Original Dev Admits World-Scale Leveling Mistake in Oblivion Remastered Release

The release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has stirred significant discussion within the gaming community, particularly with original developer Bruce Nesmith admitting that the world-scale leveling system was a mistake. Nesmith, who has contributed to numerous Bethesda titles including Fallout 3, Skyrim, and Starfield, shared his insights in a recent interview with VideoGamer. He reflected on the original game's leveling mechanics, which required players to level up their major skills multiple times before resting to increase their attributes. Nesmith praised the remaster's adjustment to a more modern leveling system, similar to that of Skyrim, calling it a "brave" move by Bethesda.

Despite the positive changes, Nesmith expressed regret over the decision to retain the world-scale leveling system in the remastered version. This feature, which adjusts enemy levels to match the player's progression, was critiqued by Nesmith for making players feel as though their leveling efforts were inconsequential. He noted, "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 sentiment echoes the long-standing concerns of fans, who have actively created mods to address this issue since the game's initial release in 2006.

Oblivion Remastered is More Than Just a Remaster

The remaster of Oblivion has exceeded expectations, going far beyond mere texture updates. Nesmith, who anticipated a remaster akin to Skyrim: Special Edition, was pleasantly surprised by the extensive efforts made by the development team. In another interview with VideoGamer, he commended the team, 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 use of Unreal Engine 5 to rebuild the world of Tamriel has allowed for a significant leap in quality, surpassing the original game's limitations. The community has responded positively, and here at Game8, we awarded Oblivion Remastered a score of 90 out of 100 for its exceptional tribute to the beloved world of Cyrodiil, meticulously enhanced with contemporary technology. For a deeper dive into our review, feel free to explore our detailed article below.