Starfield fans have eagerly awaited a significant expansion since the game's initial launch last summer, and after a year filled with updates, Bethesda has finally delivered the much-anticipated Shattered Space. While this expansion is a commendable addition to the Starfield universe, it falls short of expectations and feels somewhat familiar.

The adventure kicks off with a classic video game trope: a distress call leading you to a hauntingly abandoned space station filled with ethereal figures. This eerie setting transports you to the home planet of the House Va’ruun, a mysterious religious group that venerates a colossal serpent. Players soon discover that the Va’ruun are in crisis, plagued by inexplicable calamities leading to disappearances and violent transformations among their ranks. You become embroiled in unraveling the mysteries surrounding these events and aiding the House in restoring balance.

It's worth noting that while Shattered Space can be accessed shortly after completing the opening mission of Starfield, Bethesda recommends players be at least level 35 for an optimal experience. However, players like myself can still enjoy the expansion on a New Game Plus save at a lower level without major issues, although a higher level may enhance the overall challenge.

The premise is captivating, suggesting potential cosmic horror evoking feelings of dread. The new planet is an eye-opener, with its psychedelic reds and purples, bizarre glowing flora, and mind-bending gravity anomalies reminiscent of titles like No Man's Sky. The main city feels like a juxtaposition of a rough-and-tumble frontier outpost and an ancient temple. Citizens grapple with loss, shortages of sustenance, and existential crises as they navigate a troubled faith.

One standout feature of Shattered Space is its focused design. Unlike the vastness typically associated with Starfield, this expansion restricts players to a single, densely packed planet overflowing with content and intrigue—a design reminiscent of the standalone Far Harbor expansion from Fallout 4.

The expansion is particularly noteworthy for its engaging side quests. Tasks range from investigating a haunted orphanage to pursuing a thief stealing livestock, revealing the everyday struggles and resilience of the House Va’ruun community, which is often caricatured as fanatical in the base game.

However, while the narrative depth is appreciated, the gameplay remains rooted in familiar Starfield mechanics. Combat encounters and quest structures feel recycled, featuring tried-and-true elements such as dungeon crawling, item collecting, and dialogue encounters. The otherworldly foes and ghostly antagonists essentially serve as reskins of previous adversaries you’ve fought before. At least the new dune buggy introduces a fresh way to traverse the landscape, making completion of fetch quests a little more thrilling.

In summary, Shattered Space isn’t a poor expansion, and for those craving more content within the Starfield framework, it delivers—though it’s set in a visually striking and thematically rich environment. However, after such a lengthy wait, many players, including myself, anticipated something that would boldly push the boundaries of creativity and gameplay mechanics. Instead, Shattered Space treads familiar ground, keeping the excitement for a truly innovative experience at bay just a little longer. Fans continue to hope for a daring twist that will redefine their adventures in space. Keep your eyes peeled, as this universe still holds the promise of surprises waiting in the stars!