Starfield isn't revolutionary. It's not even different. In fact, it's more of the exact same formula Bethesda has used before. While I criticize this in most sports games, there is a charm with it in these cases. Starfield is not a glorified roster update like Madden. It is the 2K story mode update which I really appreciate. Bethesda took the time to craft an actual campaign and interesting quests for you to explore. Sure, there are some duds here and there as not EVERY quest cannot be the most spectacular thing in the galaxy, but overall, I find it to be fun and engaging.
Now let us be clear on one thing here: The planets are pretty dull for the most part. Absolutely. I find almost literally no joy in exploring them. One particular mission had me travel across a desolate version of Mars from a space station to an abandoned mine and then back and BACK AGAIN. There was nothing of interest between the two points at all. I chose to explore on the first time around and boy was it just a solid 5 minutes of sprinting until my oxygen ran out and then using a jet pack booster until I could sprint again. It was not exactly what I called fun. But when I got there, I got to eliminate a bunch of Space Pirates and collect their loot. I was happy again.
The combat isn't perfect either as it does feel like something is missing without the VAT system we have come to know and love from previous titles. Gunplay is okay and melee can be decent as well. Clunky A.I. or a larger-than-life jump button can sometimes hinder the experience but I never found myself frustrated in a fight. If you are looking for Call of Duty campaign smoothness here you will not find but it is by no means bad.
The NPCs you get to meet and hangout with more than make up for any barren planets as they are actually intriguing and talkative. I loved getting to know some of the characters that signed up to be my sidekick for a few missions whether it be for their personal gain or mine. They also assist somewhat in the combat mentioned but they are more utilized in story and dialogue. There are plenty of sidequests and stories to experience and I kept telling myself to "do the main quest first" but couldn't help to see who needed help next. Like any Fallout or Elder Scrolls game before it, I did feel like I had a pivotal role in these character's lives and that's what makes a video game FUN. Who wants to take a trip across the solar system with me to sell some illegal Mech part contraband?
Starfield is not going to change gaming. Nor will it live up to the hype it has caused over the last few years. What it will do, though, is give you a pretty good experience with options to play mostly your way. Build an outpost to collect resources and call it home. Be a bad guy and steal from or fight everyone you come across, or become a renowned hero of the universe. Any way you choose, you'll get that Bethesda style feel which will leave you ultimately satisfied. I'm not giving a review score to Starfield at the time as I am only about 20 or so hours into it but I will say that I do want to boot my Xbox back up and play again at the time of this writing. If you have Game Pass, you should be playing this game.
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