Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC: A Potential Game-Changer
Starfield’s highly anticipated Shattered Space DLC, set to release on September 30, 2024, promises to address some of the most significant issues players have encountered in the base game. While it aims to improve handcrafted environments and delve into the mysteries surrounding House Va’ruun, these enhancements may pale in comparison to what could be the most impactful change of all: a complete overhaul of melee combat.
An Exciting Preview of Shattered Space
Bethesda Softworks recently unveiled a Shattered Space Deep Dive—a ten-minute YouTube video featuring lead creative producer Tim Lamb, alongside other developers, who provide insights into the new creatures, game mechanics, and story elements that the DLC will introduce. Though easy to miss, a crucial hint lies within the segment focused on combat, where the phrase, “In the base game, there was a lot of focus around ranged gun combat…In Shattered Space, we’re closing that distance,” suggests a significant shift in combat dynamics.
Accompanying this statement is a brief clip of a character lunging forward with a sword before the video transitions to Shattered Space’s horror elements. While the details remain sparse, the implication is evident: Shattered Space is poised to enhance melee combat—a development eagerly awaited by players who felt the base game needed such a revamp.
The Significance of Revamped Melee Combat
Why Starfield Needs a Melee Overhaul
Despite boasting some impressive melee weapons, Starfield’s close-quarters combat has fallen short of expectations. Traditionally, Bethesda RPGs have not been known for intricate melee systems, and Starfield is no exception. The melee mechanics mirror those seen in Skyrim, limited to basic slashes and blocks, making it feel outdated and simplistic. The Deep Dive video acknowledges this disparity, emphasizing the game’s predominant focus on gunplay.
Additionally, melee combat in the base game is notably unbalanced, making it challenging to create a viable build centered solely on close-quarters combat. Initially, Starfield’s ranged weapons were divided into tiers—regular, Calibrated, Refined, or Advanced—allowing them to scale with player levels. In contrast, melee weapons lacked such progression until the June update introduced tiers: Sharpened, Honed, and Quantum-Edged. This change has made melee weapons more viable at higher levels, enabling players to discover improved variants throughout their campaigns. The introduction of melee weapon mods further enriches the experience.
Addressing Imbalances and Enhancing Flexibility
Despite these improvements, melee builds still struggle against ranged opponents. The core issue lies in defense: melee players must close the distance to inflict damage, often becoming vulnerable to gunfire in the process. Introducing new defensive options would be beneficial, allowing players to approach enemies more safely.
Shattered Space’s potential melee updates could take various forms: introducing new skills and mods to bolster melee combat viability, offering new weapons with distinct fighting styles, or implementing balance adjustments to ensure melee fighters aren’t consistently outpaced. Whatever the approach, these updates will undoubtedly enhance Starfield’s character builds, addressing its most glaring combat flaw.
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In conclusion, the Shattered Space DLC has the potential to significantly transform Starfield’s combat mechanics. By focusing on melee improvements, it could offer players a more balanced and engaging experience, ultimately redefining the game’s dynamics and addressing one of its most significant shortcomings.
