Bethesda Game Studios is known for creating sprawling worlds that gamers previously would have only been able to see in movies. From the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout to the fantasy adventures of The Elder Scrolls, there's always a way for players to live out their fantasies as a hero or a villain. Now, the developer is taking things to new heights, literally, with its latest project that's been 25 years in the making: Starfield.

Not much is known about Starfield from a narrative perspective, but recent videos surrounding the title have revealed that it takes place in a universe far in the future, where various planetary colonies have endured a violent war and now hold a truce. With that peace still in an uneasy limbo, the stars are left to be charted as players embark on a space-age adventure to new worlds, featuring dangerous enemies and lush environments. To bring this world to life, an interview with the game's Lead Designer, Emil Pagliarulo, revealed that many games helped inspire this new adventure, from Cyberpunk 2077 to Marvel's Spider-Man.

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According to Pagliarulo, his admiration for these types of games come not from a particular mechanic, but instead from the overall products. For example, with Marvel's Spider-Man, he mentioned how he admired the aspects of the game that he knew were incredibly difficult to produce. However, the title made all of it feel effortless. Furthermore, it was able to tell a fantastic story as well and let players feel like they really were Spider-Man. This same aspect could also be applied to Starfield, as it has strived to create a world where players can embrace any role they want, whether that be a space-cop, pirate, or lone wanderer.

More directly, Cyberpunk 2077 showed players a massive world with Night City, where the story didn't limit the player in terms of choosing a path or identity within the game. The open-world environment of the city also spoke to Pagliarulo, as it was something that really stuck out to him. He added, "...That is no easy feat. Seriously impressive." Even now, his words have continued to ring true within the game as gamers who have played Cyberpunk 2077 were given many chances to sculpt a character that was either good or bad, a corporate employee or a crafty street hustler. There are many possibilities, and its open-ended gameplay style has been taken a step further in Starfield.

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The three Cyberpunk 2077 lifepaths

So far, Starfield has revealed that it can let players live any life they choose in this futuristic environment. However, rather than commit to one society or be a hero or villain, there's also an option to muddy the waters and make an even more complex character. For example, suppose players want to be pirates without being villains. In that case, they can operate as deep cover operatives, reporting their actions to a higher authority so that they can be taken down from within.

The gameplay could also feel immersive even from a first-person perspective, much like the Thief games, which served as another inspiration and are best known for their detailed stealth combat in a first-person environment. Essentially, the game's narrative is taking "open-ended" to a new level by offering players a chance to build their own story and backtrack or commit to a side whenever they'd like.

By the looks of it, Starfield could be the next great galactic adventure that does for sci-fi what Skyrim did for fantasy. From letting players explore new worlds and environments at their leisure to intricately detailed worlds and characters, anything is possible. With inspiration ranging from Marvel's Spider-Man to Cyberpunk 2077, it's clear the developers have done their homework and took notes on what worked (and didn't work) in each title. Ultimately, Starfield could be Bethesda's next great game thanks to the dedication of its team and the inspirations that have brought it to life.

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