OK, OK, I do know all in regards to the memes. However you possibly can say ‘lifeless recreation’ as a lot as you need and you continue to gained’t be capable of undermine one, incorruptible fact: Starfield’s Shattered Area growth seems nice. In a behind-closed-doors presentation at Xbox’s sales space at Gamescom ‘24, Bethesda gave me about quarter-hour of knowledge on the sport’s upcoming DLC pack, and I’ve to let you know: I’m offered. It truly jogged my memory of Useless Area, greater than something.
Shattered Area, which has been shrouded in thriller for a really very long time, was correctly proven off at Xbox’s Showcase in June 2024, however even after the media blowout, particular particulars in regards to the growth have been laborious to come back by. For the reason that preliminary reveal trailer, we’ve recognized that Shattered Area will take us to the house planet of Home Va’ruun – an un-fleshed out faction in the principle recreation – to analyze some type of planet-wide calamity.
However on this new showcase I noticed this morning, I’ve realized that issues are getting extra intimate on this planet. As Todd Howard outlined in an interview not lengthy after that preliminary reveal, the entire new space is ‘hand-crafted’, so the surroundings will really feel extra curated and fewer generic than a lot of the planets in the principle recreation. It’ll be open-ended; any of the quests you decide up through the DLC will allow you to faucet additional into the mysterious Home and its homeland, and also you’re arriving shortly after a large accident has occurred. The inhabitants remains to be reeling, and – like several correct RPG protagonist – you’ll be the one to select up the items.
When it comes to gameplay, although, that’s the place issues get actually fascinating so far as I’m involved. “We wish to lean in on the thriller and horror features of Starfield”, says a developer through the deep dive. He notes that the principle recreation was open, and relied closely on long-range firefights the place fight may very well be resolved with out ever getting up shut and private. In Shattered Area, “we wish to shut that distance.”
What adopted was a sizzle reel of chain weapons, melee weapons, and close-range firefights. I do know there was loads of criticism of how melee and unarmed labored and felt within the base recreation, so it looks as if Bethesda is doing what it may possibly to handle this within the DLC. In fact, which means that the religious-themed locales – all chapels and pillars and monuments – will likely be set as much as favour short-ranged fights. A few of the arenas outright regarded like Doom ranges.
These set-pieces are seemingly interconnected with tight corridors and blind corners; count on leap scares and in-your-face fights. It couldn’t be extra separate from the open exapnses and sniper nests of Starfield itself, and I vibe with that. Selection is the spice of life, in spite of everything.
Additional to that Useless Area comparability, a ‘space-time occasion’ has brought about little pockets of zero-G to spring up throughout Home Va’ruun’s dwelling planet, which implies that a few of the traversal and exploration can have you dithering in regards to the air, and utilizing your maths mind to determine some pretty-looking environmental platforming. The way it’ll deal with is one other factor altogether, however hey; Bethesda will get factors for creativity right here.
It was solely a fast, hands-off video, however I got here out of my first Gamescom ‘24 appointment impressed. For these gamers which have caught to the sport, that is one thing very completely different to gasoline their fiending, and for people who have lapsed (like me, admittedly), it’s bought sufficient hooks to claw you again. Color me intrigued; if that is the way forward for Starfield, Bethesda could have what it takes to rewrite the legacy of its best-performing recreation at launch.
Shattered Area arrives September 30 on PC, and Xbox Sequence X/S. It gained’t be Starfield’s solely growth, and Xbox is probably going hoping it may possibly breathe a little bit of life into one in every of 2023’s most divisive titles.A brand new free replace for the sport additionally arrived final night time and it lastly allows you to drive about on the floor of planets in a moon buggy.