Exploring the Universe of Starfield: A Review of Bethesda’s X Box Exclusive

September 12, 2023 Noah

If you’re looking for a new sci-fi adventure, Bethesda’s latest release, Starfield, might just be what you need to satisfy that craving.
With an original science fiction universe and a variety of storylines, this Xbox Series X/S and PC exclusive will keep you engaged for hours on end. But before you dive headfirst into the vast gameplay space the game has to offer, let’s take a closer look at what you can expect.

Gameplay Experience

Starfield is a game that promises a vast and immersive sci-fi experience with elements of ground and space combat, diverse weaponry, and plenty of traversal options. But does it deliver on these promises?

Starfield combat

Ground combat and shipborne space combat are two of the core elements of the game.
As you traverse and explore different planets and systems, you will encounter enemies and engage in battles, both on land and in space. While the concept is intriguing, the execution falls short in some areas. Ground combat, for instance, feels stiff and mechanical, lacking in the fluidity and impact that modern shooters offer.

Similarly, ship combat is frustratingly binary, with battles either being too easy or too challenging with little in-between.
That being said, it’s still fun to pull out the big guns and lay waste to a group of enemies, especially considering the game’s diverse range of weapons from laser rifles to shotguns to flamethrowers, there’s something for everyone.
Additionally, the jet boost packs you can wear on your back are exhilarating to use and add a new dimension to traversal, allowing you to leap and mantle through environments quickly.

World

While the combat mechanics may leave something to be desired, the exploration and traversal elements of the game are top-notch.
The game’s vast universe is filled with different systems and planets, each offering its own unique environment and challenges.
The thrill of exploration is what makes Starfield shine, as you land on new planets and encounter unknown species and megafauna.
Additionally, the game presents a plethora of activities and missions, giving players endless distractions and opportunities to discover new things.
Whether it’s setting up mining outposts, surveying planets, or pursuing a romance with one of your companions, there’s always something new to discover in this vast sci-fi playground.

Interface navigation in Starfield

However, there are navigation challenges that players will need to contend with, as the game’s user interface isn’t always intuitive.
For instance, figuring out how to do basic tasks like selling excess inventory, modifying your ship, or adjusting crew assignments can be unnecessarily complicated.
There is also a frequent need to enter menus to reach destinations, which can detract from the sensation of seamless travel.
That being said, once you get the hang of navigating the menus, the overall experience becomes more enjoyable.

Starfield’s gameplay summary

In summary, Starfield’s gameplay experience has its ups and downs. While ground and ship combat leave something to be desired, exploration and traversal are topnotch.
The variety of activities and missions add depth to the game, keeping players engaged and captivated.
Navigation challenges can be frustrating at first, but once mastered, they add to the sense of accomplishment in exploring this vast sci-fi universe.
Overall, it’s clear that the developers put a lot of thought and effort into creating this game, and while it’s not perfect, it’s definitely worth exploring.

Story and Characters

Starfield’s characters and storytelling deliver a rich and varied experience that often feels personalized to the player.

How does Starfield start?

The game starts you off as a space miner who stumbles upon a mysterious artifact that gives you insight into a grand cosmic mystery. From there, you set off across a vast web of human colony worlds and meet a cast of characters that is as extensive as it is varied.

Characters and Storytelling

One of the standout features of Starfield’s approach to characters and storytelling is how well-crafted the character interactions are.
Each character has their own distinct personality, quirks, and motivations, and this allows for some truly memorable moments.
The conversations you have with your companions can be emotional, hilarious, or thought-provoking, and they can tug at your heartstrings just as easily as they can make you laugh out loud.

But it’s not just the companions who are well-crafted; the independent storylines of different factions and corporations are equally engaging. The permutations of these storylines is staggering, as the various sci-fi tropes explored are woven together into a coherent whole.
From being hunted by a monstrous xenoweapon alien to infiltrating a pirate fleet, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Starfield’s approach to storytelling is further enhanced by the amount of variety in the sci-fi tropes it taps into.
From classic space opera to western, noir, and horror, Starfield has something for everyone.
The juxtaposition of these various genres against the grandeur of space feels fresh and exciting, and it allows for a lot of creativity in how missions are crafted.

Overall, Starfield s characters and storytelling deliver a rich and varied experience that often feels personalized to the player.
The well-crafted characters, the various independent storylines, and the mixture of sci-fi tropes ensure that there is never a dull moment. While the game can feel obtuse at times and some activities can become repetitive, Starfield s approach to storytelling is a loving ode to the sci-fi genre and a testament to Bethesda’s storytelling prowess.

Presentation

The presentation of Starfield is something to behold.
The handmade cities are built in great detail and are full of details, NPC’s and secrets that bring the sci-fi universe to life.
However, the procedurally generated landscape of the planets is mediocre and doesn’t offer much except for resources and the planet’s native flora & fauna and some points of interest.

The wistful, questing musical score is a great complement to the good visuals.

The high quality of the presentation doesn’t stop at the visuals and music either.
The character dialogue and storytelling are top-notch, with novel personalities and interactions at every step of the way.

In essence, the presentation of Starfield is a real treat for the senses. You’ll be captivated by the good visuals, sweeping score, and engaging characters.
It’s a sci-fi universe that you’ll be glad you took the time to explore.

What is the price of Starfield?

Starfield	69,99€
STARFIELD DIGITAL PREMIUM EDITION	99,99€

Steam Price as of 11.09.2023

Is Starfield on Xbox Game Pass for PC & console?

Yes, Starfield is included in Xbox Game Pass for PC and console.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, Starfield is a game of endless possibilities, where hours of experimentation in a richly imagined universe await you.
The thrill of exploration and engaging storytelling is enough to keep players hooked, eager to uncover the next adventure.
From the moment-to-moment experiences to the game space spanning galaxies, Starfield has something in store for every player.

That being said, there are occasional navigation challenges and repetitive gameplay when exploring.
The constant ping-ponging between mission givers and destinations can be frustrating for players, making it feel like flying across the vast universe is taking longer than required.
But once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that there’s a lot to explore and indulge in.

Overall, Bethesda has done an excellent job of crafting a new sci-fi universe that’s enjoyable and rich with creativity.
Starfield offers well-crafted characters and interactions, with independent storylines of different factions and corporations, each tapping into various sci-fi tropes.

The variety of experiences keeps things fresh, especially when you layer in additional emergent opportunities, like setting up mining outposts, surveying planets, buying and decorating a home, or pursuing a romance with one of your companions.

The immaculate visual landscape, coupled with a wistful, questing musical score, adds to the high-quality of the presentation.
Starfield delivers a vast sci-fi playground, waiting to be explored.