Joshua Clark

Spoiler free review: I purchased the early access premium upgrade. I have put approximately 35.5 hours. Finished the main story and have begun to do other side quest and tinker with the other mechanics of the game. Current character level 31. I will say this you have 2 choices A) play the game how you like and take your time playing the main campaign. B) blow thru the main campaign as quick as you can. Campaign took me roughly 20-25 hours to complete and I wish I just did that initially. Once you get to the Game+ mode you will understand. So let go thru the pros. I really enjoyed the storylines I have completed so far, the dungeon/ base diving, clearing out enemy combatants, all for the best gear or quest I was on. Another thing I liked is the character movement in combat and outside combat using the key back to dodge and reload or hacking it up with the melee weapons. I also liked this game feels like all the best Bethesda games, mass effect, no man’s sky rolled into one. I can literally get lost in this game….and I have. The middling aspects of this game are the multiple systems you have to learn with minimal guidance from the start of the game. Traveling is confusing at first, the star map is massive and overwhelming, and the fact that there are no city maps for at least the major cities are some issues but not a deal breaker(this game is all about exploring and discovering the mysteries of space in this futuristic world). I will say in regards to navigation using the scanner will help you 97.5% of the time in showing the general direction of the next objective point. The remaining value is the scanner sometimes gets confused too or unless the mission provides no objective. Cons of the game are fewer than I would expect with a game of this scope and size. Like everyone else the carry capacity needs a buff, there are other ways to buff carrying capacity and work around it, but initially dumping the skill points that could be much more useful in another skill tree. Oxygen/Stamina mechanic is another tough one to deal with but in my play through it’s been more related to being over encumbered. This game really grinds you out on resources particularly ammo and health boosters I definitely leaned into the gunplay initially but learned the hard way that melee can be just as effective and save your ammo for the big missions. My summary: Starfield is a amazing game and has delivered. What I see a lot of reviewers stating with their review scores is it takes 2 hours before the game gets going and should say have patience and play at your own pace. Or my recommendation blow thru main story then play it, but that more of an opinion than a statement. Starfield has brought that satisfying game I have been wanting in a long time. Ps if you took the time to read my review. Thank you. I am a console gamer working a full time job in the auto industry my gamer tag is M1K3xWzowsk1 on Xbox platforms and social media platforms Definitely appreciate any support I can get.