Starfield’s release is just days away, and the pressure is mounting on Bethesda to have it succeed. Previews abound, along with the usual subset of people rooting for Starfield to flop. Nevertheless, based on early accounts of the game, it appears we have yet another contender to steal hundreds of hours of our time. The promises made by Starfield are vast and include some truly outrageous claims, like there being over a thousand explorable planets throughout the game. Talk is talk, but what does Starfield actually have to do to succeed?
How Can The Starfield Release Live Up To the Hype?
5. Starfield Must Create a Gripping Game World
Believe it or not, many gamers don’t think Bethesda is particularly great at writing. However, their environmental design and world building are second to none, which is why many players know the map of Skyrim better than they know their hometown. Starfield has a challenging task here, as it doesn’t merely create one world but an entire galaxy. The devs made the claim of a thousand explorable planets, so Bethesda has to make sure there is something to find when we get there.
Along with the planets, the various settlements we will find need to give us the unique flavors that places like Markarth, Windhelm, and Solitude produced in Skyrim over a decade ago. To this day, Skyrim’s large suite of cities is still stunning to explore, and Starfield must somehow emulate that.
4. Combat in Starfield Must Be Fun Throughout
Combat is one thing we have seen very little of in Starfield. There are plenty of previews showing third and first-person shooting, but nothing too in-depth. While it looks fine, Starfield will presumably contain a good deal of combat, as you’ll likely need to fight many different enemies throughout your playthrough. For the experience to remain fulfilling, the combat needs to be fun and evolve along the way. Weapons need to be varied in both melee and ranged armaments. The power system should also be worth investing time in.
While we know there is no sorcery in the game, there is the presence of some form of “gravitational magic.” We’ve seen only the most basic use of these powers, but they seem similar to The Force from Star Wars. How deep these mechanics go remains to be seen. Still, if we can get something akin to the powers of Mass Effect in a massive, open-world adventure, Starfield will definitely be recognized as a worthwhile experience.
3. Space Travel In Starfield Must Rival No Man’s Sky and Elite Dangerous
Bethesda is throwing its hat into a very crowded ring with Starfield’s release. Currently, we are in the middle of a No Man Sky renaissance, which includes a VR version, making space travel more immersive than ever before. Elite Dangerous provides a similar, more in-depth intergalactic adventure, so Starfield needs to provide an experience that is unique with engaging ship combat and keep the wonder of space travel consistently exciting. Spacecraft customization needs to be on par with those games as well, and from the looks of previews, it is clear that customizing your ship is core to the experience.
2. Base Building In Starfield Should Be Rewarding
Base building has been heavily emphasized by Bethesda during the hype for Starfield’s release, assuring us it will be more in-depth than the similar system that was available in Fallout 4. Referring back to No Man’s Sky, the game’s base building is outstanding. Sharing and exploring bases with other players is a true highlight. Starfield isn’t online, so we won’t have that opportunity. In compensation for offline play, these bases need to have tons of options when it comes to their design.
Everything from color to style to size should be customizable within reason. The balance of providing the players an appropriate amount of tools to build while not getting too over-the-top is a delicate one. However, Bethesda has already seen what works and what doesn’t with Fallout 4, so they should have everything they need to succeed with Starfield in that regard.
1. Starfield Needs To Tell a Great Story
Bethesda does some great things in the gaming world, but if there’s one thing they don’t always nail, it’s the main story. For example, many have hundreds of hours in Skyrim but have never completed the main campaign. Its engaging side content can be addicting, and the same goes for Fallout 4. Starfield has propped itself up as a space epic, marking a new series that will have its own lore and all the bells and whistles that Bethesda is known for.
Space narratives have many different forms. Is this going to be a deathly serious tale like Mass Effect or something more lighthearted like The Outer Worlds? It could be a mix, as the story scenes have a bit of a pulpy feel to them, while the combat and other gameplay we’ve seen point to a more brutal experience. Whichever tone they choose, it’s essential they nail it.
Starfield is fast approaching, with the review embargo lifting on August 31st and the release date set for September 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC.
