New Horizons Await: Starfields Slow Start Raises Questions, Yet the Cosmic Adventure Delivers Rewards

It’s widely recognized that Starfield — now available on PC and Xbox Series S/X — is undoubtedly one of the year’s most significant game releases. For Bethesda, this represents a bold venture into unfamiliar territory as they embark on creating their first new universe in a quarter of a century, set among the stars within a futuristic, inhabited section of the Milky Way galaxy. For publisher Xbox, this is a chance to recover from a disappointing 2022 lineup and take the lead in gaming discussions — potentially for years, considering how memorable director Todd Howard’s RPGs are known to be. With over a thousand planets to uncover, vibrant factions to affiliate with, and cosmic enigmas filled with political drama, Starfield aspires to be the most intricate space-travel experience of our era. It soars high, yet not without facing a few challenges.

Starfield review: Central narrative and its shortcomings

The timeline is set in 2330. Earth, once called the ‘Blue Planet,’ has lost its atmosphere and turned into a desolate wasteland, forcing humanity to vacate and inhabit other star systems. Thus, our journey commences in space, beginning with an unnamed space miner who stumbles upon a cave and discovers a peculiar piece of gleaming debris. Interacting with this shard ensnares us in a strange trance of celestial sights and sounds resonating with us deeply, before we lose consciousness. Upon awakening, Starfield employs the traditional RPG amnesia cliché, prompting the player to rediscover their identity through extensive character creation. It contains all the recognizable elements of a classic Bethesda title, adhering closely to its role-playing framework of exploration, scavenging, and combat, albeit on a larger scale that often feels overwhelming.

A word of caution: Starfield has an extremely slow start, confining players to mundane exposition quests during the initial hours before it opens up, allowing exploration of planets at leisure. I confess that the game quickly became hard to resist, but that preliminary phase might easily deter many players as you find yourself aimlessly journeying from point A to point B or attempting to familiarize yourself with its unconventional menus. Personally, it took more than 10 hours for the game to gain momentum, leading me to question whether I would ever find enjoyment in it. I don’t necessarily despise sluggish beginnings; many of my favorite films are slow-paced dramas that dedicate significant time to character and setting development. Unfortunately, video games operate under different dynamics, often extending beyond 60 hours of gameplay, necessitating complete engagement.

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Character creation in Starfield is highly detailed, allowing various traits that create a sense of being a blank slate
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar

Moreover, the main storyline of Starfield lacks significant intrigue, as you align with a group of mismatched interstellar explorers known as the Constellation, who seek to uncover artifacts of dubious origins — like the metallic piece encountered earlier. As anticipated, the plot features familiar elements, assigning you the task of retrieving these mysterious items across various planets, immersing you in spectacular escapades — from ominous mines filled with space marauders to abandoned terrains serving as mechanical graveyards. However, these stellar moments are encased in repetitive assignments involving basic puzzle-solving, dispatching foes, and floating around in potentially alien ruins, which become tedious rather swiftly and devolve into menial fetch quests that you feel compelled to undertake merely to advance the narrative.

While the storyline may come across as derivative, infused with numerous sci-fi clichés, there exists some joy to be discovered in its engaging cast of supporting characters — specifically, your companions. None are particularly endearing at first, but joining them on adventures encourages them to reveal their emotions and personal histories. The solitary space cowboy Sam Coe emerged as my favorite among them, wishing to escape his celebrity father’s influence and frequently reflecting on his earlier days of smuggling across the cosmos.

You find that there is more to him than merely being a brash peacekeeper; when including his daughter on board, his protective instincts shine through as he endlessly praises her intelligence. Yet, beneath this warmth lies a sense of entitlement and internal struggle in his parenting, questioning the appropriateness of raising her amid the perilous, often deadly situations he embraces. This complexity is relatable, but I absolutely loathe how his history is portrayed — as incessant trauma dumping at random moments, disregarding your current objectives.

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The plight of the companions feels somewhat shallow at times
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar

This observation can similarly apply to other companions, though I struggled to develop equally deep connections with them. Sure, there is some unique charm to Constellation chair Sarah Morgan’s ambition to explore the cosmos, the laid-back adventurer Barrett, and the enigmatic stealth specialist Andreja, but their narratives often feel superficial and conveyed in a manner that failed to engage me enough. In Starfield, dialogues provide a full-frontal view of the conversation partner, revealing flaws in Bethesda’s character design, restricting certain emotional expressions. Basic emotions like sadness or joy project an unsettling vibe, skirting into the uncanny valley — as if the NPCs are secretly androids programmed to simulate smiles. They often appear lifeless, compounded by the sometimes-stiff voice acting, which tempts players to skim through subtitles and quickly skip to the next line.

Starfield review: Engaging side quests and world-building

Following Bethesda’s tradition, the true enchantment of Starfield lies within its expansive side quests that arise throughout your journey — most originating from everyday chat and global happenings. While not all of them are equally captivating, they lead to unexpected interactions often carrying a hint of tragedy. When on foot, it’s easy to lose track of your original mission and spend hours exploring the more populated and delightful corners of the galaxy, filled with peculiar inhabitants who have requests, big or small.

One notable location is the aptly named Neon, a rain-soaked Blade Runner-inspired cyberpunk metropolis where I roamed, threatening vandals, collecting exotic fish-based psychedelic substances, and enjoying the local nightlife. Primarily, it presented a money-making venture, which I achieved by ascending the ranks within Ryujin Industries, a colossal tech firm engaged in weapons, ships, and drones. Within mere hours, I transitioned from fetching coffee for supervisors to embarking on espionage missions to sabotage rival companies by infiltrating their systems.

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I had a lot of fun traversing the valleys of Neon, accumulating a vast amount of quests
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar

It’s safe to say I became a crucial asset to the faction, getting involved in their confidential dealings and charming my way into restricted zones. This persuasive route was one I opted for during character creation, alongside a special trait that made the iconic Adoring Fan from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion accompany me, constantly complimenting my efforts. His praises provided a much-needed morale boost for completing tasks with minimal violence.

For some, these sneaky missions may seem dull, so Starfield provides various factions to join, each offering distinct narratives to investigate and benefits to gain. And as you are never locked into a particular faction, you have the freedom to explore virtually every path the game presents — whether it’s indulging in your space pirate dreams, serving in the militia, or delivering justice as a planet-hopping cowboy. The latter — joining the Freestar Collective — was particularly memorable, immersing me in a profound conspiracy that tested my ethical stance at every turn, emphasizing that in the pursuit of peacekeeping, justice is rarely clear-cut.

Some quests are naturally expressed through environmental storytelling. Early in my journey through Starfield, I discovered a datapad from a defeated adversary, which led me to a legendary space vigilante’s clandestine hideout housing exceptional armor and a formidable starship. Stealing and equipping these items triggered amusing encounters later on, as criminals mistook me for the real Mantis, pleading for clemency and even offering credits to ensure my departure.

On another occasion, I encountered Juno, NASA’s actual Jupiter space probe that had gone off-course and transformed into a rogue AI. During the task to adjust its control board, I discovered that it had become sentient and desired to be regarded as a genuine being. Shortly thereafter, I found myself engaged in a poignant conversation about the essence of humanity and the definition of a machine. Starfield is abundant with such fascinating side quests, many of which receive deeper exploration than its generic main plot. Therefore, if you find yourself diverted during your journey, I strongly encourage pursuing these quests. They are truly rewarding!

Although set 300 years in the future, Starfield’s overall aesthetic bears a retro vibe, as opposed to the fantastical holographic displays found in other sci-fi franchises like Mass Effect. Bethesda has termed this visual style ‘NASA Punk,’ a grounded portrayal of technology incorporating tactile buttons and everyday items like pens, notepads, and potted plants, presenting a believable evolution. This artistic choice emanates humanity’s influence and eccentricity, irrespective of centuries of technological advancement.

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Food looks incredibly appetizing in Starfield
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar

The sounds of humming engines fill the streets of Neon City; Akila embodies a dusty wild west atmosphere with a tavern at its core; and crowds in New Atlantis bustle with briefcases. There is a food brand called Chunks that produces consumables like fruits, cooked meats, and even drinks in unappealing cubes — based on the notion that people prioritize taste over presentation. However, you can also gather regular sandwiches, patty melts, kebabs, chicken tikka masala, sushi rolls; every culinary curiosity in Starfield feels deeply rooted and delightful.

Starfield review: Exploration

Starfield’s ambition is vast, boasting over 1,000 planets to discover that may initially sound incredible. However, this scale diminishes when you realize that free landings and take-offs on planets aren’t feasible, unlike No Man’s Sky from seven years ago. Instead of allowing players to explore spontaneously, interplanetary travel in Starfield involves navigating a series of maps, menus, and numerous loading screens, disrupting immersion. The process is as follows: open the galaxy map, select a star system for travel, choose a planet within it, grav-jump to your destination, and then consult the map again to pick a landing spot, after which a cutscene of your ship descending plays. Personally, I believe this fast travel system distances you from the game’s world, rendering it too mechanically driven and devoid of a sense of belonging on any of the random planets I landed on.

Interplanetary travel in Starfield relies heavily on fast travel
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar

Each planet or moon may feature designated points of interest — some tied to quests and others being optional outposts or flora — for players to land and explore. Alternatively, players can wander off the established path and discover procedurally generated sites, which are typically desolate and lacking personality. I won’t deny that arriving on an abandoned Earth, exploring a colonized Mars, and bouncing across our moon while gazing up at a sky filled with stars was breathtaking, but that initial magic can fade quickly. Aside from the occasional encounters with alien species, on-foot exploration often leads to seemingly endless plains that might include bandits or distant alien vessels to inject a sense of life.

The general routine on such planets consists of wandering around and mining for resources, which can then be utilized for weapon modifications, ship enhancements, and establishing outposts. However, constructing outposts demands substantial effort, best reserved for the latter stages of the game. The most exasperating aspect of on-foot exploration lies in the fact that it’s strictly ‘on foot.’ In the year 2330, it’s perplexing that there are no rovers available for traversing extensive terrains. Even Death Stranding, labeled a ‘walking simulator,’ included vehicles for easier navigation.

Ironically, Starfield acknowledges this design flaw by allowing players to utilize a scanner to warp back to their ship, negating the need to make a tedious backtrack for the next 5–10 minutes. Furthermore, its simplistic surface map fails to provide adequate information, showing only key points of interest. The experience becomes even more tedious when navigating around cities, forcing players to memorize important shops and places themselves.

Indeed, I was enjoying ‘A Cruel Angel’s Thesis’ while customizing my ship
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar

As you navigate through outer space, there are instances of getting drawn into intense dogfights, which can be quite challenging at the outset, as you juggle multiple ship systems — from engines and missiles to shields and weight balance. Given our subpar starter ship, hours can be spent perfecting what we have, purchasing upgrades, or even stealing and customizing vessels to fit personal preferences. The battles become increasingly rewarding, and skill enhancements genuinely elevate your ship’s capabilities. There’s even a skill reminiscent of the VATS system from Fallout — Targeting Control Systems — allowing you to zoom in and lock onto enemy ships to target specific vulnerable components, gaining an edge in combat.

Starfield review: Combat and skills

Combat mechanics in Starfield are substantially improved compared to past Bethesda shooters like Fallout 4, although that wasn’t a particularly high standard to meet. There’s a peculiar floatiness to firearms when aiming down sights, and occasionally, my shots wouldn’t register, even when hitting foes from close range. Additionally, gunfights in third-person view feel nearly unplayable due to issues like inaccuracy and awkward handling. While I appreciate that such quirks are part of the so-called ‘Bethesda experience,’ it still feels peculiar for developers to invest time into nuanced animations. If you relate to my experience, I recommend alternating between perspectives — first-person for combat and third-person for exploration.

Upgrading individual skills requires a significant grind, which can be taxing at times
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar

It’s essential to bear in mind that Starfield’s foundation lies within role-playing, meaning your character’s combat effectiveness hinges on their build rather than your proficiency. Yes, having good aim is beneficial, but without unlocking specific skills through leveling, your character won’t be as effective in combat or other endeavors. The skill tree is divided into five main categories: Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech, each encompassing various skills. For instance, investing skill points in Ballistics enhances general firearm damage, while points in Gymnastics allow sliding maneuvers. The freedom to define your character’s strengths lies with you. However, advancing these skills requires more effort, as each tier is subdivided further into four levels with added perks. Advancement necessitates grinding through specific challenges to earn ranks before being permitted to allocate a skill point for unlocking.

While the outcomes are certainly rewarding, I find the process to be somewhat laborious. Furthermore, certain fundamental capabilities are locked behind the skill tree. Even with a boost pack for double-jumping across the map, it’s off-limits until you acquire the relevant skill from the Tech section. Similarly, you won’t be able to pick locks above ‘Novice’ complexity without improvements, regardless of your player’s ability to figure out the key combination using intellect. Such unnecessary restrictions feel like a squandering of skill points.

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Procedurally generated planets are predominantly desolate
Photo Credit: Bethesda Softworks

Interacting with the vanilla inventory system can feel cumbersome, as it doesn’t show enough items on the screen and lacks sorting options for quick access. A simple search feature would have been incredibly beneficial. Additionally, encumbrance is a significant issue in Starfield, restricting fast travel and swiftly draining stamina when carrying excessive weight. Given that you can pick up nearly any usable object, your inventory will frequently be maxed out, necessitating regular item management or disposal.

Starfield review: Bugs, performance issues, and Bethesda quirks

While Bethesda games have become notorious for bugs, I found that in Starfield, encountering such issues was quite uncommon — there were no game-breaking glitches that marred my experience. Some of the noticeable bugs included: characters colliding with one another or standing on elevated surfaces, enemies merging with walls, lifeless bodies floating and getting stuck on ceilings, NPCs facing the wrong direction during discussions, and objective markers erroneously directing me underground. Most of these glitches could be resolved by reloading saves, so I must commend Starfield for being particularly polished by Bethesda standards — though it still falls short of expectations in the AAA gaming landscape where a certain level of refinement is anticipated. Further, on PC, I experienced sporadic micro-stutters and frame drops in densely populated areas — especially in New Atlantis and Akila.

Another peculiar occurrence was that, for quite a while, my character had a bounty, yet no guards acknowledged it until I initiated a conversation with them. Similarly, I could walk around openly wielding weapons, and NPCs would not react, provided I did not inflict harm. This oversight is unfortunate and detracts from the immersive experience.

Starfield review: Final thoughts

Starfield represents an imperfect yet profoundly immersive journey into the galaxy’s expanse, adorned with excellent world-building that captivates you over time. It embodies the essence of a Bethesda game, featuring a vast array of side quests and a robust role-playing system prioritizing player choice. However, in its attempts to innovate, it stumbles with disjointed space exploration, clumsy navigation, and the mundanity of its primary narrative. By amplifying the scope, it appears as though Bethesda Game Studios may have taken on more than they could handle, leading to an experience that occasionally gets lost in the cold void of space. Nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable journey and a monumental milestone that Todd Howard and his team can certainly take pride in.

Rating (out of 10): 7

Starfield was launched on September 6 for PC, Xbox Series S/X, and Xbox Game Pass.

Pricing starts at Rs. 4,999 for the Standard Edition on Steam for PC, while both the PC and Xbox Series S/X versions at the Microsoft Store are priced at Rs. 6,499.

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