Starfield Review
“One Small Step” Written by: Ethan (@ChaoticAether)
It’s been a long road to get to Starfield. Eight years is a long time to wait for anything, but it feels like an eternity since we’ve last had our hands on a brand new single player Bethesda RPG. People have grown up, gone to college, and started families in the time between now and the release of Fallout 4 back in 2015. It’s been years in the making, filled with teasers and rumors all culminating in not only Bethesda’s most anticipated game to date; but one of the most anticipated Xbox launches of the past decade.
For many we expected this to be one giant leap into the next iteration of Bethesda RPGs. However, what we received instead feels more like a solid, but smaller step. Starfield is Bethesda’s first new universe in over 25 years and their debut title as part of Xbox Game Studios. It’s a bold and massive endeavor, with thousands of planets to explore, hundreds of quests to find and a whole array of new systems and mechanics for players to get their teeth sunk into. It’s full of some of the best Characters this team has ever created, and dozens of breathtaking moments that kept me constantly engaged throughout my 65 hour first playthrough. But it also brings all the dated Creation Engine staples you’ve come to expect from prior entries along for the ride.
Starfield is a Bethesda game through and through, janky animations and encumbrance included. But is it worth sitting through all that to get to the heart of this epic adventure? Let’s talk about that.
Image Credit: Bethesda, Xbox
Starfield takes place in the year 2330, around 200 years after humanity has fled the earth to explore the stars. Our story takes place in the settled systems, where you take control of a miner working for Argos Extractors. It’s here your character comes across a strange metal artifact that gives you a vision beyond your comprehension. After discussing this experience with its buyer Barrett, he sends you to a group known as Constellation; a small group of explorers tasked with solving the secrets of the universe. With the help of their leader Sarah Morgan, you're tasked with finding more of these artifacts and discovering the true meaning behind them and the visions.
This is just the starting point though. From here you're free to continue down the main path or explore the stars to your heart's content; and that’s the real beauty behind the Bethesda formula. For example, I was immediately swept away into a museum chronicling the creation of the United Colonies and offered basic training; which turned into a 8 hour adventure discovering the mystery behind an alien race called terramorphs. From there I journeyed further, finding odd jobs on random planets and discovering what the vastness of space had to offer. Before I knew it, 15 hours had passed without me ever going back to the main story.
The universe Todd and his team have created and the lore it contains are the obvious highlight of starfield. Whether it's exploring neon and seeing the shady underbelly of the settled systems, to the cowboy bebop-esque lands found in Akila and the FreeStar Collective, I’ve rarely been as engrossed with a game world as I have with Starfield. From working shady deals for a major corporation one day or joining the Freestar Rangers another, there’s always something to do around every corner and it all feels substantial and complimentary to not only the world but the story I’m creating. There was never a point where I felt obliged to do something for a reward or for progression, as it all felt natural and enhanced by the excellent job the game does of making you feel like a part of this universe.
Roleplay has always been a big part of Bethesda’s RPGs in the past, but it seems to especially click here in Starfield. This is due to many factors such as the impressive character creator and abundance of dialogue options; but I feel one major reason is the new introduction of character backgrounds and traits. Similar to races in Elder Scrolls, backgrounds allow you to get a head start on some skills while giving your character some flavour to carry through your playthrough. From bounty hunters to soldiers, this system not only allows you to specialise in your strong suits but also provides additional opportunities within dialogue to show your expertise. This is enhanced further with the trait system, allowing you to select up to three additional perks at the start of the game. These can be small such as allegiances to factions or extroverted qualities, to larger traits such as constantly being trailed by bounty hunters.
Image Credit: Bethesda, Xbox
My choices affected my playthrough greatly. Kids stuff gave me parents who showed up at various points in the story; which gave me a real link to the world that many games lack. The adoring fan returns from oblivion which I had to equip; where he was jumpscaring me every time he appeared until I allowed him to join my crew. From houses with mortgages to silly perks, these traits really do make the game feel special, and I had a blast seeing how much these affected the way I played the game. This roleplaying attitude continued throughout my entire playthrough, making each choice and relationship matter to me as much as it did to my character. I romanced Sarah as I resonated with her story and her persevering nature. My best friend was Andreja as she didn’t judge me for what I did but for who I was as a person. The game allowed me to attach to these characters and does an excellent job of making it all feel important by the time you reach the end.
Despite pushing it off for a majority of my playthrough, the main story is easily one of the strongest in Bethesda’s history. Plenty of twists and a really clever use of new game plus really amplifies it; even when it really does just end up being a giant fetch quest. This game doesn’t expect you to do everything that’s possible in a single playthrough, and thanks to the addition of new game plus, I can see people carrying on their characters’ journey for many years to come.
At the heart of Starfield is your usual Fallout-esque gameplay system, albeit with improved aiming and a thruster pack. Gone are the vats systems, replaced with Skyrim-esque powers that allow you to perform a range of actions from turning invisible to reanimation. Weapon and base crafting return from prior games, along with a new sprawling progression system that requires you to complete challenges prior to further progressing your skills. It’s a nice gameplay loop that I can’t help but think is slightly unnecessary due to the lack of enemy variety and overall difficulty over the course of the base experience.
The same can be said for planetary exploration. The variety in biomes, fauna and flora density are all fun to explore for the first time, but the barebones exploration mechanics such as scanning and mining really leave something to be desired. The lack of vehicles is almost comical, and having to walk miles of barren terrain for the same few base types and landmarks had me wishing for fewer, well crafted places to explore instead. These procedural areas do add size and scope to the settled systems, but I felt little desire to continue exploring after the first few planets. Speaking of a chore, the same is true when it comes to the awfully dated menu and encumbrance systems. Yes the weight limit returns, and it’s somehow even worse in space. 90% of travel in this game is done by fast travel due to the nature of isolated planets, so having a system that disables it when encumbered was always going to feel terrible. That, the clunkiness of the settled systems map, and the lack of any maps in settlements make optional exploration feel like more bother than it’s actually worth.
Image Credit: Bethesda, Xbox
The other major gameplay type, starship fighting and exploration, is honestly a joy to play. The controls, although clunky, provide a wide range of gameplay styles making for some challenging but entertaining combat encounters. This is matched by the extensive ship builder that allows you to make the ship of your dreams. From just tweaking base ships the game provides, to building ships from your favourite shows and movies from scratch, the amount of customisation for a relatively small part of the game is ludicrous. I never got sick of watching my ship go to lightspeed or dock at a nearby space station, and the random encounters are the cherry on top. From scammers trying to sell me an extended ship warranty, to a sea shanty singing ship that made my entire evening, it had me wishing the same amount of love and intrigue could be found in planetary exploration.
Presentation on the whole is rather solid. Thanks to Creation Engine 2.0 Starfield is a huge step up from its predecessor Fallout 4. Environments are well realised, with some planets having some of the most stunning visuals I’ve seen in a long period of time. The way a planet’s rings move in real time, how stars and other planets can be seen in their orbits from miles away, it really is beautiful. Settlements and outposts are also visually pleasing, but feel dated in contrast to other releases we have seen this year. The way Neon and New Atlantis look are fine, but they often feel more like corridors and mazes rather than large cities begging to be explored. Character models also feel dated, especially when it comes to Bethesda’s facial animation tech which can make the whole visual experience feel generations behind. There’s this uncanny valley when looking at a lot of characters talking in Starfield, and depending on the lighting found within the scene, can make back to back cutscenes feel like they are from completely different games.
Luckily character performances make up for that in spades. Sarah, Sam, Andreja and Barrett all have wonderful performances that I really connected with, and the same can be said for side characters too. The performances really do feel like the heart of Starfield, and despite a few rough edges here and there, really allow the story and universe to come to life. It’s all brought together by a fabulous, awe inducing soundtrack that really does emphasize the wonders of exploration and discovering the universe. It may be rough around the edges, but I still feel it comes together rather well.
Image Credit: Bethesda, Xbox
Summary
Starfield often feels like a game dragged out of 2015. Its systems are dated, facial animations simplistic and pacing glacial. It’s a game that knows its problems and asks you to look through them to see the potential beneath. For some it won’t work, but for me It happens to be one of my favorite games I’ve played this year.
I understand the game won’t be to everyone's tastes, but for me the experience that lies at the center of Starfield was worth dealing with all its problems. It’s one of the strongest stories in Bethesda history, has some of the best side quests I’ve experienced in an RPG to date, and has some jaw dropping moments that had me on the edge of my seat. Starfield is a game that I feel you get about as much as you put in. If you are someone like me who likes to roleplay, explore character relationships and see what the universe has to offer it's a fully engrossing experience. From the time I started it on holiday to the time I rolled credits over 65 hours later, I couldn’t stop thinking about the game. I adored my time with Starfield and can happily recommend it to those willing to brush off a few rough edges. But if you were not in love with the Bethesda formula before, I don’t believe Starfield will win you over.
I truly hope that Bethesda eventually comes back to the world of Starfield and it becomes a tentpole series like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. It’s a universe I would love to explore again in the future with the lessons learned from Starfield and further experience under their belts; but for now it's time for Bethesda to innovate. The cracks are really starting to show, and I hope they use The Elder Scrolls 6 to truly bring themselves into the current landscape of gaming. Starfield is a wonderful small step in the right direction, but It’s time for that giant leap.