Starfield is a game about nilhism. (spoilers)

[Old Man Gamer (OMG)]

For my whole review, if you are interested. https://steamcommunity.com/id/OldManGamerOMG/recommended/1716740/

Starfield is unique in a way, as there are not a lot of AAA games that I have played that approach this concept that nothing matters. I gathered that this was where it was going early on, but it was definitely hit home by the end.

The attempt of complexity to try to make your decisions matter fall flat, when it expresses how another universe made the opposite decision and it all balances out. You might as well 'live your best life' and reap the rewards, as someone is going to do that anyways in some universe. Why not let that be you.

What gets to me about this, is it kills the motivation for someone who likes to see closure in a game. Or, at least, have an open end that means something mattered in the conclusion.

I am typically a goodie two shoe style player, though I do take some deviations for self-benefits, like stealing that really cool weapon that is on the wall. I would not do that in real life, but there is a lack of consequence in games that allows for that freedom. However, all of that gets thrown out the window, knowing that everything I choose good, that caused bad to happen elsewhere to maintain that balance, for that sum total of zero that the belief of nihilism adheres to. If it all results the same, why even bother?

In short, the main story ruins the premise of anything else in the game. I feel like Marvin in Hitchhikers's Guide to the Galaxy, "What's the point?" Why do I care at all if all actions and inaction result in the same.

Just my thoughts. I am curious to hear what others thought.

[Old Man Gamer (OMG)]

Additionally, for me, the worst part of the game is everything to do with Constellation. This game could have been much better without anything to do with that quest line and the characters involved.

[MadDawg2552]

My main gripe about string theory is this:

Why is there an alternate version of everyone in the multiple universes? Wouldn't someone decide down the line that they didn't want to have kids, thus destroy any future generations their family would have?

Or maybe someone decided they wanted to marry someone else, and that would have also altered the family tree.

There should be one universe somewhere that didn't have anyone that is recognizable.

[easytarget]

OP discovers for the first time almost all game design is deterministic.

[O5]

Nihilism is only cool if it’s like “nothing matters lol, might as well live life to its fullest so we don’t waste this one opportunity to experience the sensations of consciousness”

[Prowl]

On a gaming level I purchased the game because I wanted an rpg sandbox. With the sandbox experience I, like many others often restart time and time again. NG+ is just an extension of that.

[Old Man Gamer (OMG)]

Originally posted by MadDawg2552:

My main gripe about string theory is this:

Why is there an alternate version of everyone in the multiple universes? Wouldn't someone decide down the line that they didn't want to have kids, thus destroy any future generations their family would have?

Or maybe someone decided they wanted to marry someone else, and that would have also altered the family tree.

There should be one universe somewhere that didn't have anyone that is recognizable.

This remains the biggest flaw of any story that tries to approach this. I have only seen one storyline handle this well, which was Counterparts. I very much enjoyed that series.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4643084/

[easytarget]

Prowl, so you lean into the pointlessness. Good choice.

[Djozar]

Originally posted by MadDawg2552:

My main gripe about string theory is this:

Why is there an alternate version of everyone in the multiple universes? Wouldn't someone decide down the line that they didn't want to have kids, thus destroy any future generations their family would have?

Or maybe someone decided they wanted to marry someone else, and that would have also altered the family tree.

There should be one universe somewhere that didn't have anyone that is recognizable.

String theory and multiverse theories do account for those suppositions. They just aren't out in front, as they aren't out in front in our universe either. The way I understand it, a multiverse is created whenever we make a new choice or have a new thought. That choice gets path'd out into separate branches according to the possibilities of each consequence of that choice. Each possibility becoming a new multiverse where those possibilities exist. So if you ever imagined yourself with no kids, but still end up having kids, in a world where string theory is a fact and the multiverse is a known and tangible entity, there would be somewhere, a version (maybe more depending on the circumstances of your ideas) that has no kids according to the consequence of the path. Then again, that's how it was explained to me to simplify it for me. I'm not a physicist, so I can only relay what was explained to me by a physics professor trying to get me out of his class for the next class to begin.

[Old Man Gamer (OMG)]

Originally posted by Prowl:

On a gaming level I purchased the game because I wanted an rpg sandbox. With the sandbox experience I, like many others often restart time and time again. NG+ is just an extension of that.

Indeed. Conceptually, it is a good idea. However, it plays out very poorly, leading to a question of why do it at all. I am also not a fan of the magic powers, tapping into the Unity. It hints to the creators, but the dialogue is frustrating vague, giving notion that they did not get that far in thinking about it.

As is, I am less interested in playing Starfield having done that Constellation story, than I would have been if it had been more of the Crimson Fleet/Sysdef and Ryujin style game play and quests. A quest about why do it at all is not very motivating, lol.

[easytarget]

Where everything is possible, sort of nothing is. You're going to want things to collapse back into a set outcome at some point or it's all just a fun house infinity. You'll want to pin down your quantum by observing it.

[Old Man Gamer (OMG)]

Originally posted by easytarget:

Where everything is possible, sort of nothing is. You're going to want things to collapse back into a set outcome at some point or it's all just a fun house infinity. You'll want to pin down your quantum by observing it.

This is what the Hunter expresses. He gets less interested in power and more interested in seeing anything he has not seen already.

He is drained by the meaninglessness. Shows a man of conviction and faith become a man going through the motions just because. In fact, a good name for him is the Nihilist, as in nihilism personified.

[Prowl]

Originally posted by Old Man Gamer (OMG):

Originally posted by Prowl:

On a gaming level I purchased the game because I wanted an rpg sandbox. With the sandbox experience I, like many others often restart time and time again. NG+ is just an extension of that.

Indeed. Conceptually, it is a good idea. However, it plays out very poorly, leading to a question of why do it at all. I am also not a fan of the magic powers, tapping into the Unity. It hints to the creators, but the dialogue is frustrating vague, giving notion that they did not get that far in thinking about it.

As is, I am less interested in playing Starfield having done that Constellation story, than I would have been if it had been more of the Crimson Fleet/Sysdef and Ryujin style game play and quests. A quest about why do it at all is not very motivating, lol.

Well I'm hoping that there is more to the whole story coming with expanion(s).

I mean it is fertile ground to tell some good stories if they steer into NG+. However, it's BGS and they will play it safe and make it so lvl 1 Bob can join in.

[Prowl]

Originally posted by Old Man Gamer (OMG):

Originally posted by easytarget:

Where everything is possible, sort of nothing is. You're going to want things to collapse back into a set outcome at some point or it's all just a fun house infinity. You'll want to pin down your quantum by observing it.

This is what the Hunter expresses. He gets less interested in power and more interested in seeing anything he has not seen already.

He is drained by the meaninglessness. Shows a man of conviction and faith become a man going through the motions just because. In fact, a good name for him is the Nihilist, as in nihilism personified.

But conversely you also meet some Starborn who are tired of the cycle and just settle down to enjoy life.

[easytarget]

I enjoyed Bioshock Infinite specifically because it pokes fun at the player's belief they have control.

[Old Man Gamer (OMG)]

Originally posted by Prowl:

Originally posted by Old Man Gamer (OMG):

This is what the Hunter expresses. He gets less interested in power and more interested in seeing anything he has not seen already.

He is drained by the meaninglessness. Shows a man of conviction and faith become a man going through the motions just because. In fact, a good name for him is the Nihilist, as in nihilism personified.

But conversely you also meet some Starborn who are tired of the cycle and just settle down to enjoy life.

Hmm, I missed that, unless it is to come with New Game +. The closest that I saw with that was The Hunter, who did that for a time and then resumed killing and cycling.