Features Review
Taming the Cosmos with Starfield
Being an ardent fan of Bethesda’s previous standalone RPG, Fallout 4, I eagerly ventured into the boundless universe of their latest creation, Starfield. Set amidst a galactic backdrop with spacecraft, lasers, and political tensions, this sci-fi universe seemed like my perfect escape. However, initial navigation proved tough; the nascent voyage into a confusing cosmos left me feeling adrift in an intimidating 24th-century universe.
The expansive lore in Starfield weaves a tale of humans colonizing the galaxy, flavoring the narrative with wars, pirates, and creatures known as terror morphs. The setting is replete with nods to famous sci-fi influences from The Expanse to Blade Runner, though elements do parallel those in Obsidian’s 2019 epic, The Outer Worlds. Yet, its dense narrative, coupled with complex relations between major factions like the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective, offers a rich immersion – once you fathom its intricacies.
Character creation takes the form of adopting a backstory, selecting an array of skills and traits, and choosing up to three modifiers. Options like having living parents or acquiring a fanatical follower shape your gameplay, though the lack of a respec option requires careful discernment. Later gameplay is likely to profit from variations in these choices, adding an element of replayability.
Setting off in Starfield gradually unfolds into an expansive odyssey. After a shared start revolving around a peculiar space magic vision, the game disperses its players across various questlines. Despite some inconsistencies in its narrative flexibility, engaging side quests abound, encouraging players to enact their character’s moral compass on a scale reminiscent of Skyrim. From resolving planetary conflicts to a lifestyle of space piracy, adventures are aplenty. Companionships, led by Constellation’s virtuous leader Sarah, and former lawman, Sam, add a sense of camaraderie, as well as additional quests.
Despite Starfield’s claim to explore hundreds of planets across galaxies, its design feels paradoxically small. Seamless navigation mimics the speed of light, enabling almost instant planetary shifts – sans the spaceship. Enduring the loading screen to fast travel feels less like a journey across galaxies and more akin to quick transportation in Elder Scrolls or Fallout. Regardless, overcoming initial hindrances did ensure Starfield had my attention set firmly on the stars.
Pros:
- A rich, multi-layered universe with engaging elements of lore.
- Character creation endows variety with numerous traits and modifiers.
- Engaging side-quests provide instances for moral enactment.
- Interesting companion characters offering unique subplots.
- Quick navigation system eases travel across large-scale maps.
Cons:
- Initial game mechanics can be overwhelming for newcomers.
- Resemblances to other sci-fi properties limit the game’s uniqueness.
In summation, Starfield is an ambitious cosmos that keeps you hitched despite initial setbacks. It’s a celestial ride that only starts to truly captivate after extensive gameplay yet remains a gem at its core. It may not be the perfect spacecraft in the sci-fi galaxy, but it's one worth traversing once you grasp its thrusters.
