Starfield Review

Starfield is the best game to come from Bethesda Game Studios

Starfield is out and I played it during the early access period. While it’s about around 28 hours or so, I got taste the main quest line and some side missions. Both short side missions that can be completed in less than an hour and long side missions that take almost an entire day

While it’s hard to give a review on such a giant game like Starfield, I will try my best to be objective as possible with this review

Many worlds to explore

Based on my experience with Starfield, you begin your journey in Vectera. You learn to mine and do a little mining of your own until you discover an artifact. But after that, you have to do some stuff like killing pirates and meeting up with Constellation, a faction of explorers who seek out new worlds.

After completing the prologue, you are free to explore the Settled Systems, as they call it in the game. The worlds around you that have colonies are filled with life that feels natural. You have people talking about their past, their plans to travel the systems, and even their future and what type of homes they want to buy.

However, the worlds without any colonies are barren but beautiful; they have some of the nicest landscapes but they feel empty. It’s almost as if you are the first person ever to land on that planet. But if you just look around for a bit, you will find either a mining area or a small settlement.

Exploring the worlds is very fun and exciting. You might even get distracted and go to our system, Sol, and try to find some of our history. Did you know that the Apollo landing site exists in the game? You should check it out!

Characters who feel more alive than ever

In Bethesda Studio’s games like Fallout and Elder Scrolls, all the characters feel very one-dimensional: they give a background story to who they are and then give you a quest. But in Starfield, they feel more than that.

Every single character that you meet and talk to feels like they have an entire life before and after you. They feel like they actually have a life outside of your character and the quests they give you.

An example of a random encounter turn side mission reveals that there’s a group of settlers in a system that have been attacked by Spacers, a faction of ruthless raiders who prey on the weak. They have a rich and diverse history that you can uncover, but after you are done with the side mission, you can always go back and see how they are doing as well.

For the first time in a Bethesda Studios game, you can form meaningful bonds with the characters of the world, no matter how big or small they play in the world of Starfield. It makes you want to explore and find more random people and their stories in the vast and stunning galaxy.

Combat feels good for a Bethesda Game

One thing I really hated about Fallout 4 is that the gunplay lacks variety and challenge. But for Starfield, the gunplay is absolutely awesome.

It actually feels like a proper shooter and the reloading animations are smooth and realistic. The weapons have different sounds, effects, and recoil patterns that make them feel distinct and satisfying.

In terms of melee combat, it’s like the best parts of Skyrim put into Starfield. You can use swords, axes, hammers to slash, chop, or smash your foes. You can also block, parry, dodge, or counterattack to create dynamic and fluid combat scenarios. However, I wish there was more effort put into the animation. The melee attacks look stiff and awkward sometimes.

They have the Fallout style of upgrading and modifying for all the weapons and it’s good. You can customize your weapons with different barrels, scopes, magazines, grips, etc. to suit your playstyle and preferences. But the way to unlock upgrades is relatively tedious, as with anything else in Starfield. You have to collect resources, craft components, research technologies, etc.

Overall, combat feels really good and it actually feels like a proper shooter, even in third person.

You are only limited by choice

Just like other Bethesda Game Studios games, you are only limited by how you play. The beauty of a Bethesda game is that you can talk or find your way out of a sticky situation if you wanted to, or even discover secrets in places you choose to go.

However, when it comes to missions and how you want to do them, there’s only one limitation: what choices you are given. What do I mean? Well, sometimes when you do a side mission or you are doing the main questline, you might only have the choice to fight your way out.

But what you want to do is completely up to you. You want to create your own spaceship design? Go ahead! You want to turn turrets against enemies? Whether the choice is there, you can!

And while it’s a game with a story to tell, it is also a game where exploring the galaxy means you get rewarded.

So truly, the game is your sandbox but a sandbox with some limitations of choice.

So many quests, so little time

When it comes to the quests, there are three major questlines (that I’ve noticed): Constellation, Freestar Collective, and United Colonies questlines.

Besides the main questline, there are two other major questlines that you can pursue. I’ve played the Freestar Collective’s Freestar Ranger mission, and it was about half a day long but the reward was the Star Eagle ship, a sleek and powerful vessel. The questline has some thrilling and memorable moments.

I have not done the UC Vanguard mission yet so I will not judge for that mission. But in terms of the Constellation questline, they are the main focus of the game.

The main questline has been very intriguing and with each artifact that you collect, the game unravels the mystery and the purpose behind your actions.

It’s hard to review without spoiling the story so far but the main questline is something that I would love to rush through.

In terms of side quests, the game has plenty of them and the short ones are fun, quick and unique. It’s more similar to how Ghost of Tsushima handles side quests but not as well. Tsushima is still the gold standard for me when it comes to side quests.

But overall for Starfield, I would say that it’s good and varied.

Conclusion

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When it comes to Starfield, it’s certainly one of the best games ever made by Bethesda Game Studios. It has a robust foundation, immersive gameplay, captivating quests and exhilarating exploration.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. The game has some issues that do bug me, such as the lack of vehicles when you explore planets without colonies and the tedious leveling system.

While I really like the game, the few things that bother me in the gameplay part are something I can’t look away from.

Because of that, this game gets a 4/5 from me.

Starfield is available right now on Xbox Series X|S, Steam and Xbox Game Pass!