Starfield Review: Is Bethesda’s Space RPG a Cosmic Hit or Miss?

Starfield is an eagerly awaited single-player RPG developed by Bethesda, known for their immersive and expansive open-world games.

As a fan of their previous RPG, Fallout 4, I was filled with excitement when I first heard about Starfield.

As a sci-fi fan, I was eager to explore the endless universe and discover what lies beyond. However, my initial experience with Starfield was met with unexpected challenges and frustrations.

Here’s my honest review of the game.

Sprawling Universe with Detailed Lore

Players explore countless star systems, each with their own unique planets and celestial bodies. The game’s developers have meticulously crafted each location, ensuring that players will be truly immersed in this expansive world.

The game’s story is filled with intriguing plot lines and well-developed characters, all of which contribute to immersive gameplay. Players also uncover the secrets of the universe and discover the history behind each star system they encounter.

What sets Starfield apart from other sci-fi games is its references to iconic sci-fi movies.

Developers included references to popular movies, creating a nostalgic and exciting experience for players.

Easter eggs in games add depth and delight to genre fans.

Immersive Story and Side Quests

Starfield explores the idea of humans leaving Earth to colonise the stars.

I found the premise of this adventure unique and thought-provoking, making me eager for more gameplay.

The game balances showcasing space exploration wonders and addressing its challenges and complexities.

From the moment players embark on their interstellar journey, they are presented with a vast and detailed universe to explore.

Another standout feature of Starfield is the inclusion of compelling side quests.

Not only do these quests enhance the main storyline, but they also grant players the chance to make impactful moral choices that shape the journey of their character.

Side quests in a game allow players to explore the world and learn about its inhabitants.

Whether it’s helping a struggling colony on a distant planet or uncovering the secrets of an ancient alien civilisation, these quests provide a chance for players to delve into the game’s universe.

What makes these side quests even more impressive is the fact that they are not just simple fetch quests or repetitive tasks.

Each quest has its own unique storyline and interesting characters to interact with.

Player choices in quests have important consequences that can impact both the immediate and overall outcome of the game.

Companion Characters and Facial Animation

Each character in the game is designed with their own unique personalities and captivating backstories.

The addition of these companion characters enhances the gameplay experience, bringing a newfound depth and diversity to the vast universe of Starfield.

The facial animation in Starfield is a remarkable improvement compared to Bethesda’s previous titles.

The developers have worked hard to make sure that the characters’ facial expressions are very realistic and show many different emotions.

The improved facial animation technology in Starfield allows for more expressive interactions with the companion characters.

Animations make companions feel like real individuals with their own thoughts and feelings, expressing emotions such as joy, concern, or sorrow through smiles, furrowed brows, or tears.

Starfield Flaws and Issues

Despite its highly anticipated release, Starfield is not without its flaws.

Here are some of the main issues players have encountered:

Disjointed space travel mechanics

One of the major complaints that I have about Starfield is its disjointed space travel mechanics.

Several global players have also reported instances where, much like me, they have experienced abrupt transitions between different areas of the game world, which creates a sense of unease and disrupts the overall continuity.

This can break the immersion and make it difficult to navigate through the vastness of space.

Lack of maps

Another issue I have faced is the lack of detailed maps.

Exploring the galaxy is a major aspect of Starfield, and having accessible maps would greatly enhance the experience.

As an RPG fan, I often got lost or had trouble finding important locations and objectives because the map functionality was not very helpful.

The game has a complex inventory system that can be overwhelming, especially for new players like me.

I felt sorting and organising items felt clunky and time-consuming, taking away from the enjoyable aspects of gameplay.

No streamed progression system

Several players have voiced their interest in a more streamlined progression system that allows them to unlock and utilise abilities right from the beginning.

The initial lack of essential tools significantly diminished the excitement and introduced a repetitive element to the early hours of gameplay.

Although Starfield has some flaws, it is crucial to acknowledge that these challenges do not necessarily overshadow the game’s immense potential.

As an RPG fan, I still enjoyed exploring the vastness of space and uncovering the mysteries of the Starfield universe.

Bethesda Game Studios, the powerhouse behind Starfield, has a remarkable track record of attentively addressing player feedback and continuously enhancing the gaming experience through timely updates.

Based on the input from skilled gamers worldwide, it is highly probable that the forthcoming months will see the resolution of these problems through updates or expansions.

Bugs and Performance

Like any complex game, Starfield has its fair share of bugs and performance issues.

These include model and texture pop-ins, occasional crashes, and performance slowdowns.

However, it’s important to note that despite these issues, the game remains stable overall, with no major quest-breaking bugs reported.

While this can be distracting, it’s a relatively minor issue that does not impact gameplay.

The developers are aware of this problem and are actively working on improving it through updates and patches.

Another issue that players may experience is occasional crashes. These crashes can happen randomly during gameplay and can be frustrating, especially if progress has not been saved. However, I did not face any issues with the game crashes. In terms of game crashing, Starfield ran seamlessly on my gaming laptop.

Performance slowdowns are yet another issue that some players may encounter while playing Starfield.

These slowdowns occur during intense action sequences or in areas with high levels of detail.

Although they may be bothersome, they seldom occur and have minimal effect on the overall gameplay experience.

Conclusion

Despite its flaws, Starfield is a game worth exploring for fans of sci-fi RPGs.

The immersive story, intriguing side quests, and vast universe make it a compelling experience.

Although it may require some patience to reach the exciting moments, the game ultimately hits its stride and provides numerous hours of exceptional role-playing and exploration.