The gaming community has long celebrated Bethesda's physics engines through creative in-game experiments. One such tradition, known as Domino Days, involves arranging objects to create chain reactions. With the recent release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, this beloved pastime has returned in spectacular fashion.
A Test of Patience and Physics
Reddit user Muaxh03 has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the craft by spending seven hours meticulously arranging books in Oblivion Remastered to create a domino effect. Unlike modern Bethesda titles such as Skyrim or Starfield, Oblivion's object manipulation system is notably more challenging, making this achievement particularly impressive. The player had to place each book individually without the benefit of precise rotation controls available in newer games, resulting in a painstaking process that tested both patience and precision.
Technical Challenges Overcome
The creation process was far from smooth. According to Muaxh03, the first couple of hours were spent learning effective placement techniques, while the staircase section alone required 2-3 hours of work. The physics system proved temperamental, with books frequently falling or glitching whenever the save was loaded. This unpredictability led to visible desynchronization in the final result, with some books falling at different speeds than others. To maintain sanity throughout this ordeal, the creator wisely disabled NPCs to prevent random character movement from disrupting the carefully balanced arrangement.
Book Domino Setup Process:
- Total time: 7 hours
- Learning placement techniques: 1-2 hours
- Staircase section alone: 2-3 hours
- NPCs disabled to prevent disruption
- Books spawned but placed individually
- No mods used for placement
Community Reaction and Historical Context
The Oblivion community has responded with universal praise and astonishment at the creator's dedication. This revival of Domino Days connects the remastered game to a cherished tradition that has spanned multiple Bethesda titles. While this initial effort focuses primarily on books, historical domino setups in Bethesda games have featured more elaborate arrangements with varied objects. The technical limitations of Oblivion's physics system make this achievement all the more noteworthy compared to similar efforts in more recent titles like Starfield.
Oblivion Remastered's Technical Improvements
This physics showcase highlights just one aspect of Oblivion Remastered's capabilities. Developed by remake specialist Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, the remaster features numerous visual and gameplay improvements. Players can enjoy 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, enhanced leveling systems, improved character creation, refined combat animations, redesigned menus, additional dialogue, proper third-person view, and advanced lip sync technology. These comprehensive updates have led some fans to suggest the project more closely resembles a remake than a traditional remaster, though Bethesda has maintained its classification as the latter.
Oblivion Remastered Technical Features:
- 4K resolution at 60 frames per second
- Improved leveling systems and character creation
- Enhanced combat animations and in-game menus
- New dialogue and proper third-person view
- Advanced lip sync technology
- Built with Unreal Engine 5 by Virtuos
Community Exploration Continues
As players continue to explore Oblivion Remastered, they're discovering both old quirks and new possibilities. Beyond physics experiments, adventurous players have found ways to escape Cyrodiil's boundaries to explore regions like Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell—the rumored setting for The Elder Scrolls VI. The game's release has also prompted veterans to share valuable advice with newcomers, such as completing the Kvatch questline early before level scaling makes it significantly more challenging.
The revival of book dominoes in Oblivion Remastered demonstrates how gaming communities preserve and celebrate traditions across generations of releases, finding joy in the unique characteristics—and even limitations—of beloved game engines.