Over the last few months, the developer has revealed intriguing details like Starfield’s varied array of joinable factions, the in-depth character creator, the individualized origin stories, and the highly-customizable spaceships players can fly. Starfield also has an ambitiously large scope filled with hundreds of planets to explore which should hopefully keep players entertained for hours. One of the earliest aspects that Bethesda spoke about was the game’s aesthetic, which it described as NASA-punk – a design style that could help set Starfield apart from other titles.
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NASA Punk Explained
Due to Starfield being Bethesda’s first new IP in over twenty-five years, it was bound to generate a lot of buzz regardless of its features. Thankfully it seems like the upcoming title has more than enough aspects to warrant the high level of interest, even if it remains to be seen if it can live up to the hype. Players have been lapping up every new bit of info released about Starfield, and since the start of the year the developers have been increasingly candid about what the game entails. These updates and new details have included behind-the-scenes developer videos, screenshots, and an extensive look at gameplay during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase.
One of the first tidbits that fans were given was an indication of what kind of look and feel Starfield was going for. Lead artist Istvan Pely explained the game’s NASA-punk aesthetic as a more realistic approach to sci-fi than games might usually employ. The aim throughout the new title’s development was to create items, environments, and cosmetics that seemed more grounded and relatable, and that could conceivably be a part of a near-ish future rather than the slicker futuristic designs seen in games like Mass Effect or the colorful and highly-stylized look of No Man’s Sky.
Starfield’s Design
From what has been shown of Starfield so far, it seems like this dedication to realism and practicality is all going towards creating as immersive an experience as possible. Bethesda has also spoken about its intentions towards character interactions, and how the use of intricate dialogue systems and complex facial animations is also working toward an authentic and captivating visual experience. These are important elements of creating an engrossing role-playing game, and given Starfield’s reliance on player-driven stories, making each aspect as in-depth and authentic as possible is vital.
Starfield is aiming to be a nuanced exploration of how humanity could realistically exist in space, and what that kind of interplanetary society would actually look like. The NASA-punk aesthetic ties in perfectly with this goal, referencing and possibly using current space-faring technology for inspiration while still putting its own spin on it. While that encompasses the ‘NASA’ part of it, the ‘punk’ bit suggests more of an irreverent, rebellious, and DIY dimension. This would combine the realism of space technology with the necessary adjustments and adaptability that people would need to inject into it for a varied and challenging life amongst the stars.
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How It Sets Starfield Apart
There are games that have used a similar sort of look as the one that Starfield seems to be striving for. Games like Alien: Isolation employed a grittier, well-used aesthetic to its ships and items, inspired by the design of the 1979 film. Star Wars films and games have also occasionally used a comparable look, like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which has an aesthetic that calls to mind the grimier side of sci-fi. However, even though these games utilize a design that is arguably more realistic than a shinier, cleaner look, they still feel alien and out of reach.
This is where Starfield sets itself apart. Some games may have a more-lived in feel to their environments and ships, and this makes them feel much more realistic than the barely touched vibe of some sci-fi settings, but Starfield is presenting a space-faring society that doesn’t feel that far away from the player’s own. Starfield armor concepts and characters designs that have been revealed so far show the ‘mend-and-make-do’ punk part of the aesthetic, as humans struggle to survive on the fringes of space and beyond the protection (or control) of the United Colonies.
Some players think that Starfield’s NASA-punk aesthetic will have a lot of significance with regard to its plot. With so much thought and detail present in the game’s design, it makes sense that aspects of it will bleed into the narrative and themes of Starfield as well. Bethesda is creating a whole new universe, and building that world from the ground up is an exciting opportunity to inject a specific viewpoint into every aspect of a game. While the trailers have shown off some more mysterious alien technology that players will have to get to the bottom of as they explore the variety of systems and planets, it seems the majority of Starfield’s tech fits into its NASA-punk realism.
While some may think that Starfield’s preoccupation with realism is intriguing, it does mean that some of the more fantastical elements of space-faring sci-fi might not make an appearance. Alien creatures have been seen in Starfield’s gameplay clips, but so far there haven’t been any signs of intelligent aliens or other sentient life. This could be an excellent addition to Starfield’s story, and would add another layer to the challenges of trying to survive in space and cultivate a functioning society. However, with a focus on the realistic aspects of space living, Starfield can explore a much more nuanced and complex narrative around relatable human experiences and attempts to carve out a niche in a challenging environment.
Starfield is scheduled to release in 2023 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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