Unveiling the Galactic Marvel: Starfield Review to Blow Your Mind

Bethesda's success with Skyrim and Fallout 4 could have led them straight to developing The Elder Scrolls 6. However, they took a risk by focusing on Starfield, an ambitious sci-fi game and their first original IP in more than 25 years. This gamble has paid off, as Starfield has become a groundbreaking release that captivates players and stands out as one of Bethesda's finest games.

Although the first hour of Starfield may be slightly slow, the pace picks up considerably once players are granted the freedom to explore its vast galaxies and planets at their own pace. The signature Bethesda magic kicks in, making the game utterly engrossing. Players are given the flexibility to play however they desire, with their playstyle directly influencing the skills they can unlock. For example, those who wish to avoid combat and bypass certain objectives can focus on persuading characters, thereby enhancing their speech skill and increasing the effectiveness of future persuasion attempts. On the other hand, those who prefer a more aggressive approach can engage in intense gun battles, allowing them to level up their proficiency with specific weapon types.

At first, Starfield combat may appear ordinary. It resembles Fallout without VATS in many ways. However, as players progress, unlock new abilities, and expand their arsenal, the excitement of Starfield combat reaches boundless heights. What starts as simple shoot-outs transforms into exhilarating action sequences, with players soaring through the air using their boost packs, swiftly annihilating enemies with shotguns, and effortlessly finding cover to reload and regain strength for the next encounter.

Starfield's on-foot combat and ship battles are significantly enhanced when players allocate skill points wisely. The efficacy of ship combat relies on the traits chosen during character creation. Initially, it may seem slow and cumbersome, but with strategic skill point investments, it transforms into a thrilling experience. Players can engage in exhilarating space battles, maneuvering through asteroid fields and annihilating enemy ships. Remarkably, Starfield surpasses dedicated space combat games in terms of excitement.

While Starfield boasts incredible space combat, some players may not find it appealing. For those individuals, the game offers the option to lower the difficulty during space battles, enabling them to swiftly defeat opponents. Furthermore, players are not obligated to spend extended periods in their ship if they prefer not to. Starfield prioritizes player convenience by incorporating game-changing quality-of-life features. For instance, players can utilize fast-travel to promptly transport themselves to various locations, eliminating the need to backtrack to the ship. They can effortlessly transition from one planet in one galaxy to an entirely different planet lightyears away.

Another instance illustrates how players can effortlessly enter their ship's cockpit without having to walk through it, eliminating unnecessary steps and streamlining the process. Such user-friendly enhancements are abundant in Starfield, and although they may not appear significant initially, they ultimately have a tremendous impact in the long term.

When players engage in fast-travel across the planets in Starfield, they will come across a diverse array of individuals, each with their own unique backgrounds and motives. Some of these characters can even be recruited and assigned to the player's ship or outposts. The process of building up one's crew is gratifying, as these crew members are fully developed characters that feel authentic, making it easy for players to form attachments to them. This is particularly true for Starfield's companion characters, who bring their own quests and, in certain cases, the possibility of engaging in romantic relationships.

In Starfield, players have the freedom to customize their own spaceship, recruit their own crew, and embark on their own science fiction adventures as they explore the vast worlds the game has to offer. Bethesda has not exaggerated when they claimed that there are more than 1,000 planets in Starfield. While some of these planets may be desolate and uninhabitable, others are teeming with captivating plant life and treacherous extraterrestrial creatures. Players are at liberty to explore virtually any place they can envision in Starfield. However, the profusion of quests ensures that players never have to venture into dull or uneventful territories. Those who wish to deviate from the conventional path and delve into the exploration of all the planets generated procedurally by the game are welcome to do so. Yet, even those who prefer to focus on the meticulously crafted content will find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of activities to engage in.

Starfield offers players unparalleled freedom in shaping their own gaming experience. They have the option to commandeer a colossal spacecraft and embark on interstellar journeys alongside their handpicked crew, reminiscent of being the captain of the legendary Enterprise. Alternatively, they can immerse themselves in the art of constructing outposts on remote planets, diligently collecting precious resources to fuel their crafting endeavors. Those seeking a more mischievous path can unleash their inner intergalactic troublemaker, wreaking havoc upon the Settled Systems and skillfully evading pursuit using their Grav Drives. Each quest presents numerous possibilities, as players can choose to negotiate their way to success, eliminate any obstacles that stand in their path, or stealthily infiltrate heavily guarded zones to pilfer essential documents or valuable items. The potential for exploration and achievement knows no bounds, making it difficult to envisage any science fiction game matching the unparalleled level of liberty that Starfield grants its players.

Starfield, like any game, is not without its flaws. However, these flaws do not significantly detract from the overall experience. One example is the dated mission design choices, with players having to follow NPCs that move much slower than the player character. Additionally, there are multiple dungeons that appear very similar, affecting immersion and diminishing the game's excitement. Despite these issues, Starfield is still the most polished game released by Bethesda thus far. In fact, we did not encounter any game-breaking bugs during our time with Starfield, although there were some minor glitches such as frame drops and occasional visual/audio issues.

Despite some minor hiccups, Starfield is remarkably polished, especially for a Bethesda game. However, there is one particular technical issue that can be quite annoying and hopefully will be addressed in a future update. Once a certain threshold is reached, whether it's based on playtime or some other factor, the scanner starts causing a strange stutter whenever it is used. This problem did not occur earlier in the game, and though it isn't overly problematic, it is still an inconvenience.

Besides potential technical problems, the game's greatest flaws become most apparent during the course of Starfield's main quest. To some extent, the main quest line in Starfield surpasses any other Bethesda game's main quest, featuring exceptionally clever missions that offer thrilling combat encounters, captivating narrative moments, and immensely consequential decisions that profoundly shape the game world and its characters. However, in certain aspects, the Starfield main quest can be somewhat underwhelming.

The main quest line in Starfield includes a series of repetitive missions that consist of solving the same puzzle and encountering the same enemies. These quests, while difficult to discuss without spoilers, are still important for players to complete. However, their repetitive nature may be disappointing. On the other hand, the main quest does feature a compelling story with well-written characters and interesting plot developments. The ending, though, may not satisfy all players, as it varies from person to person. Regardless of one's opinion on the main quest, it only makes up a small portion of the game. Players can choose to focus on the game's more interesting side quests and faction missions, creating their own epic space adventure by exploring different galaxies and planets.

In typical Bethesda fashion, Starfield presents players with four main factions, each offering their own exclusive quest lines. Players can choose to interact with the notorious space pirates known as the Crimson Fleet, or they can delve into the world of corporate espionage with Ryujin Industries. For those with a hankering for space cowboy adventures, the opportunity to join the Freestar Rangers awaits. Alternatively, some may opt to align themselves with the militaristic Vanguard.

The Crimson Fleet quest line in Starfield stands out as the most thrilling among all factions, featuring high stakes and an unforgettable finale that ranks among the game's greatest moments. However, this is just one of the many incredible moments Starfield has to offer. From intense ship standoffs reminiscent of Star Trek to the breathtaking sight of massive planets against the vastness of space, Starfield continually delivers memorable experiences. Despite the existence of some issues, they pale in comparison to the overall experience. Players will find themselves eagerly wanting to play Starfield as often as possible and daydreaming about it even when they're not playing.

Similar to Bethesda's other games, Starfield offers an extensive amount of content that can immerse players in its world for countless hours. However, it goes beyond expectations with its exceptional replay value. Starfield introduces a New Game+ option, allowing players to continue their adventures in a way that was not present in any previous Bethesda game. The implementation of New Game+ in Starfield is truly brilliant, and although specific details cannot be shared, rest assured that it will make Starfield even more addictive and difficult to put down than Skyrim.

Starfield exceeds all expectations and surpasses them. It's the epitome of a science fiction game, granting players access to an unimaginably vast universe to explore and granting them the freedom to dictate their own play style. Starfield possesses the potential to captivate players with the same fervor as Skyrim, ensuring its devoted following for the next decade. It immerses players completely, an absolute essential experience, and a remarkable Xbox console exclusive that stands out among recent releases.

Starfield, created by Bethesda Game Studios, is an exciting science fiction action role-playing game that immerses players in a vast universe filled with numerous factions to interact with, intense combat scenarios, the ability to personalize their main character and spacecraft, and the opportunity to explore over 100 systems and 1,000 planets.

Scheduled for release on September 6, Starfield will be available for both PC and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant had the privilege of reviewing the game and was provided with an Xbox Series X code.