The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivionwas released in 2006 to massive success. As such, it made sense that Bethesdawould then go ahead with a sequel. However, true toElder Scrollstradition, thenext game in the serieswould take place in an entirely new part of Cyrodil.Obliviontook place in the civilized city center of the fantasy region, butSkyrimis the northernmost region in the fictional content and home to ice-hardened Nords. What’s more,Skyrimalso takes place over two-hundred years after the events ofOblivion.
Such a drastic change in location and time-period could easily have left both games in the series feeling detached from one another. However, there are some subtle inclusions that makeThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimmore of a traditional sequel toOblivionthan most fans expected.
9Same Races
It can be tempting for a developer to include a new playable race in their next instalment of a fantasy series.Such a move would add some new dynamics to an already established universe and give players some new tools to try on their first playthrough. However, such an inclusion would break the continuity between games and leave players scratching their heads as to where this new race has been in previous games.
Fortunately, Bethesda knew better than to mess with what works, and all the established races fromOblivionmake a return inSkyrim. Although, some of these familiar races look a little different due to the new game engine used to runSkyrim.
8Daedra
The Daedra are a demonic race of monsters in theElder Scrollsseries who call the hellish plane of Oblivion their home. As such, these demons were some of the primary antagonists inOblivion.Since the main quest of the title character was to close the gates of Oblivion to rid the world of the Daedra threat, it would make sense to never see these creatures again. However, never hearing mention of them again would be a bit of a stretch.
Bethesdawas careful with the inclusion of the Daedra inSkyrim.They still appear in certain side quests, and are mentioned by several NPCs throughoutSkyrim.Therefore, the Daedra remain as a reminder of what happened in the previous game without overshadowing the new threats established in Skyrim.
7Wacky Characters
One of the best parts of theElder Scrollsseries is the eclectic mix of characters. Everyone has their own personality, and the radiant AI used inOblivionled to some wacky and interesting character interactions. Almost everyone who played Oblivion remembers the vile Valen Dreth, and dry-wit of Haskell. However, Bethesdachose not to include radiant AI inSkyrim.
The results of this decision were not as disastrous as players were expecting. Some great voiceover work and dialogue options meant that the characters inSkyrimwere just as wacky and unpredictable as ever. TheElder Scrollsseries would not be the same without these creative choices.
6Dark Brotherhood
One of the storylines fromOblivionthat players remember most is the Dark Brotherhood quest line. This cult of murderous assassins have made appearances in a lot of otherElder Scrollsgame, so fans would notice if the group were omitted fromSkyrim.
Luckily, the Dark Brotherhood does return to set the player character on another dark path of death and destruction. Alternatively, players inSkyrimcan choose a secret quest line that sees them take out the Dark Brotherhood. What’s more, the main Dark Brotherhood quests lead players back to the dreaded Night Mother, adding some nice parallels to the previous game’s story arc.
5Sheogorath
There are many gods and deities inElder Scrollslore. However, none of these made quite as much of an impression on players as Sheogorath, especially for those who playedthe Shivering Isles DLC from Oblivion.Sheogorath is the Daedric prince of madness, and he often has a few interesting quests in line for players. InOblivion,he had players making it rain fiery sheep, and menacing a group of characters on a D&D-style quest. Such a great presence would be sorely missed had Sheogorath not appeared inSkyrim.
Fortunately, the mad god does have a quest for players inSkyrim, and he is once again voiced by the talented Wes Johnson. Some fans have even speculated whether this version of the character is in fact the protagonist ofOblivion, as their story ends with them taking over theShivering Isles.
4Improving Combat
AlthoughObliviondid a lot to make it be considered as one of the best fantasy RPGs of all time, there were some areas that needed to be improved. For many fans, one of those aspects was the combat. Swinging a sword or firing a bow inObliviondidn’t always feel natural, which meant a lot of attacks missed or were ineffective.
ForSkyrim,almost all the combat mechanics were overhauled. Players could nowuse two hands separately to cast magicand use a melee weapon. Also, sneaking and other actions greatly affected how players performed in combat. As a result, fans still got to roam around the same unique world, only combat encounters were now greatly improved.
3The Map
A game’s map system is never going to outright destroy a video game experience. All a map needs to convey is where the player is, their objective, and some key locations. It seems that Bethesdatook this literally when designingOblivionas the game map is quite dull.
InSkyrim, the developer’s saw it fitto improve upon everything that came before. That meant including a full 3D map of the game that showcased height differentials and weather patterns. All the key features of the map are intact; however, the entire presentation is just a lot more inventive than it was inOblivion.
2A Bigger Threat
InOblivion,players had to contend with the entire destruction of the world from an all-powerful hell god. Since a sequels job is to raise the stakes, it is understandable that Bethesdahad its hands full in this department. The answer to the introduction of a bigger threat inSkyrimturned out to be much simpler than fans first imagined.
The introduction of dragons asthe main story threat in Skyrim was clever for two main reasons. It established an intimidating threat that players could imagine as a problem for the citizens of Cyrodil. What’s more, encountering these beasts in the wild also produced some difficult combat experiences for fans. Dragons had not been seen inThe Elder Scrollsbefore, and their unique presence is felt all throughoutSkyrim.
1M’aiq the Liar
An odd character, M’aiq the Liar is a staple ofThe Elder Scrollsseries. This Khajit has appeared in every main series game thus far, so his appearance inSkyrimwas mandatory for most fans. He can be found at any point inSkyrim; however, players are most likely to find himnear the Khajit caravanoutside Whiterun.
As usual, M’aiq doesn’t offer the player anything of use. He continues his trend of spouting some inane babble and then wandering off. Also, his un-aged presence inSkyrimover two hundred years after the events ofOblivioncalls into question his true nature. Still, it is nice to see the developer’s didn’t forget about M’aiq the Liar in this sequel.
