Starfield: A Review
After playing more than 40 hours of Starfield and completing the main quest, I’m still not sure how I feel about Bethesda’s upcoming space RPG. On one hand, I had some of my best RPG moments in Starfield, but on the other, I can’t help but feel like I’ve been robbed of my time.
Starfield’s introduction is unusually straightforward, lacking the “wow” moments of previous Bethesda RPGs. The first time I stepped foot on the surface of a planet and walked around in Starfield, I found myself disappointed. The environments are dull, the enemies are boring, and the story doesn’t grab me right away. The first few hours are underwhelming, but as I continue playing, Starfield starts to show flashes of brilliance that make me wonder why I’m not enjoying this space adventure more.
Starfield starts off slow, with uninteresting companions, dull locations, and a story that doesn’t hook me immediately. The game begins with a lengthy character creation process that presents players with some unique traits that will change how you experience the story. I chose to be an explorer, a collector, and a photographer, and these traits have had an impact on my experience in the universe. For example, I discovered a whole planet that I could claim and become its owner.
Once I start exploring the universe, I find interesting settlements like Akila City – a Wild West town in space that’s a popular tourist destination. The game also introduces factions that ask me to complete quests that are reminiscent of classic Western storylines. From bounty hunting and hunting bandits to rescuing hostages and stopping cultists, these quests are enjoyable, and they also help me learn more about the universe.
My biggest issue with Starfield is that it’s uneven in its quality. The main story quests involve gathering artifacts and visiting ancient temples. While these quests are interesting enough in the early game, they become repetitive and feel like mindless chores the further I progress. The story is creative and manages to surprise me multiple times, but the quests that involve traveling to specific locations and killing any enemies along the way are dull and repetitive.
Thankfully, Starfield’s combat is both peaceful and intense. While I can choose to solve many quests by talking to the people involved, there are also moments when I have to fight enemies. As I’m fighting, I can use my jetpack to get out of tight spots, I can use my shield to take less damage from enemies, and I can also use my blaster to hurt enemies from a distance. While these combat options are present in many Open-world games, Starfield manages to keep things fresh by giving players the option to avoid combat.
I’ve had a lot of fun in Starfield by avoiding combat and trying to solve issues without fighting. I managed to convince thieves to give me an artifact without fighting them, and I convinced a mad scientist to hand over his research without resorting to violence. In many open-world games, these quests would’ve ended with me killing everything in sight, but Starfield keeps things peaceful.
