Oblivion Remaster: What We Want From a Revamped Character Creator
Looking Back at the Original Cyrodiilic Sculpting Studio
The blocky faces, the exaggerated sliders, the… *uniqueness* of character appearances in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It’s safe to say that the original character creator, while groundbreaking at the time, has become something of a legendary meme. Now, with whispers and fervent hopes for an *Oblivion* remaster swirling around the gaming community, attention naturally turns to how this crucial element might be brought into the modern era. Will we finally get a chance to craft the Cyrodiilic hero (or villain) we’ve always envisioned? This article delves into the fervent desires and expectations surrounding a potential *Oblivion Remaster Character Creator*, exploring the improvements fans are yearning for, the challenges involved, and the importance of getting it right.
Looking Back at the Original Cyrodiilic Sculpting Studio
When *Oblivion* graced our screens, its character creator was a leap forward, offering a level of facial sculpting unheard of in many games. Players could manipulate dozens of sliders, tweaking everything from the distance between the eyes to the sharpness of the chin. Race selection played a vital role, influencing starting attributes, skills, and even inherent abilities. The class system, tied intrinsically to skill progression, further shaped your character’s destiny. Adding the birthsign system into the mix, which granted a special boon and sometimes a detrimental drawback, gave you an additional layer of customization.
However, this depth also came with its quirks. The graphical limitations of the time, combined with the sheer volume of facial sliders, often resulted in characters that looked… less than flattering. The term “potato face” became synonymous with *Oblivion*, and many a player found themselves unintentionally creating monstrous visages. The memes that sprung up around the character creator, highlighting the absurd possibilities of the sliders, became a cultural phenomenon within the gaming community. These weren’t always caused by players making abominations; sometimes it was a matter of graphical fidelity simply not being up to the task.
A Wishlist for a Modern Character Creator
Assuming that a dedicated remake or remaster of *Oblivion* is in the works, fans and gaming journalists alike are compiling wish lists to improve on the foundations that were created back in 2006.
Elevating Graphical Fidelity and Realism
The most immediate and obvious upgrade would be a significant boost in graphical fidelity. Modern games showcase breathtaking character models with incredibly detailed faces. An *Oblivion Remaster Character Creator* needs to feature:
High-Polygon Models
More polygons translate to smoother, more realistic character shapes.
High-Resolution Textures
Textures for skin, hair, and eyes need to be crisp and detailed to avoid the “plastic” look that plagued the original.
Realistic Lighting
Modern lighting techniques can dramatically improve the appearance of characters, adding depth and dimension to their faces.
Think about the advancements seen in games like *Red Dead Redemption 2* or *Cyberpunk 2077*. These games have set a new benchmark for character detail, and a remastered *Oblivion* should strive to meet that standard.
Expanding the Realm of Customization
Beyond just visual upgrades, the *Oblivion Remaster Character Creator* must offer a more comprehensive range of customization options.
Granular Facial Control
Greater precision over individual facial features is crucial. Instead of simply moving a slider, players should be able to fine-tune the shape of the nose, the arch of the eyebrows, and the size of the lips with pinpoint accuracy.
Diverse Body Types
Allow players to adjust height, weight, muscle definition, and other body characteristics. This provides a wider range of character archetypes, moving away from the somewhat generic body shapes of the original.
Rich Hairstyles and Beards
A bigger selection of hairstyles and beard options is essential. From long, flowing locks to short, cropped cuts, and from meticulously groomed beards to rugged stubble, variety is key.
Tattoos and Scars
The ability to add tattoos, scars, and other distinguishing marks would allow players to tell a story through their character’s appearance. Each mark could represent a past adventure, a personal belief, or simply a unique aesthetic choice.
Race and Class System Overhaul
The original game had its limitations when it came to the flexibility of characters and their races. The race and class selection needs to be reviewed and adjusted.
Rebalancing Racial Traits
Some racial skills and bonuses were far more effective than others. A remaster should rebalance these traits to ensure that all races are viable choices.
Flexible Class System
Perhaps the most dramatic change would be to move away from the traditional class system altogether, giving players complete freedom to develop their characters as they see fit. At the very least, the class system should be made more flexible.
New Races
Introducing one or two new races could add another layer of depth and intrigue to the game. These races could have unique abilities, backstories, and cultures, further enriching the world of *Oblivion*.
Improving the User Interface
The *Oblivion Remaster Character Creator* should feature a clean, intuitive, and user-friendly interface.
Clear Presentation
All customization options should be clearly labeled and easy to access.
Real-Time Preview
A real-time preview of the character’s appearance, that accurately reflects the applied changes, is essential.
Saving and Sharing Presets
Players should be able to save their character creations as presets and share them with others. This would foster a community of character creators and make it easier for players to find inspiration.
Embracing the Modding Community
*Oblivion* had a large and active modding community which made many changes, including to the character creator. Ensuring the *Oblivion Remaster Character Creator* is mod-friendly is paramount.
Open Architecture
The character creator should be built on an open architecture that allows modders to easily add new options, features, and assets.
Official Mod Support
Bethesda should provide official tools and resources to support modders, making it easier for them to create and share their work.
Meeting Expectations and Overcoming Hurdles
The *Oblivion* community is vibrant and vocal. They have very specific ideas about what they want to see in an *Oblivion Remaster Character Creator*. Common requests include more realistic body proportions, advanced hair physics, and the ability to customize individual teeth (yes, really!).
The developers face several challenges in creating a remastered character creator. Balancing graphical fidelity with performance is a major concern. Improving the character creator without changing the overall feel of the game requires a delicate touch. It’s imperative that the updated character creator remains compatible with mods, thus enabling the community to enhance and customize the game beyond what is available by default.
The Key to an Engaging Experience
A thoughtfully designed character creator isn’t just about making pretty faces; it’s about giving players the freedom to express themselves, create characters they connect with, and shape their own stories within the world of Cyrodiil. The *Oblivion Remaster Character Creator* has the potential to be one of the most defining features of the game, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the role-playing experience.
The anticipation for an *Oblivion* remaster is palpable. The revamped character creator is not just a cosmetic upgrade, but an opportunity to elevate the player experience. Can Bethesda deliver a character creator that satisfies long-time fans while drawing in new players? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the future of Cyrodiilic faces is something the gaming world is watching with keen interest.
