511: Brendon Bigley: Starfield, Super Mario Wonder Direct, Sony PS Plus Price increase, Volition shuts down, Lenovo's Legion Go
Sep 4, 2023
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Podcaster and video game enthusiast Brendon Bigley joins Jeff and Christian to discuss Nintendo's Super Mario Wonder, Sony PS Plus price increase, Volition shutting down, Lenovo's Legion Go, and a deep dive into Starfield.
Starfield has the potential to become a significant pillar for Bethesda and make a significant impact in the gaming world.
Starfield offers a unique and satisfying journey for those who embrace its vast world with unexpected encounters and immersive environmental storytelling.
Starfield combines RPG elements with an ambitious scale, providing players with unparalleled freedom and agency.
The skill tree in Starfield allows players to invest in the same skills multiple times, offering unique role-playing opportunities and enhancing gameplay mechanics.
Deep dives
Starfield: An Immersive Experience in Bethesda's Universe
Starfield is a highly anticipated game that has been in development for a decade. As a Bethesda fan, the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion played a significant role in my love for RPGs. Starfield's ambitious premise of exploring space, akin to Star Trek's optimistic vision, was a dream come true. However, initial unease arose during the game's opening moments, as the supposed grand reveal lacked the excitement I expected. Yet, as I progressed and delved into the deep RPG systems, my interest grew, and the game's narrative highs and role-playing potential shone through. Despite early reservations, Starfield has the potential to become a significant pillar for Bethesda, and I'm excited to see its impact in the gaming world.
Brendan's History with Bethesda Games and Starfield
Having been a fan of Bethesda role-playing games since playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Starfield was a highly anticipated title for me. The game's focus on space exploration in a Star Trek-like setting was the perfect match for my love of sci-fi. Despite initial concerns during the game's opening moments and comparisons to other immersive RPGs, once I explored the game's rich systems and truly engaged with the story, my excitement and enjoyment grew immensely. If Starfield continues to deliver on its narrative and role-playing potential, it has the potential to become a monumental release for Bethesda.
Christian's Experience with Starfield and his Feelings About the Game
Although not as big of a Bethesda fan as Brendan, I've always enjoyed their immersive open-world RPGs. Starfield's space exploration premise excited me as a fan of Star Trek and other sci-fi adventures. Initially, the game felt familiar in its opening moments, but as I delved deeper into the story and RPG systems, my appreciation for Starfield grew. The game's ability to allow players to play in various ways, from being an explorer to joining factions, provides immense freedom. While it may not be for everyone, Starfield has the potential to be a significant milestone for Bethesda and has quickly become one of my favorite Bethesda games to date.
Starfield: A Triumph of Scale and Exploration
Starfield is a triumph of a game that offers an incredible scale and endless possibilities for exploration. Despite some paper cuts and shortcomings, the game's ambition and depth make up for them. The lock-picking and persuasion mini-games are particularly enjoyable, adding a fun and interactive element to the gameplay. The game rewards players for paying attention and honors their choices, allowing for a truly immersive and engaging experience. While Starfield may not click for everyone, it offers a unique and satisfying journey for those who embrace its vast world.
The Joy of Possibility Space and Environmental Storytelling
Starfield excels in offering a remarkable possibility space for players to explore. From unexpected encounters and events like stumbling upon a zero gravity party in a space station to the environmental storytelling that brings the world to life, the game is full of delightful surprises. Every planet holds the potential for new discoveries and experiences, with even the smallest details adding depth and immersion to the game. While there may be occasional jank and some omissions in gameplay mechanics, the joy of exploration and the richness of the world make up for any shortcomings.
A Unique Blend of RPG Elements and Scale
Starfield combines RPG elements with an ambitious scale, creating a unique and compelling experience. The game's mini-games, such as the lock-picking and persuasion mechanics, add depth and variety to the gameplay. The ability to role-play and make choices that affect the narrative, combined with the immense size and scope of the universe, give players an unparalleled sense of freedom and agency. While there may be initial concerns about the game's presentation and certain design decisions, Starfield ultimately delivers a captivating and immersive RPG experience that is sure to satisfy fans.
Unique skill tree and role-playing opportunities
One of the main highlights of the podcast episode was the discussion on the skill tree in the game Starfield. The podcast hosts praised the skill tree for its unique and interesting features, such as allowing players to invest multiple times in the same skills and providing the ability to role-play by choosing which skills to invest in. They gave examples of how investing in certain skills, like the jetpack skill, can enhance gameplay mechanics and open up new possibilities, such as using the jetpack to set enemies on fire or slowing down time during combat maneuvers. The skill challenges also added an additional layer of decision-making as they revealed whether investing in a particular skill was worthwhile based on individual playstyle.
Exploration, ambition, and an immersive world
The podcast hosts also discussed the main quest and exploration aspects of Starfield. They mentioned that the main quest was their favorite in a Bethesda game and praised its thematic exploration of ambition and the costs associated with it, considering the context of Starfield being a highly anticipated game from Bethesda Game Studios. They highlighted how the game's narrative and mechanics were intricately linked and how it gave players a reason to make money beyond just purchasing better equipment. The hosts mentioned various ways to make money in the game, such as smuggling, selling items, mining, and becoming a titan of industry. They emphasized the satisfaction that comes from accumulating wealth in the game and the way it shapes role-playing choices and goals. The hosts expressed their excitement about the potential of new game plus and recommended players to follow their curiosity while also considering the benefits of fully experiencing the main quest before diving into other activities.
Jeff and Christian welcome Brendon Bigley from Into the Aether back to the show to discuss Nintendo's latest Direct, focusing on Super Mario Wonder, a shocking price increase for Sony PS Plus subscription service, Embracer Group shutting down Volition, Lenovo announcing its own Steam Deck competitor, and more!
The Playlist: Starfield. All Starfield, only Starfield. It's a deep dive, with no story spoilers.
Parting Gifts!
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