The Xbox Games Showcase showed off tons of great upcoming Xbox titles, which you can read about here, but the show was topped off by Bethesda’s Starfield, offering fans a deep dive into the lore, mechanics, and gameplay of the legendary RPG developer’s first new IP in over 25 years. Throughout the Direct, Xbox and Bethesda promises next-gen open world RPG goodness.
Out of this World
During the show, Bethesda’s Todd Howard introduced Starfield‘s exploration, detailing the game’s multi-planetary exploration, reiterating that there are “over 1,000 worlds” to visit. Players can farm resources, unlock fast travel points, approach combat through various different playstyles, build and enhance their starships and more in what Xbox is claiming to be their “biggest game yet”.
Starfield‘s aesthetics and art style are what Bethesda refers to as “NASA-Punk”, a look that is “advanced yet relatable”. It’ll be interesting to see how unique the hundreds of different planets will look and if they’ll all be inhabited by intelligent life. Odds are, most of these planets will just be used for material farming similar to No Man’s Sky.
A Life All Your Own
The character customization are where Bethesda’s RPGs truly shine, and Starfield is shaping up to be no different. For many longtime RPG fans, the character customization is the best part. In Starfield, creating your character is the most in-depth and detailed in Bethesda’s history, offering different options like age, body type, muscle build, and walking style after starting from one of many presets. Looks aside, other big aspects in character creation are Backgrounds and Traits. Backgrounds give your character a bit more backstory and starts you off with three basic skills depending on which one you choose. You’re essentially choosing your starting class. Traits are optional perks that offer pros and cons for each. For example, choosing the “Hero Worshipped” Trait, you’ll be followed by an Adoring Fan (making their triumphant return from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion‘s arena) who, despite being extremely annoying, gives your money and other gifts.
Other Traits include Introvert, which buffs you when playing without companions, and Neon Street Rat, which gives you unique dialogue options and quests in the city of Neon.
Stellar Combat
Any open world RPG worth its salt will typically sport a robust, deep skill tree and combat options. Starfield has this in spades. Bethesda showed off just a small sneak peek into how players will be able to customize and flex their playstyles. It wouldn’t be a Bethesda game without sneaking and pickpocketing, and you can do so viably in Starfield. If the more balls to the wall run-and-gun playstyle is more your thing, you can spec into a sweet jetpack and powerful shotguns to down your enemies.
I really enjoy how they’re handling the skill tree this time around. You can spec into pretty much any skill your heart desires, and you can rank them up as well. This is done by completing specific challenges, such as killing 20 enemies with ballistic weapons. Once this condition is met, you’ll unlock the upgraded version that costs one skill point. If The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is anything to go off, Starfield is sure to have endless replay value, and I’ll surely be rerolling different characters to experience the full role-playing immersion I expect from a Bethesda game.
Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads
Another promising aspect is Starfield‘s starship customization options. Players will be able to buy, build, customize, and upgrade their ships to suit their every need. They’ll also double as a player home, housing you and your ship’s crew and companions. Engaging in dogfights, bartering with other interstellar travelers, and exploring the galaxy are only a handful of what players can expect when piloting their starship.
This is just scratching the surface of what Starfield has to offer. So far, the game is a promising immersive role-playing experience for longtime Bethesda die-hards and new fans alike, and we can’t wait to get our hands on it. I’m desperate to jump into this new adventure and see what the galaxy really has in store for me when the game releases September 6, 2023.
Until then, we’re looking forward to a handful of other games showcases, like the Ubisoft Forward and Capcom Showcase happening June 12th. Stick with Temple of Geek for full coverage!
Images courtesy of Bethesda.
