Starfield's biggest problem

[Chibi Life]

Bethesda tried to make a brand new game concept/idea using old ideas and an old game engine. It just didn't work. Even modders will have a hard time because the game engine is one of the biggest problems and modders can only work within the limitations of the engine.

You know a company like Bethesda is consistently using the same old "Bethesda formula" and we've come to expect it from them but they stepped outside the box with Starfield trying to use the same old Bethesda formula and it just left us all feeling meh.

Because they stepped outside the box with a new game concept our expectations skyrocketed but then we realized it was the same Bethesda experience as usual and there really isn't anything special or different about it.

[Geeks On Hugs]

Except it’s one of the biggest critical and commercial successes of the year so…you know…oops!🤡

[Alenfal]

Originally posted by Chibi Life:

Because they stepped outside the box with a new game concept our expectations skyrocketed but then we realized it was the same Bethesda experience as usual and there really isn't anything special or different about it.

I think if that were the case, the game wouldn't have gotten as much flack as it did. The overall quality of features from the game, ranging from combat, conversations, and even appearance, come off as mediocre.

For the "same Bethesda experience", SF seems to be lacking some QoL elements that tied Skyrim and FO4 together.

[Krash Megiddo]

Give it a rest

[Action Man]

My theory is that this game was 'handled' like Anthem was.

[Chibi Life]

Originally posted by Alenfal:

Originally posted by Chibi Life:

Because they stepped outside the box with a new game concept our expectations skyrocketed but then we realized it was the same Bethesda experience as usual and there really isn't anything special or different about it.

I think if that were the case, the game wouldn't have gotten as much flack as it did. The overall quality of features from the game, ranging from combat, conversations, and even appearance, come off as mediocre.

For the "same Bethesda experience", SF seems to be lacking some QoL elements that tied Skyrim and FO4 together.

That's a fair point but it can also tie into what I said. Outside the box, trying to do something new and they lacked the vision to pull it off. They went at it with old ideas and an old way of thinking in regards to game design and as a result they just couldn't pull it off and left it lacking.

It's like when Michael Jordan tried to step away from Basketball to play Baseball if anyone remembers that lmao

[Alenfal]

Originally posted by Chibi Life:

Originally posted by Alenfal:

I think if that were the case, the game wouldn't have gotten as much flack as it did. The overall quality of features from the game, ranging from combat, conversations, and even appearance, come off as mediocre.

For the "same Bethesda experience", SF seems to be lacking some QoL elements that tied Skyrim and FO4 together.

That's a fair point but it can also tie into what I said. Outside the box, trying to do something new and they lacked the vision to pull it off. They went at it with old ideas and an old way of thinking in regards to game design and as a result they just couldn't pull it off and left it lacking.

It's like when Michael Jordan tried to step away from Basketball to play Baseball if anyone remembers that lmao

I think there's more to it than trying something new. I feel that the mediocrity stems from how much of a step back in elements like locations, exploration, and presentation are.

Like, it's a downgrade in quality when compared to BGS's previous titles.

[muffins]

Originally posted by Chibi Life:

Bethesda tried to make a brand new game concept/idea using old ideas and an old game engine. It just didn't work. Even modders will have a hard time because the game engine is one of the biggest problems and modders can only work within the limitations of the engine.

The first new IP from Bethesda and it is as bland and boring as grey dishwater. The WH40K universe is as popular as it is because all the factions are dialled up to 11. They could have ensured their new universe was a little bit interesting by creating some spicy factions but no. Everything has to be a boring grey inoffensive liberal utopia. Where are my Space Barbarians?!?!

Originally posted by Geeks On Hugs:

Except it’s one of the biggest critical and commercial successes of the year so…you know…oops!🤡

The numbers don't lie. Reviews for the last 2 weeks are hovering around 52% positive, and Starfield is languishing at around 52nd-54th most sold on Steam at the time of writing. Starfield is getting out-sold by mere DLC's right now. There were clearly some bad design choices that went into Starfield.

I loved the Fallout series so I'm hoping that over the coming years Bethesda can do a Cyberpunk/NMS turnaround, but I'm not very hopeful. Especially with Microsoft calling the shots.

[Oubley]

Originally posted by Chibi Life:

Bethesda tried to make a brand new game concept/idea using old ideas and an old game engine. It just didn't work. Even modders will have a hard time because the game engine is one of the biggest problems and modders can only work within the limitations of the engine.

You know a company like Bethesda is consistently using the same old "Bethesda formula" and we've come to expect it from them but they stepped outside the box with Starfield trying to use the same old Bethesda formula and it just left us all feeling meh.

Because they stepped outside the box with a new game concept our expectations skyrocketed but then we realized it was the same Bethesda experience as usual and there really isn't anything special or different about it.

I'd say they didn't use the same bethesda formula as it's missing a lot of new stuff that you typically get with "new" game for traditional betheada games like elder scrolls/fallout.

They took a lot of stuff from their old games and didn't really seem to introduce anything new.

If anything, they subtracted from their previous titles. Hence, for me personally, the game feels very hallow/shallow/soulless.

honestly it feels like they hired a bunch of paradox suits on how to introduce a shell of a game only with the aim to cram dlc for the next 5-7 years.

[Chibi Life]

Originally posted by Oubley:

Originally posted by Chibi Life:

Bethesda tried to make a brand new game concept/idea using old ideas and an old game engine. It just didn't work. Even modders will have a hard time because the game engine is one of the biggest problems and modders can only work within the limitations of the engine.

You know a company like Bethesda is consistently using the same old "Bethesda formula" and we've come to expect it from them but they stepped outside the box with Starfield trying to use the same old Bethesda formula and it just left us all feeling meh.

Because they stepped outside the box with a new game concept our expectations skyrocketed but then we realized it was the same Bethesda experience as usual and there really isn't anything special or different about it.

I'd say they didn't use the same bethesda formula as it's missing a lot of new stuff that you typically get with "new" game for traditional betheada games like elder scrolls/fallout.

They took a lot of stuff from their old games and didn't really seem to introduce anything new.

If anything, they subtracted from their previous titles. Hence, for me personally, the game feels very hallow/shallow/soulless.

honestly it feels like they hired a bunch of paradox suits on how to introduce a shell of a game only with the aim to cram dlc for the next 5-7 years.

Paradox man... I tried arguing with people on their forums about the DLC problem but most people see no problem with it and regurgitate the whole, "You're just trying to get something for nothing" argument over and over again and how, "If you want something you have to pay for it".

They will not acknowledge the point of what you just said, that the game was intentionally designed to be barebone so they can sell the rest of the game through DLCs.

Paradox is a whole 'nother can of worms though. I own Stellaris and I like it but man some companies abuse DLC and people slurp it up anyways.

[Sandman90]

Originally posted by muffins:

Originally posted by Chibi Life:

Bethesda tried to make a brand new game concept/idea using old ideas and an old game engine. It just didn't work. Even modders will have a hard time because the game engine is one of the biggest problems and modders can only work within the limitations of the engine.

The first new IP from Bethesda and it is as bland and boring as grey dishwater. The WH40K universe is as popular as it is because all the factions are dialled up to 11. They could have ensured their new universe was a little bit interesting by creating some spicy factions but no. Everything has to be a boring grey inoffensive liberal utopia. Where are my Space Barbarians?!?!

Originally posted by Geeks On Hugs:

Except it’s one of the biggest critical and commercial successes of the year so…you know…oops!🤡

The numbers don't lie. Reviews for the last 2 weeks are hovering around 52% positive, and Starfield is languishing at around 52nd-54th most sold on Steam at the time of writing. Starfield is getting out-sold by mere DLC's right now. There were clearly some bad design choices that went into Starfield.

I loved the Fallout series so I'm hoping that over the coming years Bethesda can do a Cyberpunk/NMS turnaround, but I'm not very hopeful. Especially with Microsoft calling the shots.

The steam sales are being cannibalized by Xbox sales. B, the 2 primary reasons the scores trend downward at the moment is simple economics. The price tags too high to justify the myriad of technical issues a lot of people have or refunded it because of those same technical issues. There's some culture war stuff but I'm not gonna attribute it to any significant bump or dip in percentage. Steams binary rating system means that a certain point of exposure, a game will trend positive for the simple reason that that is what's basically always happened, as steam ratings eventually just recommend a game based on whether it works or not, especially with single player games.

I mean it sucks if you were hoping steam ratings would affect anything about the game but that is essentially the trend around here.

[Subsonic]

I expected Fallout in Space, that's what I got. Don't know what you expected. I know you've been dumping on it in the forums for awhile now, guess you got a lot of hurts to heal by constantly repeating yourself.

[Chibi Life]

Originally posted by Subsonic:

I expected Fallout in Space, that's what I got. Don't know what you expected. I know you've been dumping on it in the forums for awhile now, guess you got a lot of hurts to heal by constantly repeating yourself.

Nah I've overwhelmingly engaged in the political drama going on here actually but I did dump on Starfield a few times yes but it hasn't been my primary reason here.

[Jᴧgᴧ]

Originally posted by Chibi Life:

Starfield's biggest problem

In my opinion the biggest problem is that Bethesda tried to translate their "terrestrial formula" to space. It worked for Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, and even FO3/4. But it doesn't translate well to procedurally generated planet cells.

Their previous games were about "the journey", whereas Starfield is about "the destination". There's very little between A and B that can get your attention and immerse you the same way.

Of secondary note: they've simplified (dumbed down) the game far too much, taken out too many things, and the end result is rather bland and uninspiring. No VATS, no gore, copy/paste POIs, endless fast travel, and so on.

The engine is definitely to blame for some of this (Starfield just can't do what it needs to do on CE2), but Bethesda themselves are responsible for the rest.

[The_Dipl0mat]

I've only played the game on gamepass, but I feel honestly that it lacks from well. Being political. I might not see it, but we dont have anything like Stormcloaks vs Imperials. NCR vs Legion vs House, BoS vs Institute vs Railroad vs Minutemen. I havent played Fallout 3 yet due to it crashing on my computer often, but you get the gist. At most, I'm seeing very tame watered down Skyrim factions.

[mariuslaru]

Originally posted by Chibi Life:

Bethesda tried to make a brand new game concept/idea using old ideas and an old game engine. It just didn't work. Even modders will have a hard time because the game engine is one of the biggest problems and modders can only work within the limitations of the engine.

You know a company like Bethesda is consistently using the same old "Bethesda formula" and we've come to expect it from them but they stepped outside the box with Starfield trying to use the same old Bethesda formula and it just left us all feeling meh.

Because they stepped outside the box with a new game concept our expectations skyrocketed but then we realized it was the same Bethesda experience as usual and there really isn't anything special or different about it.

Captain Obvious - Defender of the Already-Known