You’ve most likely heard this earlier than, however Starfield, Bethesda’s newest open-world RPG, could be very, very large. The brand new recreation, out now in “early entry” on Xbox and PC, spans a number of photo voltaic methods and a whole lot of planets. And when exploring that huge digital galaxy, the in-game maps are positive. However when you land on a planet or land in a metropolis, the in-game map system goes from positive to terrible.
Bethesda’s Starfield launched early for deep-pocketed gamers on Thursday after years of hype and following some sneaky leaks. The large area RPG lets gamers discover a digital galaxy crammed with a whole lot of planets and quests. And early on, I solely used the maps in-game to fast-travel to new planets. However as soon as I landed within the first large metropolis, New Atlantis, I opened up the floor map and set my eyes upon the horrible blue mess that’s Starfield’s native “map.”
Calling the blue-and-white grid of floating icons and featureless void a “map” feels beneficiant. Maps, even the worst of them, are helpful to a point. The native planet map in Starfield isn’t helpful in any respect. Not within the slightest. Take a look at this and check out to determine…something!
Followers leaping into the sport are complaining on Reddit in regards to the map and likewise evaluating it unfavorably to previous Bethesda city maps, like those in The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. And it’s true, evaluating them immediately, it’s irritating to see Bethesda take such a backward step on such an essential characteristic. With the ability to pop open a map and look across the space for a store or quest could be very helpful in a large RPG. But, this horrible blue nightmare provides you no actual context—like hills, roads, and many others—for the place these locations really are, or find out how to get to them.
As a substitute of the native map, use the scanner
I’ve given up making an attempt to make use of this map and have primarily relied on the scanner device in Starfield. This characteristic permits you to pop open an augmented reality-like HUD that allows you to see the place outlets, quests, and different essential locations are on this planet by simply trying round. It additionally attracts a path on the bottom so that you can observe to achieve your goal and allows you to fast-travel to places you’ve visited just by aiming at them and clicking a button. It’s not a alternative for a neighborhood map, however contemplating the terrible blue void Starfield considers a map, it’s the best choice in the intervening time.
It’s odd as a result of I discover the sport’s galaxy and area maps fairly dang good, for essentially the most half. Positive, I want area journey was a bit extra “touring” and fewer simply menu hopping, however after I want to take a look at planets and photo voltaic methods in Starfield, the maps are good. They characteristic textured planets and recognizable recreations of the areas you wish to go to. You realize, like a map!
However land on a type of planets or cities and also you’ll be caught utilizing that horrendous floating grid of icons.
I assume that within the subsequent few days and weeks, Starfield modders will shortly add native city and planet maps, as that is shortly changing into one of many greatest complaints I’ve seen from followers. Even people who find themselves having fun with the sport immensely, like myself, are scuffling with the terrible excuse of a neighborhood map that presently exists within the recreation.
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