Summary
Starfield, the latest RPG from the legendary Bethesda Game Studios, shares a lot of similarities with the developer’s other flagship franchises. The variable perspective and familiar art style (updated graphics aside) are some of the more obvious connections, butStarfieldtakes many notes from the deeper design choices of Bethesda’s earlier titles as well.
Starfieldis perhaps most similar toFallout. WhileThe Elder Scrollsis firmly planted in high fantasy territory,FalloutandStarfieldare undeniably science-fiction, complete with aliens, laser weapons, and elements of futuristic, alternate history. Of course, the games are quite distinct from one another in their premises;Falloutis a post-apocalyptic, bleak adventure through the remnants of Earth, whileStarfieldoffers swashbuckling, interstellar adventure, with a tone that is decidedly more lighthearted and optimistic. Despite these glaring differences, there’s one feature fromFalloutthat should have made its way over toStarfield, as it is a fun and iconic staple of the former franchise - and one that would work well in the latter: VATS.
RELATED:Starfield’s Cydonia Is The Industrial Heart Powering the United Colonies
Although players canwork around combat inStarfield, the game does place a heavy emphasis on it, and physical confrontation is often the quickest or easiest solution to a given problem. Bethesda games have been criticized for having somewhat clunky or shallow moment-to-moment combat mechanics, but luckily,Starfield’s gunplay is a massive improvement, offering players fun and satisfying options during fights. That said, there’s an argument to be made that the V.A.T.S. mechanic from theFalloutgames would have been a good match for Bethesda’s space-faring RPG.
The Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., is a tool thatFalloutplayers can use to gain the upper hand in various combat encounters. V.A.T.S. allowed players to pause the action and target specific body parts, which could add a layer of strategy to basic fights. This system, often consideredone ofFallout’s best features, opened the door to tactical gameplay, as damaging certain body parts could change the tide of battle with an enemy. Variable hit chance in V.A.T.S. deepenedFallout’s combat, as it meant that players could choose to play it safe and deal less direct damage, or take a bigger risk by targeting a high-damage body part, which was usually the head.
This slowed-down, tactical combat option is missing fromStarfield, and it could have made the gameplay far more interesting in the same ways it madeFallout’s gameplay more interesting. It would also provide an alternative for players who enjoy the RPG elements ofStarfieldmore than the FPS elements. Even thoughStarfield’s tech and lore differ fromFallout’s, it would have been easy to offer a narrative justification for the V.A.T.S. replacement, asStarfieldis filled with advanced technology for use on the battlefield and beyond.
There’s an argument to be made thatStarfieldomitted a targeting system similar to V.A.T.S. not only to differentiate itself fromFallout, but also because of the former’s much-improved shooting mechanics. It’s undeniable thatStarfieldhas tighter, more responsive gunplay thanFallout, with melee combat being improved as well, so it makes sense that Bethesda would want players to engage with the new and improved mechanics. However, this hypothetical feature wouldn’t have to be a crutch or a replacement for a sub-par real-time combat system, but rather an option for those who choose to use it. There are many players who playBethesda games for their loreand RPG elements, more so than the combat, so offering these players an alternative that is more thoughtful, precise, and strategic could have made for a game that grants players more freedom while being more inclusive.
Starfieldis currently available on PC and Xbox Series X|S.
