I should preface this review by stating that I’ve been under a bit of a non-immediate family stress.
Starfield, a new RPG from Bethesda, which brought us Skyrim and Fallout, is out in a few days, and I have early access because I splurged on the deluxe edition. The reviews are ranging widely, and I thought I would add my first impression.
Like most video games, Starfield starts with a basic tutorial. Once I got the mine part of it out of the way, the tutorial directs me to exterminate a pirate outpost on the nearby moon, because they are determined to prevent me from leaving the orbit. So I land on this moon/planet, and it’s a barren rock with some weird and aggressive terrestrial crabs running around.
My trusty robot, Vasco, and I go to the pirate hideout, which is pretty close, and realize that it used to be a research facility. Without spoiling too much, something went wrong and the pirates took it over. So I kill the pirates, no big whoop, and the game tells me that I need to be going to the capital city. But I saw a marker in the distance, so after I dump my ill gotten gains just rewards into my cargo hold, I decide to check the marker out.
I’m jet packing and walking my way across this barren landscape – and it is ugly – and finally come up to the edge of the structure tagged by that marker. There is a little cube of a bunker sitting there, with a ladder leading to the top. I take the ladder. A dude in high end armor unfolds himself from the bench and shoots me in the head. I shoot him back, many times, he falls down, and behind me, the map turns red like I had kicked a nest of hornets.
I had stumbled onto some kind of a mercenary base. I’m being shot from everywhere. I run for cover and return fire. There are mercenaries on top of mercenaries, on top of mercenaries and they are yelling about flanking me. It’s getting dark, and I can’t see crap, just the bullet trails: yellow from them and blue from Vasco, who is yelling things like, “Pew pew!” and “I’m aiming for your center of mass!”
I’m crouching on this second floor walkway, being shot and popping medpacks like they are candy, and I realize that the walkway is attached to the outside of a two story hab.
I shoot some fuel tanks next to the merc that’s firing at me, he vanishes in a cloud of fiery death, and I jump over the side to the ground, hoping my jet pack with cushion my fall damage. It does.
I land in front of the habitat, open the door, and see three guys who promptly turn me into Swiss cheese. So I reload the quick save, open the door, and throw a frag mine in there. It explodes and I die. The blast picks up my body and hurls it 50 feet into the air. I didn’t allow for the proper blast clearance.
I reload the quick save, and then also reload, and reload one more time, and finally I get the mine in there and it explodes properly, and then I shoot everyone from outside as they try to exit so they can snipe me.
I get into the bunker, loot everything I can, and find a communique from the mercenary leader which says that since the two major powers withdrew from the planet, their old military bases are up for grabs and he is commandeering them. These clowns are squatters.
I take up position on the inner catwalk and wait. They start coming through the door and I shoot them. I now have a pile of mercenaries blocking the door. Outside Vasco is running around, living his best life. At some point I realize that he is being pummeled by turrets so I make a brief excursion and snipe the turrets.
Finally no more red dots are coming. I reload, pop a medpack, and start a systematic sweep. I find some barracks and people inside who are wanting to kill me, so I deal with that. I shoot one guy into his jet pack. It lifts him up into the air and then he explodes above my head. I find their cache of weapons, hack the digital lock, and obtain Advanced Big Bang, which happens to be a particle beam shotgun. Oh goodie.
A transport ship comes in, and they unload more reinforcements, and me and Vasco mop them up. I strip the base to its studs, load that robot up so he can barely move, and we fast travel to the ship. We hyperjump to the capital without incident, and at the port, I unload my loot into the trade kiosk until it runs out of money. Then I go to the actual store and sell things there until they run out of money.
I have 17,000 credits, and I still have things to sell.
So far? Worth it.
PS. I had to install this game on SSD. When they say it’s a requirement, they are not kidding. I was experiencing a lot of audio stutter and weird loading pauses. Moving to SSD so far seems to have fixed it. I haven’t had any stutter at all.
Intriguing! Rock on with your bad self. I just started Baldur’s Gate 3 (PS5) – and am wishing I had a bigger teevee.
I am so rooting for you & Vasco to keep amassing erm, your just rewards from removing those nefarious beings. You certainly make it sound exciting and action packed. Med packs sound good but is there a downside if you’ve taken too many? It would be bad if you suddenly started seeing twenty Vascos and no base ship.
If only I was able to playing such games, alas I have trouble with simple ones let alone the type you’ve started.
Have good stress fun 🙌🫧
Sounds interesting. If you want a break (ie. something more low-key) try My Singing Monsters. It sounds weird but it grows on you. I play and so do two of my kids (1 boy, 1 girl). Free game but some minor expenses make it more fun.
It’s available on Steam.
I pictured you, giggling like mad, while looking everything that was not nailed down, lolololol
You had me at ill gotten gains rofl! I am easily sucked into games, never to be seen again, so I just don’t any more. Have lots of fun!
glad you are enjoying it! this game is kicking my butt at work. yay that it’s worth the effort!
Have fun!
This makes me so happy. Love the nerdiness. I’m not so skilled but I’m currently playing Baldurs Gate 3. Constantly having to re-load my save files as well.
I am playing Starfield. Also got the early access version, completely missed the Base you found and tore up. I loves my shotguns so I may head over there to see if it is a random drop. My health is poor and I fight for play time. I got half way through BG3 before I started this and half way through Age of Wonder 4 before that.
The info on google is catching up with Starfield. It is incredibly, giganticly, big, and complex. That can be good and it can be frustrating. You have to use that quick save and be willing to keep coming back at it. It even somehow, somewhere in the game has a version of “the force” and powers to go with it.
Ship building, outpost base building, fleet building, all kinds of crafting, you can become a Chef, it is all there. It is certainly a Bethesda game, the good, bad and ugly, but damn, they nailed the last frontier thing. And it does not disappoint, too much.
Also I love the way I get shot half a dozen time, then shoot them back a dozen times, then eat some spice worms and pizza for health and go to the next red dot.
And I completely rebuilt my system for the game, started with a ssd and ended upgrading everything except for the case and power supply.
Ok, key question, are you playing on your computer or a console (if so a console, which one)? Because I wasn’t planning on playing this, but now I’m interested. LOL.
It is only available on PC and xBox x/s. The requirements for the computer stress a ssd memory, and mine is onboard, works great in many ways other than game, all boots are quick. In the discussion boards, many have bought a xBox S or used xBox X rather than upgrade comp.
It’s also a day one access if you have the Xbox game pass. It’s far cheaper to pay that for say a month or two to play Starfield, then cancel it, than purchasing the game outright.
My husband and I are playing on Xbox. It’s pretty sweet. Reminds me a lot of Fall Out. So may desk fans. Lol
I think I found that base and promptly ran away when a lvl 15 zealot tried to say hi to me. I went in the opposite direction and found a few lvl 5s in a bunker to murder randomly. They started it.
Finally took off to go where I was supposed to go. Missed landing in the city and ran around the county side scanning random things. Lol
hahaHeHa… it cracked me up you seemed to be having fun.( do I or don’t I … a nice rested mind might just write well…) humm oh well enjoy
I cannot tell you how freaken dissappointed I was this is an Xbox/windows exclusive. We have the playstation and the switch but mostly play on the PS.
I hate exclusives! Each console has really good ones which makes figuring out what system to get harder.
Thanks so much for sharing this! My husband is a huge fallout 4 fan, and had mentioned just this weekend that he was looking forward to this game. When I told him your news, he rubbed his hands in anticipation, we are going to buy it this weekend.
I have hyperfocus ADD and compensate for that by not playing video games. I tend to “wake up” 3 days after I start, tired, dehydrated, very hungry and feeling hung, over when I play a good video game.
But I like to play D&D. So I was looking at Baldurs Gate today and thinking … I have an entire winter of being retired. Surely I’ve learned to measure out the time so I don’t kill myself playing a video game over the winter.
Part of my brain is telling me that I can do this. The sane part of my brain is saying “Don’t get started” And the sanest part of my brain is saying “The only computer you could run any of these games on is the server and we’re NOT loading Windows onto the server. That way lies madness.”
We’ll see how the winter is going after Christmas. If I convince myself I deserve a new laptop with the Solstice… maybe I’ll spend the extra $ and get myself a video game.
I could dual-boot the server…
No NO!! STOP THAT!!!
That’s why I’ve never even attempted a video game. Nothing good would come of it. They sound like so much fun, but it would end in addictive behavior and I can’t afford that, for so many reasons.
lol that’s exactly how I play on the odd occasion I’ll try a video game.
My favourite is still Sid Meier’s Pirates and I’ve still yet to do any of the quests. I like being a pirate and trading. I do not like being prodded to do things in game until I’ve exhausted what might actually be interesting to me. I totally would have gone for the marker first as well!
Glad you’re enjoying it. I’ve noted the name in case I ever decide to get another game. I talk myself out of Pirates often because I lose hours to it.
Joining the “Crimson Pirates” is one of the play options
I knew this game was coming but Minecraft and the Sims 4 has taken me hostage. I have no idea why I returned to the Sims but it was a good call. I really love revisiting old games. I feel like I get my moneys worth when I do. I don’t like having games I don’t revisit. There are a bunch I have that I haven’t even touched yet but I always seem to fall back on Several few.
Banished is great for those who like thought building but to a higher level of extreme. It’s a tough game to get right. I had my whole town die from influenza at the drop of a hat. You start out with a group of pilgrims and you have to do everything. Feed them, house them and gather the wood and rock that is needed to do so. It’s hard balance it all but I love trying to do it.
When I started working as a game developer — in 2003 or so — it was because I loved playing games. At the time, I took absolutely epic amounts of crap from family and strangers (“That’s not a real job!”).
Somehow, things shifted until my parents stopped asking me when I was going to get another degree and a REAL job, to… mailing me newspaper articles that mentioned video games in some way? 😂 And suddenly they needed my contact details because their friend’s sister’s cousin’s roommate’s kid wanted to get into making them.
Stories like this one here, though, they’re why I KEPT working as a developer. I love, completely, hearing not just that people enjoy playing games (not even ones I’ve worked on, just games in general!) but the STORIES that come with them, the things people remember, that rush of adrenaline or hilarity and the accomplishment of making their way through something ridiculous… yeah.
Yeah, that’s it right there.
(I’ve not worked for Bethesda, although plenty of folks I know do, and my Fallout 4 game has something like 900 hours logged into it, so Starfield is waiting for me. I’m currently waiting for crunch/release/post-release stress to ease to play BG3, as BG2 is one of my favourite games ever, made by people I really look up to, so I’m definitely looking forward to it.)
Right now I play a lot of farming games. And Pokemon. Stuff with no true fail state. It’s a nice change of pace from work.
I’ve worked only peripherally on Far Cry games for the most part, save Primal which was my “I refuse to work on another game that has doors because I will do a murder”, but they always have that WTF factor that makes for memorable stories. “I was being shot at and there was this tiger in a cage so I opened the cage and the tiger just flattened them, but then everything was on fire and the TIGER was on fire and I was on fire –”
I am really excited about Starfield, too. We already run SSD dev rigs at work (we have to, or our tools crash, games are just so big and resource-heavy now), and every game generation needs a benchmark/Crysis, so I’m really impressed with them making such a clear one.
Sounds like the buddy AI and writing is dead on, too 😉
I wish everyone many stories to have and fun, as well. And if there are doors in your game, take a moment and really feel all of the developer pain encased in that single prop. If there is one wheel reinvented every single game, and is ALWAYS BROKEN even if YOU DIDN’T TOUCH ANYTHING, it is doors.
I like games, but do not the reflexes of a mongoose, or even a sloth for that matter. I like to play and think, think or thwim. Any reccomendations for an old lady?
hand guns, shotguns, good armor, and lots of food, pick it up everywhere, it acts like a healing potion, when your health gets low hit tab, pause go to inventory chow down and then back to fight. In the beginning just run up to them and keep shooting them point blank, then heal then do it again. I am 76, terrible health and this is how I do it, can’t remember what I was supposed to remember. There is room to learn hand grenades and sharp shooting later.
The food as healing agent is a Bethesda Game trademark. Uncle Google is your best buddy “starfield (then the quest or characters name)” Your computer may not be strong enough, make sure you have an “ssd”,
Palia No fighting at all. Open World MMO. Currently free and in open beta.
There’s a “very easy” setting for game difficulty:)
To be honest, I’m not a gamer.(When my gaming daughter and hubby enthusiastically compare notes, I’m the one sitting quietly in the corner looking thoroughly confused!) 😂
However, your enthusiasm and enjoyment of this game come across loud and clear! I’m sorry you are having family stress, but I am so happy that you can find some relief in gaming.
Keep having fun, and hang in there. Virtual hugs being sent your way! 😁
Starfield wasn’t even on my radar, but it sounds interesting. If I ever figure out linux works (win 7 died and I hate ten with the passion of a thousand super novas) I’ll pick it up and try it out
This is where I lost my husband and daughter this week! They are happy and grateful that I am cooking this weekend! And I am entertaining myself by reading! Overall 10/10 for fun family activities.
My gaming skills are of the Stardew Valley level. Though this game sounds cool. I feel like after reading how Ilona describes the game it feels like a world where Jessie Mihalik’s characters would feel at home and good back up on the take over of future ex military outposts. Which because I thought about how awesome they are means I now must go back and reread her books…oh no what a shame : )
You’re right! This does sound like something Jessie Mihalik’s characters would do. I love it even more now!
I am not a gamer, but I enjoyed this breakdown so much. I’m still laughing.
So glad you’re having fun. Sounded so exciting!
But even with a SSD I’m not tempted. Just not my kinda thing, I’m too slow, like to look at everything and kept getting killed ~ in very basic games way, way back.
Hi, don’t put yourself down, I turned 67 this year, am dealing with my cancer treatments, but I still play several online games From Elite Dangerous, Eve on line, World of Warships, World of Tanks, Skyrim, etc. I have recently started learning to play the drums…. It has all kept me chirpy, which helps my wife ,So never say your to slow or can’t do stuff. 😊👍
this made me laugh after a long hard day. thanks 🙂
The game is fun, i won’t comment on story and risk to spoil the content, but SSD and a Good Video /at least gforce 1070/ are Esential, so cheaper laptops/older PCs are doomed. The design reminds me more of “The Outer Worlds” at first glance. But the constant freezing for a 3-4 seconds is more than irritating. Probably the Modders will be on this with endless tweaks like Skyrim soon.
Great review.
Well done, while I cannot afford the the higher versions, never the less in two days I can go on line with the basic one, so all is 😊 ps.. love all your books.
Kind regards.
I’ve been playing Bethesda games since Oblivion (and went back and played Morrowind right after)… but have been not following Starfield too closely. Between being busy with Star Citizen with friends and waaaay behind on the Story in SWTOR, I just didn’t feel I had time. But your little encounter did more to sell me on Starfield than every review I’ve read or watched to date.
I’ve been watching plays, and several of them have involved prepping to go back and exact revenge on those mercenaries.
Back in the ’80s , my brother and a friend brought Final Fantasy IV in the house. I got interested in the story. And have been playing games ever since. Mostly final fantasy because of the stories, but others with storylines too. I got into online gaming with FFXI and am currently playing FFXIV. I had to get a PS5 to play it. I now have a PS1, PS2, PS4, and the 5. They were cheaper than computers for every upgrade, and as I only play one game at a time, that is all the hardware I need. But you guys are correct. You get lost in the game and thing in RL do not get done. I have to mow the lawn now…..I must not turn on the game until it is done!
I am not a gamer but thank you for that fun review! I thoroughly enjoyed it and have never been so invested in a video game outcome hahaha! Good luck to you and Vasco!
I spent the whole three-day weekend playing early access. Barely sleeping, eating, or moving except to punch buttons on the controller. It was glorious.
Lol! Me cackling because I love that Ilona’s character selfie pic is making the same “happy face” in she uses in real life.
Well, my experience so far has kept me away from this forum. On that first mission I got squished by some kind of weird beast with some kind of mind control. Following markers has its risks.
I also spend a whole day designing my ship though. I finally figure it out. I need more experience in piloting and engineering to make it real special. I also got to visit earth. I decided to land in Madrid and it was quite disturbing. I am still sad about that.
I don’t understand…Is this a new book?…I don’t really like it…
No 🙂, this is not a new writing project.
As the article explains, it is a review for a video game of the Role Playing genre, called Starfield.
A video game is a game played by electronically manipulating images produced by a program on a computer or gaming console 🙂
If you like Starfield I really recommend Cyberpunk 2077 too the story is a lot more entertaining at least for me and new DLC is releasing with another intriguing story
I violently hated that entire game. 🙂 Can’t stand it, and I am not going to go into length of why, because you love it and I don’t want to alter your experience.
I wouldnt say i love it, it had its problems ( a lot of them on release day btw) and im interested why didnt you like it but the charcter and world setting is a lot more interesting to me:D, and one more question, did you try Baldur’s Gate 3 ? you should check it out if you really like freedom of choice in games but the combat is turn based and you sometimes roll dice for choices so i know its not everyones cup of cake (a lot of people really praise BG3 and there was controversy with devs from big studios that said its an anomaly of a game and we shouldnt held it to the same standard ?!)
Me too. I feel like you get railroaded into an unhappy ending, no matter what you choose. Not my kind of thing in a game meant to entertain me in my off hours. Kind of reminds me of the Rockstar games I’ve played (L.A. Noir; RDR, RDR2).
I get the impression this is very therapeutic for you. Hah! Enjoy!
My husband and I also splurged for early access editions and have been thoroughly enjoying it. My only major dissapointment has been the news that modding tools will not be made available for a year. I hope there is still enough interest within the modding community in that time.
I enjoyed reading all that as I remembered the same from my experience starting the game! It was a fun read; I have to challenge you though on “stripping the base to its studs” as when I left that planet I had Vasco loaded fully, and myself so much that I could not fast travel as I was overburdened. I guess… I picked the studs as well?