Discover the insights of an original developer of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion as he reflects on the controversial world-scale leveling system and celebrates the extensive updates in the remastered version.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Changes Applauded by Former Dev
World-Scale Leveling Remains in Oblivion Remastered
In a candid interview with VideoGamer, Bruce Nesmith, a key designer of the original Oblivion, expressed regret over the implementation of the world-scale leveling system. Despite its inclusion in Oblivion Remastered, Nesmith believes it was a misstep. The system, which scales enemy levels alongside the player's, was critiqued for negating the sense of progression, as Nesmith noted, "oh, it doesn’t matter that I went up in levels, the dungeon went up in levels with me."
Nesmith, who also contributed to Fallout 3, Skyrim, and Starfield, praised the adjustments made to the leveling system in the remaster, likening it to the more player-friendly system in Skyrim. He commended Bethesda for their bold decision to refine the gameplay for contemporary audiences.
However, the world-scale leveling feature, which fans had long criticized since the 2006 release, continues to be a point of contention. The community's response led to the creation of mods to address this issue, and with its return in Oblivion Remastered, fans have once again taken steps to modify this aspect of the game.
Oblivion Remastered is More Than Just a Remaster
The remaster of Oblivion has exceeded expectations, going far beyond simple texture enhancements. Nesmith was impressed by the extensive work, stating in another VideoGamer interview, "[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 for significant improvements, lifting the limitations of the original game. The community has responded positively to these enhancements, with Game8 awarding Oblivion Remastered a score of 90 out of 100, praising it as a heartfelt tribute to Cyrodiil, beautifully reforged with modern technology. For a deeper dive into our review, explore the full article below!
