While this specific article became a meme, it is also a frequent PlayStation die-hard argument I’ve heard over the past month or two, and I really do think Starfield is doing a lot better than people think.
It’s the 2D map plane vs the “4D” map plane issue.
With the 2D plane, you can very easily see points of interest and just walk right over to them. Easy, immersive, entertaining.
Starfield has this “4D” plane of a world where you have the map full of systems to go to, that you can only get to with fast travel. And you’re not picking them because they catch your eye, they’re just dots on a map. And then you have each planet, again as places on a map, with no real indicators of interest. Then you fast travel down to the planet and find that there really is nothing of interest, which Bethesda has said is by design.
There’s no organic discovery because 1) there’s nothing to discover and 2) it’s all facilitated through maps and fast travel.
It’s the 2D map plane vs the “4D” map plane issue.
With the 2D plane, you can very easily see points of interest and just walk right over to them. Easy, immersive, entertaining.
Starfield has this “4D” plane of a world where you have the map full of systems to go to, that you can only get to with fast travel. And you’re not picking them because they catch your eye, they’re just dots on a map. And then you have each planet, again as places on a map, with no real indicators of interest. Then you fast travel down to the planet and find that there really is nothing of interest, which Bethesda has said is by design.
There’s no organic discovery because 1) there’s nothing to discover and 2) it’s all facilitated through maps and fast travel.