Info about The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered:

Official game description:
Digital Deluxe Edition
======================
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition includes:
\- Digital base game
\- New quests for unique digital Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon Armors, Weapons, and Horse Armor Sets
\- Digital Artbook and Soundtrack App
\- Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine story expansions
\- Additional downloadable content: Fighter’s Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrune’s Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, The Orrery, and Horse Armor Pack
About the Game
==============
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 Cyrodiil**
Journey 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 Story**
From the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.
**Experience an Epic Adventure**
Step 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 Story**
Experience 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.

Release date: Apr 22, 2025

Categories: Open-World Exploration, Character Progression, RPG, Action-Adventure, Fantasy, Player Customization, Story-driven Gameplay, Non-linear Progression

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 55; verdict: Aggressive Pricing and Perceived Greed; summary: The analysis of user reviews for the game reveals significant dissatisfaction with the pricing strategy, both for the base game and additional DLC content. Many users feel that the remaster is overpriced, especially considering it is a 20-year-old game. The Horse Armor DLC is particularly mentioned as overpriced and not offering sufficient value. Additionally, there is a strong perception of greed and a 'cash grab' mentality from the developers, which is tied to both the high pricing and the perceived lack of effort in the remaster. Technical issues and lack of updates further exacerbate these concerns.
- Mods: score 40; verdict: Buggy but Playable; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant reliance on community fixes and mods to address performance issues, bugs, and overall playability of the game. While some users mention mandatory mods, many of these are preferences rather than necessities. The consensus indicates that the game has notable performance and bug issues that require community patches, but it does not reach the level of being unplayable without mods.
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Needs Significant Improvement; summary: The user feedback highlights several critical issues impacting the overall experience. The most severe problems include progression-halting bugs, significant performance and optimization issues, and crashes related to alt-tabbing. Additionally, users have reported complex mechanics that require external resources to understand, and technical issues with multi-monitor setups. These issues collectively contribute to a frustrating and less enjoyable gaming experience.
- Proton/Linux: score 20; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally runs well on Linux with positive feedback from many users. However, there are notable issues with save file compatibility between Windows and Linux, and some users report significant performance and stability problems. Overall, the game is playable on Linux with some minor tweaks and considerations.
- Steam Deck: score 80; verdict: Broken; summary: The game suffers from significant performance and stability issues, particularly on the Steam Deck. Users report frequent crashes, poor optimization, and issues with cloud saves. The game's Steam Deck verification is questioned, and many users find it necessary to use mods or tweaks to improve performance. Graphical issues are also noted, with users often needing to rely on upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Performance varies significantly across hardware cohorts, with higher-end systems generally reporting better experiences but still facing notable issues. Lower-end hardware struggles with stability and frame rates, often requiring compromises in graphical settings.
  - Sample size: 644 (3% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (negative, 221 reports): Users report frequent crashes, stutters, and instability, even with high-end configurations.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (negative, 134 reports): Performance issues dominate, with many users experiencing crashes and low frame rates.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (negative, 79 reports): Struggles with low frame rates and frequent crashes, making the game often unplayable.
  - Windows 16GB+ VRAM / 32GB+ RAM (mixed, 57 reports): High-end systems report better performance but still face stutters, crashes, and frame rate drops.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAM (negative, 53 reports): Severe performance issues with frequent crashes and low frame rates, making it largely unplayable.
  - Windows 16GB+ VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (mixed, 47 reports): Performance is better but still plagued by stutters and crashes, requiring settings adjustments.
  - Caveats: 644 of 19814 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $40.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows a mix of opinions on the game's value. Some users find the game beautiful and worth the price, especially when considering the remaster's content and immersion. However, there are also strong opinions that the game is not worth the money due to various issues, particularly until significant improvements are made. The general sentiment suggests that while the game has its merits, the price should reflect its current state, which includes both its beauty and its flaws.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 93.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes direct mentions of playtime metrics. The first quote explicitly states the total time to complete the game as 93 hours. The second and third quotes indicate extensive playtime and engagement with the game, suggesting significant investment in terms of hours. The fourth quote provides a specific playtime of 60 hours, along with crash frequency, which supports the session length and overall playtime metrics.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially presents challenges and friction points, particularly with combat and progression systems, but becomes more enjoyable once players adapt and overcome these early obstacles. However, repetitive quests and combat can lead to tedium over time.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Combat mechanics and progression systems becoming more manageable
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Combat mechanics initially challenging; Early game progression issues; Repetitive quests and combat
  - Unlock drivers: Smart tweaks to reduce early game friction; Changes to progression systems
  - Conditions: Adapting to combat mechanics; Overcoming early game challenges
- Player Archetypes:
  - Critical Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: To experience a well-optimized and improved version of a classic game.
    - Playstyle: Critical and comparative, focusing on performance and value for money.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: Bethesda fan; Old-school player
    - Reference games: Enderal; Fallout: New Vegas; Skyrim
  - Newcomer Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: To experience a classic game with modern improvements.
    - Playstyle: Exploratory and forgiving, focusing on the positive aspects of the game.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: New player; Explorer
    - Reference games: Skyrim; The Witcher 3
  - Nostalgic Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: To relive the nostalgia and experience the classic game with improved graphics.
    - Playstyle: Nostalgic and appreciative, focusing on the faithfulness to the original game.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Bethesda fan; Old-school player; Veteran
    - Reference games: Morrowind; Skyrim


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Stunning Visuals and Graphics (weight 0.3): The game is widely praised for its gorgeous and visually stunning graphics. Players appreciate the detailed environments, breathtaking visuals, and overall graphical improvements that make the game almost perfect.
- Improved Mechanics and Gameplay (weight 0.23): The remaster includes significant improvements in mechanics, combat, and animations. Players note the smoother performance, enhanced lighting, and updated animations that contribute to a better gameplay experience.
- Engaging Story and Quests (weight 0.16): The game features an amazing and compelling storyline with interesting stories and excellent narrative. Players enjoy the engaging quests and side stories, particularly those involving the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild.
- Faithful to the Original (weight 0.13): The remaster retains the charm, atmosphere, and mechanics of the original game. Players appreciate that it feels like the world they know and love but with modern updates.
- Improved Leveling System (weight 0.09): The new leveling system is highlighted as a significant improvement, making grinding less of a headache and overall more enjoyable. Players appreciate the overhauls and improvements to the leveling mechanics.
- Inclusion of DLCs (weight 0.08): The inclusion of important DLCs, such as Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine, adds significant value to the game. Players appreciate having all original DLCs included in the standard edition.
- Freedom to Explore (weight 0.07): Players appreciate the freedom to explore and discover the game world. The game offers true freedom to explore and forge one's own destiny, enhancing the overall experience.
- Enjoyable Experience (weight 0.07): Players report having an enjoyable experience with the game, appreciating the atmosphere, sceneries, narrative, and puzzles. The game is easy to learn and enjoy.
- Immersive Experience (weight 0.06): The game provides an immersive atmosphere and setting, with higher fidelity visuals that contribute to an explosive immersion. Players enjoy the immersive experience and setting.
- High Replay Value (weight 0.04): The game offers high replay value with many hours of gameplay. Players enjoy the deep and rich gameplay that keeps them engaged for long periods.
- Rich Lore and RPG Elements (weight 0.04): The game is praised for its rich lore and numerous varied dungeons. Players appreciate the rich background lore and RPG elements that enhance the overall experience.
- Good Value for Price (weight 0.04): Players find the game to be a good value for the price. The base price is considered reasonable, and the overall value for money is appreciated.

Common complaints:
- Frequent crashes (weight 0.27): The game experiences frequent crashes, including black screen crashes, crashes during load, and crashes to desktop. These crashes occur frequently and can happen within minutes of gameplay.
- Numerous bugs (weight 0.24): The game is plagued by a variety of bugs, including game-breaking bugs, old bugs that remain unpatched, and new bugs introduced in updates. These bugs can cause significant issues and frustrations during gameplay.
- Severe performance issues (weight 0.21): The game suffers from significant performance problems, including extreme stuttering, poor frame rates, and terrible optimization. Players report that the game runs horribly and fails to run smoothly, making it unplayable for some.
- Lack of mod support (weight 0.09): The game lacks official mod support, making it difficult for players to mod the game for optimal gameplay. This lack of support can limit the game's playability and stability.
- NPC behavior issues (weight 0.09): NPCs in the game often act oddly, with issues including freezing, not following scripts, and repetitive dialogue. These behaviors can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- Repetitive and outdated gameplay (weight 0.07): The gameplay is criticized for being repetitive, with boring combat and linear gameplay mechanics. The game design feels outdated and relies heavily on button spam.
- Feels unfinished (weight 0.04): The game feels unfinished and messy in parts, with players noting that it needs more bug fixes and work to be considered complete.
- Cloud saving problems (weight 0.04): There are issues with cloud saving, including problems with saving to the cloud and instances of save file deletion, which can lead to lost progress.
- Unreal Engine 5 issues (weight 0.04): The use of Unreal Engine 5 has been disappointing, with performance issues and instability. The engine is demanding and not well-optimized, leading to various problems.
- Steam Deck performance issues (weight 0.04): The game has performance issues on Steam Deck, including terrible frame rates and control mapping issues. It is not recommended for Steam Deck without tweaks.
- Graphical problems (weight 0.04): The game suffers from graphical problems, including visual glitches and old graphics. These issues can affect the overall visual performance and startup experience.
- Frustrating enemy level-scaling (weight 0.04): The level-scaling for enemies can be frustrating and is criticized for being silly. This mechanic can affect the gameplay experience negatively.
- Frame rate drops (weight 0.04): The game experiences frame rate drops and an unstable frame rate, which can affect the smoothness of gameplay and cause occasional FPS drops.
- Long loading times (weight 0.03): The game has long loading times, including lengthy texture loading times, which can be time-consuming and detract from the overall experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Open world gameplay emphasized (weight 0.15): The game features an expansive open world with various locations, characters, and dungeons. Players appreciate the freedom and quest-driven gameplay.
- Graphical improvements in remaster (weight 0.1): The remastered version includes updated visuals and graphical improvements, enhancing the overall visual style of the game.
- Balanced and rewarding progression (weight 0.08): The progression system is seen as balanced and rewarding, though there are mentions of it feeling dumbed-down. Players feel that character progression is earned.
- Content-rich quests and storylines (weight 0.08): The game offers captivating main storylines and quests, along with engaging side stories that provide a lot of content for players.
- Combat mechanics improvements needed (weight 0.07): The combat system is a focal point, with mentions of both improvements and criticisms. Players note the importance of spacing and momentum but also describe it as outdated.
- Rich character interactions (weight 0.05): Players enjoy the interactions and dialogues with NPCs, which add depth to the game's world and storytelling.
- Spell crafting and enchantments (weight 0.04): The spell crafting and enchantment systems allow for custom spell creation, adding a layer of depth to gameplay.
- Freedom of character building (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the freedom to build and develop their characters in various ways, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences.
- Character customization options (weight 0.04): Character customization is mentioned, though some players feel the options are limited. It includes various aspects of character development.
- Dark Brotherhood questline praised (weight 0.04): The Dark Brotherhood questline is highlighted for its stealth gameplay and engaging storyline.
- Shivering Isles expansion (weight 0.04): The Shivering Isles expansion is noted for its unique questline and content, adding significant value to the game.
- Similar to Skyrim but fewer mechanics (weight 0.04): The gameplay is compared to Skyrim, with similarities in mechanics but noted differences in the number of available mechanics.
- Level-scaling mechanics (weight 0.04): The game features level-scaling mechanics, which include fixed enemy scaling and affect the overall gameplay balance.
- Oblivion gates mechanics (weight 0.03): The mechanics involving Oblivion gates are a notable feature, providing unique challenges and gameplay elements.
- Looting mechanics (weight 0.03): Looting is described as fun and engaging, though some players mention a lack of loot in certain areas.

Performance notes:
- Frequent crashes reported (weight 0.15): Players report frequent crashes during gameplay, including black screen crashes and GPU crash errors. This issue is widespread and affects various configurations.
- Performance issues on various hardware (weight 0.09): The game experiences performance issues across different hardware setups, including modest and lower-end PCs. This suggests a lack of optimization for a range of hardware specifications.
- Terrible optimization (weight 0.06): Players express dissatisfaction with the game's optimization, describing it as terrible even on the lowest settings. This indicates significant performance problems regardless of hardware capabilities.
- Stuttering and low FPS (weight 0.06): Frequent stuttering and low FPS are common issues reported by players. These problems contribute to a poor gaming experience and suggest performance optimization is needed.
- Graphical and display issues (weight 0.06): Players encounter various graphical problems, including visual glitches and refresh rate issues. These display issues affect the overall visual quality and gameplay experience.
- Poor performance on higher-end PCs (weight 0.05): Even on higher-end PCs, the game runs poorly, indicating optimization issues. This suggests that the game's performance problems are not limited to lower-end hardware.
- Ray tracing performance issues (weight 0.05): Performance issues are reported with ray tracing enabled, particularly on hardware like the Nvidia 2060 Super. This indicates that ray tracing features may need optimization.
- Long load times (weight 0.04): Players experience long load times and freezing during load. These issues contribute to a frustrating gaming experience and suggest the need for optimization in loading processes.
- General optimization issues (weight 0.04): The game is described as unoptimized, with various performance issues. This feedback indicates a general lack of optimization across different aspects of the game.
- Memory leaks and GPU issues (weight 0.04): Players report memory leaks and GPU memory-related bugs. These issues contribute to performance problems and suggest the need for optimization in memory management.
- High CPU utilization (weight 0.04): The game is reported to be demanding on the CPU, with high utilization. This can lead to performance issues and may require optimization to balance CPU usage.
- Disappointment with Unreal Engine 5 (weight 0.04): Players express disappointment with the use of Unreal Engine 5, citing performance issues and high demands. This feedback suggests that the engine may not be optimized for the game.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for Skyrim and RPG fans (weight 0.08): This game is highly recommended for fans of Skyrim and the RPG genre. Players who enjoyed Skyrim and other open-world RPGs are likely to appreciate this game as well.
- Ideal for RPG enthusiasts (weight 0.05): This game is highly recommended for those who enjoy the RPG genre. It is suggested for both newcomers to RPGs and those looking for a different RPG experience.
- Suitable for new and veteran players (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for both new players and veterans. It is seen as a good gift for those who haven't played before as well as for experienced players.
- Consider playing Oblivion instead (weight 0.05): Some players suggest that it might be better to play the original Oblivion or wait for a mod like Skyblivion. The original game is still considered great after all these years.
- Worth purchasing on sale (weight 0.05): The game is recommended if it is on sale. Players suggest waiting for a sale to make the purchase more worthwhile.
- Avoid buying until bugs fixed (weight 0.04): Players advise not to buy the game until critical bugs and issues are fixed by the developers. This is a significant concern for potential buyers.
- Worth playing for longtime fans (weight 0.04): Longtime fans of the series and classic RPGs are likely to find this game worth playing. It is recommended for those who have been fans of the franchise for a long time.
- Performance issues noted (weight 0.04): The game has performance issues that are noted by players. Some recommend the game despite these issues, while others advise caution due to hardware requirements.
- Must-play masterpiece (weight 0.03): The game is regarded as a must-play masterpiece for any gamer. It is highly praised and recommended for all types of players.
- Wait for patches or updates (weight 0.03): Players suggest waiting for patches or updates before purchasing the game. Alternatively, playing the original version is recommended.
- Definitive experience of the franchise (weight 0.03): The game is seen as the definitive way to experience the franchise's iconic fourth chapter. It is highly recommended for those who want the best experience.
- World of magic and adventure (weight 0.03): The game is highly recommended for those who want to get lost in a world of magic, mystery, and intrigue. It is ideal for adventure seekers.
- Original vs. remastered debate (weight 0.03): There is a debate among players about whether the original version is better than the remastered one. Some players prefer the original, while others appreciate the remaster.
- Casual single-player experience (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for those who love the single-player experience, although it is noted to be more casual than a traditional RPG.
- Classic game with classic ruleset (weight 0.03): The game is considered a classic and offers a classic ruleset option. This appeals to players who enjoy traditional gameplay mechanics.
- Nostalgic old-school RPG experience (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for those who are nostalgic for the original and want to understand old-school RPGs. It appeals to players who enjoy classic RPG elements.

Other player notes:
- Detailed hardware specifications (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the detailed hardware specifications and settings provided, which help in optimizing the game.
- Day one microtransactions (weight 0.02): Criticism regarding a $10 microtransaction available on the first day for a remastered single-player game.
- Chinese localization issues (weight 0.02): The Chinese localization has some rough translations, which may affect the gaming experience for Chinese-speaking players.
- Convenient inventory sorting (weight 0.02): Players find the inventory sorting by pinyin convenient, enhancing the user experience.
- Rewards for 2025 nomination (weight 0.01): Players are discussing or anticipating rewards related to a nomination in 2025.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.35): Players are primarily frustrated due to persistent performance issues, including frequent crashes, poor optimization, and game-breaking bugs. Additional frustrations stem from the need for mods to make the game playable, lost progress due to save file issues, and various gameplay mechanics that are seen as outdated or buggy.
- Disappointment (weight 0.19): Players express disappointment due to the game feeling unfinished and abandoned by developers, with many unresolved issues and lack of significant improvements. The remaster is criticized for not meeting expectations, having poor performance, and lacking ongoing support and updates.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.14): Players feel nostalgic as the game evokes memories and feelings from childhood, reminding them of the original game's greatness. The remaster brings back old memories of playing the original game, with familiar locations, graphics, and music contributing to this sentiment.
- Joy (weight 0.08): Players experience joy due to the game's beautiful graphics, engaging quests, and immersive atmosphere. The remastered version's visual improvements, enjoyable exploration, and positive surprises contribute to a fun and meditative gaming experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players feel satisfied with the game's smooth performance after upgrades, improvements in gameplay mechanics, and overall positive experience. The remaster's faithfulness to the original, along with technical improvements and engaging quests, contribute to this satisfaction.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Players are angry due to performance issues, lack of support from developers, and perceived lack of effort in remastering. Frequent crashes, poor optimization, and the removal of certain features also contribute to this anger.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Players are excited about the improved graphics, exploration, and rich lore in the remastered version. The visual and animation improvements, along with the engaging plot and immersive world, contribute to this excitement.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players enjoy the game due to its immersive gameplay, freedom to explore, and engaging quests. The visually nice remaster, unique experiences, and positive aspects of the game contribute to this enjoyment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the improved gameplay mechanics, graphics, and additional content in the remaster. The visual overhaul and inclusion of extra features contribute to this appreciation.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's atmosphere, quest design, and graphics improvements. The deep and rich gameplay, along with the expansive world, contribute to this admiration.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for future improvements and optimizations, as well as potential for future remasters. The hope that issues will be fixed in newer patches contributes to this sentiment.
- Amusement (weight 0): Players are amused by humorous and detailed descriptions of game elements, such as the mention of pants on zombies reducing fear.
- Nostalgic (weight 0): Players feel nostalgic due to their preference and love for the original Oblivion, reminiscing about the original game and its impact.
- Disappointed (weight 0): Players are disappointed due to optimization and animation issues, as well as the lack of mod support in the remastered version.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0): Players are enthusiastic about the graphically impressive remaster and captivating storylines, along with positive experiences with the game's performance and graphics.
- Happy (weight 0): Players are happy due to positive comparisons to Skyrim, highlighting the remaster's improvements and enjoyable aspects.
- Impressed (weight 0): Players are impressed by the graphical updates and mechanical improvements in the remastered version.
- Relieved (weight 0): Players are relieved that there is no need for modding to enjoy the game, as it runs well without additional modifications.
- Excited (weight 0): Players are excited about the improvements in the remastered edition, including enhanced graphics and refined gameplay mechanics.}