Highlights
While both Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty boast vast sci-fi universes, the immersive experience in Night City of Cyberpunk surpasses that of Starfield due to its seamless gameplay devoid of incessant loading screens.
Starfield's excessive loading screens can impede the smooth progression of gameplay, ultimately detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Meanwhile, Cyberpunk 2077's uninterrupted and seamless exploration offers a more cohesive and satisfying gaming experience, establishing a benchmark for forthcoming Bethesda games.
September has seen a surge of sci-fi RPGs with the release of Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. While both games provide expansive sci-fi worlds for players to explore, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty seems to have a slight advantage over Starfield.
Starfield offers a massive galaxy of planets for players to discover, while Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty boasts the breathtaking Night City and the new district of Dogtown. Both worlds are immersive and captivating, but players may find themselves more drawn to the immersive experience of Night City. Unlike Starfield, which is often interrupted by loading screens, Cyberpunk 2077 provides a seamless open world waiting to be explored.
Phantom Liberty is Not Marred By Loading Screens
Bethesda's accomplishment with Starfield is truly impressive. Breaking away from their traditional RPG formula, they have entered a whole new genre for the first time in over two decades. This alone generates excitement, and fortunately, they have delivered with great success. Starfield offers an unforgettable gaming experience. However, it must be noted that the game is not without its flaws, as navigation can sometimes become tedious.
Traversing in Starfield inevitably involves encountering numerous loading screens. Whether it's landing on a planet, exiting the spaceship, entering towns, or stepping into any building, players are constantly faced with these interruptions. Even when taking off and flying across the galaxy, loading screens persist. Although the universe in Starfield is visually stunning, the frequent loading screens can detract from the overall adventure, leading some players to avoid it altogether.
Starfield boasts numerous loading screens, unlike Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, which offers a nearly seamless experience. In Cyberpunk 2077, players have the freedom to explore every nook and cranny of Night City and Dogtown without encountering endless loading screens. They can effortlessly enter buildings, complete missions within the open world, and travel from one point to another without interruptions. With minimal loading screens, the game succeeds in fully immersing players in its world and ensures that the action remains uninterrupted.
Although Night City may not be as expansive as the universe in Starfield, the latter could have greatly benefited from fewer loading screens. Players crave uninterrupted gameplay, a feature that Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty largely delivers. This absence of loading screens creates a more cohesive gaming experience, resulting in greater enjoyment for many players. As technology advances, the prevalence of loading screens in games should be mostly eradicated by 2023.
Both Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077 are excellent games, although they are not without their flaws. Starfield falls short of its full potential due to the frequent and extensive loading times. In the future, it would be beneficial for Bethesda to learn from Cyberpunk 2077 and find ways to minimize this issue. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate loading times, efforts can be made to reduce their duration or shift them to the background. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is currently accessible on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.