Starfield: Stellar Space Exploration
Starfield, the highly anticipated RPG game from Bethesda, invites players to embark on a journey of stellar space exploration. Todd Howard, the game's director, describes Starfield as NASApunk, drawing inspiration from NASA's midcentury spaceships and their interiors.
But what does NASApunk really mean? The term itself is a bit misleading, as NASApunk is a specific aesthetic that may not align with the punk themes it implies. While Starfield boasts the trappings of a '90s cyberpunk game, it lacks the satirical and anti-establishment elements that define true punk games.
The roots of punk subculture can be traced back to the rebellious and socially critical themes explored in cyberpunk novels of the '80s and '90s. It was in these novels and the early video games inspired by them that punk truly thrived.
However, the genre began to dilute with the emergence of steampunk. While steampunk shares many punk elements with cyberpunk, it is not subversive and does not critique the status quo. Instead, it celebrates the industrial age and even embraces elements of capitalism.
So, is Starfield truly punk? The answer is no. Although Starfield's '50s and '60s aesthetic evokes NASA's golden age of space exploration, it does not deviate from the status quo. The game's advertising and marketing, which encourages players to 'be the cops' and 'enjoy the ride,' contradict the punk spirit of rebellion. After all, why would you choose to be a cop in a game about exploring space?
Starfield lacks the satirical and anti-establishment elements that define true punk games. While I appreciate the NASA-inspired aesthetic, I cannot rely on the words of an executive producer to determine whether something is punk or not. Only time will tell if Starfield will embrace punk themes and challenge the status quo and societal issues.
As a freelance games journalist based in Canada, I, Jordan, write about a range of different topics. Follow me on Twitter at @JordanLloydy to stay updated with my latest articles and insights.
