Why does this game look so damn good still?

[MonkeyMummyMoney]

Is this the exact same engine that was used for Fallout 3 and New-Vegas? I've always wondered this. Oblivion just, well.. it looks a hell of a lot nicer then those two titles.

When Skyrim first dropped I remember thinking "This game is kind of ugly when compared to what came before it." Hell, even the newer version of Skyrim still seems ugly to me when compared ot this.

I'm not sure if it's just the art style they used that covers up a lot, but whomever they put in charge of the art for the game really did a great job. I mean, I'm not going to piss on you and tell 'ya it's raining or anything. When you look at some of the textures up close for long enough, you quickly realize it's a mid 2000's game. But still. It just looks so much nicer.

It's like with VTM:B's heads. The rest of that game looked so-so, but them heads are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ insanely good looking.

[MasterAub]

Originally posted by Vaniity Velvet:

Why does this game look so damn good still.

Because of graphic mods

[MonkeyMummyMoney]

Originally posted by MasterAub:

Originally posted by Vaniity Velvet:

Why does this game look so damn good still.

Because of graphic mods

Didn't mention Graphic mods.

[Conkwer]

Originally posted by Vaniity Velvet:

It's like with VTM:B's heads. The rest of that game looked so-so, but them heads are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ insanely good looking.

Too bad, potato heads in Oblivion are definitely not like in VTMB..
Animations and NPCs in VTMB looks pretty decent because of "Half-Life2" engine, I believe. It a strong point of Source after all. And they are even implemented some sort of physics for clothes. Even Skyrim don't have that (physics for cloaks, etc)

[Xenocat]

Color is king. This was a time when fantasy didn't have to be strictly dark fantasy.

[MonkeyMummyMoney]

Originally posted by Xenocat:

Color is king. This was a time when fantasy didn't have to be strictly dark fantasy.

RIGHT.
It almost gives me a sort of a Comic-Book Vibe playing Oblivion. Something I felt like Skyrim tried to do as well but failed with. Or I should say, more of a cartoon vibe.

[MasterAub]

Originally posted by Vaniity Velvet:

Didn't mention Graphic mods.

Then that's because of the vibrant colors and the verdant lush environment. What a good game to play in 2021 as patches and better gpu help greatly the game’s stability. But still and at the very least you'll have to get rid of these horrids potatoe heads characters and that can only be done through mods.

[QHD_144hz_MLED_5ms]

New Vegas came out in 2010 and looks like it's from 2003, Oblivion came out in 2006(?) and looks like it's from 2009.

[PainkilleR]

Originally posted by Vaniity Velvet:

I'm not sure if it's just the art style they used that covers up a lot, but whomever they put in charge of the art for the game really did a great job.

I am not really sure it has anything to do with the art style and stuff at all. In fact, back in the day the game was bashed for it having a generic fantasy/lotr kind of approach to the art style, and the over saturated colors washed out with excessive amounts of hdr/bloom, etc.

I think it has more to do with some rather technical aspects of the game. Especially some exaggerated parallax textures and some really cool shaders the game has.

Seriously, parallax textures are crazy cool in Oblivion. The first minute in the game and you already get the feeling how absolutely "detailed" everything is. Even if it's just the textures. I think back in the day I didn't even realize that those weren't real 3d walls...

That plus rather unique looking shadow/lighting shaders which make it look ten times more detailed than it actually is.

[MonkeyMummyMoney]

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Originally posted by Vaniity Velvet:

I'm not sure if it's just the art style they used that covers up a lot, but whomever they put in charge of the art for the game really did a great job.

I am not really sure it has anything to do with the art style and stuff at all. In fact, back in the day the game was bashed for it having a generic fantasy/lotr kind of approach to the art style, and the over saturated colors washed out with excessive amounts of hdr/bloom, etc.

I think it has more to do with some rather technical aspects of the game. Especially some exaggerated parallax textures and some really cool shaders the game has.

Seriously, parallax textures are crazy cool in Oblivion. The first minute in the game and you already get the feeling how absolutely "detailed" everything is. Even if it's just the textures. I think back in the day I didn't even realize that those weren't real 3d walls...

That plus rather unique looking shadow/lighting shaders which make it look ten times more detailed than it actually is.

The actual textures for the base game aren't that great when you get up close and really look at them. It's just everything else comes together in such a way that it gives the illusion that they're more detailed then what they really are.

It sounds weird to say, but it's almost like Nintendo level Illusions. Felt like there was way more effort put into Oblivion then there ever was Skyrim, at least on a visual level.

As far as the colors go, I actually liked them. It makes the game stick out, like a mix between a comic book and a Fantasy Story you'd read kids. At the very least it beats the super generic hyper realism we see now. I look at Oblivion and it makes me think of Soda or Candy just from the color's it uses and the shaders and lighting and everything.

Whomever they had in charge of all that deserves a reward if they didn't get any. Before I played Oblivion there was only one other game that made me think the same way Jet Set Radio Future. After Oblivion... I don't know... Maybe Sunset Overdrive?

[PainkilleR]

Originally posted by Vaniity Velvet:

The actual textures for the base game aren't that great when you get up close and really look at them. It's just everything else comes together in such a way that it gives the illusion that they're more detailed then what they really are.

It sounds weird to say, but it's almost like Nintendo level Illusions. Felt like there was way more effort put into Oblivion then there ever was Skyrim, at least on a visual level.

As far as the colors go, I actually liked them. It makes the game stick out, like a mix between a comic book and a Fantasy Story you'd read kids. At the very least it beats the super generic hyper realism we see now. I look at Oblivion and it makes me think of Soda or Candy just from the color's it uses and the shaders and lighting and everything.

Whomever they had in charge of all that deserves a reward if they didn't get any. Before I played Oblivion there was only one other game that made me think the same way Jet Set Radio Future. After Oblivion... I don't know... Maybe Sunset Overdrive?

I am not talking about the texture resolution or anything like that. I am talking about the exaggerated parallax effect. Just create a new character and watch the walls in the first cell under different angles while moving left and right slowly. Notice how individual blocks move creating an illusion as if they were actual 3d models and how they react to light/shadows? In reality they are just flat surfaces with a very few polygons.

[Lobo de hielo]

[qoute}As far as the colors go, I actually liked them. It makes the game stick out, like a mix between a comic book and a Fantasy Story you'd read kids. At the very least it beats the super generic hyper realism we see now. I look at Oblivion and it makes me think of Soda or Candy just from the color's it uses and the shaders and lighting and everything.[/quote]

Know exactly what you mean, always came across as "cartoony" to me.
Which is why I never really liked it for the game to begin with, much preferred the graphics of Morrowind (still do) but it has definitely grown on me since I can now add better textures, enb's and up my monitors dps.

[Plandemics]

Playing again for the first time since xbox 360 and this game really has stunning moments its unbelievable, to many to count while the textures are clear I really don't get it

[Dayve]

It's because of the graphic style - it aged well. It's like old Nintendo 64 games. They have a certain graphical style that has aged well despite their graphics being obviously terrible by modern standards.

[hster]

I just started modding Oblivion recently and I'm so pleased but surprised that the environment (trees, plants, cities) look even better than Skyrim. The trees gently sway perfectly in a way that you don't get in Skyrim.

[MonkeyMummyMoney]

Originally posted by hster:

I just started modding Oblivion recently and I'm so pleased but surprised that the environment (trees, plants, cities) look even better than Skyrim. The trees gently sway perfectly in a way that you don't get in Skyrim.

On an aesthetic level Oblivion is a better looking game. Skyrim, it felt like they were going for a more mature looking fantasy rpg where's Oblivion was more like a bedtime story. Skyrim was Conan, Oblivion was Brothers Grim.