With the game only a few months away,Starfieldis shaping up quite nicely. TheStarfieldDirect that followed the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase built up a lot of hype for Bethesda’s latest RPG by showing off what players will do throughout their intergalactic adventure.Starfieldis the latest game headed up by Todd Howard, whose team previously madeFallout 3,Fallout 4, andThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, and represents the studio’s most ambitious efforts yet. Only time will tell how it fares compared to its contemporaries, but it could be worth the wait.
A wide range of topics were covered in theStarfieldDirect, from the basic gameplay loop to ship and outpost customization. One that got plenty of time was character customization, emphasizing how player choice will immediately affect gameplay and narrative. However, as part of this, players also got to see a tiny snippet ofStarfield’s opening.The openings of Bethesda gameshave become a subject of fascination within their fandom, and it will be interesting to see howStarfieldis able to square up againstSkyrim’s famously memetic intro.
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Skyrim’s Intro Wastes No Time In Immersing Players
The opening moments ofSkyrimare some of the most memorable in the game, and are the source of countless memes and parodies. Right from the title screen, players find themselves waking up bound on a horse-drawn wagon surrounded by other prisoners. The player’s gaze is drawn to a particular NPC named Ralof when he turns to them and utters the iconic line, “Hey, you. You’re finally awake.” Dialogue that follows sets upthe Imperial-occupied setting of Skyrim, as well as several story details and a clever lead-in to character creation.
Starfieldlooks like it’s partially based on this, but its initial scene lacksSkyrim’s sense of style. Players once again wake up, but this time on an examination table. Two astronauts stand nearby, asking if they’re all right and helping them emerge from their daze after an accident. It looks like character creation beginsmuch quicker inStarfieldthanSkyrim, and there are many more important choices to be made during that process. However, outside the inevitableSkyrimcomparisons, this scene probably won’t have much staying power.
Starfield’s Intro Has Different Objectives Than Skyrim’s
The presentation ofSkyrim’s opening has a lot more flair and intrigue than what’s been shown ofStarfield’s, but there are still plenty of gaps for the latter to fill in. For one, players are initially new employees of Argos Excavators, and will spend some time with this company beforeencountering an alien artifact during work. This attracts the Constellation exploration group, who quickly recruit the player character and set them on their path towards New Atlantis andStarfield’s main quest.
Skyrimisn’t nearly as patient, and may be better for it. Almost immediately after character creation, the player’s execution is interrupted by the dragon Alduin, introducing the main plot and how it interacts with the wider setting. While the town of Helgen is burning down around them, the player joins up with Ralof or an Imperial named Hadvar and goes through an action-packed tutorial for combat, gear, and other mechanics. There may need to be some excitement to justify atutorial forStarfield’s own combat, but it seems like the newer game’s slower-paced exploration elements will take center stage instead. Despite their similarities,StarfieldandSkyrimshould end up with very different first impressions, reflecting just how different their respective adventures will be.
Starfieldwill release on September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:The Odds of Starfield Having a Larger Impact Than Skyrim are Slim
