This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:29:26
The video offers an in-depth analysis and appreciation of Bethesda Game Studios' "Starfield." The creator reflects on their extensive experience with the game, emphasizing Bethesda's expertise in blending open-world RPG elements with immersive simulations and varied gameplay systems, such as crafting and planet scanning. Despite mixed reviews, "Starfield" is praised for its side quests, faction quests, and intricate, rewarding exploration, although its main narrative is seen as less compelling.
The speaker highlights changes in "Starfield" that enhance the experience, including the revamped looting and crafting systems, and integration of procedural maps with pre-built dungeons. They acknowledge Bethesda’s ability to maintain engaging open worlds, thanks to compelling points of interest, addictive activities like scanning, and improved combat mechanics influenced by games like "Skyrim" and "Fallout 4."
A defense against common criticisms, such as the game's engine and loading screens, underscores that the game should be enjoyed for what it offers rather than lamenting missing features that might not align with Bethesda’s design philosophy. The speaker appreciates the game's accessible yet deep experience, balancing various elements to keep players engaged for long hours, despite its performance issues and the absence of features like city maps.
Ultimately, "Starfield" is celebrated for its broad appeal and the unique charm of its well-executed, system-focused gameplay, which, even if not groundbreaking in any single aspect, collectively results in a magical and highly enjoyable experience.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the creator discusses the lengthy process of playing “Starfield,” a game by Bethesda, and their realization about the game’s main quest progression after spending 50 hours on it. They reflect on reading reviews for the first time, finding a mix of positive feedback and a significant portion of negative reviews that criticize the game for being typical of Bethesda’s style. The creator plans to explore why “Starfield” might be Bethesda’s best game, addressing why they enjoy Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) games despite generally disliking open-world games, and why some people expect BGS games to be different. They recount the history of Bethesda’s RPGs, noting that each has focused on scale and complex systems rather than just narrative and role-playing. The video plans to delve into the unique qualities that have defined Bethesda’s games since “Oblivion,” highlighting their complex systems, environmental storytelling, and interactive elements that have evolved into “Starfield.”
00:03:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses how Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) titles, including “Starfield,” stand out due to their intricate progression systems and simulations, rather than narrative complexity or role-playing depth. They highlight that BGS games blend open-world RPG elements, immersive simulations, and action gameplay, creating compelling experiences through varied systems such as dungeons, locations, and physics. “Starfield” excels by constantly providing new goals and diverse activities, including side quests, main quests, faction quests, crafting, and planet scanning. This design ensures players are continually engaged, frequently switching between objectives and accomplishing multiple tasks simultaneously, which is considered the key appeal of Bethesda games.
00:06:00
In this segment, the speaker critiques and evaluates the story and narrative structure of “Starfield,” comparing it to other Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) titles like Fallout 3 and Skyrim. They highlight that while the main stories in BGS games are often not outstanding, the strength lies in the numerous self-contained side quests. “Starfield,” they assert, boasts the best collection of side quests in any BGS game, featuring excellent locations, competent to outstanding voice acting, and a wide range of engaging scenarios. Although choices made in these quests don’t affect the broader game world, they still feel impactful. The faction quests in “Starfield” are praised for their compelling choices and interesting areas. The main story, while less engaging than the side quests, is still considered good with memorable moments and reveals, notably the visit to NASA on Earth. The lack of massive time constraints or world-ending missions makes it more enjoyable than the main quests in Fallout 4 or Skyrim.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the expansive and engaging world of the game, emphasizing that side quests significantly enhance the gaming experience. The three major cities in the game function as their own small open worlds, each packed with numerous quests that encourage exploration. The game doesn’t mark quest givers on the map, prompting players to search for named NPCs, many of whom provide quests. Although some quests are simple, they are well-crafted and contribute meaningfully to the game world.
The speaker notes that while the game includes moral choices, they are often straightforward and don’t always present deep ethical dilemmas. These choices add flavor to the world but don’t significantly alter the narrative. The speaker also comments on the game’s system and mechanics, highlighting that Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) excels at creating engaging open worlds that encourage exploration. The transition to a mix of small procedural maps and pre-built dungeons is noted as a significant change, contributing to the game’s rich and varied environment.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses how Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) maintains the essence of their games in Starfield, despite significant changes in the exploration mechanics. BGS has successfully integrated their random encounter system into the new world and map design, making exploration feel familiar. The looting system from Fallout 4 has been expanded to include a research step in the crafting system, enhancing engagement and pacing. This research step requires various materials, but the progression system is well-balanced, demanding only occasional, specific hunts for components. Additionally, the game’s sound design plays a crucial role, with ambient music and sound effects enhancing the exploration experience and creating the right mood and tension.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the speaker praises a game studio for their exceptional work over the years, emphasizing the fun added by the Boost pack and varying gravity on different planets, which keeps movement engaging. The discussion highlights how open-world games can sometimes make traversing large maps tedious, but this game manages to keep it enjoyable through compelling points of interest, addictive scanning activities, and enjoyable combat enhanced by the Boost pack. The game’s FPS combat is noted as a significant improvement, blending long-range, short-range encounters, and stealth options seamlessly. The new progression system, reminiscent of Fallout 4 but incorporating elements from Skyrim, is praised for requiring players to make strategic choices, although some tasks for leveling up can be disproportionately time-consuming. The speaker also mentions the trend of RPGs moving away from traditional stats, which he personally prefers, citing the balance between accessibility and depth seen in other games like Cyberpunk.
00:18:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses their opinions on Starfield, praising its overall progression and aesthetics despite concerns over the removal of stats. They aim to address common criticisms from various sources, including YouTube, Reddit, and major review outlets. A significant focus of criticism is the game’s creation engine, with some reviewers comparing it unfavorably to Fallout 4. The speaker vehemently disagrees with these critiques, citing that the engine’s visual capabilities are more than sufficient and that its versatility allows for extensive modding and complex game systems. They also defend the game’s writing against comparisons to Baldur’s Gate 3, noting that while Baldur’s Gate 3 excels in quest design and choices, it’s an unfair benchmark for critiquing Starfield.
00:21:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the differences between games developed by Larian Studios, like “Baldur’s Gate 3,” and Bethesda Game Studios, such as “Starfield.” They highlight that Larian focuses on narrative-driven games requiring extensive efforts to create intricate quests and storylines, which would significantly change the essence of Bethesda’s games if implemented. The speaker asserts that Bethesda specializes in systems-focused games with a narrative and compares complaining about Starfield’s lack of intricate narratives to expecting wall running in “Gears of War” or a cover mechanic in “Doom Eternal,” emphasizing that each game has its core design.
The speaker also addresses the complaints regarding the abundance of loading screens in “Starfield,” explaining that these result from the numerous systems and objects that need to be managed in the game. They prefer straightforward loading screens over hidden ones and argue that loading screens are acceptable as long as they are not excessively long. Additionally, they counter the idea that players should be able to travel seamlessly from planets to space or walk across entire planets, stating such expectations are misaligned with the game’s design, which is essentially “Skyrim in Space.” The speaker concludes by commenting on the broad appeal of Bethesda’s games, which are designed to cater to a wide audience.
00:24:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the design and gameplay philosophy of Starfield, emphasizing its strength in providing consistently engaging experiences rather than hyper-realistic simulations or vast but empty worlds. The speaker argues that while features like exploring entire planets on foot would satisfy a niche group, they are not necessary for the game’s success. They express a particular frustration with the lack of city maps despite the cities’ large sizes, which can make navigation difficult. They also critique the game’s launch without DLSS and its mediocre performance but acknowledge that it still runs relatively well on high settings. Ultimately, they conclude that Starfield excels by being broad and accessible, keeping players engaged for long hours without relying on any single outstanding feature, and it should be appreciated as such rather than compared to unrealistic expectations.
00:27:00
In this part of the video, the speaker evaluates “Starfield,” noting that while its individual elements like space simulation, crafting, and progression may not surpass specialized games, the overall execution by Bethesda is remarkably competent. The game excels in maintaining player engagement, with exploration designed to feel rewarding rather than tedious, and quests that end before they become tiresome. Its combat is superior to most RPGs, setting it apart even from well-received titles like “Outer Worlds.” Although “Starfield” may not excel in any single system, its collective quality results in a highly enjoyable experience. The game’s expansive content and unique charm contribute to its success, making it a compelling and magical experience that stands out despite not having any standout “9 out of 10” features.