The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion’s NPCs are notorious for their awkward AI and stilted ambient dialogue. The clumsy demeanor of many ofOblivion’s NPCs is exacerbated by the limited number of voice actors thatOblivionhad, given the development limitations of the time, with just one voice actor per race.
With fully-voiced games being a fairly recent development in video gaming, the scope ofOblivionand the number of lines it had, mistakes also crept through in the delivery of the dialogue. These mistakes made it into the game, which contributed to the overall clumsy feel of the NPCs years later as voice acting in video games was refined. WhileOblivion’s awkward voice actinghas, by and large, made it more endearing to its fans than repellent, it also means that its two best voice actors stand out all the more, and losing them in theOblivionremake could be a massive loss.
The Biggest Names in Oblivion’s Cast
The two biggest exceptions toOblivion’s odd voice acting rule were Patrick Stewart as Emperor Uriel Septim VII and Sean Bean as Martin Septim. Although Patrick Stewart’s role was small in the grand scheme ofOblivion, the Emperor’s role was vital; he voiced the narration forOblivion’s intro and was responsible for much of the setup ofOblivion’s main story. Patrick Stewart executed this role with an incredible amount of skill and his acting left an impact on many players.
Sean Bean’s role endured far longer than Patrick Stewart’s, asMartin Septim was a prominent character throughoutOblivion’s storyline. Sean Bean’s acting made Martin stand out from every other Imperial inOblivionthat had Wes Johnson’s voice, and gave Martin the gravitas and humility that embodied the character, without stripping him of emotion that could prevent players from connecting to Martin as a character.
How the Septims Could Be Addressed in Oblivion’s Remake
If a remake forObliviondoes happen, the subject ofOblivion’s NPC dialoguewill need to be addressed. While the situation of one voice actor per race would likely be changed, lacking Patrick Stewart and Sean Bean in their roles would be a massive loss forOblivion. There are a number of ways this may be addressed, which largely depend on how the voice acting inOblivionis approached in the remake, alongside the other details. If cutscenes are kept the same, with the only visuals receiving an update being the graphics, there may not be any need to replace their performances at all.
This approach is unlikely, though, with a supporting studio like Virtuos possibly rerecording all dialogue, especially for characters as important as the Emperor and Martin. Sound files can sound bad after twenty years, the source files could have degraded or have been lost, or new dialogue could need to be recorded and getting high profile actors likePatrick Stewart and Sean Bean back to reprise their rolescould be a difficult task. While a remaster would have a higher chance of still featuring their original dialogue, a remaster has a lower chance.
There are many incredibly talented actors who could take on their roles for theOblivionremake. In the modern era of gaming, it’s more common to casthigh-profile actors in video games, especially in franchises as prolific asThe Elder Scrolls. However, rather than focusing on star-power to draw in new players, the developer needs to approach it as Bethesda did originally, with actors who were not only famous but also talented and could pull off their roles.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition presents one of the best RPGs of all time like never before. Step inside the most richly detailed and vibrant game-world ever created. With a powerful combination of freeform gameplay and unprecedented graphics, you can unravel the main quest at your own pace or explore the vast world and find your own challenges. Also included in the Game of the Year edition are Knights of the Nine and the Shivering Isles expansion, adding new and unique quests and content to the already massive world of Oblivion. See why critics called Oblivion the Best Game of 2006.
