Highlights
- Starfield shares similarities with Bethesda's previous RPG franchises, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, but also draws inspiration from The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.
- The character creation process in Starfield, particularly the Traits system, is reminiscent of the Birthsigns in Oblivion, but with more depth and potential impact on gameplay.
- Oblivion played a significant role in shaping the foundation and spirit of Bethesda games, and without its ambitious design and innovation, Starfield and other Bethesda games may not exist in their current form.
Bethesda tends to imbue its games with a certain prestige and strong sense of character, and Starfield is no exception. Indeed, the studio's latest RPG, while taking place in a completely new universe, and launching on a new generation of consoles, is in many ways aligned with previous Bethesda RPG franchises The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Gamers may be quick to compare Starfield to more recent Bethesda games like Skyrim or Fallout 4, but it actually shares a surprising amount of similarities with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.
Starfield's sci-fi cityscapes, intense gunplay, and contemporary graphics may be a far cry from what players experienced in 2006's Oblivion, but the latter game's DNA is nonetheless present in the former. Although it may look dated by today's standards, Oblivion was something of a revelation when it released nearly two decades ago, offering an incredible amount of content in the form of engaging side quests and exploration, with a staggering scope. There were factions to align with, medieval cities with secrets to uncover, and a bevy of RPG systems and mechanics that could make each new playthrough feel unique. Starfield is much more modern and sophisticated than Oblivion, but Bethesda's 2006 RPG laid the groundwork for the game.
Starfield's Character Creation Stemmed from Oblivion's
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Of the features that Starfield shares with Oblivion, there's an element of the character creation process that is one of the most striking. After players complete the typical character customization steps of tweaking physical appearance and starting stats, they will reach the "Traits" section. Those familiar with Oblivion may raise an eyebrow at this point, because the implementation of these Traits is surprisingly similar to Birthsigns in Oblivion. Both Traits and Birthsigns have the potential to drastically change a player's experience, as they grant significant stat boosts or other gameplay advantages at the cost of various debuffs or general drawbacks. In both games, these options can make for interesting and creative builds, as they go beyond basic stat or skill assignments.
Arguably, this character creation option in Starfield is a huge step beyond what Oblivion offered. While Oblivion's Birthsigns could grant special bonus powers or buffs, they were far more surface-level than Starfield's Traits, which can potentially transform the game; there are certain traits that lock the player out of specific quest lines, or offer completely novel narrative content, like the Trait that gives players a set of parents they can interact with throughout the game. Without Birthsigns, this Traits system may not have made it into the final game.
Oblivion Walked So Starfield Could Run
There are numerous features and general design principles that Starfield shares with Oblivion, from the ability to change camera perspective at will to the class-building elements to the persuasion mini game. But beyond the Oblivion references and specific design choices, Starfield carries the spirit of Bethesda games - a spirit that was arguably birthed with Oblivion.
Again, Oblivion may look dated today, but it was incredibly ambitious for its time. Coming before the more commercially successful Skyrim, Oblivion reached for unprecedented scope, scale, and player freedom, with Todd Howard and the rest of the Bethesda team aiming for an RPG experience like no other. Oblivion introduced or refined a number of Bethesda RPG staples, such as various factions, companions, and customization options. Without the ingenuity and enthusiastic game design of Oblivion, Bethesda games like Starfield wouldn't be the same; they may not even exist in the first place.
Starfield may remind players how great Oblivion was, and that's because it is a natural evolution of the framework set by the 2006 release. The famous studio may have stumbled a bit with releases like Fallout 76, but Starfield shows that Bethesda is still a force to be reckoned with - something that Oblivion proved all those years ago.
Starfield is currently available on PC and Xbox Series X|S.