The first reviews of Starfield are finally available and give an impression of what you can expect from the role-playing game. We at MeinMMO summarize.
The release of Starfield is imminent. Now, one day before the “early access” launch on September 1, with owners of the premium edition able to enter the space adventure early, the first reviews of Bethesda’s sci-fi epic are out.
We at MeinMMO show you how the title is received by critics and summarize the first impressions:
In Short:
- The first reviews of Starfield are available and show that the game is fun but also has problems.
- Positive points include the faction quests, the larger colonies, the city of Neon, the scope of the game, the companions, and the combat.
- Negative points are bugs and glitches, outdated NPC designs, a boring start, and long travel times.
Fun but has its problems
What do the testers say? The first reviews generally agree: Starfield is fun, but it has its problems. In some areas, the role-playing game shines through Bethesda’s strengths, while in others, it seems that Starfield wanted to do too much and didn’t excel in everything.
Overall, it is increasingly said that you can like Starfield if you can live with some compromises. However, the role-playing game does not measure up to other Bethesda titles like Skyrim or Fallout 4 and could not meet the sometimes very high expectations.
For example, Peter Bathge from GameStar writes: “Starfield has gigantic ambitions and enough content for weeks of engagement, but also an immense amount of wasted potential.”
What are the ratings? The Metacritic score of Starfield is just under an hour after the release of the first reviews at 89 for the PC version. The version for Xbox Series X currently sits at 87 (as of August 31, 2023, 19:00).
However, it is expected that the average rating will drop a bit. For instance, our colleagues from GamePro gave it an 82 and GameStar gave it an 81.
Metacritic score for Xbox Series X:
- Game Rant: 100
- Washington Post: 100
- DualShockers: 90
- GamePro: 82
- GameSpot: 75
- Forbes: 95
- Jeuxvideo: 85
- VG247: 80
- PCGamer: 75
- PCGamesN: 70
Starfield: The strengths of the role-playing game
What is praised? Different testers positively evaluate the faction quests of the role-playing game. Additionally, the larger colonies with many people impress. Especially the city of Neon is praised for its atmosphere and design.
The scope of the game is also received well. There are tons of quests, weapons, and skills as well as a well-implemented “New Game +”. The various companions also often left a good impression.
There is also a plus point for the combat – thanks to the brilliant jetpack.
Starfield: The weaknesses of the Bethesda game
Are there weaknesses? Definitely. It is a Bethesda game and comes with some bugs and glitches. Additionally, the design of NPCs and their animations may seem somewhat outdated.
Furthermore, the initial experience is said to be a bit sluggish and sometimes even boring. This also applies to some overly long travel times that extend the gameplay duration. Moreover, the travel system is not ideally designed, as you will likely be very dependent on the fast travel system, and short cutscenes interrupt the gameplay.
A point of contention is the main story. While the tester from PCGamer called it creative and was surprised by some twists, the authors from GameStar and GamePro find it “dreary” and rarely perceive an “original thought.”
If you are still unsure whether the game is really of interest to you after the first impressions of Starfield, our short check may help:
Is Starfield worth it for you? The quick check with 10 questions
