Summary
Bethesda’sStarfieldlaunched in September, and despite the initially positive reception, not everyone is satisfied with the final product. Its player numbers quicklyfell behindSkyrim’s on Steam, and even many players who like the game feel that it failed to deliver on everything Bethesda promised. However, the upcoming Shattered SpaceDLC has the potential to address some criticism of the base game.
Among the areas whereStarfieldhas room for improvement is better integrating promising but underutilized mechanics. A great example of this isStarfield’s zero-gravity combat, which has gotten almost universal praise despite its relatively minor role in the game. If Bethesda picks only one mechanic that should play a significant role in Shattered Space, then zero-gravity combat should probably be it.
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Starfield’s Zero Gravity Combat
Zero gravity shootouts are one ofStarfield’s more exciting features. While not wholly unique, it’s not exactly common either.Starfield’s zero gravity combat is also exceptionally well-designed and offers a significant shakeup to the gameplay. Ballistic weapons introduce a new challenge, as recoil pushes them through the frictionless environment, andexplosives are much deadlier inStarfieldzero-g. Weightless movement feels very different from walking on the ground, but Bethesda implemented it in a way that’s still intuitive. Even the AI-controlled enemies function well in zero-g, moving and using cover without too much difficulty.
Starfield’s Zero-G Combat is Great, But There’s Not Enough of It
Given how well it turned out, it’s no surprise that Bethesda thought zero-gravity combat was impressive enough to showcase inStarfieldDirect last June. Instead, what’s surprising is how little it shows up in the final game. The “Sure Bet” quest sees players fighting pirates on a ship whose gravity keeps turning on and off, and the player can stumble across another disabled ship and two derelict space stations with disabled grav drives. However, that’s still only about four locations in the entirety of the Settled Systems.
To giveStarfieldcredit where it’s due, players can create their own zero-gravity combat encounters by disabling an enemy ship’s gravity drive before boarding. However, knocking out a ship’s engines and grav drive can be tricky without destroying it outright. Plus, the fact that players must go out of their way to experience it reflects howStarfield’s zero gravity mechanicsaren’t well-integrated into the game.
Zero-G Combat in Shattered Space
Bethesda hasn’t revealed anything aboutStarfield’s Shattered Space DLCbesides the name. Some fans speculate that it will focus on the secretive House Va’ruun, a theocratic state whose homeworld lies somewhere beyond the edge of explored space. However, regardless of whatever the story is about, Shattered Space would be leaving money on the table if it didn’t expand upon the base game’s zero-g combat.
Bethesda will also have to account for the fact that some players suffer from motion sickness. This is especially true in large ships, where navigating in zero gravity can create additional challenges. However, Bethesda may be able to reduce or eliminate this issue through careful level design.
Zero-G Should Feel Like it is Integral to the Game
Obviously, not every mission needs to occur on a derelict ship with a disabled grav drive. Anything can get boring if it happens too often, after all. However, twenty-something pre-set locations scattered across the Settled Systems would not be too many. Another idea would be introducing a new ship-mounted weapon specifically intended to disable an enemy ship’s systems while minimizing hull damage.Starfieldmight also benefit from incorporating one or two of these into the DLC’s main questline. If nothing else, it wouldhelp Shattered Space stand out.
Any of these solutions would go a long way to making zero-gravity combat encounters feel like an integral part ofStarfieldrather than a rarely-used gimmick. That, more than simply increasing the number of zero-g encounters, should be one of the DLC’s top design priorities.
Starfield
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
