5 Gameplay Changes Oblivion Remake Must Make From The Original

Summary

Greater dungeon variety is needed, as well as more mindfully crafted dungeons
An overhaul of the leveling system would prevent min-maxing and tedious attribute increase farming
Fans want no more overpowered bandits, and so enemy level scaling adjustments would be needed

With the recent rumors of the leak about the upcoming remake of “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion,” which is said to be released around June 2025, enthusiasts of “The Elder Scrolls” series are anxiously waiting for a chance to revisit one of the controversial games in the acclaimed open-world fantasy sandbox series. Instead of an upgrade, the “Oblivion” remake is being completely redesigned using the Unreal engine, and it’s expected to bring about many modifications.

It appears that the leak has disclosed some potential modifications, although after nearly two decades of debate over the successes and flaws of Oblivion, there’s general agreement on what should remain unchanged in an Oblivion remake and what needs improvement.

Greater Dungeon Variety

Delving Beyond Just Caves, Mines, Forts, And Ayleid Ruins

Exploring hidden dungeons forms a significant part of the gameplay in Oblivion. This means that players will frequently encounter underground labyrinths filled with loot, which they can plunder.

Sadly, in the game Oblivion, there are roughly four main categories: mines, caves, Ayleid ruins, and abandoned fort dungeons. While some exceptions exist, they’re relatively unique. The repetition in their designs can feel like they were copied multiple times. Incorporating more diverse, carefully designed dungeons would significantly enhance the experience.

The Leveling And Progression System

Saving Players From Themselves

In Oblivion, as a player advances their character’s level, their attribute growth is tied to the abilities they’ve honed throughout their adventure. This, combined with Oblivion’s system of scaling levels, can result in a predicament where the player has reached a high level but possesses inferior skills. Frequently, players become fixated on doing specific actions to achieve the ideal +5 attribute boost or deliberately create character builds that position preferred skills in the lesser skill tier, rather than major ones.

In this case, some people think that Oblivion’s leveling system is the poorest among all the games in the series. A simple solution might be directly linking skill advancement to attribute enhancements. For instance, levels could be distributed after a certain number of attribute improvements, and rest at inns or beds could offer a bonus for skill development (or perhaps regular rest could be a requirement before you can level up skills).

Enemy Level Scaling

No More Super-Rich Ebony-Armored Bandits

A common criticism directed at Oblivion (contrasted with Skyrim which also employs this feature) is that its leveling system can make the game excessively challenging and disrupt the immersion at higher levels. Upon reaching a specific level, players may find themselves encountering ordinary enemies with an unusually high number of health points and weapons made of glass or ebony, which are valuable enough to support them for quite some time if only they had the prescience to sell it all off.

In various locations, these outlaws seem to crop up frequently, even in previously visited spots. The revamped version of Oblivion could benefit from Skyrim’s strategy by strategically adjusting enemy levels and certain areas, but unlike Skyrim, dungeons (particularly cleared ones) should occasionally respawn with new enemies, scaled to fit the player’s level.

The Feel Of Combat, Weapons, & HP Sponges

Soaking Up All The Enjoyment

Initially, when Oblivion was launched, its combat felt very tangible, significantly contrasting with Morrowind’s dice- and chance-driven approach. However, over time, the lack of responsive NPC behavior, floaty melee attacks, and stiff bow draw animations in its combat makes it feel outdated. Modern technology and animation techniques could effortlessly breathe life into these aspects during a potential Oblivion remake, as well as improve the overall realism. Additionally, weapons that were previously missing, such as crossbows, melee staves, spears, and throwing weapons, could be reintroduced in a triumphant comeback.

According to leaks, it appears that Virtuos is planning to revamp archery mechanics, whether from first-person or third-person perspectives, in their upcoming remake of Oblivion. The game’s increased difficulty has been criticized for primarily relying on boosting enemy hit point pools, making them “HP sponges.” A potential solution might involve setting a limit to the enemies’ health points, but an even better approach could be to adjust the difficulty more subtly or by implementing increasingly intelligent combat AI.

The Persuasion Mini Game

Leaving A Better Impression During Negotiations

The way Oblivion tries to turn persuasion into a game feels unrefined, and it’s clear that you’re playing a video game. This can break the immersion, and it doesn’t make sense because the charm spell, which is used with just one button press and has no repercussions, completely overrides this system.

The solution isn’t to eliminate the Speechcraft skill or find another way to interact with NPCs, but instead, introduce a mini-game or system that aligns better with the game mechanics. While maintaining an abstract form for player-NPC conversations could be viable, a system similar to Starfield’s persuasion mechanic might offer a more engaging experience. However, this would necessitate considerable new writing and voice acting.

A Lore-Accurate Cyrodiil & Imperial City

Jungle Cyrodiil, The East-West Divide, And The City Of A Thousand Cults

Enthusiasts of the game Morrowind, well-versed in the history of the Imperial City and Cyrodiil, were left bewildered and disheartened when they discovered that the wild and jungle-like Seat of Sundered Kings had been turned into a replica reminiscent of Middle-earth from Lord of The Rings. This significant change in the lore of the Elder Scrolls series, often referred to as a retcon, is now mostly forgotten by fans. Given the vast departure from the original storyline, such a transformation is unlikely to have occurred. Nevertheless, the prospect of a faithful recreation of Cyrodiil, including the possible restoration of the lost city Sutch, remains intriguing. At the very least, an accurate depiction of the missing city could be included in the remake.

Dramatically overhauling the traditional European fantasy setting to incorporate swamps, rainforests, a geo-cultural divide between Colovia and Nibonay, and an ornate, thousand-islanded Imperial City teeming with various cults and religious diversity, as first envisioned in the Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition, would make headlines and be a groundbreaking move that could become legendary in game development. The studio responsible for this remake, Virtuos, can leverage their expertise in remaking Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, as it also takes place in a jungle environment.

Large-Scale Battles Should Be Large-Scale

Tamriel’s Last Stand Against Otherworldly Demons Should Be More Than A Skirmish

The Elder Scrolls franchise typically revolves around a solitary hero, who may be joined by loyal allies, and their journey through an expansive world. While the series isn’t primarily known for grand-scale battles, there are instances in ‘Oblivion’ that demand an epic confrontation.

The Battle of Bruma against the Grand Oblivion Gate, or any encounter with an Oblivion Gate, is often portrayed as skirmishes involving just a few Daedra and a small number of city guards. However, with modern technology, a more spectacular showdown could be achieved, even if it necessitates the use of visual illusions like billboarding to enhance the spectacle.

NPC AI And Presentation

The Meme-Worthy NPCs Will Always Live In The Original

For numerous enthusiasts, the unique charm of “The Elder Scrolls 4” comes from the quirky, pixelated-looking characters in Cyrodiil’s towns, cities, and settlements. The peculiar, shining AI, choppy animations, and unintentionally amusing dialogue (spoken by a group of four to five voice actors) give “Oblivion” its distinct character. Among the most disappointing aspects might be the absence of beards on male characters.

Attempting to recreate the unique quirkiness of “Oblivion” would likely result in disappointment. A fresh approach, steering clear of memes and eerie expressions, could enhance the remake without compromising its original lively essence and allure. The original game remains untouched (except if Bethesda chooses to discontinue it digitally), and no reinterpretation can erase the nostalgic feelings of fans towards those glitchy, unforgettable actors.

Inventory UI/UX For Mouse And Keyboard

Or At Least Separate Implementations Between PC And Consoles

In the game Oblivion, the user interface (UI) for inventory and alchemy crafting appears to have been primarily tailored towards console use, making it somewhat difficult and cumbersome for players using personal computers (PCs) to navigate effectively.

Although maintaining the antique charm of the UI’s medieval motifs and artwork is essential, it would be beneficial to tailor the navigation of spell and item lists differently for PC and console versions, or offer an option for players to personalize the layout according to their preference.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remake is reportedly in development and set to release in 2025.

2025-01-23 01:36