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Bethesda Softworks, the game developer behind hit game series Fallout and Elder Scrolls released their latest title Starfield, an action role-playing title set in the fictional universe of the Settled Systems, located in the Milky Way galaxy.
The game is set in the year 2330, the game starts off with the main character ascending into a mine on an elevator. As is customary in Bethesda series games such as Fallout and Elder scrolls the player’s view starts off in an immersive first person perspective.
The basic controls initially feel similar to Fallout and Elder scrolls in that the player can both adjust their view and navigate using the right and left sticks on console.
The first characters the player meets are named Yeller and Supervisor Lin, Supervisor Lin instructs the player to mine beryllium with a laser as shown in the articles featured image. After this mundane task assigned to get the player familiar with the controls, Supervisor Lin instructs the player to enter a cavern in the mine in which a strange gravity defying metal causes the player to lose consciousness and player customization begins.
The player is given the option to select one of 40 preset base characters, while also having the ability to customize a variety of options all the way down to the amount of dirt on the character.
Additionally, the player can select a base class which is more reminiscent of Elder scrolls than Fallout for instance. Along with three traits that your character will start out with, after progressing through the starting level the real fun begins. After a brief ship flying tutorial giving players the first taste of the awesome Star Wars level ship to ship battling system.
At this point the player is free to explore the World, the game at this stage feels like the perfect mix of Fallout 3 meets Mass Effect. Just without Commander Shepherd or the VATS targeting system.
The implementation of hostile and passive animal space creatures is excellent, the creatures encountered are a refreshing more realistic interpretation of alien species. This gives the feel of a good Star Trek episode instead of a cheesy sci-fi movie.
The atmosphere the game produces is a unique feeling as the player explores the first story directed outpost. The feeling of exploring a deserted outpost in space gives an almost dead space feel at this point.
One major improvement to the combat system over previous Bethesda shooters is the ability to snap in and out cover. This allows for much more tactical firefights that are more fulfilling especially in close quarters and when using projectile weapons.
The exploration and resource mining aspects of exploration add to the excitement of exploring the open world, the player is equipped with a scanner that can detect different types of metal, the anatomy of slain species and flora. The resources collected and cataloged allow the player to discover new research and collect resources from additional objects in the world. This is a refreshing change from games utilizing these sort side tasks primarily for achievements and sides quests that feel like errands for the player.
To wrap up this review, I would give Starfield a solid 9.5 out of 10. I would highly recommend any fans of Bethesda’s series of Fallout or Elder Scrolls to try this game out. The game is well designed, it is fun to play using a variety of play styles and leaves the player wanting to explore and progress more.
The only very slight pet-peeve I have so far (Keep in mind I have not had time to progress past the first planet in course of making this review so it is possible this will be unlocked later) is that the player does not seem to be able to add slight details in their ships interior such as placing objects on tables, etc. That aside I am just upset that I will not have time to really get into this game until the Thanksgiving break.
