A phenomenal experience that no Starfield fan should miss.
Disclosure: Bethesda provided a copy of the expansion for review.
Shattered Space, Starfield’s first major expansion, nails what an expansion can be without overstaying its welcome. It has an engaging story, amazing visuals and some of the best gunplay around, and it’s a phenomenal experience that no Starfield fan should miss.
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Starfield: Shattered Space Review: What an Expansion Should BeWant to play it? Grab it on the Xbox Store or see Where to buy.
Story
We’re staying completely spoiler-free here. I didn’t follow the golden path. I played the way I love playing Bethesda games, as an explorer, taking side missions, checking out points of interest and meeting interesting people. It took me over 26 hours to finish the main story, the main side story missions and some smaller but meaningful ones, and I enjoyed every minute.
There are no wasted missions. Every one either pushes the intriguing story forward or shows how events affect the residents in a very real way. A mission I thought was a throwaway led to a gripping story about loss that really hit me. The DLC quickly puts you at the center of an intricate story, and some decisions will have you pondering. They started as choices for my character and quickly became personal. The ending blew my mind. I was completely invested, and Bethesda delivered in a big way.
Gameplay
The Starfield gameplay you know and love is here, and if you haven’t kept up since launch, a ton of updates have added quality-of-life improvements and an awesome all-terrain vehicle. One of the first options I used was the ability to greatly increase how much I can carry. Gunplay is excellent in first or third person, and I consider Starfield’s gunplay among the best in the industry. The jetpack is still amazing, and you can genuinely play entirely in either view, since both are so well done.
The combat mechanics feel smooth, and the encounters are thrilling and challenging. Your curiosity gets the best of you, and even if you try to stick to the main story, it seamlessly draws you into memorable side quests that build out the world. There’s a great balance between exploration and combat, alien creatures that are either peaceful or full-on killers, and plenty of points of interest and people to talk to. There are moments where you feel like you have the world to yourself, and in an instant it erupts into outrageous combat. When you’re done with the story, you’re free to keep exploring.
Visuals
Shattered Space has one of the most stunning opening sequences I’ve seen in a long time, and its lighting and atmosphere set the stage for the ride ahead. Starfield has always been beautiful, but the striking red sky and blue accents of this new world take it up a notch. Every turn was another photo op, and the detail in the distance gives you that “wait, what’s over there?” feeling. The new planet is clearly handcrafted, the main city flows well and is easy to learn, and the points of interest are visually unique. Some interiors go for a horror vibe, and the moody, creepy lighting nails it. Characters are well designed with top-notch animation, and I love the new weapon designs.
Sound
The voice acting is strong across the board, with no dull performances. The music is woven expertly into play, ramping up in combat and opening up grandly during exploration, and the familiar Starfield sound effects return for continuity. The creepy interiors land thanks to touches like a bursting pipe or an enemy robot coming to life. Every gun type sounds phenomenal, and the loud boom of a shotgun blast is always satisfying. Listening in on citizens and enemies chatting makes the world feel alive.
Verdict
Shattered Space is detailed yet focused, with purposeful side quests that extend the experience, immersive combat and a grand score. You’ll connect with some characters, feel anger toward others and want to learn more about the rest. It’s an absolute stunner of an expansion.
Image: Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks
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The verdict: Masterpiece
A phenomenal experience that no Starfield fan should miss.
Pros
- Intricate, spoiler-worthy story with no wasted missions
- Striking, handcrafted new world
- Some of the best gunplay in the industry, in first or third person
- Great voice acting and a grand score
- Strong balance of exploration and combat
Platform played: Xbox
