The author discusses their positive experiences with playing Starfield, highlighting elements such as gunplay, exploration, spaceship customization, and engaging quests. They acknowledge some player concerns and argue that having the right expectations can greatly enhance enjoyment of the game, mentioning areas where Starfield has potential for improvement.
The author begins by expressing their enjoyment of playing Starfield, describing it as a modern version of Skyrim set in a science fiction universe. They acknowledge that there are some dissatisfied players who feel that the game did not meet their expectations, particularly regarding loading screens, seamless travel, spaceship gameplay, and the game’s overall feel. The author argues that these concerns can be mitigated by having the right expectations, comparing Starfield to Skyrim with higher fidelity and graphics while still retaining the limitations and clunkiness of previous Bethesda games.
The author highlights their positive experiences with Starfield, including gunplay, exploring planets, spaceship customization, outpost building, and engaging in quests and combat encounters. They express surprise and satisfaction with the random events and encounters that occur while playing the game. The author also appreciates the procedural generation of planets and the ability to seamlessly enter buildings without loading screens.
They discuss spaceship combat, noting that it exceeded their expectations with the addition of maneuvering thrusters and the ability to customize their ship’s appearance. They recount an unexpected battle in zero gravity and describe the feeling of living out experiences reminiscent of the TV show The Expanse.
The author addresses complaints about loading screens and fast travel options, explaining that while some players find them immersion-breaking, they have always been present in Bethesda games. They argue that these options are useful for players with limited time or for avoiding tedium, but they personally prefer to travel manually to maintain immersion.
Lastly, the author mentions areas where they believe Starfield has potential for improvement, such as the introduction of interplanetary travel and the possibility of DLC to expand gameplay features. They express a desire to see the game reach new heights and suggest that if Bethesda doesn’t address these areas, modders may fill the void.