Summary
Bethesda games are known to share similar features with each other, and each game builds off the last. In the case ofThe Elder Scrolls 6, many fans are likely expecting it to take heavy inspiration fromSkyrim, the last game in the series. WhileThe Elder Scrolls 6will almost certainly take some hints from this iconic entry, as evenStarfieldseems to have someSkyrimfeatures, it should also look atOblivion, the game that came beforeSkyrim.
As it was released in early 2006,Oblivionisn’t exactly what comes to mind when most gamers think of a modern, technically impressive release.Skyrim, which came out over five years later, improved upon the foundation laid byOblivionand previousThe Elder Scrollsgames in a number of ways, including visual fidelity, voice acting and sound design, and scope. That said,Skyrimalso lacked or greatly altered central features fromOblivion. In the case of some features, removing them may have been the right decision, but there are others that could have fit the game very well. As Bethesda developsThe Elder Scrolls 6, it should try to reintroduce a few of these forgotten features.
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The Elder Scrolls 6 Needs to Bring Back Spellcrafting
For many players,Skyrim’s magic system was lackluster. There are a number of arguments one could make to support this claim, but one weighty argument has to do with a magic-related feature that was conspicuously absent fromSkyrim: Spellcrafting. Spellcrafting was a system inOblivionthat allowed players to create their own magic spells by combining spells that they had already learned. Through this system, the effects of multiple spells could be combined into a single spell, which could lead to a higher damage output or a more optimal Magicka consumption.
Not only did Spellcrafting deepen the magic system ofOblivionby giving the player more options, but it also helped enhance the role-playing elements of the game. While players still had awealth of choices inSkyrimwhen it came to how to play, it was lacking when it came to more intensive and in-depth role-playing systems, and the omission of Spellcrafting is a good example of how Bethesda dropped the ball in this regard. IfThe Elder Scrolls 6were to bring this system back, it would let players experiment and further engage with a complex magic system, reward them for mastering the system, and encourage a more dedicated and specialized approach to role-playing.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Should Build Upon Oblivion’s Class System
While on the subject of how to improve role-playing immersion inThe Elder Scrolls 6, it’s worth touching on how the game could implement a class system. Although players could build various skills andjoin guilds inSkyrimto help expand their repertoire, the game lacked traditional RPG class selection. When creating a newSkyrimcharacter, the only choice that affects gameplay is the race of the character; different races have natural predispositions that make them better suited to certain builds, and they each have one or two unique abilities, but for the most part, players are not restricted when it comes to using various weapons, spells, or armor sets. Instead, all abilities and gear are available from the jump, and players will level up different skills based on how frequently the skills are used.
Skyrim’s approach to class-building gives players more freedom, but it might be just a bit too much freedom.Skyrimhas cool armor, weapons, and abilities, but the fact that any player can use these items and skills regardless of their past choices can make the game feel less rewarding and decreases replay value. After all, there is little reason to attempt to make alternate builds on future playthroughs if a single character can make use of every skill and piece of gear, provided the player puts in enough work.
Oblivion, while still placing an emphasis on player freedom, offers a far more complex class system. At the start of the game, players can choose from between twenty-one predetermined classes, or create a custom class. This system follows the trend of traditionalcharacter stats inThe Elder Scrollsgames, and it encourages and supports players crafting specific builds, which in turn greatly effect play style. With a more rigid and complex class-selection system similar toOblivion’s,The Elder Scrolls 6could offer a much more engaging and rewarding role-playing experience, offering fewer choices in individual playthroughs, but making the choices that are there matter much more.
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The Elder Scrolls 6 Needs an Oblivion-Style Arena
InOblivion, players could visit the Imperial Arena. This Roman-inspired battle-for-entertainment side content was one of the highlights ofOblivion, as it helped flesh out the world while offering some of the best minor quests in the game. Players could work their way through the ranks of the Arena, earning gold for each battle, and eventually being crowned Grand Champion. WhileThe Elder Scrollsdoesn’t have the best combat, the inclusion of the Arena still offered a worthwhile, optional challenge forOblivionplayers.
Something similar to the Imperial Arena would be a great inclusion inThe Elder Scrolls 6, especially if the game revitalizes the franchise’s rather clunky and shallow combat. With a deeper, more satisfying combat system, an arena questline could be a major highlight of the game, as it would allow players to explore the combat to its fullest. Couple this with a more traditional RPG class system, and it could make for fun and varied content across multiple playthroughs.
The Elder Scrolls 6has a lot of promise, andSkyrimhas plenty of amazing contentthat it should use as inspiration, butOblivionshould not be disregarded. Though it is somewhat dated from both a technical and design standpoint, it is unique, creative, and holds up surprisingly well. IfThe Elder Scrolls 6is taking notes from earlier entries in the series, thenOblivionis an essential reference.
The Elder Scrolls 6is in development.
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