Bethesda’s first new IP in over two and a half decades has understandably generated a lot of buzz, with plenty of rumors and speculation swirling aroundStarfieldsince it was first announced in 2018. For many years, the game was practically a complete mystery, with Bethesda barely releasing any information and credible leaks were thin on the ground. However, asStarfield’s original 2022 release date crept closer, the developer opened up much more about the upcoming game. Even though the launch has been pushed back into next year, players have still been given some interesting glimpses ofStafieldin action.
For months, the only visuals that players were able to see ofStarfieldwere of its environments and a generic figure in a spacesuit, so when Bethesda finally showed off more of the game, fans were incredibly excited to see more of the world and the people who inhabit it. There has now been a good deal of information released regarding the gameplay and the in-game societies, as well asa look atStarfield’s character creationto help generate even more buzz around the highly-anticipated game. However, some players thought the character models shown off inStarfieldfootage didn’t quite push the boat out as much as they had hoped, but perhaps that’s the point.
RELATED:Starfield: 5 Sci-Fi Tropes It Should Use
The First Look At Starfield’s Characters
Throughout 2022, Bethesdarevealed more about the upcomingStarfield, delving into some of the factions within the game, the different features players will encounter, and the main ethos of the title. The developer has made no secret of the fact thatStarfieldis all about exploration and examining how humanity can find its place amongst the stars, but it’s also a player-driven journey. This makes characters a vital component in crafting the game’s story, so how they look, interact, and behave will be key.
Trailers, gameplay reveals, and behind-the-scenes developer videos helped toshow off more ofStarfieldover the months, and they also gave gamers a glimpse of a handful of character models. From the very first, it was clear that Bethesda had paid close attention to how it could improve on the design of its characters from older games likeFallout 4, and in this regard,Starfieldlooked very much like a next-gen title. However, while many agreed that the design of the different characters that have been revealed so far is impressive, some felt that they didn’t quite live up to expectations.
There is a lot riding onStarfield’s success, not least because other recent games from Bethesda like theonline action RPGFallout 76haven’t avoided a hefty amount of controversies and criticisms, but also because as a new IP from a major studio anticipation is incredibly high. That means the pressure is truly on to deliver, but even if some fans seem a little disappointed,Starfield’s approach of authenticity over flash just makes sense for the game.
What This Reveals About The Game
Ever since Bethesda started speaking aboutStarfield, it was obvious the company had a very clear vision of what the game was aiming for. This was exemplified by the description ofStarfield’s aestheticwhere the term ‘NASA-punk’ was coined. This encapsulates the desire for realism and recognizable space-faring elements, while still combining it with something subversive and creative.Starfieldembraces its sci-fi sensibilities, but it’s still trying to ground this in something real and relatable. This means its visuals and designs aren’t highly stylized like other interstellar games likeNo Man’s Sky.
This authentic, realistic design is echoedthroughStarfield’s character modelsas well. As a vast game filled with hundreds of worlds to explore,Starfieldneeds to center its story and gameplay on something, and it seems like characters and the interactions between them are the perfect elements to use. With a voiceless protagonist and a first-person perspective (although players can choose to play in third-person as well), it then makes it imperative that the NPCs have believable and emotive expressions, good voice acting, and animations that aren’t off-putting or too outlandish.
This realism in its depiction of characters matchesStarfield’s quest for realism in its storytelling as well and means that while the character models need to be convincing and well-designed, they don’t need to be revolutionary.Starfieldcan push the boat out in other areas, like the design of its different planets and environments, as well as its intriguing space flight mechanics. The characters are clearly important in not only conveying the story and the emotional aspects of the game but in forging connections for the player and givingStarfieldits heart.
RELATED:Starfield: Is It Hard or Soft Sci-Fi?
Starfield’s Impressive Character Creation
Although NPCs are going to be incrediblyimportant to howStarfieldplaysand how engaged players are with the game, the protagonist is also another vital element. Gamers can choose either a third or first-person perspective, but all dialogue sequences will be in first-person, so the entire emotional heft of interactions is on the other character and not the protagonist. However, Bethesda is still intent on putting plenty of options and depth into its character creator for the protagonist.
The extensivetrailer forStarfieldthat was shown during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcaseprovided a lot more insight into how the game was going to be handling its protagonist. As is the trend now with modern RPGs, the character creator mode is extensive and hands complete creative freedom over to the player. This not only lets them choose things like hair and skin color but also includes their gait and body type as well. This comprehensive character creator extends beyond the physical and adds customizable elements like traits, faction affiliations, and backgrounds as well that will affect how and where players first start theirStarfieldjourney.
The thought that Bethesda seems to be putting into its character creator for the playable protagonist will hopefully translate to complex and nuanced NPCs as well. Players may compareStarfieldto other impressivecharacter creator systems in recent games likeElden Ring, but while that produced a number of colorful creations, it seems likeStarfieldis content with realistic if slightly less imaginative characters to better reflect its story and setting.
Starfieldis scheduled to release in 2023 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
