"Oblivion Remastered: Original Dev Admits World-Scale Leveling Mistake"

Discover why the original developer of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion now views the game's world-scale leveling system as a misstep, even as the feature makes a return in the remastered version. Dive deeper into the changes and the resounding success of the game 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 Oblivion, expressed his regret over the inclusion of the world-scale leveling system, which has been retained in the remastered edition. Nesmith, who has also contributed to Fallout 3, Skyrim, and Starfield, praised the adjustments made to the leveling system in the remaster, noting that these changes enhance the game's appeal to contemporary players.

Originally, Oblivion required players to level up their major skills multiple times before resting to increase their attributes. The remastered version adopts a more streamlined approach akin to Skyrim, where players earn XP across all skill lines. Nesmith commended Bethesda for this bold move, describing it as a "brave" decision.

However, Nesmith was critical of the world-scale leveling system's return. This system scales enemy levels with the player's, leading to a sense of stagnation as Nesmith put it, "oh, it doesn’t matter that I went up in levels, the dungeon went up in levels with me." He believes this was a mistake, a sentiment echoed by fans since the game's 2006 debut, prompting them to develop mods to counteract this feature. With the remaster, fans have once again taken it upon themselves to address the world-scale leveling system.

Oblivion Remastered is More Than Just a Remaster

The remastering of Oblivion has exceeded expectations, surprising even Nesmith, who initially anticipated only texture updates akin to Skyrim: Special Edition. In another interview with VideoGamer, he lauded the team's extensive efforts, 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 remaster is evident in their use of Unreal Engine 5 to rebuild Tamriel, overcoming the limitations of the original game. This dedication has been met with widespread acclaim from the gaming community. At Game8, we awarded Oblivion Remastered a score of 90 out of 100, celebrating its meticulous recreation of Cyrodiil with modern technology. For a more in-depth analysis, explore our detailed review below!