Prepare to be haunted by the unsettling smiles of Starfield characters. While the game boasts stunning landscapes and detailed cities, the lack of a crucial facial muscle movement feature has resulted in creepy, fake smiles that are hard to look at.
Delaney King, a character and tech gaming artist, has shed light on the issue. The orbicularis oculi muscle, responsible for contracting below the eye area during a genuine smile, remains motionless in Starfield characters. As a result, their smiles appear unnaturally forced and eerie.
Typically, a smile lights up a person’s face and reflects happiness in their eyes. However, in Starfield, the absence of movement in the orbicularis oculi muscle leaves characters with a disturbingly fake expression.
Unfortunately, this is not a bug but a deliberate design choice. Unless Bethesda updates the facial features, players will have to endure these unsettling smiles throughout their gameplay.
For those who find the characters’ smiles too unsettling, there is a simple solution: avoid looking at them. By closing your eyes during conversations, you can pretend they don’t exist. However, this may prove challenging as Starfield features numerous NPCs and quest characters.
Alternatively, you can limit interactions that would prompt a smile from other characters in your Starfield playthrough. By avoiding acts of kindness or positive interactions, you can spare yourself from witnessing these nightmarish smiles.
While Starfield offers an expansive world and impressive character creation, the lack of attention to the orbicularis oculi muscle movement mars an otherwise exceptional gaming experience. Let’s hope Bethesda addresses this issue in future updates.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
