I had a passionate crush on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Could it still thrill me 19 years later?

"Oblivion has, over two decades, become at least as famous for its technical weirdness and amusing glitches as for its pioneering design."

"My character was a Khajiit thief, a kind of manky lion in black-leather armour with excellent pickpocketing skills."

"There's something intoxicating about these role-playing games, the way they lay out their worlds for you like a buffet, inviting you to gorge."

"Lately I've been devouring it all again, after Bethesda surprise-released a remake last Friday."

During the summer of 2006, after resigning from a games magazine, the author immersed himself in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, playing nonstop for ten days. As a Khajiit thief, he experienced a memorable escapade resulting in a comical chase with guards that ended in chaos. The article reflects on the allure of Bethesda’s open-world RPGs, highlighting their unique blend of exploration and quirky gameplay. Recently, the author revisited Oblivion after the release of a remaster, enjoying the game’s iconic glitches and overwhelming sense of freedom.

Read at www.theguardian.com