Todd Howard shares insights on the mixed reviews surrounding Starfield, attributing them to the game's departure from the familiar Elder Scrolls formula. Read on to find out more about what he said, what exactly reviewers are saying, and the discourse between Bethesda fans.

Bethesda's Executive Producer Addresses Starfield's Reception

Departure from Traditional Style Sparks Critique Beyond Gameplay

Todd Howard, director and executive producer at Bethesda, shared with Kinda Funny last Monday that he believes he understands the divisive nature of Starfield. He attributes this to its departure from Bethesda's usual style, stating that many players have distinct expectations for Bethesda games. According to Howard, some players express disappointment because Starfield doesn't align with their desired gameplay experience, preferring the familiar exploration style found in Fallout or Elder Scrolls games.

However, this perspective may not fully capture the sentiment, as evidenced by the reviews of Starfield on Steam. The prevailing concern among most players isn't solely its departure from previous Bethesda titles, but rather its deficiency in captivating visuals and narrative depth. Additionally, some reviewers have highlighted a perceived repetitiveness in gameplay across recent Bethesda releases. One reviewer even pointed out that Bethesda appears to be recycling old ideas and mechanics, hoping that players won't notice.

Furthermore, criticisms extend to the game's aesthetics. As stated in Game8’s own review, the creative direction, particularly the art and music, is described as bland and safe. Todd Howard's mention of aiming for a "NASA-punk" aesthetic with Starfield, reminiscent of the Space Race, didn't resonate well with some players. Instead, the implementation of this aesthetic was perceived as generic. Our reviewer likened it to the "We have 'X' at home" meme, suggesting that Bethesda's interpretation of a NASA-punk spacefaring civilization in Starfield falls short of expectations.

Discourse About Bethesda's Quality Recently

Several Bethesda game enthusiasts have turned to Reddit to express their dissatisfaction and explore the reasons behind the recent decline in the quality of Bethesda's games. The discourse continued with contrasting viewpoints: "Did they just somehow forget how to make good games? Did they get too ambitious? Maybe they just need to scale things back and focus on making something simple and quality instead of trying to be everything to everyone?" as questioned by a Reddit user.

Another user weighed in, "I think it’s more that the industry moved on and they’ve kind of stayed in their lane. People think their engine is outdated and their quest writing hasn’t evolved to compete with CDPR or Larian. I think they still make a good RPG but some time off to revamp the engine and getting some new writers in there would get them back on the right track."

While Starfield faces valid critique, there are still those who continue to place trust in Bethesda's capabilities. This trust may explain Todd Howard's steadfastness in his decisions, acknowledging that trade-offs are inevitable in game development to shape the desired experience.

Source:
Kinda Funny Interview
PC Gamer Article
Steam Review
Reddit Discourse

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Allisandra Reyes

I find joy in the adrenaline rush of horror games, but my thrill-seeking doesn't stop there. Beyond the digital realm, I like to take on the role of designated GM in TTRPGs.