Ask most gamers who were around during the Xbox 360 era, and, Red Ring of Death aside, chances are they'll share plenty of fond memories with you. For many Xbox 360 owners, including myself, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a treasure trove of those memories. I was working at Official Xbox Magazine at the time, and although the successful port of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind to Xbox didn't quite captivate me, Oblivion hooked me from the very start. Originally slated as a launch title for the second Xbox, Oblivion was a game changer. We featured it on multiple cover stories, with screenshots that left everyone in awe. I eagerly volunteered for every trip to Bethesda's office in Rockville, Maryland, to get an insider's look.

When it came time to review Oblivion, I jumped at the opportunity, especially since exclusive reviews were a common practice back then. I returned to Rockville, spending four glorious, consecutive 11-hour days immersed in Cyrodiil, the stunning medieval fantasy world of Oblivion. Before heading back home, I had logged 44 hours on a submission build at Bethesda – a near-final version of the game on an Xbox 360 debug kit. This led to my review in OXM, where I gave it a well-deserved 9.5 out of 10. The game was filled with gripping quests like the Dark Brotherhood, hidden surprises like the unicorn, and so much more. Once I got the retail version, I had to start over, but that didn't stop me from diving back in and clocking another 130 hours into this masterpiece.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots

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I'm thrilled that Oblivion has been remastered and re-released on modern platforms. For the younger generation who grew up with Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is their first "new" mainline Elder Scrolls game since Skyrim's debut over 13 years ago. While fans of all ages eagerly await The Elder Scrolls VI, which might still be 4-5 years away, this remaster offers a fresh experience.

However, I must admit that Oblivion might not have the same impact on new players as it did for me back in March 2006. As a two-decade-old game, it's been surpassed by subsequent titles like Fallout 3, Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, all from Bethesda. Moreover, while the remaster looks better than the original, it doesn't have the groundbreaking visual impact it had in 2006, when it was arguably the first true next-gen game of the HD era. Remasters aim to modernize older games on current platforms, but they don't reinvent them like a full remake, such as Resident Evil.

Oblivion was the right game at the right time, taking full advantage of HD televisions and expanding the scope of open-world gaming. It was a revelation for console gamers used to 640x480 interlaced visuals. (And let's not forget EA's Fight Night Round 3, released just a month earlier, which was stunning in its own right.)

My memories of Oblivion are countless, filled with endless exploration and activities. For first-time players, I recommend either rushing through the main quest to quickly deal with the Oblivion gates or saving it until you've explored every side quest and activity. The gates start spawning once you begin the main quest, and it's best to seal them off early on.

The technological leap from Morrowind to Oblivion might be unmatched, but while we wait for The Elder Scrolls 6, playing Oblivion Remastered won't feel as starkly different from Skyrim. Younger gamers who grew up with Skyrim might miss out on the revolutionary experience I had, but whether you're playing Oblivion for the first time or revisiting it, its fully realized medieval fantasy world and its surprises continue to make it my favorite Elder Scrolls game. I'm excited it's back, even if the surprise release was spoiled multiple times before its return.