The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Changes Applauded by Former Dev
World-Scale Leveling Remains in Oblivion Remastered
In a candid revelation, a former developer of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has admitted that the inclusion of the world-scale leveling system was a misstep, even as it makes a return in the remastered version. Bruce Nesmith, an original designer of Oblivion, shared his thoughts in a recent interview with VideoGamer. Nesmith, who has also contributed to games like Fallout 3, Skyrim, and Starfield, praised the tweaks made to Oblivion Remastered's leveling system, making it more accessible and enjoyable for contemporary gamers.
In the original Oblivion, players were required to level up their major skills multiple times and rest to increase their attributes. The remastered version adopts a more modern approach, similar to Skyrim, where players gain XP across all skill lines. Nesmith commended Bethesda for this bold move, describing it as a "brave" decision.
However, Nesmith expressed reservations about the world-scale leveling system's return. This system scales the enemies' levels alongside the player's, which Nesmith believes diminishes the sense of progression. He remarked, "I think the world leveling with you was a mistake and that’s proven out by the fact it did not happen the same way in Skyrim." This issue has been a point of contention among fans since the game's initial release in 2006, prompting them to develop mods to counteract the system. With the remaster retaining this feature, fans have once again taken to modding to address the world-scale leveling.
Oblivion Remastered is More Than Just a Remaster
The remastering of Oblivion has exceeded expectations, with the development team going beyond mere texture updates, unlike what was initially rumored. Nesmith, who anticipated something akin to Skyrim: Special Edition, was impressed by the extent of the work done. He stated, "[It’s] a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice."
Bethesda's decision to rebuild Tamriel using Unreal Engine 5 has allowed the developers to overcome the original game's limitations, resulting in a high-quality remaster that has garnered widespread acclaim. At Game8, we awarded Oblivion Remastered a score of 90 out of 100, recognizing it as a heartfelt tribute to Cyrodiil, masterfully reimagined with today's technology. For more in-depth analysis, be sure to read our full review below.
