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[FinalBossWithTheMostPower]

Cyberpunk has been an outstanding game from the start, played on Series X at launch, and it's remained in my top 5 of all time since I completed it.

Is Cyberpunk superior to Starfield?

Certainly, and in almost every way.

However, it's fair to say that they shouldn't be compared directly, each offering a distinctly different experience.

 

[LordBlodgett]

Cyberpunk is much smaller, but has a way tighter and better crafted narrative. You say you played Witcher 3 and Skyrim, were those the same to you? That's pretty much how I feel about Starfield and Cyberpunk, granted I've only put around 40 hours in to Starfield and 30 hours into Cyberpunk (before the most recent patch, I must add), but I feel like these games are not very comparable. Cyberpunk does not really feel like an "RPG" in the same way. Even though you can customize your character in Cyberpunk, the story is still pretty much on rails, the way you customize pretty much only changes how you kill enemies or can traverse levels. Starfield feels more free in that regard, though I do hate the stupid companions and the whole main questline. Writing feels much better in Cyberpunk, and Cyberpunk isn't scared to be grown up or edgy.

 

[Yoda]

Comparing both of them at launch I'd say Cyberpunk was somewhat better, but both games suffer quite a bit from outdated quest design, poorly throughout character progression, and unrewarding exploration.

1.0 Cyberpunk's world is more enjoyable to explore despite it being rather barren compared to other open world games which handled exploration much better (Elden Ring, Zelda, etc...). Starfield suffers from its reliance on procedural generation. A lot of times you'll run into the same outpost you've already found on another planet.

Character progression / combat in both games is a bit out of whack. Certain perks/skills are substantially better than others; also you character becomes too powerful too quickly, which makes finding fancy gear mid to late game not feel impactful. This ties into the exploration piece, as the loot you may or may not find for exploring doesn't really serve a purpose.

Story wise Cyberpunk >>>>>>>>>>> Starfield. CDPR excels here like they normally do and deliver a competently written story that fits the gameworld/gameplay very well. I actually cared about most of the supporting cast in Cyberpunk and wanted to know what happened to them at the end of the storey. Starfield's story has a weak supporting cast and even weaker writing. It does have a twist or two I wasn't expecting, but the journey to said twists was a slog and thus diminishes their impact.

Neither are bad games, I'd encourage anyone to play both if they like openworld RPG/action adventure games.

 

[Romulus]

Cyberpunk is better, but it's not a great game either.

 

[PonyStation4]

Cyberpunk 2077 is a generation ahead of Starfield, which is developed by the Gamefreak of the west

 

[Topher]

Cyberpunk has better female modelling. Easy win.

Probably the starkest contrast between the two games is the over-abundance of sexual energy in one to the utter lack of it in the other.

 

[Madflavor]

Gambit2483 @Kacho I'll just post one last time on it since I haven't really had much chance to discuss the OST in detail with people yet. I don't expect most people to really agree with me though so no worries.

I've played the entire game on headphones so far, and it's just so cool to be playing really long and immersive sessions with a lot of background ambience, and then out of nowhere a strong melody like this just floats in. You barely even notice it start it's so well blended into the rest of the sound, but he just really leans into simple and catchy and then blends back out before you even fully stop to mentally take note of it.



Or just exploring the surface of Mars next to that giant landing pad and out of nowhere you get this pseudo Interstellar-lite melody at 1:17 while you're just out exploring and you're just like damn where did that shit come from? Then fades back out seamlessly.



New Atlantis is like an ambient Mass Effect Presidium style track, and then out of nowhere he just drops this catchy Morrowind style melody in your ear at 2:50 and then it floats away before you mentally stop to take you out of the moment.



Almost every track is like this. Just tons of super catchy melody perfectly blended in all over, but still serving the purpose of immersion. I posted the Triumvarate track earlier, but that has a sick melody just drop once at 1:45 that really catches my ear, and then it floats away. Peaks and Valleys has a sick, super subtle flute part that I love at around 2:00 where they change to a new line with the rest of the orchestra cutting out, and then they just slowly lay into the heavy, darker melody overlapping. Just sick as fuck. And then it changes again after that to another really cool melody at 3:00. A masterpiece of a track.

I haven't heard the entire FFXVI OST yet since it's not on streaming services and it's so huge. FF always has top tier music. It's a huge downside though that he didn't record any of it with live instruments. Pretty surprising honestly given some of the high quality audio stuff they put even into stuff like FFX HD, which sonically sounds 100x better than XVI.

Starfield OST is really unique to gaming. Reminds me at times of a classic Alfred Hitchcock movie melody, or 70s sci-fi and it all sounds great. I was just checking out a full live concert for it yesterday they already put on youtube. It's the best OST Bethesda has had in a game since Morrowind. So many timeless themes and strong melodies that are blended into atmospheric, soundscape-ish orchestration that fits with a more open world setting. Combining those two things well is difficult and he does it over and over. Easily the best OST of Inon Zurr's entire career.

If you're into XVI that's fine. I literally just said what I like. You can keep your sympathy lol.

Gonna be honest, I listened to all of these and I’m not blown away.

 

[Punished Miku]

Gonna be honest, I listened to all of these and I’m not blown away.

They excel in the context of the game among many dozens of hours. But as I said, I'm not at all surprised you feel that way.

 

[semiconscious]

Cyberpunk has been an outstanding game from the start, played on Series X at launch, and it's remained in my top 5 of all time since I completed it.

Is Cyberpunk superior to Starfield?

Certainly, and in almost every way.

However, it's fair to say that they shouldn't be compared directly, each offering a distinctly different experience.

agree. but: if you're looking for an rpg with some serious, distinctive attitude/personality? it's cyberpunk 2077, no contest...

 

[Madflavor]

Probably the starkest contrast between the two games is the over-abundance of sexual energy to the utter lack of it.

This was something I noticed in Starfield. The people in Cyberpunk are very human. The people in Starfield are very alien. They just behave weird due to how outdated the design for NPC interaction is, but the total lack of sexuality adds to how robotic and sterile the setting feels.

 

[StereoVsn]

I think half of GAF is now under an impression that if you don't roll a dice for every action and fuck bears in the woods then it's not an RPG anymore.

It’s not rolling the dice. They killed all armor essentially. They level scales the entirely game and removed most hand placed items. There are very few end game consequences they carry through. Your choices at the end are more like ME3.

A lot of quests and approaches to quests are very one dimensional. Hell, the first main quest has more choices then most of the rest quests in the game.

It’s a good action adventure game with RPG elements now.

 

[iseedeadpeople]

As someone who hasn't play either of them yet, that video sold me on CP lol.

 

[BlueLyria]

As someone who hasn't play either of them yet, that video sold me on CP lol.

One more falls to the unfortunate abbreviation.

On topic, Yes, and there should be a pool.
Cyberpunk on release was miles ahead of Starfield on release. I'm not joking.

 

[Gambit2483]

Cyberpunk has better female modelling. Easy win.

Judy and Panam

Hell yes.

 

[tmlDan]

Whether you like Starfield or not, it has one of the greatest soundtracks in gaming history, IMO.

I cannot believe you said that, but im happy you feel that way

 

[Madflavor]

Whether you like Starfield or not, it has one of the greatest soundtracks in gaming history, IMO.

Play more games.

 

[artsi]

Judy and Panam

Hell yes.

They're good but Johnny scored the best one.

 

[Drizzlehell]

It’s not rolling the dice. They killed all armor essentially. They level scales the entirely game and removed most hand placed items. There are very few end game consequences they carry through. Your choices at the end are more like ME3.

A lot of quests and approaches to quests are very one dimensional. Hell, the first main quest has more choices then most of the rest quests in the game.

It’s a good action adventure game with RPG elements now.

I'm just saying, that's a matter of opinion. And that yours is wrong.

 

[StereoVsn]

I'm just saying, that's a matter of opinion. And that yours is wrong.

Yeah, that’s not it Champ. You haven’t given a shred of evidence. Saying “you are wrong” isn’t enough.

 

[Del_X]

Everything about it is better and I have had fun with Starfield. Starfield is kinda cozy, though. Different vibes.

 

[Revolutionary]

Probably the starkest contrast between the two games is the over-abundance of sexual energy to the utter lack of it.

What do you mean? These outfits are peak sexuality (I couldn't find the hat)

Meanwhile, in Night City:

 

[Drizzlehell]

Yeah, that’s not it Champ. You haven’t given a shred of evidence. Saying “you are wrong” isn’t enough.

I'm not debating it. I'm just stating straight facts. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence can tell that it's an action RPG and no amount of bullshit is gonna change that.

 

[StereoVsn]

I'm not debating it. I'm just stating straight facts. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence can tell that it's an action RPG and no amount of bullshit is gonna change that.

Well, you failed your Int check, congrats.

 

[Thaedolus]

Cyberpunk at launch was pretty disappointing but you knew the ingredients were there, it just needed more time in the oven. And now it’s good.

Starfield….there ain’t no fixing it tbh. I can tell right now I’m probably never going back to it, and that’s a shame

 

[Thaedolus]

As someone who hasn't play either of them yet, that video sold me on CP lol.

911 FBI code red code red

 

[Neff]

I've played both quite a lot and I prefer Starfield.

 

[Madflavor]

What do you mean? These outfits are peak sexuality (I couldn't find the hat)

Meanwhile, in Night City:

I love how Starfield tries to ground itself in reality with it’s NasaPunk aesthetic, but for nightclubs it has men dressed up as purple ballsacks dancing.

 

[Topher]

I love how Starfield tries to ground itself in reality with it’s NasaPunk aesthetic, but for nightclubs it has men dressed up as purple ballsacks dancing.

That was the most jarring entrance into a "night club" I've ever seen in a video game.

 

[GetInTheRobot]

Launch Cyberpunk is worse than Launch starfield …let’s see where starfield is after 3 years of updates and DLC…even so starfield is a better role playing game with more freedom in how you craft your character. Cyberpunk you are playing an established character

 

[Madflavor]

Launch Cyberpunk is worse than Launch starfield …let’s see where starfield is after 3 years of updates and DLC…even so starfield is a better role playing game with more freedom in how you craft your character. Cyberpunk you are playing an established character

Even back during launch, Cyberpunk 2077 managed to create a unique, beautiful, and convincing world filled with interesting lore, amazing visuals, good storytelling, and a banger soundtrack all around. But all the good stuff was just buried under all the noise from the serious problems it had. What we ended up having is a game with an incredible foundation, but a very weak house. It was a fixer upper. 3 years later, they fixed it up.

Starfield seems to have a different problem where it's launched in a much better state, but it doesn't do anything remarkable, and in some areas it's quite dated in it's design. I think given time we'll some some pretty interesting mods for Starfield that'll improve or change the experience into something better.

 

[GetInTheRobot]

Cyberpunk was so shallow in details outside the graphics that took three years to do the basic stuff that PS2 GTA games had like a police chase, even in Starfield with the shitty AI you have frisk searchs that can result in arrests or combat and they can chase you in person in the 2D lakes.

Yea , even still the set dressing isn’t great. CD has better tech for visuals but the world isn’t as good outside of night city. Starfield npc don’t look as good but you also not getting 40 of the same npc a on one block. Night cities is one of the best designed cities in gaming but as much as I love cyberpunk it’s more of an action game first rpg 2nd. While starfield isn’t as well defined of an rpg as BG3 it still is far more free to play as a character you havee in mind than V.

 

[Mister Wolf]

I love how Starfield tries to ground itself in reality with it’s NasaPunk aesthetic, but for nightclubs it has men dressed up as purple ballsacks dancing.

Yeah its silly. As if men, the group that actually spends money in nightclubs give a shit about seeing male dancers.

 

[Woggleman]

I have Starfield clips online and it seems to have no soul or character. Cyberpunk even in it's bad release state still had a lot of character and soul.

 

[Dynasty8]

Having played both, I very much prefer Cyberpunk. It's not even a competition for me.

Cyberpunk looks better, plays & runs better, better writing, story & characters, better exploration, better combat, build variety and skills, vehicles, and Night City is seamless and one of the, if not most impressive maps ever in a game compared to the boring repetitive procedurally generated levels of Starfield...

 

[Topher]

Doing the romance Panam missions, night and day better with Cyberpunk. Starfield romance is just weird and awkward. CP far more realistic.

 

[Draugoth]

I have been playing both for a couple days. My honest opinion: Cyberpunk would need a 3.0 update to be better at the same price point than Starfield, but if you paid 5 bucks during the release fiasco then it's a considerably better experience.

One of the negatives is that Cyberpunk is a different game from it's release but still has a lot of the jank of the initial release

Starfield is much more replayable than Cyberpunk because of the role-playing choices it gives you. In Cyberpunk, you are experiencing Johnny Silverhand and V's journey.

 

[twilo99]

Cyberpunk does not really feel like an "RPG" in the same way.

I need to play CP in order to understand this I think

 

[twilo99]

Doing the romance Panam missions, night and day better with Cyberpunk. Starfield romance is just weird and awkward. CP far more realistic.

Bethesda gave into social norms/pressure and it ruined that whole aspect of the game. Maybe it’s because they are an American studio.. I dunno. Both BG3 and CP are European and seem to have a much better take on the whole rated R situation.

 

[brian0057]

It's not really a fair fight.
It's like comparing Daggerfall to Skyrim... or Deus Ex to Cyberpunk.

 

[gothmog]

Cyberpunk also had 3 years to fix their shit. I'm willing to give Starfield that kind of time but I doubt they would do it. They seem too eager to get to the next TES to stop here for a few years and really polish up the game.

 

[LordBlodgett]

Cyberpunk also had 3 years to fix their shit. I'm willing to give Starfield that kind of time but I doubt they would do it. They seem too eager to get to the next TES to stop here for a few years and really polish up the game.

I think we will see at least one large DLC for Starfield, if not several. The DLC have generally all sold well for Bethesda's previous games, and they like to be able to re-release "complete edition" versions of their same games several years down the line. I also don't think this will be the last Starfield. Cyberpunk is going to show a lot of people what high quality content can do to keep an IP alive, and I pretty much doubt that this will be the last CyberPunk game either.

 

[Dice]

Cyberpunk world looks better but it is dogshit when it comes to interactivity. So many places with big bright "Open" signs and they are locked. Some even have people standing out front inviting you to come in. You also can hardly ever talk to anyone. They did much better in Witcher games. It's really a very linear game where you only do exactly what they want you to do.

That said, when you are staying on the rails, it is a better experience, yes. I think it would have been twice as good if it were fully on rails like Deux Ex/Hitman/MGS. Let me walk down the street in a few missions, a car chase here and there, but if you can't fill the city with meaningful experiences I just don't want the distraction that disappoints and wastes time and shitty fumbling around to get the next real thing started. Use that energy on making the intended course even better. They really could have done a genre-defining thing.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Honestly, Starfield may be one of the biggest bait and switch in the history of gaming. The final "showcase" was MASTERFULLY produced to induce hype. The retail game completely failed to deliver on that vision.

 

[Dice]

Honestly, Starfield may be one of the biggest bait and switch in the history of gaming. The final "showcase" was MASTERFULLY produced to induce hype. The retail game completely failed to deliver on that vision.

I mean, Cyberpunk was as well, lol.

 

[EDMIX]

cybepprunk is very cookie cutter. do mission get bigger gun,its barely an rpg ,the system and progresssion are not there at all. you cant be what they promised you could be. i honestly would rather bethesda tried to take on cybperunk game ,yes they make games that are more vanilla but at least there is lots of meat on the bone of these games

Truth.

I feel with their games you get more of a solid foundation and substance.

Cyberpunk world looks better but it is dogshit when it comes to interactivity.

Again...truth.

You end up being left with a world where the only main thing to do is shoot shit lol

Bethesda does a great job at adding in the RPG element of playing a role, like how you can have parents in Starfield, or base building, or buying many homes or even the ability to marry or even divorce.
They are able to flesh out that world much more when it comes to function, interactivity, actual role playing, factions, guilds etc. So no disrespect to anyone who likes Cyberpunk, but I'd rather have Bethesda do that any day of the week.

They both launched with issues sure, Starfield has a solid, solid base. Its concept is fully intact. So nevermind what could be done with part 2...literally with DLC and a few mods you can do a whole lot.

So having 1000 planets, many cities, base building, ships that can be customized, space battles, ships boarded, space stations, ability to have parents, marry, divorce, factions...that is a fucking solid base regardless of issues, it means you can properly build upon this just fine.

But releasing with missing Ai, lack of customizable cars (despite a trailer very much suggesting this), missing ai car combat with cops and gangs, zero factions, zero base building etc it means you are greatly limited and massive core functions must be included years later for it to even be near "base" of what we expect from other titles.

So...neither game is doing something revolunary, but no fucking way on Earth is Mafia 4, Watchdogs 4, GTA6, Far Cry 7 etc releasing with missing ai, missing car combat regarding that Ai and just struggling for 3 years to release it as a update for any of us to be acting as if that is normal or Starfield is in that ballpark.

Its simply not and just can't be.

For Starfield to even be on the same page as CP2077, it would what...have to release without space battles, without custiomsing ships and merely release it 3 years later...that is literally just an argument for them to be the same, for anyone to act as if CP2077 is superior is fucking funny considering what was just "patched" into the game 3 years post release.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

I mean, Cyberpunk was as well, lol.

Cyberpunk at least had competent gunplay and a really well produced single player campaign and side missions with great writing. The characterization was top notch.

Starfield fails on each of these, especially the story and narration elements. It's abysmal.

 

[iHaunter]

The one time a poll would've been helpful! And yes. It's unique and graphically impressive. It was still mediocre at launch though.

 

[KAOS]

Love them both and only hope that Starfield improves just as much as Cyberpunk did. Heck Cyberpunk could still improve further still a Starfield like 3rd person camera perspective would be much appreciated!

 

[Brigandier]

Quick answer: CyberPunk easy.


Longer answer:

CyberPunk is absolutely brilliant, I just wish there was more depth to its world more quests and missions and more character development but damn it's a good game and it runs like silk on PS5 now.

Starfield is a game I rebought a XSX for as I really wanted a Skyrim in space to get lost in for 200+ hours... it wasn't it wasn't even close, It's the reason I've totally given up with the Xbox platform and I'm trying to sell my XSX at a bad loss....Game fuckin sucks how that is 30fps is madness and it looks like shit, writing stinks and the game is just boring.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

That was the most jarring entrance into a "night club" I've ever seen in a video game.

I am wondering if I've dodged a bullet... or does it even matter...?