From this perspective, the game captures a different, more existential aspect of space travel: the loneliness and insignificance one might feel in the vast, cosmic expanse. ![]() The story thrives on themes of mystery and exploration into the unknown, and in that sense, the emptiness isn't a bug - it's a feature. This lack of difficulty not only fails to capture the deadly nature of space but also makes the game's travel mechanics feel closer to a road trip than a NASA mission.ĭespite the criticisms, Starfield's barren planets serve the game's narrative well. Starfield's fast travel options further diminish the sense of risk and wonder associated with venturing into the unknown. On the other hand, Starfield's space travel is nowhere near as challenging nor engaging. In a nutshell, they were too focused on other more important stuff to be bored. ![]() Astronauts definitely weren't bored because of the tremendous technical challenges they face and having the weight of the entire human race on their shoulders. Starfield's public release has been met with mixed reactions.Īnother potential flaw against Starfield's "realism" is the lack of technical challenges associated with space travel within the game. In a sense, there's already a reward in Starfield for the more persistent explorer - it's just that they're too far and few in between. These locations are often found at extremes in their proximity to the stars. Starfield has barren planets with nothing but natural formations, not unlike what's in remote places in our own planet, Earth. Hopefully, future patches might address these aforementioned thematic inconsistencies. Despite the emptiness, all planets have structures, detracting from the supposed realism. Moreover, there's an issue of thematic inconsistency. Yet, there's a world of difference between being an astronaut making history and the casual gamer who's exploring their tenth empty planet in a row. They certainly weren't bored," Cheng argued, suggesting that the joy in Starfield comes from the sheer act of discovery, even if what's discovered is essentially "nothing." Howard echoed this, emphasizing Bethesda decision to replicate the feeling of being a space explorer. ![]() "When the astronauts went to the moon, there was nothing there. The good news is that this is a problem that can be fixed by either Bethesda or modders.Ĭheng and Howard are well aware of the dichotomy. However, in Starfield, the ordinary, sparsely populated planets often lack points of interest beyond resources and outposts, leaving players asking the question, "Why would I bother exploring the universe?" This stark difference in gameplay dynamics has left even enthusiastic fans feeling that Starfield's exploration isn't as rewarding as it could be. In Bethesda's previous games, such as Skyrim and Fallout, exploration was rewarded with a sense of awe and wonder. This approach, although philosophically interesting, is a bit of a double-edged sword for players. The point, Cheng noted, was to make players feel small, emulating astronauts' wonder when they set foot on barren celestial bodies like the moon. But, now that it's out, a growing number of players seem to be torn over the game's realism when it comes to planetary exploration.īethesda's managing director Ashley Cheng and game director Todd Howard spoke candidly in a recent interview about the deliberately barren design of many in-game planets. With thousands of planets to explore, Starfield, Bethesda Game Studios' ambitious new RPG, wants to simulate the vast, eerie emptiness of space.
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