Tag: Game Reviews

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remaster is much needed to enhance the game

There has been much discussion about the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion getting a remaster. I agree that this is the right approach for Bethesda to take here. Oblivion was my first Elder Scrolls game and I consider it to be superior to Skyrim in the aesthetics. Gameplay wise, Skyrim is more polished, but Oblivion has a special place in my heart. Seeing that they want to remaster the game brings a smile to my face and I hope that the remaster is actually competent and brings new players to enjoy this game.

Screenshot of the Imperial City Market District in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, featuring tall stone structures and a cloudy sky.
View of the Imperial City Market District in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, showcasing its distinctive architecture and towering structures.

The game was always having issues on my computers, especially my previous gaming computer I had in my collection. It was glitchy and would often not have the sound working on it. On my newest computer, the game is working correctly except for some draw distance issues.

However, in spite of that, the game is rather uneven in the quality of the graphics. While many gamers would say that graphics is not the most important thing, in such AAA titles such as Oblivion, graphics are important part of the presentation of a game. The graphics in the game vary depending on what we are looking at here.

A scenic view from the game Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion featuring trees, a distant castle, and a river under a blue sky.
A scenic view from the game Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, showcasing lush landscapes and a distant fortress.

As you can clearly see in the screenshot above, the game had a rather lush green landscape around the Imperial City. In comparison with the snowy Skyrim, it gave players a variety of options. You could see Bruma, the Nord city near Skyrim and see snow. Go to a city like Bravil and you would see a swampy, run down city with much spirit. You had a choice in aesthetics unlike in Skyrim where three cities are in the snow and hardly qualify as cities.

In the Oblivion remaster, I hope that game is able to spruce up the graphics. It is time for the graphics to now shine with the engines we have now.

A scenic view of the Imperial City in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, showcasing tall stone towers, lush green trees, and a bright blue sky.
A stunning view of the Imperial City with lush greenery and a bright blue sky in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

The game is probably most beautiful around the Imperial City. It is there where I took most of my screenshots. While the game is old, it has an aesthetic which is calming in its own right. I hope that the remaster is able to capture such colors and the architecture in this game.

In this day and age where video games often look quite ugly, it is important to have more video games similar to Oblivion. Skyrim had too many browns in its styles. Oblivion as I stated earlier has a variety of colors and environments. This makes the game still very interesting to engage with. Unlike Skyrim, this game is very easy on the eyes.

Oblivion’s Remaster will bring some new life back into the game and I hope that it retain its cozy qualities.

Empire Earth vs Empire Earth 2: Two Games of Contrast

Empire Earth and its sequel are a study in contrasts. There are two games that represent differing ideas about what a game is. Empire Earth attempts to represent the classic RTS genre while Empire Earth 2 is attempting to chase after a new audience while being able to please the fans.

Empire Earth is about tactics and free form in its nature. It is a game that allows you build buildings anywhere.

Empire Earth 2 is more about strategic thinking and planning. The game integrates Civilization style scale with the RTS style.

Which game is better here?

Empire Earth at this point in time has remained the more popular of the two. On YouTube, Empire Earth 2 is largely obscure, only going due to the efforts of a few users.

Empire Earth however retains a thriving multiplayer scene. While not as lively as it once was in the past, there are significant number of players who enjoy it.

What is the reason for Empire Earth 2 being more obscure now? I believe it has to do with the overcomplication of the game.

Sometimes reinventing the wheel can be exciting but you are wasting money while your rivals are using tried and true technology which works now.

Empire Earth 2 attempts to put the Civilization series onto the structure of a RTS game.

Empire Earth knew what it was. The main selling point was the movement through history. That is what mattered to the players.

Empire Earth 2 was too much of a leap and Empire Earth was the comfy home which had the warm cookies made by your mom.

Many video games struggle with this. How much change should a game have? Sometimes its best to refine than to create something from scratch.

Empire Earth’s longevity as a game is a testament to the excellent structure and gameplay. It truly is a game that means what it says: Epic is too small a word.

The wide as an ocean and shallow as puddle worked just right for Empire Earth. That is why players continue to play and enjoy it.

Empire Earth (2001) is a special game

There are not many games similar to Empire Earth. The ability to have a civilization that is going to be able stand the test of time is a truly gratifying experience.

I will say that after spending many years not playing it, the game still holds up as an exceptional game. I think it represents something we haven’t seen in the industry in ages. The video game has a competency in it which is missing in Civilization VII. That idea of someone putting effort into a game and having a great product is being replaced by people making poor quality things on an assembly line of code.

To just emphasize the differences between the games. Just look at the way in which maps are made in Empire Earth vs Civilization VII. While Empire Earth is not a 4X game, it does have some similarities here. What I want to emphasize is that the map generation in the game is much better than that of Civilization VII.

The maps actually look like actual continents.

Civilization VII sacrificed single player for a stale multiplayer experience.

Empire Earth belongs to a time when the industry was in a state of transition. However, there were still many of the old greats working away and it shows in this game. It was grown up but not yet lethargic and nostalgic for the past.

Civilization VII is stuck in the past. Empire Earth was using the past and present to tell a story in the future. It is a game that transcends its video game nature and provides a soundtrack to mankind.

While some may say this is overly idealistic and that it is simply a game, I disagree with this sentiment here. No video game is simply product of recreation. It is art.