Summary
Bethesda tends to imbue its games with a certain prestige and strong sense of character, andStarfieldis no exception. Indeed, the studio’s latest RPG, while taking place in a completely new universe, and launching on a new generation of consoles, is in many ways aligned with previous Bethesda RPG franchisesThe Elder ScrollsandFallout. Gamers may be quick to compareStarfieldto more recent Bethesda games likeSkyrimorFallout 4, but it actually shares a surprising amount of similarities withThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.
Starfield’s sci-fi cityscapes, intense gunplay, and contemporary graphics may be a far cry from what players experienced in 2006’sOblivion, but the latter game’s DNA is nonetheless present in the former. Although it may look dated by today’s standards,Oblivionwas something of a revelation when it released nearly two decades ago, offering an incredible amount of content in the form of engaging side quests and exploration, with a staggering scope. There were factions to align with, medieval cities with secrets to uncover, and a bevy of RPG systems and mechanics that could make each new playthrough feel unique.Starfieldis much more modern and sophisticated thanOblivion, but Bethesda’s 2006 RPG laid the groundwork for the game.
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Starfield’s Character Creation Stemmed from Oblivion’s
Of thefeatures thatStarfieldshares withOblivion, there’s an element of the character creation process that is one of the most striking. After players complete the typical character customization steps of tweaking physical appearance and starting stats, they will reach the “Traits” section. Those familiar withOblivionmay raise an eyebrow at this point, because the implementation of these Traits is surprisingly similar to Birthsigns inOblivion. Both Traits and Birthsigns have the potential to drastically change a player’s experience, as they grant significant stat boosts or other gameplay advantages at the cost of various debuffs or general drawbacks. In both games, these options can make for interesting and creative builds, as they go beyond basic stat or skill assignments.
Arguably, thischaracter creation option inStarfieldis a huge step beyond whatOblivionoffered. WhileOblivion’s Birthsigns could grant special bonus powers or buffs, they were far more surface-level thanStarfield’s Traits, which can potentially transform the game; there are certain traits that lock the player out of specific quest lines, or offer completely novel narrative content, like the Trait that gives players a set of parents they can interact with throughout the game. Without Birthsigns, this Traits system may not have made it into the final game.
Oblivion Walked So Starfield Could Run
There are numerous features and general design principles thatStarfieldshares withOblivion, from the ability to change camera perspective at will to the class-building elements to the persuasion mini game. Butbeyond theOblivionreferencesand specific design choices,Starfieldcarries the spirit of Bethesda games - a spirit that was arguably birthed withOblivion.
Again,Oblivionmay look dated today, but it was incredibly ambitious for its time. Coming before the more commercially successfulSkyrim,Oblivionreached for unprecedented scope, scale, and player freedom, with Todd Howard and the rest of the Bethesda team aiming for an RPG experience like no other.Oblivionintroduced or refined a number of Bethesda RPG staples, such as various factions, companions, and customization options. Without the ingenuity and enthusiastic game design ofOblivion, Bethesda games likeStarfieldwouldn’t be the same; they may not even exist in the first place.
Starfieldmay remind players how greatOblivionwas, and that’s because it is a natural evolution of the framework set by the 2006 release. The famous studio may have stumbled a bit with releases likeFallout 76, butStarfieldshows that Bethesda is still a force to be reckoned with - something thatOblivionproved all those years ago.
Starfieldis currently available on PC and Xbox Series X|S.
