Starfield
When it comes to expansive, futuristic space epics in the world of video gaming, few titles capture the imagination like Destiny and Starfield. Developed by Bungie, Destiny is a first-person shooter with role-playing elements that was released in 2014. On the other hand, Starfield, according to Starfield Wiki, is the latest venture by Bethesda Game Studios, an open-world role-playing game (RPG) set in the vast expanse of space. While both games aim to captivate players with their sprawling universes and intricate lore, they offer different experiences.
Gameplay and Setting
Destiny pioneered a seamless shared world where players could randomly encounter each other in public areas or team up to take on instanced missions and raids. Starfield promises a similar approach but on a much larger scale spanning over 1,000 explorable planets. Unlike Destiny's mythical sci-fi setting, Starfield aims for a more grounded and realistic vision of humanity's future in space. However, both games emphasize freedom of movement and engaging first-person combat.
Customization and Progression
A core part of Destiny is choosing and progressing a character class with unique abilities. Starfield appears to offer more flexibility through its extensive character creation system and skill trees. Players can customize their backstory, attributes like charm and stealth, and build out their preferred playstyle. Destiny focuses more on equipping loot and increasing your character's power level. Based on previews, Starfield will have a crafting system and base building instead of pure loot grinding.
Social Experience
As an always-online multiplayer game, Destiny encourages playing with others through public events, strikes, Crucible, and six-player raids. Starfield is primarily a single-player RPG but may support online components like sharing player bases. It remains to be seen if Starfield will have comparable cooperative endgame content to Destiny raids and dungeons.
Scope and Content
While Destiny set a new bar in blending FPS gameplay with MMO features, Starfield aims to go even bigger as Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years. Destiny launched with barebones content but grew substantially over the years. If Starfield lives up to the hype as "Skyrim in space", it could offer exploration and questing at an unprecedented scale. The Starfield Wiki will surely expand rapidly after launch.
Though different in setting and structure, Destiny and Starfield both represent major innovations in crafting an engaging persistent online world. It remains to be seen whether Starfield can dethrone Destiny's reign as the premier social sci-fi shooter when it launches in the first half of 2023.
The Setting
Destiny
In Destiny, the game is set in a mythic science fiction world featuring an immersive multiplayer shared environment with elements of role-playing games. Earth has been nearly destroyed, and humanity's last safe city is protected by a celestial being known as the Traveler. You play as a Guardian, with the aim to explore various planets, moons, and other celestial bodies to fight various enemies and partake in epic quests.
Starfield
According to the Starfield Wiki and developer's description, the game is set in the year 2330. Humanity has spread across the cosmos, colonizing new worlds and living as a spacefaring civilization. Players will join Constellation, the last group of space explorers, navigating a multitude of planets—over a thousand, to be precise.
Gameplay Mechanics
Destiny
Destiny focuses more on the first-person shooter aspects with RPG elements such as character classes, leveling up, and skill trees. Cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes are heavily emphasized, including Raids and Strikes which require a group of players to complete.
Starfield
Starfield promises an unparalleled freedom of exploration. The game encourages you to "tell your story," allowing you to customize your character's background and traits extensively. Players can pilot and personalize spaceships, explore numerous planets, and engage in high-stakes dogfights. It aims to be a true RPG, offering choices that shape the universe around you.
The Storyline
Destiny
Destiny offers a linear storyline that unfolds as you complete missions and engage in cooperative and competitive play. Although the main storyline is preset, the lore is rich and can be uncovered through various collectibles and side missions.
Starfield
In contrast, Starfield emphasizes that "the most important story is the one you tell with your character." The game offers a non-linear narrative that adapts to your choices, akin to Bethesda's other titles like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series.
Crafting and Building
Destiny
Destiny features crafting elements to a certain extent, allowing players to upgrade their gear and weapons, but it doesn't offer the ability to build structures or outposts.
Starfield
According to the information available on the Starfield Wiki, players can explore planets to collect resources, which can be invested in crafting medicines, food, weapons, and more. Players can even build outposts and establish cargo links between them.
