The magic system is better than the one in Skyrim, which is a low bar to clear. I was always disappointed by the rudimentary quality of the NPC AI in Oblivion because of the incredible (as it turns out, literally) promises Bethesda was making before release. I remember reading about it in a game magazine and being enthralled with the possibilities… Then it turned out to be what it is. Morrowind was the first video game RPG that I truly, deeply immersed myself in and the quality of that immersion depended on a highly textual approach combined with a world that often surprises and makes demands of you, while also giving you a great deal of leeway in how you negotiate its challenges. After that, Oblivion felt like a failed attempt to move away from relying on writing, and Bethesda has confined itself to failing in that direction ever since, while importantly never failing to make plenty of money doing so.

I liked the story and experience of Oblivion despite all of this, even though it felt like a very limited realisation of its own creative aims. I have high hopes for Skyblivion still, and will look forward to seeing a more lovingly, thoughtfully crafted rendition.