As Todd Howard pointed out in the recent gameplay demo, Starfield is Bethesda's first new universe in 25 years, and with that lengthy amount of time between new IP comes astronomical expectations. It is set to release in 2023, and will hopefully add to Betheada's long history of quality RPG titles. It's also the closest that the studio has ever dabbled into the science fiction genre, as players will be hopping between planets as they make their way through the story.
Mass Effect is undoubtedly the top of the RPG pile when it comes to space settings, as it presents a distant future where humanity has found a way to coexist with other races to stop a giant galactic threat. It's a race against time to put an end to the Reapers, but that tale takes Commander Shepard in a number of different directions. There are a few noteworthy nightclubs in the series, and Starfield should look to mimic what they do well, as BioWare provides an excellent blueprint that Bethesda could use to further flesh out the worlds of its latest blockbuster game.
Mass Effect's Clubs Are Dense in Atmosphere
On the surface, Mass Effect may look like a run-of-the-mill sci-fi story, yet it explores interesting themes in some unexpected places. Commander Shepard can be as morally good or bad as the player wants them to be, but along the way, they will encounter some seedy personalities in questionable locations.
There are plenty of nightclubs in the series, from the overt criminality and dubiousness of Afterlife on Omega to Chora's Den in the first game that players will run into in the first few main quests. Each is not only a fun area to explore that offers a break from the heavy science fiction story, but they contribute massively to the tone of each chapter of the wider tale.
Afterlife is the chosen rest spot for Aria T'Loak, the Asari ruler of the criminally-rife Omega, and interactions with them always feel like Shepard is begrudgingly going to a place that they never truly feel in control of. Nightclubs in Mass Effect are where characters can be seen at their most authentic, away from their jobs and responsibilities and letting their hair down. Having somewhere to see the other side of the galaxy elevates not just the story, but the world in which it exists, especially when they are visually and atmospherically different from most of the other squeaky-clean locations that can be found in citadel space.
Starfield Can Follow Mass Effect's Lead, but Forge a New Path
For those who tuned in for the 45-minute gameplay showcase of Starfield, there was a lot to digest. The setting is expansive, but the impressive stuff was often the areas that hit closer to home. Neon, for example, a settlement on the aquatic planet Volii Alpha, is as its name suggests. The bright lights and enticing advertisements that line the city where "anything goes" feel like a fusion of Mass Effect 2's Omega and Cyberpunk 2077's Night City, and nightlife looks to be a key attraction there.
It would be a huge mistake for Starfield to not truly capture the full potential of its nightlife and clubs, as Mass Effect understood what they can bring to the story, even when the first game was released way back in 2007. Bethesda's new game has been a long time coming, and any RPG that demands dozens of hours to see all the sights has to be backed up with a setting worth exploring. Starfield's planets look amazing, but good character development comes from the trenches, and nightclubs that litter the land are a perfect catalyst to see all sides of a person.
Starfield releases September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.