Starfield’s recent delay puts it on track to release sometime in 2023, but the futuristic game is taking inspiration from another, aging Bethesda RPG, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Bethesda’s past few releases were marked by the studio’s steps away from the RPG systems and mechanics that put them on the map, and Starfield will compete with The Outer Worlds 2, the upcoming sci-fi RPG from Obsidian. Hardcore fans are undoubtedly curious if Starfield will also go that route. Some of the game’s lead developers got together for an update video to discuss how it's taking cues from previous releases like Oblivion, a good sign for lovers of the classic RPG experience.
One notable aspect of Oblivion that the developers mention drawing from is its persuasion mini-game. The goal of the mini-game is to gain the trust of NPCs. The game tracks NPCs' dispositions for the player on a scale of zero to 100, with 100 meaning an Oblivion NPC, which are much less convincing than Starfield's realistic character models, adores the player. Player choices and reputation affect where the disposition level begins, so some players may need to work harder to make a good impression on an NPC. The mini-game is round-based, and in each round, the player must choose the correct action from the persuasion wheel to raise disposition. In true RPG fashion, the player’s skill sets can alter the difficulty. For example, players with a high speechcraft level, or those who use charm spells, can make the mini-game easier.
The Bethesda Softworks development update video on YouTube explains that while the team drew inspiration from this system, the one Starfield will feature is going to have more depth and rely on player choice. Director Todd Howard further mentions how the players character’s background, traits, and stats are a focal point and will influence encounters across the game. This is a good sign that Starfield’s skills and traits, compared to Skyrim's and Fallout 4's, may be more meaningful, which notably put dialog choices on the back burner. It also hints that branching dialog systems may play a prominent role in the game’s narrative.
Starfield Seems To Use Bethesda’s Best RPG Mechanics
Another positive point in the development video is Howard’s mention of Bethesda’s older mechanics. He points to other games that have come out in recent years that have implemented hardcore RPG systems that impacted the way the story unfolds. He goes on to say how Bethesda’s older games created some of these mechanics, and with Starfield, the team aims to do those again in a new way. The devs have also confirmed that Starfield will include Fallout 4’s best feature: base building. Taking the best aspects of the studio’s recent games and combining them with the iconic systems of their older titles bodes well for Starfield.
Bethesda appears to be going to great lengths to ensure Starfield will be a true hardcore RPG in the manner of the studio’s older releases like Oblivion. This is an excellent step in regaining the favor of fans who may not have enjoyed the more straightforward approaches of Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. It also gives Bethesda time to hone this philosophy, which will almost certainly benefit The Elder Scrolls 6, the next project on Bethesda’s docket. Players will likely see more updates from Starfield in the coming months, as more gameplay systems are shown off leading up to release next year.
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Source: Bethesda Softworks/YouTube