Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
It's typical now that the slow, restrictive intros to Bethesda RPGs like Skyrim and Fallout fail to convey the spirit of grand, open-ended adventure inherent to their massive worlds. With Starfield, their space-faring RPG, it would seem this intro problem is getting worse, not better. Let's talk about it in this Starfield analysis.
Bethesda sent over code for the premium edition of Starfield when the review embargo lifted, which provides a few days early access. This video covers the first 45 minutes or so of the game so there are no major spoilers, but viewer discretion is advised if you want to go in totally blind.
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Support the show on Patreon - patreon.com/writingongames
Podcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescast
Second Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A
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When I think of Bethesda RPGs like Skyrim and Fallout, I think of promise, of grandeur and agency as I conquer these massive open worlds unfurling before me. The intro sequences to these games, however, seem almost universally dedicated to keeping you constrained and uninspired, holding you back from the obvious strengths of these games. Further, with their new, hotly anticipated space exploration game Starfield and its front-loading of menial chores while slowly trudging through a dank mine, this problem of languid openings seems to be getting worse, rather than better.
0:00 - Bethesda struggles to open their games
0:50 - The obvious strengths of Bethesda open worlds
2:05 - Why don't the openings convey this
3:38 - Starfield's languid intro
6:15 - The Fallout game that got it right
7:10 - Things should be better than this
7:53 - Outro
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Skyrim horse shenanigans - youtube.com/watch?v=J0Ib8D2XhFs
Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - twitter.com/drazgames
#starfield #bethesda
It's typical now that the slow, restrictive intros to Bethesda RPGs like Skyrim and Fallout fail to convey the spirit of grand, open-ended adventure inherent to their massive worlds. With Starfield, their space-faring RPG, it would seem this intro problem is getting worse, not better. Let's talk about it in this Starfield analysis.
Bethesda sent over code for the premium edition of Starfield when the review embargo lifted, which provides a few days early access. This video covers the first 45 minutes or so of the game so there are no major spoilers, but viewer discretion is advised if you want to go in totally blind.
---
Support the show on Patreon - patreon.com/writingongames
Podcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescast
Second Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A
---
When I think of Bethesda RPGs like Skyrim and Fallout, I think of promise, of grandeur and agency as I conquer these massive open worlds unfurling before me. The intro sequences to these games, however, seem almost universally dedicated to keeping you constrained and uninspired, holding you back from the obvious strengths of these games. Further, with their new, hotly anticipated space exploration game Starfield and its front-loading of menial chores while slowly trudging through a dank mine, this problem of languid openings seems to be getting worse, rather than better.
0:00 - Bethesda struggles to open their games
0:50 - The obvious strengths of Bethesda open worlds
2:05 - Why don't the openings convey this
3:38 - Starfield's languid intro
6:15 - The Fallout game that got it right
7:10 - Things should be better than this
7:53 - Outro
---
Skyrim horse shenanigans - youtube.com/watch?v=J0Ib8D2XhFs
Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - twitter.com/drazgames
#starfield #bethesda
