Close Menu
  • Gaming
    • Game Guides
    • Codes
    • Game News
    • Game Previews
    • Game Reviews
    • Game Features
    • Game Lists
    • Platforms
      • Nintendo
      • PC
      • PlayStation
      • Xbox
      • Mobile
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Movie Features
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV
    • Reality TV
    • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • Human Interest
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • More
    • Anime
    • Lists
    • Podcasts
    • Reviews
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
  • About Us
  • Join Our Team
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Advertising Policy
The Nerd Stash
  • Gaming
  • Celebrity
  • Human Interest
  • Videos
The Nerd Stash
Home»Game Features»This Starfield Feature Makes It More Immersive Than Other RPGs

This Starfield Feature Makes It More Immersive Than Other RPGs

From customizing your appearance and outfitting your starship to constructing your own base, Starfield gives players plenty of ways to customize their experience. One of…

Patrick ArmstrongBy Patrick ArmstrongSeptember 13, 20234 Mins Read
The main character and Vasco stand together in Starfield
Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

Skip To...

  • Codsworth And The Legacy Of Fallout 4
  • Enhance Clinics and Vasco’s List of Names
  • Vasco and Immersion in Starfield
This article is over 1 years old and may contain outdated information.

From customizing your appearance and outfitting your starship to constructing your own base, Starfield gives players plenty of ways to customize their experience. One of these involves Vasco, the robotic companion who joins the player at the beginning of the main quest. Vasco is programmed to recognize certain names. Depending upon what name the player chose, Vasco may address them with that instead of just “Captain.” In a game about high-stakes adventure and exploring the endless expanse between the stars, sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. This small touch ranks among the most immersive Starfield features and helps it outclass similar sci-fi RPGs.

Codsworth And The Legacy Of Fallout 4

Vasco uses the player's name in Starfield
Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

Vasco recognizes over 1,000 names. While that obviously means that many didn’t make the cut, there’s a decent chance that Vasco can say whatever you picked. Yes, that’s even true for players who think it’s funny to name their character something profane. Vasco comes prepared to utter a list of mild obscenities. Some of the more ridiculous examples on the list are pretty immersion-breaking, but that’s okay. Players chose them, after all, and it’s pleasantly immersive to hear him say a real name. Some of Starfield’sย other companions unfortunately feel flat, especially in comparison to this metallic ally, but who really needs anyone but Vasco?

Starfieldย isn’t the first RPG in which Bethesda has pulled this name-recognition trick. In fact, Vasco isn’t even the first robot who could do it. Codsworth from Fallout 4 could do it too. Players who aren’t prepared for the character to address them in this way are in for a bit of a shock the first time it happens, but after that, it serves as a gentle, persistent reminder of the identity the player has chosen to adopt. Does this immersive Starfield feature revolutionize the game? No, but it makes Vasco a more endearing character and immerses the character in the world that much more. While it’s true that many RPGs insert the player’s chosen name into written dialog, there’s a special magic to hearing one’s name spoken.

Enhance Clinics and Vasco’s List of Names

Vasco at the Lodge in Bethesda's new sci-fi RPG
Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

Even if the player chooses a name that Vasco recognizes, the robot won’t use it all the time. Sometimes he’ll default to the generic “Captain.” That means it might take a few interactions before the chosen name comes up in conversation. Bethesda’s writers intelligently avoided making this feature too obtrusive. Instead, they left it as an easter egg for players to stumble upon. That’s part of what makes it one of the most immersive Starfield features. Determined players can force Vasco to address them by name by speaking with the robot repeatedly, so when in doubt, just keep bugging him. If you make him part of your crew but he isn’t actively following you, he can be found guarding the ship.

It’s unfortunate that many common names don’t appear on Vasco’s recognized list, but if you choose a name that Vasco doesn’t recognize and want to switch, you can do so by visiting an Enhance Clinic. These genetics shops not only allow the player to redo their character’s appearance but also change their name. It can be fun just trying out different names to see which ones Vasco will acknowledge. Bethesda surely understood that once word of Vasco’s special talent spread, players would want to experiment with it mid-save. Being able to pop into an Enhance Clinic and switch to a recognized name at will is also further incentive to play Starfieldย in a more immersed way.

Vasco and Immersion in Starfield

Vasco and the player stand in front of their spaceship in Bethesda's new sci-fi RPG
Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

In terms of small but immersive details, Vasco’s name-recognition trick is one of Starfield’sย best. Unlike the heroes of some RPGs, Starfield’s protagonist is silent. The player selects their dialog options but remains free to imagine the character’s voice however they want. This creative decision leaves the character as a blank slate upon which the player’s imagination can write. The game doesn’t shoehorn players into a pre-baked role. The resulting tales of adventure, heartbreak, and villainy feel more immersive. Letting Vasco address the player by a variety of names immerses the player even more, whether they’re playing a self-insert or a character who’s nothing like them.

Starfieldย is available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Related Topics
Bethesda Starfield
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Email
Patrick Armstrong
  • Website

Artist and writer with a lifelong love of video games. Their favorite games include Dead by Daylight, Meet Your Maker, and Project Zomboid.

SUGGESTED READS

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate TWID Vendor Changes
Game News

Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Is About To Be a Lot Less Confusing Thanks to All of These Core System Changes

Death Stranding 2 Hidden Details
Features

10 Mind-blowing Details in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Destiny 2 Weapon and Armor Tiers
Game Guides

How Do Weapon and Gear Tiers Work in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Exotic Items
Game Guides

All Exotics in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Power Level 200
Game Guides

How To Reach Power Level 200 Fast in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate World Tier Changes
Game News

Bungie Responds to Community Criticism by Peeling Back Some Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Secrets

Trending
Texas Man records a package thief stealing boxes off the porch

Texas Man Comes up With โ€˜Epicโ€™ Idea To Get Revenge on Porch Pirates: โ€˜This Is Genius’

Florida bride has special moment with two fathers at wedding

Florida Bride’s Father Shocks Guests At Wedding When He Sees Her Stepdad In Crowd: ‘Cries In Daddy Issues’

A picture of the Texas police impersonator.

Texas Police Impersonator Ambushes Couple and Ends Up Crawling For His Life: โ€˜He Literally Turned Into a Wormโ€™

MAGA Supporter With a Megaphone Harasses Safeway Protestors in Colorado

MAGA Supporter With a Megaphone Harasses Safeway Protestors in Colorado: ‘Couldn’t Even Make the Cut for ICE So He Had to Settle For This’

The Nerd Stash
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • About Us
  • Join Our Team
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Advertising Policy
© 2025 The Nerd Stash. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.