The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Changes Applauded by Former Dev
World-Scale Leveling Remains in Oblivion Remastered
A former developer of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has openly admitted that the inclusion of the world-scale leveling system was a mistake, even as this feature makes its return in the remastered version. Bruce Nesmith, the original designer of Oblivion, shared his candid thoughts in a recent interview with VideoGamer. Nesmith, who has also contributed to the design of quests and systems in games like Fallout 3, Skyrim, and Starfield, praised the tweaks made to the leveling system in Oblivion Remastered, noting that these changes have made the game more enjoyable for modern players.
In the original game, players were required to level up their major skills multiple times and then rest to increase their attributes. This system was overhauled in the remaster to resemble the more user-friendly XP system of Skyrim, where players gain experience across all their skill lines. Nesmith commended Bethesda for this "brave" move, highlighting its positive impact on gameplay.
However, Nesmith expressed a different view on the world-scale leveling feature. This system, which adjusts enemy levels to match the player's, led to a sense of futility among players, as Nesmith explained: "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 criticism has been echoed by fans since the game's initial release in 2006, prompting them to develop mods to counteract this system. With Oblivion Remastered retaining this feature, the community has once again stepped up to address the world-scale leveling system through mods.
Oblivion Remastered is More Than Just a Remaster
The announcement of Oblivion being remastered caught many by surprise, especially given the extensive efforts made to recreate this Elder Scrolls classic. Nesmith himself initially expected the remaster to be limited to texture updates, similar to Skyrim: Special Edition. In another interview with VideoGamer, he expressed awe at the depth of the remastering process, stating, "[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 went above and beyond by rebuilding Tamriel using Unreal Engine 5, which allowed the developers to overcome the limitations of the original game. The result has been widely praised by the gaming community for its high-quality execution. Here at Game8, we awarded Oblivion Remastered a score of 90 out of 100, celebrating its heartfelt tribute to Cyrodiil, lovingly reforged with modern-day technology. For more detailed insights into the game, be sure to check out our full article below!
