Review: Starfield (2023)

Starfield has been one of the most anticipated games in recent years, and even a year after its release, it's still generating buzz. This ongoing buzz is largely due to the new DLC, 'Shattered Space,' which expands on a key faction and introduces new areas to explore.

This review focuses on the base game, as I haven’t had a chance to dive into the DLC yet—but that’s coming soon.

If you’re still on the fence about playing, here are my thoughts to help you decide. Don't worry about spoilers; I won't ruin it for you!

Alright, let's dive in and explore what Starfield has to offer!

Starfield

Starfield's official website where you can choose your favorite platform to purchase the game on.

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Starfield's Music is SO Good!

The composer for this game was Inon Zur, who also made the music for Dragon Age: Origins. If you played that game, you know it has fantastic music. Inon's compositions uniquely immerse you in the game, enhancing the gaming experience beyond what text can do alone.

The soundtrack covers everything from cityscapes to battles and quests, immersing you in every corner of the universe.

I don't know how you'll feel, but something in Starfield's music reminds me of Star Wars, and I love it!

You Can Design Your Own Home

One thing Bethesda games do well is allow you to design your own spaces. In Starfield, much like Fallout and Skyrim, you can build stuff on your own.

You can build outposts on the planets you visit and buy apartments in community centers like New Atlantis or Neon.

In some cases, you can even get awarded an apartment.

Now, don't get me wrong. There's much to do in this game rather than sitting at home. But a home is a personal space that presents opportunities. For example, The Lodge, granted by Constellation, serves as your home base where you live alongside your colleagues. It also provides many amenities - research station, storage, weapon and industrial stations, and more.

Sometimes, you get items you don't want to throw away when your inventory is too much to carry - a home is an excellent place to put them.

Starfield's Main Storyline Opens Many Doors

The main storyline of Starfield will take you through several missions, planets, and companions. It’s worth following early on for several reasons.

1. The main missions grant a good chunk of experience. That allows you to level up faster.
2. The main storyline introduces you to several factions you can pursue later.
3. Constellation pays well for your services, and each mission completed will grant you a good chunk of credits.
4. Following the main storyline will increase affinity with your companions faster than just walking with them.

The Graphics In Starfield are Fantastic

The scenes where you land or take off are some of the best opportunities to show the sheer prowess of this game's graphics.

Another opportunity is to explore and discover the planets' traits.

We'll talk more specifically about character design later, but in terms of flying in space and seeing the different planets, I think the game is doing a great job of utilizing your graphics card.

The Imperfections You Might Have to Ignore

Yes, Starfield has a facial expression problem. But I have to be honest with you: I didn't find it such a deal breaker as other people did online.

This is part of the Bethesda DNA; ambitious, rich worlds sometimes mean a few rough edges. The games have lots of substance in terms of storytelling and good graphics, but they are often littered with minor bugs.

For example, bringing a companion to a stealth mission never ends well, even if that companion is a master at stealth. They often start shooting at people or walk straight into traps and running into areas they shouldn't.

Despite these quirks, the game remains highly playable.

Endless Exploration in Starfield

Everywhere you turn, there’s a quest waiting. Unlike more linear games, you can skip the main storyline and still find endless activities to keep you busy for hours.

In New Atlantis alone, you can take on freelance work as a police officer and complete side jobs for the UC. Doing those also introduces you to the UC vanguard if you have yet to be there from the main quests.

A city on Mars called Cydonia also has its own storyline which spans several missions and guides you through helping the miners there get better equipment and benefits.

The UC Vanguard is just one of multiple factions you can join in the game, and each has its long storyline, which feels like its own game.

Should You Play Starfield?

Overall, I enjoyed Starfield very much. But I've seen the criticism online and understand where the critics are coming from.

Some players hunt for every achievement, while others dive deep into side quests and story connections. My focus was on the story and companion relationships. I opted for easy mode to focus more on the narrative and companion interactions, which is a testament to how rich the game's story is. I wanted to savor the story, and the easy mode let me do just that.

Even I encountered head-scratching moments, likely due to bugs or developer oversight.

For example, one of the character development moments you can achieve in this game is get married to one of your companions. And one of the traits you can choose at the beginning of the game is to have your parents live in New Atlantis.

However, the game does not present any options to let your parents know about your marriage or invite them to the wedding, while it does allow potential partners to invite their loved ones, like Sarah, who invites her mother.

Why can Sarah invite her mother, but I can’t even tell my parents about my marriage? That's totally an oversight of the dev team, and you can't tell me otherwise.

So, aside from that point which I feel strongly about, there wasn't a big deal breaker moment for me, especially now after the game has been out for a year and many bugs have already been fixed.

Have you explored everything Starfield has to offer, or are you still deciding whether to jump into the universe? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

So, overall, Starfield is a vast universe full of depth, exploration, and yes, a few quirks—but it’s an experience worth having.

I’ll be back soon with thoughts on the Shattered Space DLC, so stay tuned!

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