My Starfield character doesn’t feel like an actual character

An open-world game like StarfieldIt is the promise that you can become someone different. On this earthly plane, I’m the humble Cass Marshall, but StarfieldThe action takes place under the stars. The starting condition I chose was a bounty placed on my head. Joyce isn’t all bad; she has loving parents, and at least one (1) adoring fan. As I began my journey, I was eager to learn more about this villain through role-playing.

I was disappointed to find that StarfieldIt takes time for the game to get going on this front. My character begins the game by taking a hazardous mining job. That’s not a deal-breaker in and of itself, but it would have been nice to have a couple of conversation options that referenced my past. Maybe I’m lying low because of the aforementioned bounty, or maybe I’m broke after a failed heist. All of these options exist in my head, but I don’t have a way to express them in the game.

Before long, I’m off the mining station and chasing a galactic mystery alongside the organization Constellation. Here’s where StarfieldThe game becomes a more open-ended sandbox with plenty of puzzles, action sequences and other surprises to be found. As I speak with the Constellation team, I learn about some mysterious artifacts. A researcher is found injured on a deserted planet. She’s the last survivor in her job, but she has been hunted down by an alien. It’s thrilling to have to run through an automated gun horde to get the sample and survive. I go and visit my mom and pops, and make sure they’re doing OK. I spend a lot of time doing what you’re supposed to do with a game like Starfield: exploring.

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

It’s not like Joyce Bishop is an important character in any of these adventures. As a beginner, I have a couple of useful skills like the proficiency to use pistols or pilot a vessel. My silver tongue allows me to speak my way out of combat in certain situations. However, this doesn’t translYou can also check out our other articles.e into organic role-play. I don’t feel like Joyce’s path matters; things are happening atShe has only a few reactions to her.

Whenever I talk to someone new or find another quest, my conversation options often feel like they boil down to “I’d be happy to help,” “I’d be happy to help… for a profit,” and “I don’t care; go perish in a gutter.” In a game that’s about a far future where humanity has transcended so many limits, it’s awkward to feel so constrained in conversations.

Bethesda’s RPGs are known for their slick graphics. Fallout 4,You can also find out more about the following: SkyrimThe limits of role-playing are similar in both cases. Starfield is also a new intellectual property, which means that Bethesda has to spend a lot of time laying down exposition on this universe’s history, factions, and conflicts. But that means that Joyce Bishop takes a back seat; she feels like a passenger who’s along for the ride, as opposed to a proper protagonist.

After playing, this feels very rough Baldur’s Gate 3It offers many options in every conversation. Also, I find myself longing to hear the dialog of Outer WorldsIt is much more limited in its scope but it puts the focus on the protagonist. Starfield is a different beast altogether, and I’m hoping that as I keep playing, Joyce feels more like the star of the show. As of yet, Joyce feels more like an assistant.