War never changes, but Fallout does. This video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios has really become a masterpiece. As the fifth major installment in the Fallout series, the game really stands out, from the rest in its epic-like scope. Set in a post-apocalyptic Boston in the year 2287, 210 years after a devastating nuclear war, the player's character (voiced by either Brian T. Delaney or Courtenay Taylor) emerges from underground bunker known as a Vault, to find out, that their child has just been kidnapped and their spouse murder. The player must then complete various quests and acquires experience points to level up their character, so they can be ready to challenge those who survive on the wasteland and find their child, Shaun, before it's too late. Without spoiling the game, too much, I have to say, I love Fallout 4's open world settling and the choice of what gender to play as. With first- and third-person perspectives available, the player can really can go, where ever, he or she wants and do nearly whatever he or she pleases. It allows for a nonlinear gameplay. Players have the ability to wear different armor and outfits, pick what items, they wish to grab, choice what dialogue, they wish to speak to, improve melee and shooting weapons, and also choose which companions can accompany them on battles and missions. One feature, that I really didn't like it, is building settlements, it comes off, as mostly irrelevant to the main story. One returning feature that, I'm glad, returned, is the 'The Pip-Boy', a computerized wristwatch, allows the player to access a menu with statistics, maps, data, and items. Players can find game cartridges, which can be played on the Pip-Boy. The Fast-travelling feature is nice as well. Like the previous games, important hubs, faction bases and homes, help the player travel easier. It will help you, avoid repetitive unwinnable situations. Another returning gameplay feature is the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.), which plays an important part in combat. While using V.A.T.S., real-time combat is slowed down, and action is played out from varying camera angles in a computer graphics version of "bullet time". It's create a uneasiness moment, of gore and graphic violence as time frequently show down to show, the effects of attacks, it has on enemies' bodies. Some people might find, upsetting, but most of it, was done in a cartoony fashion to allow the users to find it, fun to do, rather than too gruesome to look at. This dynamic system allows gameplay to be a lot better, than it was ever before. Unfortunately, there are still some issues, in the game. Such as the issues with bugs, which can be a pain the butt to players trying for any quick game melee. It slows down the frame rate, went below the target of 30fps. Simply walking around the world can hitches after loading a new save or fast-traveling. On all platforms, I saw occasional crashes, however, the PC version has been much smoother in that regard, running between 40 and 60fps. Another problem is that AI characters apparently do not realize that radiation & in-world hazards as harmful, and so will make no effort to avoid it. Dogmeat the dog companion in particular. Unlike other companions, he is programmed to run in front of the player and seems to predict their movement to better get ahead. However, he frequently barge into trouble. He'll open rigged doors and blunder through bobby traps before you can disarm them, walk directly into enemy camps while you probe the outskirts, and will constantly block you from attempting to access your inventory. He's a bit annoying. Yes, it's nice to see characters don't rarely die from their mistake, but they can also cause you to die, or expose your position to enemy fired. They still have no concept of stealth. It makes for a very unrealistic gameplay. Codsworth (Voiced by Stephen Russell), the robot does, nearly the same thing, but at least, he's a lot more useful as the game goes on, because on how many items, he can carry. Plus, he had the best performances, by all the voice actors. The others voice actors are fine, but are somewhat bland, compare to him. The story is a hit and miss, depending on what course, you take your character on. I like how your customizable protagonist can end up being selfless, heroic, greedy, murderous, or some other mix of traits, according to decisions you make, the actions you had taken. The player can chose, from 4 alternate endings in which; they can side. One is with the Institute on their quest for rebuilding society using synthetic beings as slaves. The 2nd is if they want help the group called the Railroad on their quest to prevent the slavery of those synthetic beings. The 3rd opinion, is for them to help the Brotherhood of Steel in destroying the synthetic beings before the synthetic beings can take over the world. The last opinion is to help the group of the Minutemen in destroying all establishing powers of the area, and founding a new society as a replacement. There are at least, 10 different types of ways to end the game. You have the choice, whatever you want. Just note, that some ends pretty amazing, other times, it's just a bit disappointing. All having, societal, political, and technological consequences within this alternate sci-fi world. One thing that I love about the game story is the social commentary about 1950s/ 1960s Cold War Conservatism before the late 1960's Counterculture Revolution. The game provides commentary both subtle, overt on topics ranging from rampant consumerism, potential dangers of rapid technological evolution to fanaticism & corporate corruption. Strong themes exploring family, friendship, military duty are also explored. Overall: Fallout 4 is a fantastic, thoughtful game that anybody will appreciate. Its complex game of decision making, makes this game, one worth owning. So check it out!
Review of Fallout 4
Fallout 4
(2015 Video Game)
It's time to go nuclear. Fallout 4 is da bomb!
10 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers