Highlights
- While Starfield's combat is certainly fun, it could be improved with some additional mechanics.
- Starfield could benefit from implementing some of Borderlands the Pre-Sequel's unique combat features, such as low gravity environments and the butt slam attack.
- Starfield should consider making player and enemy gear destructible, as it would add depth and strategic elements to the game's space combat.
Borderlands the Pre-Sequel is generally considered the underdog of the franchise, although it still has its merits. Namely, Borderlands the Pre-Sequel introduced many new features, some of which ended up returning in Borderlands 3 and will likely be carried forward into future Borderlands games. A few of Borderlands the Pre-Sequel’s unique features were a result of the game being set in locations with either low gravity, a lack of oxygen, or both. Since some of Starfield’s explorable planets also incorporate these same elements, Starfield should consider adapting some of Borderlands the Pre-Sequel’s unique combat features.
Given that Starfield passed up on VATS from the Fallout franchise and cover mechanics, Starfield’s combat has plenty of room to grow. Stealth, weapon variety, and Boost Packs can help to make combat more interesting, but these often require a bit of an investment to have a noticeable impact. This isn’t to say that Starfield’s gunfights aren’t enjoyable, but that Starfield could benefit from adding some additional layers and variety to the player’s arsenal, and other games with space-combat like Borderlands the Pre-Sequel are a great example to learn from.
Starfield’s Combat is Missing Out on a Fun Feature
Borderlands the Pre-Sequel was the first Borderlands game to introduce Butt Slams, where players could rapidly descend from an elevated position to deal damage in a small radius. This maneuver is extremely viable, especially in environments with reduced gravity, because players could almost always execute this attack after performing a boosted jump. Not only is this attack something that players can pull off in any environment, but players can also invest in gear that buffs the butt slam with increased damage, increased attack radius, status effects, and/or a variety of other unique effects.
Not all of the explorable planets in Starfield have reduced gravity that is as noticeable or exaggerated as the planets from Borderlands the Pre-Sequel, but this is generally where Starfield’s Boost Packs shine. With the height that players can reach even with a standard Boost Pack and minimal investment in the perk required to use Boost Packs, it’s arguably a missed opportunity that Starfield doesn’t feature a butt slam attack. It may not fit in with the overall realistic tones that Starfield plays into, but a butt slam attack could potentially be a lot of fun to use, and would just need to be given a less comedic name.
Starfield Should Consider Making Player and Enemy Gear Destructible
Another feature that Starfield should consider adopting from Borderlands the Pre-Sequel is the ability to break enemy oxygen masks. Unlike how oxygen passively regenerates in Starfield, players have to manually generate their oxygen levels in Borderlands the Pre-Sequel by collecting oxygen from designated sources or consumables. This means that when players fully deplete their oxygen, they will take suffocation damage until it is replenished. However, players can weaponize this mechanic by breaking an enemy’s oxygen mask to make them take suffocation damage.
The ability to destroy enemy Boost Packs in Starfield is a fun feature, but it only scratches the surface of how destructible gear can have an impact on combat. If this kind of feature went both ways, not only would players have to maintain their space suit, helmet, and boost pack, but this could also allow players to compromise an enemy’s suit and helmet to get an upper edge in combat. Making the player’s gear destructible in any game is often a feature that receives overwhelmingly negative reactions from players, but if handled with care, it could provide an interesting layer to Starfield’s space combat. After all, players have to maintain their gear’s durability in the Fallout franchise games, and these titles strike a relatively enjoyable balance with this feature.
Neither butt slams nor destroyable oxygen masks in Borderlands the Pre-sequel are game-changers, but they prove how much variety that different planetary environments can bring to space combat in Starfield. Further, making the player’s and enemy’s gear in Starfield destructible could also bring more depth to Starfield’s gameplay.
Starfield is available now for PC and Xbox Series X/S.