Xbox, Microsoft’s player in the console gaming space, has long been 3rd behind Sony and Nintendo. Their answer in 2023 was one of the most anticipated console-exclusive games ever made, Starfield.
Developed by Bethesda, Starfield has been in development for over 25 years. Since Bethesda has a long history of highly respected RPGs (role-playing games) such as the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series, fans have been excited to see what this game offers.
Before release, Bethesda released a gameplay showcase featuring almost an hour of presenters showing off gameplay features. In the showcase and later interviews, executive producer at Bethesda, Todd Howard, confirmed that the game would be locked at 30fps on consoles.
This sparked debate in the gaming community, as did other Starfield controversies that came up after footage of the game leaked.
Once the game was finally released, it was good, if not a bit underwhelming. Much of the disappointment surrounding the game comes from the advertising; content creators speculated a lot about this game, leading fans to expect features that Bethesda never confirmed.
However, it’s an incredibly fun experience for the fans who went into the game expecting what was marketed.
The game is incredibly deep, with enough gameplay systems to occupy many types of gamers. The shipbuilder, outpost manager, and character creator truly allow players to make the character they want.
The sheer number of traits (character background components that add positive and negative perks) is impressive, but I rarely noticed their impact in my playthroughs.
The game really shines in its random encounters, which keeps gameplay fresh, but after a while, you will start to get some repeat encounters.
The dialogue in these encounters and in story quests is just okay; it’s on par with other Bethesda games. The facial animations are clunky and almost impossible to ignore.
This game’s combat, however, is a significant improvement over previous Bethesda games, as is the weapon and ship customization.
The main story is not good. There is no beating around the bush here, it is a very simple story with zero exciting characters. However, this game has so many good factions and side quests that can each range from 5-10 hours. It almost feels like two different teams developed the main and side stories.
I would recommend this game, but not for $70. It’s available on Game Pass for just $10 a month. This is a great world to get lost in, but not one I found myself wanting to stay in for more than a few hours.