The latest showcase of Starfield demonstrates Bethesda's commitment to creating an expansive interstellar RPG. The game aims to take players on a world-building adventure among the stars, where they can potentially encounter other players throughout the vastness of space. While many RPGs allow players to freely explore their worlds, Starfield takes a unique approach by incorporating random encounters into its space-faring gameplay.
Starfield offers an immersive experience, complete with interstellar dogfights and faster-than-light travel. However, the game also provides players with the opportunity to dock their spacecraft, which adds an additional layer of exploration and excitement. In such a vast universe, portraying realistic spaceflight runs the risk of the game feeling empty and leaving players unsatisfied. To combat this, Starfield introduces docking, allowing players to uncover and explore various pockets of the game that are brimming with stories and hidden treasures.
Filling Starfield's Space With Things to Encounter
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In every RPG, players have the option to follow quest lines or complete missions. However, the true strength of these games lies in their open-world design, which grants players the freedom to play as they wish. Bethesda has successfully incorporated this concept in games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and now in Starfield with its ship customization and character creator. This approach allows RPGs to include various locations, characters, and events for players to explore and enhance the game's lore, direct their attention, or reward their curiosity.
Starfield takes the concept of an expansive universe to the next level, challenging itself to provide players with intriguing people and places throughout its vast open space. By allowing players to dock with any encountered vessel, Starfield not only overcomes this challenge but also opens up a world of possibilities. Players can interact with fellow space travelers who offer trade opportunities and advice, or engage in battles with enemy factions. Starfield has the ability to create captivating and diverse stories for players to uncover.
The Stories Starfield's Encounters Could Tell Are Limitless
Starfield could incorporate various types of random encounters, including those that have already been shown or are likely to be included. These encounters could involve interactions with enemy ships or exploring Starfield's star yards, where the player's ability to dock allows for encounters throughout the cosmos. These encounters could range from enemies surrendering and joining the player's crew to star yard characters serving as key figures in storylines or even as romantic options.
In addition, other encounters could expand the player's experience by introducing elements from different genres such as horror, crime, and mystery. Where there are ships, there are also shipwrecks, and players may feel a sense of unease when boarding these dilapidated spacecraft, suspecting they are not alone. Players may come across smugglers and be presented with choices to either capture the Starfield ship and gain a share of the spoils, do the right thing, or turn a blind eye. Furthermore, drifting ships in Starfield may hold hidden stories, ranging from those abandoned centuries ago to those harboring secrets for dubious reasons.
Starfield is set to release on September 6, 2023, for PC and Xbox Series X/S.