Bethesda's Latest RPG: Starfield
Bethesda's latest role-playing game (RPG), Starfield, has taken the gaming landscape by storm, quickly ascending to become a beloved title. The sci-fi game has seen such extreme anticipation that incidents of stolen copies were reported. In terms of sales, Starfield outranked Baldur's Gate 3 on the Steam charts post-launch. However, there are some aspects of the game that have left players puzzled.
User Feedback
User feedback has been conflicting and not without criticism. The game's non-player characters (NPCs) and their facial animations have drawn amplified scrutiny from players. Another frequent subject of feedback- the absence of a properly integrated map within the game. To navigate through the hulking expanse of New Atlantis and other locations within the game without a consistent mapping system has proven to be challenging for some players.
A noted player voiced their frustration publicly stating "Not having a city map is awful. I absolutely hate having to follow a blue marker to get around. When I don’t have a mission active, I just feel lost." It's believed that once mods (modifiable game features created by the player community) are available, an improved mapping system could be amongst the most demanded.
The Navigation Issue
To clarify, while there isn't a traditional map feature within the game, Starfield does possess a navigation system requiring players to visit kiosks located at in-game train stations. Yet, players criticize this feature as it isn’t a physical map but just a textual listing of locations. Another player added, "Definitely. You can use the Scanner to get a path to your objective, but that’s really not enough." Some players feel the lack of a dedicated map hinders their ability to navigate through the expansive game world smoothly.
This isn't a unanimous dissatisfaction though. Some players appreciate the challenge and adventure that comes with the lack of a ready map, fostering a sense of organic exploration. However, many players deem this as a major quality-of-life feature missing from the game. Now, the gaming community waits to see if Bethesda will respond to the feedback and introduce a map feature to the game. In the meantime, Starfield's player base continues to explore and interact with the game universe.