Starfield's toned-down violence: A deliberate design choice
Bethesda's Starfield, while featuring robust combat, notably lacks the graphic violence prevalent in previous titles like Fallout. This wasn't a random omission; a former Bethesda artist, Dennis Mejillones, revealed in a Kiwi Talkz podcast interview that the decision stemmed from both technical limitations and narrative considerations.
Initially, Starfield was envisioned with more visceral kill animations, including decapitations. However, the sheer variety of player character suits and helmets presented significant technical hurdles. Accurately animating such violence across this diverse range proved too challenging, risking unrealistic or glitchy results, especially given Starfield's documented post-launch technical issues. The team wisely opted to avoid further graphical complications.
Beyond the technical challenges, Mejillones highlighted a tonal mismatch. Fallout's signature gore often contributes to its comedic effect, a stylistic choice that doesn't align with Starfield's more grounded, serious sci-fi atmosphere. While the game includes nods to Bethesda's more violent titles (like the recent Doom-inspired content), overt gore would have likely disrupted the game's immersive realism.
This decision, while potentially disappointing some fans yearning for more visceral action, aligns with Starfield's overall aesthetic. The game's relatively tame nightclubs have already drawn comparisons to grittier sci-fi counterparts like Cyberpunk 2077 and Mass Effect. Adding over-the-top violence might have further exacerbated this perceived lack of realism. Ultimately, Bethesda's choice to curtail graphic violence, although deviating from established studio trends, appears to have been a strategic move to maintain the game's intended tone and avoid technical pitfalls.
