The Ultimate Showdown: Starfield's Aurora vs The Elder Scrolls' Skooma – Which Has the Perfect High?

Highlights

Starfield's inclusion of the mind-altering substance Aurora adds depth to the immersive world and presents new gameplay possibilities for players.

The pharmacological effect and chemical composition of Skooma, a narcotic featured in The Elder Scrolls series, differs from that of Aurora in Starfield. Unlike Skooma, Aurora plays a vital role in various side quests, offering players opportunities for significant wealth accumulation and the ability to pursue a career as a manufacturer or distributor of the substance.

After a long wait of 5 years, Bethesda's Starfield has finally been released to players. The game has received strong critical and commercial reception, with many acknowledging it as Bethesda's most polished launch in the company's history. Starfield quickly rose to the top of the Steam charts during the early access period. One of the reasons for its success is how it builds upon and modernizes features from Bethesda's beloved titles, including the incorporation of its own mind-altering substance called Aurora.

Narcotic substances have been a recurring element in major Bethesda RPGs since The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. Morrowind is credited with establishing the open-world formula and characteristics that would later define all subsequent Bethesda RPGs, including Starfield. While Starfield features Aurora and the Fallout series has its own addictive Chems, the original substance is Skooma from The Elder Scrolls. Skooma, made from moon sugar, is known for its addictive properties and association with criminal activity within the worlds of The Elder Scrolls games.

How The Elder Scrolls' Skooma Compares to Starfield's Aurora

In terms of their pharmacological effects and chemical compositions, Starfield's Aurora and The Elder Scrolls' Skooma are completely different. Skooma is known for its narcotic effect, which is derived from a combination of moon sugar and nightshade. While moon sugar is regularly consumed by certain species in Tamriel, such as the Khajiit, it has a profound impact on those who have not developed a tolerance through repeated use. Skooma can be consumed in liquid form or inhaled through a pipe.

On the other hand, Aurora in Starfield is a hallucinogen. It is made from a species of fish with psychotropic properties, and it is in the form of a blue powder that users inhale using an aerosol delivery system. The use and trade of Aurora is banned in the Settled Systems, except in Starfield's city of Neon where it is thriving. Interestingly, Skooma provides players with increased speed, strength, and stamina, while Aurora only slows time for 10 seconds. Moreover, there is a greater risk of being caught with Aurora during contraband scans on a player's ship, making it more dangerous to possess compared to Skooma (although some traders in The Elder Scrolls will refuse to trade with players who have Skooma in their inventory).

The Elder Scrolls' Skooma Doesn't Carry the Same Quest Potential as Aurora

Once players acquire a ship early on in Starfield, they have the opportunity to embark on a unique life path. They can choose to engage in the manufacturing and selling of the highly sought-after Aurora, spanning across the entire galaxy. Alternatively, players can opt for a more daring route by joining the ranks of the infamous Crimson Fleet and indulge in the transport of illicit contraband throughout the Settled Systems. What sets Starfield apart is that Aurora, far from being a mere side quest, plays a pivotal role in several significant quests, offering the potential for substantial wealth accumulation for those who decide to pursue this path.

On the other hand, in The Elder Scrolls series, particularly in the recent installment of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, the addictive substance known as Skooma does feature in some side quests. However, these quests do not lead players towards the development or distribution of Skooma. Instead, players are presented with the choice of profiting from the illegal trade of Skooma or exposing the operation to the ruling Jarl. Starfield aims to create one of the most immersive worlds ever crafted by Bethesda, and by acknowledging the presence of a criminal underworld associated with substance abuse, it adds depth to the inclusion of these illicit substances in Bethesda's RPGs.

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