Bethesda’s Oblivion Remastered Features a Noticeably Browner Palette Than the Original

After much anticipation, the Oblivion Remastered game has finally dropped, bringing with it a wave of modern aesthetics. And when I say modern, what I really mean is brown—lots and lots of brown. The mud, the water, even the grass—we’re basically swimming in sepia tones. As someone who was initially captivated by Bethesda’s vibrant fantasy landscape nearly two decades ago, this drastic shift is quite a head-scratcher.

If you place screenshots of the original Oblivion next to those of the remaster, the difference is stark. A heavy haze seems to be draped over everything, casting shadows on scenes that once shone brightly. The entire environment feels like it belongs in an extra level from PowerWash Simulator, desperately awaiting a cleaning blast to return it to its original state.

Now, when it comes to detail, there’s certainly some progress. Torches now radiate in the dark, water dances under the sun, and docks convincingly appear made of wood rather than looking like moss-covered stones. Curiously though, the stones that are supposed to be mossy are now ominously darker. The original game seemed to embrace sunlight, warmly illuminating hills and forests, but the new engine has turned the remaster slightly singed.

The interiors in Oblivion Remastered fare a little better. Take the iconic introduction where your escape from prison, aided by the voice of Patrick Stewart, plunges you into a maze of stony corridors punctuated by the occasional ray of light from above. It’s a nostalgic nod to the eerie atmosphere of the original, illustrating how improved lighting can enhance the mood without succumbing to overdone textures.

Gone are the ghostly pale character faces we knew so well in the original. While I might ideally wish for those bizarrely blurred NPC faces in ultra-high definition, the enhanced facial details are a trade I’m willing to make, especially if it leads to better expressions and animations. Rest assured, the charm is not entirely lost—these characters still speak with that same goofy allure.

Yet, I simply can’t shake the muddiness enveloping the outdoor scenes in the remaster. Then again, I’m also the one who hasn’t quite forgiven Virtuos for tweaking the iconic Dark Souls bonfire. Maybe as I delve deeper into Oblivion Remastered and uncover more areas, the visuals will grow on me. If not, there’s comfort in knowing I can always revisit the original Oblivion whenever the mood to escape into its vibrant world strikes.