There is a lot to unpack with Starfield. Was it the game Bethesda promised? I don't think so. Is the story particularly memorable? Not really. Does it include mechanics that most players will probably never touch? Absolutely.
I do want to start by saying that I genuinely had fun playing it. The gunplay is meh, melee combat is decent enough, and while the powers are cool in concept, most of them feel underwhelming in practice. It often feels like Bethesda asked, "What if Skyrim and Fallout 4 had a baby?" Unfortunately, it also inherits many of the shortcomings of both. Like Skyrim, the main story struggles to stay engaging, and much like Fallout 4, it feels like a watered-down version of what came before. Those are criticisms I've come to expect from Bethesda over the years, but Starfield left me disappointed for a different reason.
The biggest issue is that it lacks an identity of its own. It feels less like a bold new universe and more like a reskin of Bethesda's previous games. Just as Skyrim eventually became synonymous with its incredible modding scene, Starfield already feels like a game the community is expected to "fix" rather than one that stands confidently on its own. The difference is that Skyrim*earned that legacy. Nearly everyone knows its story, its opening, or at least remembers their first few hours. I've asked friends what they remember about the beginning of Starfield, and most of them draw a blank. That's what hurts the most: the game simply doesn't leave much of an impression.
That said, there are things I genuinely enjoyed. The companion interactions gave my ship a sense of life, and while not every conversation felt natural, they were believable enough that traveling with a crew was enjoyable. The faction questlines were easily the highlight of the experience. Ship building was beyond fun, and obviously the game looked stunning.
The saddest part is that I wanted this game to succeed. I still remember watching the first trailer when my girlfriend—now my wife—and I had just started talking as friends. I remember telling her this was going to be the game that topped everything else because Bethesda always knew how to deliver experiences their fans would love. Sadly, somewhere along the way, that promise never materialized.
I still enjoyed my time with Starfield, but I walked away feeling like it never committed to a clear vision of what it wanted to be. If it hadn't carried the Bethesda name, I'm not convinced it would've made much of a lasting impact outside of the complaints almost everyone shares which is why I'm rating it a 5/10.
If you're interested, pick it up on sale and form your own opinion. Some of my criticisms may come across as harsher than necessary, but they're an honest reflection of my experience—and I sincerely hope yours is a better one.
