Starfield's Epic Combat: Taking Inspiration from Borderlands The Pre-Sequel

Highlights

While Starfield's combat is certainly fun, it could be improved with some additional mechanics.

Starfield could enhance its gameplay by incorporating distinctive combat elements from Borderlands the Pre-Sequel, like the inclusion of low gravity environments and the butt slam attack.

To enrich the space combat in the game, Starfield should contemplate introducing destructible player and enemy gear, which would provide additional layers of depth and strategic opportunities.

Borderlands the Pre-Sequel is often considered the underdog of the franchise, but it still has its strengths. It introduced numerous new features, some of which made a comeback in Borderlands 3 and are likely to continue in future Borderlands games. The game's unique setting in locations with low gravity and a lack of oxygen resulted in some distinctive features. Since Starfield, with its explorable planets featuring similar elements, could benefit from these, it should consider incorporating some of Borderlands the Pre-Sequel's innovative combat features.

While Starfield decided not to include VATS from the Fallout franchise and cover mechanics, there is still ample room for improvement in its combat system. Introducing stealth, a wider variety of weapons, and Boost Packs could make combat more engaging. However, these additions may require some investment to have a noticeable impact. This doesn't mean that Starfield's gunfights aren't enjoyable, but adding additional layers and variety to the player's arsenal, as seen in games like Borderlands the Pre-Sequel, could greatly enhance the overall experience.

Starfield’s Combat is Missing Out on a Fun Feature

The introduction of Butt Slams in Borderlands the Pre-Sequel marked a significant advancement in gameplay. This move allows players to swiftly descend from higher ground and inflict damage within a limited area. The effectiveness of this maneuver is particularly noticeable in low-gravity environments, as players can seamlessly execute the attack following a boosted jump. Moreover, players have the option to enhance the butt slam's capabilities by acquiring gear that augments its damage output, attack range, status effect application, or provides various other unique enhancements.

Not all of the explorable planets in Starfield exhibit the same noticeable or exaggerated reduced gravity as the planets found in Borderlands the Pre-Sequel. However, this is precisely where Starfield's Boost Packs excel. With just a standard Boost Pack and a minimal investment in the required perk, players can reach impressive heights. One could argue that Starfield missed an opportunity by excluding a butt slam attack. While such an attack may not align with the game's realistic tone, it could potentially add an element of enjoyable gameplay and simply necessitate a less comedic name.

Starfield Should Consider Making Player and Enemy Gear Destructible

Starfield should consider adopting another feature from Borderlands the Pre-Sequel: the ability to disable enemy oxygen masks. In Starfield, oxygen passively regenerates, but in Borderlands the Pre-Sequel, players have to manually maintain their oxygen levels by collecting it from designated sources or consumables. This means that if players exhaust their oxygen, they will suffer suffocation damage until it is replenished. However, players can strategically break an enemy's oxygen mask to make them vulnerable to suffocation damage.

While the ability to destroy enemy Boost Packs in Starfield is an enjoyable feature, it only scratches the surface of how destructible gear can impact combat. If this feature worked both ways, players would not only have to maintain their own space suit, helmet, and boost pack, but they could also compromise an enemy's suit and helmet to gain an advantage in combat. Making the player's gear destructible in any game often receives negative reactions from players, but if implemented carefully, it could add an interesting layer to Starfield's space combat. After all, players are already accustomed to maintaining their gear's durability in the Fallout franchise games, which strike a relatively enjoyable balance with this feature.

The inclusion of butt slams and destructible oxygen masks in Borderlands the Pre-sequel may not be groundbreaking, but they highlight the diverse effects that various planetary environments can have on space combat in Starfield. Additionally, incorporating destructible gear for both the player and enemies in Starfield could add further complexity to the game's gameplay. Starfield is currently accessible for PC and Xbox Series X/S.