by Juan Guzman
Starfield entered 2023 as a Game of the Year Contender. The space opera RPG came from Bethesda and Todd Howard, the creators of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. It offers a huge and engaging galactic adventure, with impressive options for spaceship design, combat, and graphics.
Yet, after spending 60 hours on Starfield, I do not think it should be a game of the year candidate.
Starfield is Good, Not Great
Let me start by saying that Starfield is not a bad game. It has many strengths that make it enjoyable and impressive. For example, its premise is good. You are a member of an interstellar faction called Constellation, which seeks to discover the secrets of the galaxy.
From there, you can choose your own path and align yourself with different factions, each with their own goals and ideologies. Players also get a lot of spaceship customization options, from their appearance to weapons and modules. Combat is satisfying and challenging, as you have to deal with various enemies like pirates, aliens, and rival factions. Visually, Starfield is stunning, as you witness breathtaking views of planets, stars, and nebulae.
However, Starfield also has many weaknesses that overshadow its strengths. Most notably, its antiquated gameplay design feels like a relic from a by-gone generation. Long loading screens, clunky menus, and lacking to non-existent tutorials plague the game. Additionally, bugs and glitches can ruin the immersion and the experience.
The main story is forgettable at best, as it fails to engage the player with its bland characters and cliched plot. Finally, Starfield lacks innovation and originality, as it borrows heavily from other sci-fi games and media, such as Mass Effect, Star Wars, and Star Trek.
Here’s Some of My Game of the Year Contenders
In my opinion, game of the year contenders should demonstrate clear excellence by pushing forward design (in gameplay and technology), aesthetics, and/or story. Starfield does not meet these criteria. Other games do who deserve the nomination more than Starfield. A few examples are:
- Hi-Fi Rush – This rhythm-based action game uses music to measure your combat proficiency. You play as an aspiring musician and a cast of charming characters who fight against a corrupt corporation. The game features an original catchy soundtrack and a dynamic gameplay system which adapts to the music and the player’s actions. This polished, visual feast surprise dropped onto Xbox Game Pass, and it is a blast to play.
The color is nice, but 808 is nicer. Taken in game, Tango Gameworks, 2023.
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – The latest installment in the beloved Zelda series is a masterpiece. Impressive, given that it follows Breath of The Wild which itself was a masterpiece. Tears of the Kingdom features an open-world design that allows you to explore all of Hyrule and adds seamless verticality to explore at your own pace. The beautiful art style blends cel-shading and realism. Its gameplay design pushes gamers to “break” its boundaries. One quick search on YouTube, and you’ll find impressive feats with the game’s physics engine.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Another surprise hit from Larian Studios. Previously they released Divinity 2: Original Sin. Admittedly, not my style of game and one I decided to pass on. However the accolades and critical acclaim the game has received due to its impressive, complex branching narrative is sure to receive nominations.
Starfield is not bad, but it is not great. Bethesda showed some strengths that make the game fun and impressive, but also showed many weaknesses that frustrate and disappoint. What we got does not push the boundaries of gaming or offer anything new or remarkable. It does not deserve a game of the year nomination, especially when there are many others games that do.
