Starfield will feature one of the biggest open worlds to date, which is simultaneously the best and the worst thing about it. Bethesda’s portion of the Xbox Summer 2023 showcase finally revealed more information about the long-awaited title, and the details are stunning. The combat looks sharp, the dialogue system has intriguing depth, and the graphics look breathtaking, especially with the new lighting system. However, one of the most impressive things showcased was the cities and planets Bethesda has crafted to ensure Starfield provides a rich and varied open-world experience.
Given Bethesda’s track record, Starfield’s massive open world should be no surprise. The studio has been making some of the best open worlds for decades, and they have only improved as time progressed. Bethesda has been widely praised for Skyrim and its expansive map, which had things to discover in every corner. Fallout 4 continued this legacy with a bigger map, which Fallout 76 topped more than two times over with its Appalachia map. Despite how beloved these games are, the latter two, in particular, have flaws that could cause concern for Starfield and how it approaches the open world.
Starfield’s cities are one of the most exciting things revealed in the summer showcase, and they look like the best Bethesda has ever created. In particular, New Atlantis, which the Constellation exploratory organization calls home, is one of the biggest cities the studio has made. This goes beyond size, which is considerable. New Atlantis will feature more unique art, crowds, and quests than any of the studio’s previous cities.
Other cities include Neon, which is very much inspired by the style of neon-lit sci-fi cities like Star Wars’ Coruscant and Blade Runner’s Los Angeles. Another of Starfield’s cities is Akila City, the home of the Freestar Collective faction and a more wild-west-inspired city. It seems like Bethesda has taken time to fill Starfield’s cities with small stories and interactions that make them feel lived in and realistic.
In addition to detailed, rich cities, Starfield promises a galaxy full of exploration opportunities, boasting one thousand planets players can visit. With that many worlds, however, some are bound to feel empty. In the Starfield Direct presentation, Bethesda stated that it wants to give players more freedom to explore than ever before, which entails exploring planets both exciting and quiet. Describing the worlds as quiet is partially concerning, but understanding the impressive tech behind Starfield’s exploration system sheds some light on how the planets may feel in-game.
2023-06-20 08:00:05
Post from screenrant.com
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