When I saw the trailer for Oblivion Remastered, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. The modern coat of paint on top of one of Bethesda's best RPGs is undoubtedly a recipe for success. Many gamers love the studio's RPG style, so adding another one to current platforms should help a whole new generation see where gaming came from. It could also lead to a few more remastered Bethesda games if this one is successful.

I was 10 in 2006 when Oblivion was released, and truthfully, I was probably playing Lego Star Wars on my GameCube. I wouldn't even start to care about the Xbox 360 until a few years later, when I got the console in 2010, and very shortly after saving Earth from the Covenant, I sank a lot of time into the snow-covered hills of Skyrim.

Saving the Throat of the World from the dragon threat was my first experience with a Bethesda RPG, and like many gamers, it hooked me enough that it keeps calling me back every few years. By now, I've played it many times on every platform except for the Switch, so having the opportunity to jump into a similar game with a new story got me pretty excited.

Throw in some impressive graphics and a few gameplay modernizations, and this all seemed geared towards people like me who missed out on Oblivion the first time and haven't played a Bethesda game since at least Starfield a couple of years ago. Bethesda really knows how to open a game. From Skyrim's unassuming prisoner wagon to watching the bombs fall in Fallout 4, you can see the seeds of Todd Howard's cinematic backbone shine through in the opening cutscene of Oblivion: Remastered.

The remaster looks and feels amazing, with updated graphics that bring the world of Cyrodiil to life like never before. The voice acting is superb, the music is hauntingly beautiful, and the story is as engaging as ever.

But it's not just about nostalgia – Oblivion: Remastered is a great game in its own right. The gameplay is engaging, with a rich storyline that's full of unexpected twists and turns. The combat is satisfying, with a variety of spells and abilities to master.

However, there are a few areas where the game shows its age. The dungeons feel a bit like video game levels, with too much repetition and not enough exploration. And some of the classic Bethesda bugs make an appearance, such as the broken combat music that never stops playing during enemy encounters.

Despite these minor issues, I'm really happy to see this game get a fresh coat of paint. It's perfect for gamers who spent a lot of time with an Xbox 360 or PS3, and is also a great introduction to the world of Bethesda games for new players.

The Game Pass model makes it easy to try Oblivion: Remastered out, and the ability to play on multiple platforms – including PC, Xbox, and streaming via Game Pass – is a bonus. For now, I'm not sure if I'll hop back into Cyrodiil right away, but I know I will many times over the next few years when I'm looking for a comfort RPG.

So if you're looking for a great gaming experience that's full of nostalgia and charm, Oblivion: Remastered is definitely worth checking out. It costs $67, so it's an investment that's well worth making.