Discover why a former developer of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion believes the world-scale leveling system was a misstep, and how the remastered version of the game has evolved since its initial launch.

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 behind the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, openly admitted that the game's world-scale leveling system was a mistake. Despite this, the feature has been retained in the newly released Oblivion Remastered.

Nesmith, who also contributed to titles like Fallout 3, Skyrim, and Starfield, praised the modifications made to the leveling system in the remastered version, which he believes caters better to today's gamers. Originally, players had to level up major skills multiple times and rest to see progress in attributes. The remaster adopts a system closer to Skyrim, where XP is accrued across all skill lines, a change Nesmith deemed "brave" and beneficial.

However, his critique was sharp regarding the world-scale leveling system. This system adjusts enemy levels to match the player's, which Nesmith feels undermines the sense of progression. He noted, "I think the world levelling with you was a mistake and that’s proven out by the fact it did not happen the same way in Skyrim." Since the game's debut in 2006, fans have echoed this sentiment, leading to community-created mods to alter this aspect. With the remaster bringing back this feature, modders have once again stepped in to address the issue.

Oblivion Remastered is More Than Just a Remaster

The announcement of Oblivion being remastered came with high expectations, but the extent of the changes surprised even Nesmith. He initially anticipated mere texture updates akin to Skyrim: Special Edition. However, in another discussion with VideoGamer, he lauded the team's comprehensive approach, 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's commitment to the project shines through with the use of Unreal Engine 5, which has enabled a detailed reconstruction of Tamriel. The result is a visually stunning and technically superior rendition of the game, earning it a 90 out of 100 from Game8 for its faithful and enhanced revival of Cyrodiil. For a deeper dive into our review, explore the article below!