Mixed(58%)
ship building
graphical design
expansive content
NASA-punk aesthetic
exploration options
procedural generation
combat mechanics
environmental diversity
modding potential
repetition
technical issues
loading screens
bland story
similar locations
The sentiment surrounding Starfield is heavily divided. Players appreciate the expansive content and the complexity of systems like ship building, but are frustrated by the repetition and technical shortcomings. The game's procedurally generated environments, while ambitious, lead to bland and repetitive gameplay. Despite the negative aspects, the game still manages to captivate a portion of its player base, though many feel it doesn't quite live up to the expectations set by Bethesda's previous titles.
Positive Points
Starfield features an expansive universe with a significant number of quests, offering a lot of content for players who enjoy exploration and space themes.The ship building and customization aspects are highlighted as some of the most enjoyable features, allowing players to create and modify their own unique ships.The game offers beautiful graphics and a distinct NASA-punk aesthetic that many players find visually appealing and immersive.There are many systems and activities to engage with, from crafting and combat to exploration and customization, appealing to different play styles.Negative Points
Starfield suffers from a high level of repetition, with many planets and locations feeling similar or identical, reducing the excitement of exploration.The game is heavily criticized for technical issues, such as frequent bugs, poor optimization, and persistent crashes, which detracts from the player experience.Many players felt that the story and characters lacked depth, with quests often feeling formulaic and unimpactful, leading to a bland experience.The game’s approach to space travel is mostly through fast travel and loading screens, which affects immersion and the sense of space exploration.Mixed Points
While the game’s scale and ambition are appreciated, the execution regarding content density and variety is seen as lacking, leading to mixed feelings about exploration.Combat is seen both as a strength in terms of mechanics and satisfying gunplay, but also as lacking innovation and depth compared to other titles.The inclusion of customizable systems such as ship and base building is praised for creativity, yet criticized for being cumbersome and not user-friendly enough.Common Themes
Many reviews compare Starfield to Bethesda's previous games like Skyrim and Fallout, noting it shares similar gameplay loops and structure but in a space setting.The concept of procedural generation versus handcrafted content is a frequent point, with players often finding procedural planets lacking in unique experiences.There is a strong sentiment that the game's numerous loading screens break immersion and hinder the feeling of seamless space exploration.Despite criticisms, there is hope among players that future updates, DLCs, and mods could significantly improve the overall experience.Updated 6/4/2025, 3:33:54 AM UTC