For many gamers, Bethesda Studios latest release, 'Starfield' has become the hottest release of this year (2023). 

For many of the same gamers, it has been a long road of supporting a world class gaming studio, and the game they have launched. With very little information that added to the anticipation, but could've have been a bit heavier on some real content. 

 

I think it could also be fair to say, that whether new to 'Space Exploration' genres or well versed. I expect many have tried their hand at the lings like 'No Man's Sky' and/or 'Star Citizen' during the many pushed back launches and periods of very little in respect of detailed information to either disappoint/re-engage/stole-the-fuel of the the levels of expectations along the way. 

Now, obviously Todd Howard did mention that atmospheric flight and player controller planet approaches we "of very little interest to the player". Telling us at the same time, it wouldn't be a part of the game at launch. 

But, I'm sure like many others, who wondered where on earth he got that feedback from? You were left with very little doubt that, maybe because the current AAA releases for space exploration games, or maybe because they specifically asked people, who play their titles that doesn't have the 'space exploration' need. 

But, to the average person, creating a space exploration game and not including space exploration. Where the gamer can awe at the wonders of the starts the are approaching. Or traverse the lands of a planet they have landed on quicker in search of points-of-interest or resources to mine/harvest. Or indeed allow the player to planet hop in order to find the last elusive fauna species that is driving them to lower oxygen-levels way to quickly. It is something that is comparable to giving a gamer a copy of Gran Turismo or Forza and telling them the can't travel the whole race. Just stsrting the car and crossing the finish line. 

You don't see Call of Duty, allowing people to just load the gan up and then tell them whether their team Victor's. Without letting the player interact in the very thing that makes the game, the game it is. 

Even if compared to thetwo space exploration games, 'No Man's Sky ' and 'Star Citizen'. Incredible work from two gaming Studios, ("well done" devs at 'Hello Studios' for the hard work to turn around a game that was very quickly a target for the 'cancel'. And another hey hey to the teams at 'Roberts Space Industries"for an incredibly detailed game build ). 

Neither of the platforms have the diverse level of dialogue and player interaction that has been provided with ' Starfield'. But one thing they do both have which is far superior and far more immersive for the players. Is the addition of interactive flight to-and-from stars and their planets.sadly, theirs is better, not because 'Bethesda' has an inferior option. But, because it's not there at all.

Space junkies. Be it pirating, mining, delivering, hauling, hussling, taxi-ing, racing. Discovering species, fauna and resources. Finding caves, structures or habitation spots. Need to have the journey. Because the genre, is 'Space Exploration'. 

Bethesda has promoted the game as a way of being able to explore galaxies and stars like never before. But have provided a restricted, planet walker game with a lot of awesome parts to it. 

But the most awesome part about space, is the journey to it. And the epic battles between other life-forms and trying get back to your base quick enough so you don't lose all your resources. Or just sitting back and enjoying a bit of warp travel while you roll your next one and pour yourself a drink before taking the helm as captain again. 

Please Bethesda. Please develop the space flight part of the game and making the level of detail that is there with the ship, be something that can be enjoyed in ony the way buying an upgrade for your ship should be. Warping at full throttle and imagining the G's stretching your mouth back so hard you look Pete Burns. (God Rest in Piece Legend!)