Bethesda’s said that upcoming dragon-slaying sequel The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will doff its cap to the “wonder of discovery” feel of Morrowind, an element the studio freely admits to elbowing out of the equation in Oblivion.
Speaking with the chaps at OXM, creative director Todd Howard recalled the fact Morrowind captured an “alien” feel to the proceedings, while Oblivion presented the team a chance to hark back to the days of TES: Arena and Daggerfall.
"It should feel alien," said Howard, "kind of ‘stranger in a strange’ land – with familiar looking elements only rooting you early in the game.”
"The whole tone ends up being one of ‘I’m an outsider, I’m uncomfortable’.
"With Oblivion, we’re dealing with the capital province, and we wanted to get back to the more classic Arena and Daggerfall feel of a fantasy world that felt more refined and welcoming, a place that you instantly understood.”
With Skryim, however, Howard said that Bethesda is making a conscious effort to recapture some of that Morrowind magic, while also retaining the feel of Oblivion – the best of both worlds, so it seems.
"But in that," he continued, "we sacrificed some of what made Morrowind special: the wonder of discovery. With Skyrim, we’re trying to bring some of that back and walk the line between Morrowind and Oblivion. Where it’s at first familiar looking, but has its own unique culture and spin on it."
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be arriving in stores on November 11, 2011.