Bethesda holds the title of being one of the most prestigious video game developers in the current era of video games, coming out with award-winning pieces like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. The video game developer’s last major published game, Fallout 76, holds the title for being one of the most hated yet most long-awaited for video games in the current generation. Bethesda remained mostly silent after the failed launch, but its radio silence has now culminated in the title known as Starfield.
Two hours into the adventure, two hours into the vast reaches of a virtual space generated solely by the mind-bending genius of a chorus of artists that paint their pieces using keyboards and mouses, generating vibrant landscapes out of vectors and polygons and creating accurate simulations of areas seldom known by mankind. First, the graphics. A mellow grey tone that pops into sight and contrasts with vibrant exotic colors, the HD graphics cannot be complained about; while not as mind-warping as those seen in games like Cyberpunk 27, medium and high graphics settings are enough to take the gamer into a visual journey that reflects the tones and themes of the game.
If you have played a Bethesda game though, you know what Starfield is going to be like. Unique items scattered about that you can collect, similar models to those used in Fallout 4 which also reflect the 50s stereo undertones of the game, and a skill tree which lets you build your character around different specializations, like laser weaponry or survivalism. The gameplay system that truly sets Starfield apart is the ship-to-ship combat, the thrilling feeling of taking a customizable hulk of titanium and sheer ordinance and seeing enemy vessels through your cockpit screen and maneuvering around wrecks, drifting through space. A wealth of planets the player can navigate through- each one with its own challenges and stunning visuals. The inclusion of the ship system was a hallmark for Bethesda, usually known for making players trundle through terrain on their feet- unassisted by vehicles.
For something to be great though, it has to be memorable. Starfield has its great iconic moments, albeit it feels familiar- maybe too familiar. You loot corpses and run through labs which look like locations in Fallout four, while fighting mostly generic enemies conducting battle in unoriginal spacesuits while do not leave much distinction to be had. Forget the iconic and almighty factions of Fallout: New Vegas and Skyrim, the era of Caesar’s Legion and Stormcloak berserkers is over. Behold the age of bland factions that sound like a student Fanclub, or the remnants of an imaginary thread thought by someone uniquely uninspired.
With its ups and its downs, Starfield still comes highly recommended. The video game community suffers from a long drought of serviceable triple A open world games, plagued by unsuccessful and rushed releases. Starfield is a breath of fresh air and a glimmering ray of hope for Bethesda’s future, which many thought fell off the earth after Fallout 76. To get down to the meat, you will like Starfield if you like previous titles. It is a culmination of Bethesda’s previous works, a familiar and much needed taste in a sea of unfamiliar daring stupidity.
