Bethesda’s Starfield: A Comforting Gaming Experience that Explores the Vast Reaches of Space
Still from the game | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Bethesda is known for its immersive single-player RPGs, and Skyrim, released in 2011, remains a popular title with a thriving modding community. Now, Bethesda’s latest original IP, Starfield, takes players beyond the realms of Fallout and Elder Scrolls to explore the uncharted reaches of space. While Starfield adheres to Bethesda’s signature open-world formula, it offers a comforting gaming experience akin to a favorite meal after a long day, ensuring players return for more.
An Engaging Quest to Uncover the Enigmatic Secrets of the Universe
Embarking on your first day as a miner on a remote celestial body, you stumble upon a mysterious artifact that imparts cryptic visions. This discovery sets you on a galaxy-spanning quest to assemble a cosmic puzzle and unearth its enigmatic secrets. As a crucial member of the secretive space-faring group known as the Constellation, you receive assistance in your quest. Throughout your journey, you have the freedom to assume various roles, each with lasting repercussions. Whether you choose to be a lovable rogue, a clandestine spy, a spacefaring vigilante, or even a pirate, the choices you make delve deep into intricate rabbit holes.
A Vast Game World with Countless Planets and Unique Discoveries
Starfield boasts a sprawling game world featuring a thousand planets, each brimming with unique discoveries within its sandbox. The vastness of the game ensures a multitude of activities to engage in, including affiliations with different factions and religions, each offering their own missions and progression paths. In Starfield, you are undeniably the focal point of the universe, with everything and everyone revolving around your choices, a hallmark of Bethesda’s meticulously crafted experiences.
Memorable Side Missions and Homages to Classic Sci-Fi
While the main storyline revolves around a captivating quest to uncover extraterrestrial life, it is the side missions that truly shine in Starfield. Some of these missions may initially appear generic but evolve unexpectedly, resulting in some of the most memorable moments in the game. Sci-fi enthusiasts will particularly relish missions paying homage to classics such as Event Horizon, Aliens, Star Trek, and more.
A Harmonious Blend of Gameplay Facets
Starfield seamlessly blends elements of a first-person shooter, spaceship simulator, ship builder, and RPG. The gunplay is responsive, offering an array of unique weapons with distinct characteristics. Character progression is tied to mission completion and activities, whether assigned or encountered organically. Players can choose to venture solo or enlist a companion, who, while generally charming, can be rather temperamental and prone to leaving your party over minor provocations. Perhaps some improvement in companion tolerance levels is warranted.
Crafting and Customizing Your Own Spaceship
One of the most compelling aspects of Starfield is the ability to craft and customize your own spaceship. Similar to the settlement system in Fallout, players can construct their celestial abode. Countless hours can be spent perfecting your ship, balancing power, enhancing offense and defense systems, and even replicating iconic sci-fi vessels using Starfield’s knockoff designs.
Engaging Space Battles and Navigation Challenges
Spacecraft controls in Starfield are responsive, and space battles prove engaging, aided by intuitive handling feedback and cockpit controls. However, it is regrettable that the game offers limited opportunities for space exploration. The fast travel system facilitates instantaneous entry into star systems via a series of loading screens. On foot, traversal is enjoyable, thanks to the trusty boost pack. Yet, navigating can become nightmarish, primarily due to the cumbersome world map. Despite well-designed hub areas, the in-game maps lack an overhead view, necessitating the memorization of key locations, which proves challenging when burdened with excess items.
A Captivating and Expansive Game Experience
Starfield is an expansive game that offers over a hundred hours of gameplay. Despite its minor flaws, it continues to captivate players, leaving them eager to return for more. With its vast game world, engaging quests, and the ability to shape your own destiny, Starfield is undoubtedly a strong contender for game of the year.
