Playing STALKER 2 Made Me Realize The One Thing That Starfield Is Really Missing (& No, It's Not About Loading Screens)

screenrant.com:

I've just recently delved into the dark & unsettling world of and have been having a blast learning more about the narrative and exploring the game's fascinating environments. Beyond the minor bugs that have since been fixed by the recent patch, it's generally reinvigorated my passion for these sorts of first-person survival titles while simultaneously reminding me how much the "" game of 2023 actually lacks.

Bethesda's is different than in a ton of ways, but it also shares a pretty close resemblance in how it introduces new NPCs and provides quests and dialogue. Although I might be biased to some degree, as I've always preferred the barren post-apocalyptic wastelands of a future Earth more than the vast expanse and intrigue of space, I can't help but kick the feeling that clearly illustrates what truly lacks.

Something that is significantly lacking is the connective tissue between its most compelling side missions and the overall world in which the game takes place. There are a few stimulating missions that can stand alone, like "Operation Starseed," which sees the player meet unforgettable characters like Amelia Earhart, but these quests are few and far between.

And even when the side missions in themselves are interesting, the stakes in these quests feel inconsequential, with no greater impact on the universe. Don't get me wrong — the stakes in are high. After all, the fate of the universe(s) hangs in the balance. That said, I can't shake the recurring feeling that nothing that I do in the game actually matters.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an ambitious and engrossing open-world immersive sim, putting you in the Zone, an unnerving and unfathomable place.

Certain quests like «Mantis» and «Juno's Gambit» are very compelling, but more often than not, they feel disconnected from the rest of the events in the Settled Systems. Perhaps this is a result of the game genre itself, as the vacuum of space is much larger comparatively than the various zones in. That said,