One of the original developers behind Oblivion now acknowledges that implementing the world-scale leveling system was an error. Discover his perspective on the game's evolution and its remarkable success following its initial release.
Original Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Developer Praises Remastered Updates
World-Scale Leveling Persists in Oblivion Remastered
A former Oblivion developer concedes that incorporating world-scale leveling was misguided, even though the feature remains in the remastered version. In a recent VideoGamer interview, original designer Bruce Nesmith discussed the game's progression mechanics.
Beyond his work on Oblivion, Nesmith contributed to quest and system design for titles like Fallout 3, Skyrim, and Starfield. He noted that the refined leveling system in Oblivion Remastered improves accessibility for contemporary gaming audiences.
The original release required players to repeatedly advance major skills before resting to level up and boost attributes. This has been revised to mirror Skyrim's approach, where experience accumulates across all skill categories. Nesmith commended Bethesda's decision as a bold and welcome improvement.
However, Nesmith expressed reservations about the retained world-leveling mechanic. This system causes enemy difficulty to scale with player progression, creating a perception that "no matter how much I level up, the challenges scale accordingly."
He elaborated, "In retrospect, scaling the world to match player advancement was a design misstep, evident from how Skyrim approached this differently." Since the 2006 launch, fans have voiced similar concerns, leading to community-developed modifications. With the remaster preserving this feature, players have once again taken initiative to rebalance the leveling system.
Oblivion Remastered Transcends Conventional Enhancements
While rumors of an Oblivion remaster circulated for some time, the development team's comprehensive recreation exceeded expectations. Nesmith himself admitted anticipating mere visual upgrades comparable to Skyrim: Special Edition.
In another VideoGamer discussion, he praised the team's ambitious approach, stating, "The scope of enhancements is extraordinary. Frankly, 'remaster' hardly captures the extent of improvements - it practically warrants a new classification."
Bethesda's commitment is undeniable, having completely rebuilt Tamriel using Unreal Engine 5. This technological leap enabled developers to overcome previous technical constraints, resulting in widespread acclaim for the final product's quality. Game8's review awarded Oblivion Remastered a score of 90/100, recognizing it as a passionate reimagining of Cyrodiil crafted with contemporary development expertise. For detailed insights, explore our full analysis below.
