Starfield's Magnificent New Atlantis: The Landmark That Will Redefine Game Design Beyond Skyrim's Whiterun

Highlights

Starfield's New Atlantis falls short in its urban design, lacking a consistent approach and flow compared to Skyrim's Whiterun.

The arrangement of New Atlantis incorporates various design inspirations, leading to a confusing navigation experience and reduced sense of immersion. Despite these shortcomings, the city's remarkable art direction and retro-futurist aesthetic elevate it to a believable depiction of a space city. However, it falls short of replicating the immersive experience provided by Whiterun in Skyrim.

Starfield's release has undeniably captivated players with its immense size and expansive gameplay. Boasting over 1000 planets across 100 star systems, the game goes far beyond being merely "Skyrim in space," easily overshadowing the 15 square kilometer map of its predecessor. Bethesda, in the lead-up to the launch, emphasized not only the vastness of the game's world but also the intricately crafted city landscapes, affirming that the first city players encounter would be their largest creation yet. New Atlantis, without a doubt, is an enormous city, but its layout and planning somehow fall short in comparison to Whiterun in Skyrim.

Before Starfield's New Atlantis, Whiterun in Skyrim's Tamriel region stood as Bethesda's most expansive single city ever seen in their RPGs. It wasn't just the sheer size that made the city remarkable back in 2011; it was the liveliness and activity among its residents that made it feel like a genuine, thriving place. Whiterun exuded an authentic sense of history, as though each inhabitant had their own lives unfolding independently whether the player was present or not. While New Atlantis impresses with its beauty, it struggles to replicate the seamless design and immersive experience of Whiterun.

Starfield's New Atlantis Lacks a Consistent Approach to its Urban Design

Urban design can be categorized into three prevailing theories: figure-ground theory, linkage theory, and place theory. These theories structure the design and planning of a city based on the relationships between buildings and residents. Whiterun in Skyrim adheres to the linkage theory due to its design characteristics. On the other hand, New Atlantis lacks a cohesive flow and functionality in its layout, drawing inspiration from various design sources. It does not conform strictly to the grid or human comprehension of space, ruling out figure-ground and place theories. The city's confusing navigation makes it difficult for people to navigate, despite its futuristic architectural concept.

Despite its Flaws, Bethesda's Artists Elevate New Atlantis to Whiterun's Heights

Starfield's implementation of maps, or lack thereof, goes beyond the layout of the city itself, creating a tedious experience when navigating through large spaces. However, the art direction and retro-futurist, pulp sci-fi aesthetic of Starfield help alleviate the frustration of getting lost. Despite not comparing in form factor to Whiterun, New Atlantis compensates with its visually stunning portrayal of a futuristic city in outer space.

Unfortunately, New Atlantis lacks flow and efficiency in its design, detracting from its immersive experience. However, there is a standout feature in The Well, where players can quickly familiarize themselves with the layout and important landmarks. In comparison, for many players, Skyrim's Whiterun became a beloved second home, a place they knew as well as their real-life cities. Therefore, New Atlantis feels like a missed opportunity in achieving the same level of familiarity and attachment.

Starfield is available now on PC and Xbox Series X/S.