowed that will become your companions. Of the four companions you can recruit, you can bring at least two of them on your adventures as a part of your party. Once you have them in your group, you can give them specific commands, respec their skills and abilities, and bring them back if they get incapacitated in battle.
Oblivion Remastered, like its original edition, does not have a very complex companion system. Instead, several specific NPCs can accompany you as followers, with little to know control or management of their skills and equipment. As a result, they don’t count as traditional party members and they are more of a burden than actual help in tight areas.
4Level Progression
Both Oblivion Remastered and Avowed offer limitless freedom in the abilities you can unlock and the builds you can structure through the attributes you grant your characters. In Avowed, you have specific abilities for Fighter, Ranger, and Wizard, which you can level up separately or together, letting you shift your playstyle whenever you desire.
Oblivion Remastered has something similar to this and Skyrim, where if you continue doing one action, such as sneaking or taking hits while wearing armor, you’re able to level up for attributes along with learning new skills. The kinds of major skills you can learn are very diverse, from Blades to Block.
3Exploration
Oblivion was once a pioneering game for its massive open world and the freedom of exploration players were given. Many open-world games today can trace their inspiration to the expanse of Cyrodiil, the main open-world map of Oblivion. The remastered edition brings this exploration with a whole new graphical look for fans new and old.
Avowed, in comparison, is a bit more limited in exploration. Instead of having a singular massive world to explore, regions are separated into large zones that you can explore, which are vaguely connected through loading screens. While this takes you out of the immersion of exploration, it means fewer jitters in loading fields, among other things.
2Character Customization
Any RPG worth its weight in gold should have a compelling and in-depth character creation system, and both Avowed and Oblivion Remastered have these in spades. Both games contain several diverse presets for different races, physical attributes, and the premature builds you may start up with.
The diversity in Avowed consists of choosing between human and elven body types, along with several custom options for colorful fungal growths of mysterious origin and the few skills you can start with. Oblivion Remastered gets you a roster of different races to play with, along with several facial distinctions, hair, tattoos, and scars.
1Winner
Despite the bugs, glitches, and errors that are a part of Bethesda’s memetic legacy, Oblivion Remastered was a pleasant, upgraded surprise that delivers the classic enjoyment and atmosphere known in the series. If you’re a longtime fan of Bethesda’s game library, Oblivion Remastered is a wonderful addition.
Even if you’re not keen on The Elder Scrolls or if you’re coming in fresh to the series, this is a great place to start, just like it was over a decade ago during its original launch. Oblivion Remastered was a pleasant surprise that delivers the RPG adventure many fans of the genre were hoping to play again.
