Starfield: Shattered Space review: The big expansion isn’t weird enough.

It’s been a while since I came here star field player. Bethesda’s Science Fiction Skyrim Originally released last summer, there have been several updates and improvements since then, but it took more than a year for the game to complete its first major expansion. This lead-up means there’s a lot going on. broken space — This is a perfect addition to a game that feels incredibly overpowering. After a promising setup, most things end up being the same.

As is often the case with expansions, things start off with a distress call. This takes you to an abandoned space station filled with ghostly apparitions and eventually to the home planet of House Va’ruun, a religious sect that worships giant snakes. There, you learn that Varun’s disaster has caused several strange and disastrous events in and around the main city, including the disappearance of some members and the transformation of others into violent specters. After the ceremony that actually converts you to the Church, your mission is to unravel the mystery of the disaster and help the House get things back on track.

(Note: Technically accessible. broken space Anytime thereafter star field‘s opening mission, but Bethesda recommends you be level 35 or higher to complete it. I played New Game Plus Save at level 32 and had no problems.)

It’s a great premise that promises all kinds of cosmic horror. The planets you’ll explore are rendered in gorgeous reds and purples, and are filled with strange glowing growths, gravity-defying bubbles, and strange creatures that seem at home. no man’s sky. The major city, halfway between a frontier city and an ancient temple, is filled with people struggling with chaos, whether they have lost loved ones, have food shortages, or are facing a crisis of faith.

broken space They are also known for their incredible focus. for a lot of time star fieldThe appeal of is the sheer scale of the universe. Here, you’re confined to a single, dense planet of things to do and see. It is largely reminiscent of standalone. far harbor expansion fallout 4.

This results in some great storylines, especially in the side quests where you do everything from investigating a haunted orphanage to hunting down livestock thieves. At first the sect seemed confrontational and difficult to understand. But in the end, it becomes clear that they are all just people trying to get by, despite their complete isolation and belief in a large snake. Even simple missions provide new insights into the human side of this group. star field The campaign is primarily labeled as a violent fanatic sect.

But the way it is done is typical. star field (and Bethesda) stuff. Quests have you fighting through dungeons, collecting or delivering items, and sometimes finding a way out of trouble. There’s a new setting, but not much has changed in terms of structure or moment-to-moment experience. star field. Those alien monsters are just more enemies to fight. Ghostly revenants are just more soldiers shooting at you. At the very least, the fetch quest is a great opportunity to try out your new dune buggy.

Nothing particularly bad broken space. And if you’re looking for more star fieldThat’s what this is. Only in one of the more visually and narratively interesting locations in the game. But after so much time has passed, I can’t help but want more. more. broken space It had the potential to be weird, creepy, and different, but it looks like players will have to keep waiting for something that feels truly new.