You possibly can’t assist however get a bit excited when a brand new replace arrives. There’s a small thrill that comes with the prospect of leaping into an previous favourite, particularly while you haven’t performed shortly. The newest Starfield replace guarantees enhancements and new options however for me, it has been an actual letdown. It’s not as a result of the additions are essentially unhealthy, it’s all simply arriving slightly too late.
As I searched for information on the brand new Starfield replace I noticed so many articles stating how it’s ‘a sport changer‘ and ‘probably the most thrilling replace but.’ So think about my shock after I see an inventory of bug fixes and some options that ought to have been a part of the sport when it was first launched.
I rapidly up to date the sport and jumped in to see what the fuss was about. Absolutely there was greater than only a mini-map with signposts and some items of furnishings to embellish the ship? The very first thing I did was take a look at the brand new ship decor function. In response to the replace notes, we will now adorn our ships in the identical method as our outposts. When you beloved constructing ships and adorning areas, this can be a good addition, nevertheless it doesn’t add something particular to the gameplay. The record of obtainable objects is okay however missing in selection and magnificence choices.
I’d get pleasure from this extra if I didn’t first must exit and harvest supplies for the privilege of putting an armchair within the dwelling quarters. Am I lacking the purpose in what’s a sport of crafting and useful resource gathering? Maybe. However these elements are secondary to me. To be sincere, I didn’t do lots of crafting throughout my first playthrough, so why begin now?
There’s a lot extra that might have been finished right here. What about being able to create particular areas on the ship? Or with the ability to assign a job to a crew member, reminiscent of medic or armorer, and have them stationed completely. That method, you would go to the medbay to be healed or go to the armory for upgrades to the ship. As it’s proper now, it nonetheless feels unfinished. For a really immersive roleplay as a ship’s captain we’d like a completely crewed-up ship, don’t we? If this grew to become an choice you’d have gamers recreating any variety of well-known area crews from Captain Mal on the Firefly to Picard and the Enterprise.
The most effective a part of this replace is one thing we must always have had from the very begin: floor maps. As somebody who struggled to search out their method round Jemison, this must be a welcome change nevertheless it does make me marvel: why didn’t we’ve this function within the first place? And why has it taken so lengthy to get it? The dearth of a floor map has been a problem because the sport’s launch in September final 12 months, and for it to take eight months for Bethesda so as to add them is irritating, to say the least.
Floor maps are nice for if you end up in a metropolis with tons to discover. They may also help a participant discover their method from level to level. The one actual downside is that they spotlight one obtrusive problem Starfield has all the time had: planets with huge, empty lands. Now you should utilize a floor map to see how flat and boring lots of the locations are. Examine this with Fallout 4 environments and Starfield is severely missing.
The rise in environmental harm has made for a extra immersive planetary exploration. All we’d like now are extra diverse planetary surfaces and fascinating POIs. Additionally, fewer copy-pasted decor objects inside buildings wouldn’t go amiss to assist with the immersion. I can’t depend the variety of occasions I’ve seen the console or desk cluttered with the identical 4 objects in the identical positioning.
The record of bug fixes was a welcome sight however this was a short-lived pleasure. It appears bugs are alive and properly in Starfield. I jumped again in for the primary time in months solely to be confronted immediately with a brand new bug.
As I explored a constructing and fought with enemies, they appeared to die too simply and with out the standard XP notification. To check if one Va’Ruun Zealot on the bottom was actually lifeless, I aimed my weapon at her physique. My gun’s sight was crimson as if I used to be aiming at a stay enemy so I shot her once more. Nothing. Intrigued, I shot her with my cutter as a substitute and she or he acquired again up! Perhaps I restarted her coronary heart. Perhaps I used to be unfortunate sufficient to come across a brand-new bug. Both method, it appears Bethesda hasn’t fairly completed selecting out all of the bugs simply but regardless of the massive record of fixes.
The added modifications to settings are nice to mess around with however many gamers wished this function was carried out the primary time round. Now you can improve the problem of fight — be it among the many stars or on the bottom — or decrease the settings. Virtually every part could be altered to fit your temper and these could be modified mid-combat too. Harm dealt, harm obtained, and even carry capability, could be switched from Very Straightforward to Excessive and every part in between. These courageous sufficient to go for Exhausting or Excessive are rewarded with a small XP proportion increase too.
One other bonus I get pleasure from is the flexibility to change Traits and look after getting into Unity. I didn’t do lots of post-story play because it appeared very repetitive. The addition of those modifications makes additional play slightly extra attractive however is it sufficient of a change? These little changes all add up to what’s primarily an enchancment nonetheless, it comes too late for these gamers who binged the sport when it first launched.
Starfield’s graphics and efficiency clearly wanted the enhancements supplied on this replace. These will make a major distinction to your sport if you’re nonetheless taking part in often. I’m undecided the small polishes are sufficient to attract in gamers who’ve since stopped taking part in, nonetheless.
Maybe it’s my fault for having such excessive hopes for this replace. Perhaps these smaller modifications imply the Shattered Area DLC might be extra polished and thrilling than anticipated. For now, I really feel barely let down by this ‘main game-changing replace’. Nonetheless, I await the upcoming DLC with bated breath. I actually wish to leap again into a brand new and improved Starfield however at this second I’m left unconvinced.