Warning: End-game spoilers ahead for Starfield
Over the last several years, it has become increasingly common for developers to reward players with the persistence to power through their biggest releases with a New Game Plus option upon completion, andStarfieldis no different. Although the exact form the mode takes varies from title to title, it typically allows players to go back to a game’s beginning with all the equipment and abilities they collected along the way. Rather than following this familiar formula with its latest release, though, Bethesda made the bold choice to try something new. The result is a NG+ mode that feels surprisingly original while still rewarding players who make it tothe end ofStarfield.
It would have been easy for Bethesda to follow the formula laid out by theNG+ mode inElden Ringand other titles, letting players start a fresh save with all of their most powerful possessions at the ready. Instead, it inverts this familiar structure by stripping players of their carefully collected loot before once more letting them loose inStarfield’s sprawling open world. While this may sound like a strange decision at first, one which removes much of the incentive for gamers to give the sci-fi RPG another go-around, Bethesda’s approach to NG+ ends up increasingStarfield’s replay value while also fitting in perfectly with the game’s overarching narrative.
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Starfield’s NG+ Mode Provides Numerous Reasons for a Replay
The fact thatStarfieldhas a NG+ mode at all might come as a surprise to some long-time fans of Bethesda’s RPGs. Once players reachthe end ofSkyrim, for example, they’re free to continue wandering the wilds of Tamrielbut can’t carry anything over to a new game. While players can take a similar path inStarfield, circling back to uncompleted side quests and tying up loose ends, the game’s unique NG+ incentivizes players to start the game anew. This is because, even though a fresh start will strip them of their gear and goodies,Starfield’s NG+ mode lets players hold onto their skills and abilities.
As they make their way throughStarfield’s campaign, players will amass an arsenal of powers that function similarly toSkyrim’s Dragon Shouts. From temporarily upending gravity to giving gamers powers of precognition, the abilities gained by interacting with the game’s mysterious Artifacts open up new avenues for engaging with in-game friends and foes alike. Having access to these powers at the start ofStarfield’s NG+ mode not only lets players switch up their strategies during a second playthrough, but it also makes sense from a narrative perspective.
The NG+ Mode in Starfield is a Logical Extension of the Game’s Final Act
What makesStarfield’s approach to NG+ particularly interesting is that it fits perfectly with the game’s story. Towards the latter half of the main campaign, it’s revealed that the powerful beings known as Starborn who’ve been interfering with efforts to hunt down the game’s Artifacts are actually alternate universe versions of characters familiar to the player. Bystepping into the Unity, they’ve gained the ability to travel across dimensions and shape world events as they see fit.
It’s the act of stepping into Unity that kicks offStarfield’s NG+ mode, placing players back at the start of the game with all the powers and skills they’d unlocked throughout their journey. Likethe Starbornwho served as antagonists throughout much of the game, their character can now revisit the world with foreknowledge of everything that’s coming their way. This time armed with their hard-earned powers, players can now strut throughStarfieldwith almost God-like abilities that radically alter the moment-to-moment gameplay of a second playthrough.
By introducing a NG+ mode that not only rewards players for reaching the end credits but also serves as a natural progression of the game’s story, Bethesda has done something truly unique withStarfield. And while having to scrounge around for weapons, ships, and supplies again may not be what some gamers were hoping for, at least their newfound abilities should add some welcomed variety to their search.
Starfieldis available now for PC and Xbox Series X|S.
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