Starfield review

[mellowtigger]

I've had my eye on the new computer game Starfield for a while now, not because I wanted its particular gameplay, but because this new game engine from Bethesda will be the basis of the next Elder Scrolls (think: Skyrim) game... which I absolutely want to play someday. Because Starfield was receiving such great review scores, and because I have a job with some money to spare, I splurged and spent $70 to buy it on Steam.

First impression: I just wasted $70. *sigh*

The problem I have with some games is the interface customization. I know I'm weird because I mouse with my left hand and keyboard with my right hand. That's exactly backward from how most games are designed, even when they have keyboard/mouse combinations in mind for computer gaming (instead of game console controllers). I rely heavily on customization of inputs, so I can lay out an efficient use of key positions around my right hand.

Input customization in Starfield is awful. Really, just awful. Not as awful as Star Citizen, but it's close to being a tie. It's painfully obvious that this game was not intended first for computer use. It was intended for game console controllers. That's usually a very bad sign for whether or not I'll enjoy actually playing a game.

Second impression: Other people have their own reasons for disliking Starfield, but those reasons don't particularly influence my opinion. The tutorial phase of Starfield is also bad. It tells me something I need to do/learn, but that visual directive immediately disappears from the screen. Wait, what am I supposed to be doing? People are shooting at me, and I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing or how to do it! This experience is terrible. All this, and it takes up 116GB on my hard drive too. The good news is that it runs "sort of okay" on my Linux computer, with only occasional glitching. I never even checked beforehand to see if this game was rated for Steam Deck or Linux compatibility.

I just hope Bethesda Game Studios fixes this major problem with interface customization before they release the anticipated Elder Scrolls 6 game. How many years until it arrives, I wonder? Rumors say maybe 2028 at the earliest. Let's hope that Skyrim Grandma lives to see it.

Comments

[mtbc]

That's disappointing, also interesting for me to learn, as I've no experience with modern games and also mouse on my left.

[rebeccmeister]

Suddenly, after many, many years, I realize maybe why I never/rarely ever get into computer games is from being left-handed!