• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Starfield has 'Mixed' reviews on Steam (Up: 'Recent' reviews are Mostly Negative)

Ginzeen

Banned
The streets never forget the state in which Bethesda launch their games in.

They should release the games that the players want, not leave it up to the modders to do the work.

This review said it best:

8JNyZ0w.jpg

AAyh6y7.jpg


They released a game in PC without a FOV slider for goodness sake. The landscape is not the same as when oblivion and fallout 3 released, they can't get away with it on the platform like they once could.
Nah bro. I like Starfield. Got 90 hours on that bad boy. Still didnt finish the main quest. Its loaded to the ceiling with side content. The game release was fine. Wasn't a buggy mess like usual. Mods don't fix the game. The game can stand alone without mods like all their games. Mods just enhanced the experience. Bethesda got the best Triple A gaming single player mod scene in the business.
 
Last edited:

GHG

Gold Member
Nah bro. I like Starfield. Got 90 hours on that bad boy. Still didnt finish the main quest. Its loaded to the ceiling with side content. The game release was fine. Wasn't a buggy mess like usual. Mods don't fix the game. The game can stand alone without mods like all their games. Mods just enhanced the experience. Bethesda got the best Triple A gaming single player mod scene in the business.

Except the people who are playing it say it doesn't.

Happy Adam Scott GIF by Sky


Coming up to a million downloads on a user interface mod on nexus alone should be enough to tell you they haven't done their job appropriately:

 
Last edited:

Ginzeen

Banned
Except the people who are playing it say it doesn't.

Happy Adam Scott GIF by Sky


Coming up to a million downloads on a user interface mod on nexus alone should be enough to tell you they haven't done their job appropriately:

What do they say? Theirs plenty of people that like the game how it is 🤷‍♂️. Okay a user interface mod getting a million downloads is cool. What about it? Starfield UI is fine. Again, mods enhance the experience
 
Cyberpunk 20277 was fixed. No man's sky is getting better each update. I can understand your opinion. The same way that some people don't like Death Stranding( poor people). But I hope that it will change.

This game doesn't belong to same category as Cyberpunk or No Man's Sky.

Neither is it niche like Death Stranding.

Its full fledged title. Story focused title set amidst 1000 planets. With systems upon systems.

You will loose 100s of hours if you get hooked by the systems.
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
This update means that Starfield is now officially the worst-reviewed Bethesda game on Steam, with the highest negative review percentage from verified buyers on Steam.

Negative Reviews Percentages of Bethesda Games:
  1. Starfield (27.53%)
  2. Fallout 76 (27.51%)
  3. Fallout 3 (20.69%)
  4. Fallout 4 (17.40%)
  5. ESV: Skyrim (5.1%)
  6. Morrowind (4.64%)
  7. Oblivion (4.39%)
It is also interesting to note a sharp decline in Bethesda's games' Steam user reviews in the last decade.

Until Skyrim, the percentage of negative reviews was between 4% and 5%. In the last decade, it has been hovering between 17% and 28%. This may indicate a general decline in the quality of Bethesda games and its disconnect with their most loyal audience group, PC gamers.
Lol no there wasn’t anyone on the internet before oblivion to give a review. Hell steam didn’t exist when oblivion came out. 😵‍💫
 

Ginzeen

Banned
If it were "fine" then it wouldn't necessitate:

A) the creation of such a mod

And:

B) such a mod being downloaded so much
False. Mods enhanced the experience. Just because people make mods and they become popular, doesn't mean the vanilla experience before the mod was bad. Strange logic you're using.
 
Last edited:

GHG

Gold Member
False. Mods enhanced the experience. Just because people make mods and they become popular, doesn't mean the vanilla experience of the mod was bad. Strange logic you're using.

People say the vanilla experience is currently worse than Fallout 76.

Pick your poison.
 

EDMIX

Member
This game doesn't belong to same category as Cyberpunk or No Man's Sky.

Neither is it niche like Death Stranding.

Its full fledged title. Story focused title set amidst 1000 planets. With systems upon systems.

You will loose 100s of hours if you get hooked by the systems.

Agreed.

I was just going to say, this can only really fit with those games launches if Starfield launched without space battles or you can't customize the ship, ideas that make sense for a world the developer is trying to sell based on its narrative.

So Starfield having ship that can fly, shoot, steal and board make sense to the narrtaive

Just like having Cops and gangs drive and rob cars and shot at you make sense to have at launch in Cyberpunk. Its simply too much of a core element of the narrative that makes no sense to lack for 3 years.

With No Man Sky, the enemy worm stuff and no MP was a big deal, but its core idea was still pretty intact.

I don't see Starfield in any of those groups, its design and concept is what Bethesda very much marketed and its elements make sense for this type of title, loading be damned lol
 

EDMIX

Member
That's their opinion. I disagree. Fallout 76 was in 50s for a while. The true score will be shown once the dust settles.

I mean, that makes sense for an online MMO game, its concept is progress in nature and will continue to add on to, this is a single player title.

I think its score will likely stick and thats ok mind you, its a solid score and reflects what the game is well. If they need 3 or 4 years of updates to get a better score, you have to question why even release the game now if they are not done? So I think the years of updates should be to add on to this concept that already exist. More quest, different ships, more people to marry etc

In that respect, anyone who doesn't like Starfield now, I doubt will like it with more of the same or something.
 

GHG

Gold Member
That's their opinion. I disagree. Fallout 76 was in 50s for a while. The true score will be shown once the dust settles.

Previously it was once they opimisise the game, bugs get fixed and mods release:

Sure. But it won't be that for long. Bethesda games get better over time. We still need the optimization and bug fixes patch, the shatter space expansion and the mod tools release. Starfield will have big strong legs.

Now it's just "when the dust settles".

Which is it?
 

Ginzeen

Banned
I mean, that makes sense for an online MMO game, its concept is progress in nature and will continue to add on to, this is a single player title.

I think its score will likely stick and thats ok mind you, its a solid score and reflects what the game is well. If they need 3 or 4 years of updates to get a better score, you have to question why even release the game now if they are not done? So I think the years of updates should be to add on to this concept that already exist. More quest, different ships, more people to marry etc

In that respect, anyone who doesn't like Starfield now, I doubt will like it with more of the same or something.
i disagree. Starfield is just getting started. Expect plenty of updates and patches. They also have expansions planned for the game and the release of mod tools. Bethesda mod scene is pretty unique. So Starfield should have strong legs.
 

Ginzeen

Banned
Previously it was once they opimisise the game, bugs get fixed and mods release:



Now it's just "when the dust settles".

Which is it?
Dust settles means when Bethesda is not really updating the game with new content and they move on to Elder Scrolls 6. So its all of the above.
 

Bernoulli

M2 slut
This update means that Starfield is now officially the worst-reviewed Bethesda game on Steam, with the highest negative review percentage from verified buyers on Steam.

Negative Reviews Percentages of Bethesda Games:
  1. Starfield (27.53%)
  2. Fallout 76 (27.51%)
  3. Fallout 3 (20.69%)
  4. Fallout 4 (17.40%)
  5. ESV: Skyrim (5.1%)
  6. Morrowind (4.64%)
  7. Oblivion (4.39%)
It is also interesting to note a sharp decline in Bethesda's games' Steam user reviews in the last decade.

Until Skyrim, the percentage of negative reviews was between 4% and 5%. In the last decade, it has been hovering between 17% and 28%. This may indicate a general decline in the quality of Bethesda games and its disconnect with their most loyal audience group, PC gamers.
Frustrated World Cup GIF
 

Ginzeen

Banned
So basically in 3-4 years time?

That's not the "dust settling" my man, that's atmospheric formation.
nahhhhhhh. I say a year tops. They want all hands on deck on ES6 as soon as possible. Fallout 4 got all their dlc and mod tools in just a year.
 
  • Empathy
Reactions: GHG
Review scores can go up. It won't be the worst reviewed Bethesda game on steam in the future. Ya digg?
The problem with that is, people won't give a crap if they even fix the problems. They'll move on to new games. Also, after the whole Fallout 76 disaster, people have lost trust in Bethesda. Could potentially hurt them when Elder Scrolls 6 comes out.
 
Last edited:

EDMIX

Member
i disagree. Starfield is just getting started. Expect plenty of updates and patches. They also have expansions planned for the game and the release of mod tools. Bethesda mod scene is pretty unique. So Starfield should have strong legs.

Nah, those expansions are to merely "expand" upon an existing idea.

No expansions from Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout 3, New Vegas etc magically made the game radically different, they merely added on to an existing concept.

I believe that we will see lots of quality of life updates, lots of patches and sure, expansions....I don't see that altering that score to a massive degree though. It didn't for Fallout 4 btw

Look at Assassins Creed, look at the people who absolutely hate that IP....now tell them tons of DLC will come out and they will have hundreds of more hours of content, what score did you see fucking change based on that with those RPG ones? lol

I think it will have strong post launch support, but I think its foundation is set and its concept is intact. Those that dislike the general idea of this game, I don't think will magically ignore all of it based on some DLC.
 

Heisenberg007

Gold Journalism
The problem with that is, people won't give a crap if they even fix the problems. They'll move on to new games. Also, after the whole Fallout 76 disaster, people have lost trust in Bethesda. Could potentially hurt them when Elder Scrolls 6 comes out.
The bigger problem with Bethesda is that they are not moving fast enough with the rest of the industry.

They were special back in 2000s, but then the rest of the industry leapfrogged them, and BGS is still stuck in the 7th generation: their engine is outdated, they still have the same 2011 bugs, their visuals do not look at par with modern AAAs, the games are still janky, etc.

When ES6 releases (at the turn of next Gen10 consoles), I suspect these problems will remain, and the industry would have made an even bigger jump with AAA games.
 

Ginzeen

Banned
Nah, those expansions are to merely "expand" upon an existing idea.

No expansions from Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout 3, New Vegas etc magically made the game radically different, they merely added on to an existing concept.

I believe that we will see lots of quality of life updates, lots of patches and sure, expansions....I don't see that altering that score to a massive degree though. It didn't for Fallout 4 btw

Look at Assassins Creed, look at the people who absolutely hate that IP....now tell them tons of DLC will come out and they will have hundreds of more hours of content, what score did you see fucking change based on that with those RPG ones? lol

I think it will have strong post launch support, but I think its foundation is set and its concept is intact. Those that dislike the general idea of this game, I don't think will magically ignore all of it based on some DLC.

Expansions don't have to radically change the game to be great. Expansions can bring in new players and bring back existing players. Again 76 was in the 50s and now in the 70s. Why? Because of adding new content and fixing bugs and optimizations. Starfield will have big strong meaty legs during its life cycle. Based on reasons already stated. Let's agree to disagree. I'm not interested in going in circles.
 
Nah, those expansions are to merely "expand" upon an existing idea.

No expansions from Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout 3, New Vegas etc magically made the game radically different, they merely added on to an existing concept.

I believe that we will see lots of quality of life updates, lots of patches and sure, expansions....I don't see that altering that score to a massive degree though. It didn't for Fallout 4 btw

Look at Assassins Creed, look at the people who absolutely hate that IP....now tell them tons of DLC will come out and they will have hundreds of more hours of content, what score did you see fucking change based on that with those RPG ones? lol

I think it will have strong post launch support, but I think its foundation is set and its concept is intact. Those that dislike the general idea of this game, I don't think will magically ignore all of it based on some DLC.

I agree with this.

If you don't like Bethesda games, this won't change that.

It's a system driven game. Very different from story driven game like Witcher 3.

If you enjoy deep narrative, writing that mimics real world, you won't find it here.

If however, you want a good degree of flexibility in how you create your character, good number of gameplay systems ranging from jet packs to weapon modding/armour modding to physics based situations like zero G to specialising space craft building/flying to specialising in resource collection and making use via projects, this is the game for you.

It opens up new abilities and perks for your character at regular basis and challenge system means you are actually invested in developing your character. You actually role play. Something very rare to find in RPGs.
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
Steam existed (September 12th, 2003) a few years before Oblivion released (March 20th, 2006)

if you had said Morrowind yes you’d have been right (May 1st, 2002)
Oblivion didnt release on steam until 2009 with a GOTY edition though which was the actual point my sleep deprived brain was trying to make.

you can't measure a non release average again a release average because the people buying off release are more the people who already have it and like it enough to buy it again.
 

tmlDan

Member
Absolutely. There is a base to like, but the execution it’s lacking. Some factions have good moments in their quests, building ships it’s fun. But at the end of the day the whole in game universe doesn’t make sense and you are not making any real exploring.
And the main quest it’s an insult to the fact they sold this game as NASA Punk.
The story....just falls so flat, I won't spoil it but like....what? I understand what they were going for, i really do, but it happens so fast there's was no impact on me whatsoever. Even the big "moment" where everything changes is just like..."okay?"

Also, talking to your "friends" before your final decision fell so flat i was shocked.
 

StereoVsn

Member
Thats subjected to change because Starfield is very early in its life cycle. Theirs plenty of stuff coming for that game. your post is fine for now, but in the future....oh boy.
Might as well wait a year or two then for them to fix it up (may never happen), release DLCs and for mods to improve.

Then you can grab the game at $30, get Wabberjack or Mod collection from Nexus, tweak and be g2g. What's not justified is current state of the game vs it's price. It was the same thing with Cyberpunk and NMS. Basically the most loyal customers got loyally ripped off.

Hence the crappy Steam and Xbox reviews (worse than Steam ones mind you).

Edit: Speaking of Cyberpunk. Looks like 2.0 patch is buggy so expect same with DLC. And they sneaked in level scaling. Will also wait on this one then.

main-qimg-27c097571f2b094ce602311d41dfafc4-lq
 
Last edited:

yurinka

Member
Isn't that the same team that's making Fable? So how'd they leave if that game is still in production?
No, it's a separate team. They were the team who made the Forza Horizon games at the original PlayGround studio/office. There's a new second Playground office built for Fable with a new team, only overviewed by the original Playground studio.
 

twilo99

Member
This an absolute horrible game. If you value your time DO NOT try to play this, hours of your life will simply vanish without explanation.. it’s an eerie experience, so please take my advice and stay away.
 

RGB'D

Member
The streets never forget the state in which Bethesda launch their games in.

They should release the games that the players want, not leave it up to the modders to do the work.

This review said it best:

8JNyZ0w.jpg

AAyh6y7.jpg


They released a game in PC without a FOV slider for goodness sake. The landscape is not the same as when oblivion and fallout 3 released, they can't get away with it on the platform like they once could.
Yeah this review did not say it best. If it's not worth playing, why the fuck put in 178.3 hours??? Just stop fucking playing... my time is worth a whole hell of a lot more than 70$.
 
Thoughts.

I’ve been enjoying Starwoke so far apart from all the loading. It’s relentless. The combat is good though the enemy AI is practically nonexistent. I adore the setting and the game does convey an admirable sense of wonder when setting off a cross the stars. Visuals are good, sometimes great thought the low frame-rate is a problem in faster paced scenes. Not to obsess but the game, at times, plays like a struggle session. A constant barrage of Karens complaining and using me as an emotional dumping ground. So much so I have started unintentionally tuning them out. Not to bash anyone over the head but the old ‘diversity and inclusion’ initiative really was in full swing with this one. There was actually a point during play when I counted 13 female contacts in a row across multiple missions. You know, go talk to this person… woman, go help that person... woman, go kill some other person… woman, it was noticeable and had me feeling like I was drowning in estrogen. The menus are somewhat poorly implemented. They seem fine at first but become rather tedious to navigate the more hours you spend in the game. Being overburdened in this game is pretty much a default state. It restricts fast travel and ends up being more of an annoyance than an interesting mechanism.

In summary, playimg this game is like being in a dysfunctional relationship; you know it isn’t working, you know it won’t last, but you feel somewhat obligated to see things through… if only not to squander the time you have already invested.
 
Last edited:

Mondai

Member
It’s a good game just not the revolutionary game most people were expecting (hence the disappointment).Any game that needs mods to make it better is not a great game…so Starfield is merely a good game :p
 

PotatoBoy

Member
Starfield is the worst RPG I have ever played. The top review of steam already covers it well. Someone should do a serious psychiatric study of people who enjoy it and figure out what it is that allows them to suspend disbelief to such a degree as to claim to find pleasure in this puerile uninspired trash heap. I am guessing that it's because they aren't really enjoying it as a work of art, rather they are using it for some hidden masturbatory purpose, like hoarding random shit or role-playing a serial killer. Similar to Fire Emblem "fans" who are just there to breed their party members.
 

Yonyx

Banned
Starfield is the worst RPG I have ever played. The top review of steam already covers it well. Someone should do a serious psychiatric study of people who enjoy it and figure out what it is that allows them to suspend disbelief to such a degree as to claim to find pleasure in this puerile uninspired trash heap. I am guessing that it's because they aren't really enjoying it as a work of art, rather they are using it for some hidden masturbatory purpose, like hoarding random shit or role-playing a serial killer. Similar to Fire Emblem "fans" who are just there to breed their party members.
I was in complete agreement with you until you mentioned Fire Emblem xD
 

Daneel Elijah

Gold Member
LMAO this is the Bethesda that re-released Skyrim 5 times in 10 years and the 5th release had the same bugs unfixed as the first release
But they have been under new management! Xbox loves to give us bugged games like halo and they fix them eventually, right?
I prefer being optimistic and if there is no upgrades there is a lot of great games to play. Their loss.
 
Last edited:

James Sawyer Ford

Gold Member
I agree with this.

If you don't like Bethesda games, this won't change that.

It's a system driven game. Very different from story driven game like Witcher 3.

If you enjoy deep narrative, writing that mimics real world, you won't find it here.

If however, you want a good degree of flexibility in how you create your character, good number of gameplay systems ranging from jet packs to weapon modding/armour modding to physics based situations like zero G to specialising space craft building/flying to specialising in resource collection and making use via projects, this is the game for you.

It opens up new abilities and perks for your character at regular basis and challenge system means you are actually invested in developing your character. You actually role play. Something very rare to find in RPGs.

Problem is that a systems driven game should have good systems.

Starfield has bad systems.
 

EDMIX

Member
Problem is that a systems driven game should have good systems.

Starfield has bad systems.

Starfield has systems that are good and makes sense....for like 2007

Keep in mind, I fucking love that shit, but I'm also aware it has issues and problems and a better can be created to better reinforce the narrative. I can't force anyone to love what I love, I get that I enjoy many of their RPGs, but they are not without fault. That format should have been greatly updated with Starfield, not merely the exact same set up. That may have worked for new consumers in 2007, that shit starts to make even less sense 2023.

Me being a massive fan doesn't give an excuse to have such dated design as if they are keeping it old to help me or something lol I merely excuse based on my personal love of their games, but I will still give a score of a 7 if I feel the game really is that for most people. So I'm one of those that scores based on generally how I feel objectively and not as much personally or emotionally. So....I can't give this game a 10/10 just cause I fucking love their games lol I got to be honest and respect that everyone isn't a fan of this teams games and shouldn't be to enjoy this game. Its absurd and makes it sound like its ok to just have dated design cause someone else likes it or something lol

If you put me in a room with Todd, he is getting the fucking business on this games issues and designs that need to corrected.

I like the game enough to want its future titles to actually make more sense. I don't like any IP enough to lie about obvious issues.
 

Admerer

Member
I'm going to join the conversation by adding that Starfield is to Bethesda what Cyberpunk 2077 is to CD Projekt Red.

Both companies coming off very successful sequels and trying to create a new game from ground up using tools and engines design for their previously developed games.
A lot of development time and money was probably just spent on storyline, artwork, game design, and just creating a vision for a new AAA game series to an actual releasable product.

In my opinion, both companies failed at their goals, but it's understandable why.
The Witcher 3 took two prequels before it became the great game that it is and Skyrim was also a sequel that heavily benefited from its prequels.

My point is, Bethesda can now look at what worked (and what didn't) with Starfield and release a much better and polished sequel in the future, same with CD Projekt Red and Cyberpunk sequels.

I think we are partially to blame for over-hyping games beyond reasonable expectations, if we want "perfection" on the first try then we'll end up with a lot more Star Citizen like development timelines.
 
Problem is that a systems driven game should have good systems.

Starfield has bad systems.

I get this. This is a core complaint from those who are not fans of Bethesda games. I was one of them. But something changed during my Fallout 3 playthrough. When I had to make a build around stealth + VATS cause core gunplay was unusable. And it worked beautifully.

Not saying everyone should love their games. But once it clicks, it clicks.
 
Top Bottom