Bethesda’s highly anticipated upcoming game, Starfield, has taken a departure from their traditionally fantastical themes. With a NASA-inspired aesthetic, the game seeks to establish a more realistic and grounded setting. The term “NASA-punk” has been used to describe Starfield’s appearance, which draws inspiration from the futuristic aspirations of the 60s and 70s.
Starfield belongs to the subgenre of Science Fiction known as hard sci-fi, where futuristic technology coexists with the rules and logic of present-day reality. Cryo-pods, faster-than-light travel, and the fragility of humans in space are common themes in hard sci-fi. Game director Todd Howard has emphasized Starfield’s commitment to being “more hard,” but also acknowledges the need to strike a balance between player agency and a realistic, futuristic setting.
However, recent revelations about Starfield’s economy have left fans puzzled. The concept of a spaceship being valued at the equivalent of 54 sandwiches contradicts the hard sci-fi trappings of the game. To create the NASA-adjacent experience promised in previews and trailers, Starfield will need to provide a slightly simulationist approach, making space feel like a vast and dangerous logistical nightmare.
Hard sci-fi games often overlap with the horror genre, emphasizing the unknown and highlighting the frailty of humans in the face of space exploration challenges. This portrayal aligns with the real-world risks and tragedies associated with space travel. Starfield risks straying from its design aims of high adventure and exploration if it leans too heavily into the dangers and difficulties of space.
Considering these factors, it may be more advantageous for Starfield to embrace space opera as its subgenre of choice. Space opera allows for bending the rules of physics in service of storytelling and focuses on broad strokes rather than strict realism. By shedding the fear and trepidation associated with hard sci-fi, Starfield can tell emotive stories without sacrificing its desire for adventure.
Bethesda games have previously demonstrated the ability to navigate this tension, such as Fallout 4’s combination of serious Android liberation and fantastical airship battles. Starfield must strike a similar balance by embracing its space opera side while still incorporating its modern-day space exploration aesthetics. Successfully accomplishing this will allow the game to accommodate moments of levity and maintain thematic consistency.
While the NASA-inspired aesthetic may hint at hard sci-fi elements, Starfield has the opportunity to chart its own course and deliver a captivating blend of science fiction genres. As players eagerly anticipate its release, they can look forward to embarking on a grand space adventure that balances realism with the imaginative escapades that Bethesda games are known for.
Definitions:
– NASA-punk: Referring to an aesthetic that combines NASA’s real-world space exploration imagery with elements of punk culture.
– Hard sci-fi: A subgenre of science fiction that incorporates futuristic technology while adhering to the same logic and rules of the present-day reality.
– Space opera: A subgenre of science fiction that focuses on epic storytelling, often bending the laws of physics for dramatic effect and prioritizing emotional narratives over strict realism.
Source: GameRadar (https://www.gamesradar.com/starfield-should-go-space-opera/)
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