In light of the prevailing commentary and a myriad of inquiries surrounding the game ‘Starfield’, it becomes pertinent to address the stance on progressing swiftly through the main quest, particularly in light of the nuances associated with New Game+ (NG+). Contrary to the advice of several reviewers and content creators, rushing through the main quest might not be the optimal way to experience the game. Herein, we delineate the repercussions and adverse effects of such a hurried progression, substantiated by firsthand experience up to NG+3.

You Will Lose Essentially Everything

First and foremost, rushing the main quest and stepping into NG+ means relinquishing a substantial portion of your progress. The repercussions are extensive:

  • Loss of Quest Progress: You forfeit both finished and unfinished quests, which essentially wipes clean the slate of your journey so far.
  • Loss of Exploration Progress: All the areas you have ventured into, the discoveries you’ve made, will be erased.
  • Loss of Resources and Assets: Your accumulated resources, including ships, bases, weapons, armor, and credits, will be lost. This translates to a massive forfeiture of assets that you would have accumulated painstakingly.

All these factors culminate in a significant loss, essentially nullifying the progress and achievements accumulated over hours of gameplay.

You Will Miss So Many Good Quests

Opting to bypass faction and side quests in a bid to accelerate main quest completion fundamentally undermines the NG+ experience. Here are the implications:

  • Missed Decision Points: Faction and side quests host most of the critical decision points in the game, offering depth and nuance to the storyline. By overlooking these, you lose the opportunity to experience alternative outcomes and decisions, thereby missing a rich layer of gameplay experience.
  • Inadequate Understanding of NG+: Bypassing these quests means you won’t fully grasp the intricacies and potentials embedded in NG+, rendering a considerable portion of the game pointless and necessitating further playthroughs to experience what you missed.

Essentially, rushing denies you the chance to fully immerse and engage with the various narrative strands and decision-making opportunities the game presents, significantly diminishing the gameplay experience.

This Is Not How To Play A Bethesda RPG

Bethesda RPGs have historically encouraged exploration and a leisurely pace of progression. Rushing the main quest in ‘Starfield’ contradicts this established philosophy. Here’s why:

  • Counterintuitive Design: The current system in ‘Starfield’ somewhat contradicts Bethesda’s core philosophy of encouraging players to explore comprehensively and unearth secrets at a measured pace.
  • Compromised Gaming Experience: Hastening through the main quest adversely impacts the quality of your gaming experience, leaving a sense of regret and missed opportunities in its wake.

Hence, adhering to a slower, more exploratory approach aligns more with the spirit of a Bethesda RPG, promising a richer and more fulfilling gaming experience.

What You Gain Isn’t That Cool

Advancing swiftly to NG+ does confer certain benefits, but these might not be as substantial or fulfilling as expected. Here are some insights:

  • Limited Advantages: The benefits gained are relatively minor, encompassing a few new items, dialogue options, and slight power upgrades.
  • Not Worth the Sacrifice: Despite the allure of “cool” benefits, they don’t justify forfeiting an entire playthrough and starting anew, especially considering that half of the experiences can be viewed online in due course.

Ultimately, the gains from rushing the main quest do not outweigh the rich experiences and progress lost by discarding a comprehensive playthrough.

When Should You NG+ Then?

Determining the appropriate time to venture into NG+ is fundamentally a personal decision, dictated by the state of your current gameplay. Here are some insights based on firsthand experience:

  • After Exhausting Available Quests: Consider progressing to NG+ once you have completed the available quests and explored the star systems extensively.
  • Personal Satisfaction with Exploration: Transition to NG+ when you feel that you have explored the available content to your satisfaction and are ready for a fresh experience.

Fundamentally, the decision to transition should be likened to starting a new save file in other games like Fallout or Skyrim, indicating a readiness to embark on a new journey with the learnings from the previous playthrough.

In conclusion, it is essential to approach the ‘Starfield’ main quest with a balanced perspective, appreciating the depth and richness the game offers without being swayed by the hurried approach propagated by some sections of the gaming community. This detailed analysis aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the implications of rushing the main quest in ‘Starfield’, thereby assisting you in making an informed decision that enhances your gaming experience.

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