Summary
Science fiction is a ridiculously rich and complex genre. Technically encompassing just about anything that relates to science, and not just outer space settings,the sci-fi genrerevels in diving into the biggest mysteries of the universe, and what it means to be someone or something living in it. Sci-fi is all about asking questions about what it means to be a human, how humans interact with the environment, and most importantly, how they interact with other beings that aren’t like them. Questions are at the heart of just about every piece of sci-fi media, andStarfieldis no exception.
Starfield’s opening hourimmediately asks and answers a slew of popular sci-fi questions, and sets the player on an adventure to discover the very meaning of the universe. One of the most intriguing questionsStarfieldanswers is possibly the most asked question of just about any piece of sci-fi media set in a realistic future world, and it’s one thatStarfieldwastes absolutely no time answering, unlike fellow sci-fi franchises likeMass Effect.
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Starfield Answers Questions About Earth Much Quicker Than Mass Effect
Being human and living on Earth themselves, it’s only natural that manysci-fi fans immediately question the status of Earthin whatever sci-fi media they’re consuming. There are two common answers to this question: either Earth is a thriving utopia on the forefront of the galaxy, or it’s a post-apocalyptic hellscape that humanity has never looked back on. InMass Effect, Earth falls into the former category.
TheMass Effectfranchise makes players wait a long time before they get to visit Earth themselves, but they do hear a bit about it before then. In the firstMass Effect, players will eventually uncover a codex entry that states that Earth is in the midst of entering a new golden age, where its economy, art, and culture are all thriving thanks to advancements in technology and recent alien relations. However,Mass Effect’s Earthis far from being an idyllic utopia, with the divide between poor and rich apparently being more prevalent than ever before.
InMass Effect 2, players can technically fly to Earth, but they can’t land there; they can only observe the planet from space. It takes two whole games before players finally get to visit Earth, withMass Effect 3finally being the one to bite the bullet. Admittedly, though, players don’t get to experience much of Earth for themselves, as just a few minutes into their exploration it gets cut short by a large-scale Reaper invasion.
Starfield, on the other hand, answers players' questions about Earth practically straight away. After hearing brief mentions of humanity having to leave Earth centuries ago inStarfield’s introductory mission, players can dive right into the mystery for themselves just a few minutes later. Once players have their own ship, they can go anywhere they’d like in the galaxy, and that includes Earth, located in the Sol system.
From orbit, players can see how different Earth is, having lost its atmosphere centuries ago, which has turned it into one big desert planet. Players can land just about anywhere on Earth, though landing in specific spots will reward them with the sights of decimated landmarks, like abroken-down Pyramid of Giza. Visiting the United Colonies museum on New Atlantis will also give players plenty of information about the current status of Earth and humanity, and the events that lead up to it all.
Starfieldlaunches September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
