The same balancing issue with the level scaling system also created some embarrassing moments, when I couldn’t actually believe that they were happening. Situations in which me, Dragonheart, Champion of the Imperial Arena, the greatest fighter in history, having defeated the previous Grand Champion and all gladiators in-between, with a Light Raiment of Valor as armor, is almost killed by a wolf in the forest. This though happened when I was level 6. You wonder how I got to be Champion of the Arena at level 6? Well, let’s just say that the Arena is not all that it’s cranked up to be. It may sound funny at first, but trust me, it isn’t. And let’s say, for the sake of argument, that the monster level scaling wasn’t an issue. That it makes the game challenging long after you’re done with the main quest, which is true. But the same principle applies to the loot and equipment that you find or steal, which is scaled according to your level. You’ve defeated a mighty Minotaur? Very good, you can sell his weapon and armor without remorse, because it won’t be any better than yours. You managed to lockpick a “5 tumbler” lock, which rates Very Hard on the difficulty scale, while being level 2? Congratulations, you’ve found 20 septims and a carrot. Basically, even if you do manage to pull of an incredible feat in the game, like breaking a “5 tumbler” lockpick, you’ll never get something spectacular as a reward, or at least something that would justify the effort. So I then ask myself the grueling question: why do I play the game then? Why do I keep improving my character? Why do I explore the world, all the dungeons, catacombs and forts? For what? So that when I buy a new weapon or a set of armor, everyone else would automatically get something that’s equally good? To level up and see that all the enemies are suddenly just as good as I am?

But level up a few times and you suddenly find that rare items are now so commonplace that even highwaymen you meet are clad in the finest armour and are trained in combat way beyond their meagre profession. As the world levels up around you as your own level increases it just seems very odd and not quite the correct way of doing things. Bethesda really should have treated the levelling differently, with harder quests with tougher enemies being offered when you increase your level, but not the whole world levelling with you. This system hurts power players the most, as they get little reward for level grinding. Sure, some skills change for the better as you level up, but some aspects of the game become rather broken. The marksman skill for example is one of these. As you level up so do enemies and you find that it doesn’t matter how elite a bowman you become, you’re not likely to bring down an enemy with a couple of sneaky shots to the head.

Everything seems to come to life when you’re playing this game: the grass, the sky, that scowling homeless beggar who you didn’t give a coin to. Another thing that helps bring the world to life (beyond the flowing water, blowing grass, and facial expressions of people) is that you can move almost everything around. Feel like putting that knife in the cup, go for it. Just don’t move anything in anyone’s house or shop, because it counts as stealing. There’s nothing like playing with some guy’s vase only to get beaten up by some guards for it. But you will thankfully know when something is illegal in this game, because your interaction icon will turn red. This means do not touch, in any way.