I'm only talking about the engine the game is built upon and it's the same thing Skyrim or Fallout used. It has it's limits and those are clearly visible when the game attempts space flight parts. It looks like a total conversion mod for Fallout - not something that it was designed to do, but somehow made to imitate.
There's this weird paradox about the game, because Starfierld is obviously much, much bigger than Skyrim or Fallout, but I think because it splits the world into small chunks player is forced to fast travel between, the whole world somehow feels smaller.
Nailed it in one honestly.
I totally get the "scope" argument - but its the "idea" that Skyrim gives - I've played both Skyrim and Fallout - damn near total freedom within reason.
Starfield however has obvious "Barriers" - while normal/atypical in any adventure game - the fact they are blatantly there and the immersion is disrupted - it makes it seem like a imitation of Mass Effect but in my honest opinion - falls short.
In Skyrim you could totally go wandering off the trail and 3 hours later find yourself completely lost and the other side of the map where you should have been and maybe broke a few quests along the way.
Fallout - same thing.
I don't hear this kind of "feeling" or "impression" about starfield - all I hear is "forced" grins and "its fun" but half hearted. It's like people have accepted "less" is "more".
Sure - graphics - other aspects - impressive engine - but I'm starting to think they half ###### it - and now people are waiting on Mods to make up for it - seems kind of poor form. For anyone to buy a game for mods alone to make it better? Waste of money.
Course I could be blowing air out of my rear end but the point stands - Elite Dangerous is so much better imho to Starfield - and I accept the fact they are not even the same genre.
And why? Sheer freedom and scope.
Even EVE Online is better in that regard - and frankly - I was expecting to see more "Space flight" and less - roaming/fast traveling in terms of what people spoke about.
Yeah - the game is larger sure - but larger doesn't necessarily mean "better" - and that's all subjective at best.
My viewpoint is subject to correction - but ill wait for it to go on sale first.
Elite Dangerous is nothing like Starfield - is it better? worse? - Frankly the OP can't handle the truth. Nor would he be capable of comprehending the facts.
Which is why I STILL play the game - regardless of FDev's mindset.
Can Elite Dangerous grab things from their competitors? Frankly I'm tired of games ripping each other off for all kinds of garbage that seem to think it would win here or there.
I'm content to ask FDev to just put their heart back into the game and let the game develop on its own merits - originality is key.
Starfield is just overhyped and not that great.
Elite Dangerous can be vastly better without its influence - if anything Starfield could learn a few things from Elite Dangerous.
As backwards as it sounds - well I'd not continue spending money or investing in this game if I didn't have hope FDev would wake up and start pushing harder.
Don't need them taking lessons from Bethesda who frankly is nothing like what they used to be.