Fallout 4 (2015 Video Game) User Reviews

Great, But Not Perfect

[stevenhallman16 · 8/10 · 21 November 2015]

This game is fantastic, make no mistake. Music, graphics, world, characters (with some exceptions), story, choice and exploration are all huge improvements from 'Fallout 3', and if you're at all interested in Bethesda Game Studios' latest offering then I highly recommend you check it out.

However, some flaws hold it back from surpassing the heights seen in previous games. The removal of karma and skill points greatly reduces the customisability of your character's stats, and the lack of a level cap means the need to replay the game is severely restricted, as a patient player could unlock every perk in one playthrough. The new dialogue system is a joke, and coupled with the voiced protagonist results in less choice or role-playing capability seen in other Fallout titles. It's painfully clear that 'Fallout 4' fell victim to the streamlining Bethesda implemented into 'TESV: Skyrim', which doesn't take away from the sheer fun factor but is disappointing to some RPG fans such as myself.

Had Bethesda not begun development so soon after 'Fallout 3', vital lessons could have been learned from Obsidian Entertainment's 'Fallout: New Vegas', which features greater mechanical depth than either of Bethesda's Fallout releases and made huge improvements on the formula created in 'Fallout 3' that seem lacking in 'Fallout 4' or were left out entirely. For example, the factions system in New Vegas resulted in diverse endings and game worlds where in 4 there is little impact had on the world. The developments made in New Vegas' conversation system are curiously absent, making dialogue much less diverse in terms of impacts and outcome (likely due to the inherent restrictions of a voiced protagonist).

In conclusion, this game is ****ing great, I can't stress that enough, but is held back (in my opinion) by simplified mechanics and a story and player character that restricts player choice and customization. But for sheer fun and value, this game is worth your time.

It took me 3 years to actually play this, and I regret that I didn't do I sooner.

[maxd-61061 · 9/10 · 24 December 2018]

Fallout 4 is probably one of the best games I've played. While it may have let down some, I think that it's great. The combat system isn't awful like some of the previous fallout games, the world is great and full of substance, items are great and NPCs are great (some are better than others). One thing that isn't as good a previous fallout games is dialogue. It's pretty 2 dimensional. There are situations where there's really only one direction to go in, even though there are 4 options. I would have liked there to be a way out of a conflict through dialogue instead of having to confront it. Overall great game.

Sharp around the edges but ultimately a great game

[851222 · 10/10 · 14 September 2017]

Greetings from Lithuania.

To think that i have invested around 100 hours of my life time into "Fallout 4" (2015), done the main story, made A LOT of side quests and the there is still A LOT to explore encourages me to safely say - "Fallout 4" is a great game.

I had big expectations for "Fallout 4" because 3rd game was probably one of my all time favorites. And although 4th part did not improve on graphics - for this date and age, the game looks OK / good but nothing more, it did improve on almost everything else. I loved the story of "Fallout 4" - it was better then 3rd games. There is also a good twist in a main story which kinda makes you later guessing your actions.

The open world to explore is amazing in this game. Literally when you walk to make one quest, you come back with 3 or 4 more to do. Later some of them were more like "fetch" quests, but there are plenty of interesting one. I loved weapon / armor crafting, house building stuff was OK but nothing more. There are tons upon a tons of places to discover, things to find or to kill. I played this game on hard more from the beginning and by the end i was like a bad ass / Rambo type character - the game is pretty easy even on hard mode.

Overall, while "Fallout 4" isn't as brilliantly fresh as "Fallout 3" was, still this is an excellent game. Hope in a future they do make another one but this time with new game engine.

It's time to go nuclear. Fallout 4 is da bomb!

[ironhorse_iv · 10/10 · 10 December 2015]

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!

Bethesda has done it again

[thekingcobramma · 10/10 · 23 August 2021]

I don't know why some people are saying this game is bad, some people don't know what a great game is. The Story, the combat, the characters, the variety of weapons are all brilliant. I think it's one of the best post- apocalyptic games ever made. One of the main reasons I love this game is that you're able to build your settlement it's a great feature to the game. The story is also good with the protagonist trying to find his son while he/she runs into tough challenges along the way.

I would highly recommend people to try this game it's definitely one of the best games ever made.

A vast world full of substance

[fenn911 · 10/10 · 15 November 2015]

From the moment the menu screen emerges and the familiar theme of fallout delicately plays in the background, there was no doubt in my mind I was in for a wild ride. Bethesda did not disappoint. The one thing that is most impressive about the game is its sheer ability to retain substance while simultaneously introducing a new atmosphere, full of varying and vast expanses that each hold their own character. The game continues to surprise me at each and every turn as almost every person I begin a conversation with has a deep back story, unique quest, or an occasional homage to the previous games in the fallout series. Bethesda has managed not only to maintain the high level of engrossment that the previous fallout games provided, but has built on their accomplishments. By including new features such as customising not just your own settlements but also your own weapons, and breathing new life into other factors such as the VATS and perk systems, the game has reached a level above and beyond any game I have played before. With the added factor of a mesmerisingly beautiful soundtrack that your character can change depending on their situation and stepping up a level with next generation graphics that make each area you visit a truly unique experience, the game deserves no less than a 10/10. Yes there are some bugs here and there but with a game as large and dense as this, they really don't take away from the experience whatsoever (and can sometimes be hilarious). Fans of the genre and the series should not hesitate to get this game, just be prepared for it to take up a large chunk of your life!

Fallout forever! 💙

[moritzmaschmeyer · 10/10 · 7 May 2022]

Fallout 4 is a wonderfulgame. First in 2015 still without the DLCs and bugged. I joined until 2018 and fortunately didn't have to go through this ordeal and got on straight away with the much-patched goty edition. It's now a mature game with incredible potential and various design options (e.g. Also but not necessarily first-person shooters or with a focus on SimCity/Sims/Settlement Development). It's running flawlessly for me now. But you always have to be careful, especially with mods and other changes. The strength of the game isn't the narrow or detailed story, but an open world worthy of the name! Almost everything is possible. You can follow the story, but you don't have to. The decisions are very important when you have to decide for/against one of the four factions (Institute, Brotherhood, Railroad, Minutemen). This should be carefully considered or delayed. It is its own (open) world in which there is always something new to discover. Due to the large number of mods and extensions, the game never gets boring and can be expanded or changed endlessly according to your own ideas. Because it uses the DX11 graphics interface, you have to pay attention to certain restrictions when modding in order not to "break" the game. I can fully recommend it and you can easily "sink" a lot of time.

10 out of 10, and here's why

[veggiedude · 10/10 · 11 June 2016]

I, personally, love Bethesda games. I love Fallout, Elderscrolls, Doom, and Dishonered. My favorite game ever for awhile was the Elderscrolls: Oblivion. All of Bethesda's titles are jam packed with content that will keep you busy for hours. After seeing Todd Howard announce the next game, Fallout 4, I was pretty excited. I had loved Fallout 3. And after it came out, i avoided learning and spoiling anything about it. I finally bought it and put it in and was greeted with cool and funny cartoon shorts as my game downloaded. After it was done downloading, i was thrown right in. And let me say, I was not disappointed.

I was thrown into a pre-war intro where you could build your own character and witness, in game, the world go to hell. I'm not going to spoil anything, but the story is great!

Game play is great! There's improved gun play, new slow motion VATS, power armor customization, weapons customization, armor customization, Legendary enemies, great companion and romance systems, and a new great perk system.

The game is set in Boston and is almost twice the size of Skyrim. The Main and side quests are all compelling and exciting. You are never at a lack of things to do. The setting is comfortable and brightly colored and there are many different areas with different kinds of enemies.

Its a great game and I highly recommend it.

Loses some of the series' RPG qualities but improves in other areas

[those_who_dig · 8/10 · 22 February 2017]

I think we may have been holding 'Fallout 4' up to a rather harsh set of expectations. 'Fallout 3' was one of the best games of the decade, and 'New Vegas' was another excellent title. Unless Bethesda pulled off the best game of the year, there'd be a lot of criticism.

The introduction was great, and I'd place it leagues above the first scenes of 'Fallout: New Vegas'. Bethesda successfully place this game firmly within the context of a nuclear apocalypse, taking us closer to the initial devastation than ever before. It's also in the earliest moments of the game that you realise that your character can talk! Bethesda's long-awaited decision to give player characters a voice worked rather well, and I hope they expand on it in the future.

Whilst I have praise for certain character-related modifications made in this game, there are also some problems. It's very hard to play an evil character in 'Fallout 4'. As many people have pointed out, your choices tend to range from 'very kind' to 'reluctantly kind'. That didn't really inconvenience me as I tend to play do-gooders on my first playthrough, but I do find it disappointing that the range of moral choice available to players in the earlier games has been significantly reduced.

Bizarrely, as player choice is restricted where decision-making is concerned, it is expanded tremendously in another area: the workshop. For the first time, we are given the ability to expand a fairly vast number of settlements, giving you the choie to install security, add stores, build homes and - most importantly - attract settlers to populate them. One of the key factions, the Minutemen, also tie in with the settlements feature, as you'll often be called upon to defend them from a variety of Wasteland threats.

I quite liked the Minutemen and their quests, but I wasn't so keen on the Institute. They just don't look as authentic as the other factions we've met. A certain degree of sci-fi can be very fitting in an apocalyptic RPG, and I think the contrast of '50s culture and futuristic technology really gave the earlier 'Fallout' games their charm. Around half-way through this latest game, though, I felt that they went a little too far. Given the importance of the Institute, this detracted somewhat from my ability to enjoy the story, but I still acknowledge that it had some very good moments.

Do I think it's as good as 'Fallout 3'? No. Do I think it's a good game? Yes. I've logged well over 100 hours on it, so something must have worked!

Initially Loved It; But the More I Think About It, I Like it Less.

[Liam3011 · 6/10 · 17 April 2021]

Fallout 4's gunplay and (some of the) gameplay are the best of the series. Hands down.

However... pretty much everything else? Let's talk about it.

The story is nothing to write home about. It takes a gigantic step back from F:NV in regards to that. There's literally two endings and that's it, whereas compared to F:NV there are several; choices actually matter in F:NV. And the actual "threat" in Fallout 4 isn't really that interesting nor intimidating.

The companions are fine; base building isn't necessary and is incredibly tacky, so I'd honestly not do it at all because it makes no difference. Mr. Preston Garvey (one of the first guys you interact with) is annoying as hell, hence why he's a meme.

The voice acted protagonist wasn't asked for; wasn't needed (clearly trying to be games like Mass Effect; the difference being a voice acted protagonist was there from the beginning...)

The crafting system is fine and somewhat welcomed, although you can go without it. I did pretty much for my first playthrough.

Overall, it's a fun game purely from a gameplay standpoint, but is overshadowed by many things that make it a bad Fallout game. It's a good game, but as a Fallout game? No.

An Awesome if not Disappointing Game

[masterchiefbichon · 8/10 · 2 August 2016]

Fallout 4 is the latest entry in the post-apocalyptic, role-playing franchise, Fallout. The trailer for this game generated loads of hype, and I, for one, was anticipating its release. This game was the first I purchased for the Xbox One and has managed to suck me in for tons of hours. While it is certainly not the strongest Bethesda game I have ever played, as that honor belongs to the Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, it is still a very good installment to the Fallout franchise. There are several noticeable changes that have been implemented to the game- some good and some bad. Several positive aspects of the game are the improved character creator, weapons and armor customization, an abundance of companions, lots of content and quests, and finally, power armor, which has been altered to support a tank-based, combat role. However, the changes to dialogue and a lack of varying endings neuter an otherwise solid RPG.

It grew on me

[residentgrigo · 7/10 · 18 March 2016]

Fallout 4 proved a bit divisive and 1 (the best), 3 and New Vegas are the superior entries but i still put 70 hours into the game and even went for all 3 fraction endings. The crafting system needs a do-over as the necessary items were given an inventory weight and the same applies to a lesser degree for the new conversation system yet i view both as a good addition to the Bethesda stable. The changed skill and armor system though need to revert back and the writer messed up the ultra-bland side quests big time while delivering the best Bethesda campaign and combat yet so i view the games as Fallout 3,5. It even fells like remake of F3 at times so i suggest fellow series veterans who liked that entry to keep at it if the game initially turns you off. It certainly grew on me as the main narrative went on. The developers lastly need to move on to a new engine! The bugs were reduced to a manageable level after the release and the landscapes are downright picturesque at time but the character models and animation are from another decade altogether. 8,5/10

Underwhelming in relation to Fallout 3 and New Vegas

[sbulgacs · 5/10 · 8 January 2016]

Just finished the first play through of Fallout 4.... Underwhelmed, it's more a smaller Fallout 3 map with more people/mutants running around everywhere..... Fallout 3 was a bigger map and it was a "wasteland" with large uninhabited areas. The side quests are mainly "go here and kill things". After a few of the side quests you basically end up repeating them over and over again. The encampment building is pointless eventually and just becomes annoying. That's not to say its a bad game, its not its good and I enjoyed it. Just not as wondrous as Fallout 3 or enjoyable as Fallout: New Vegas. Kinda seems like step sideways for Bethesda after the brilliance of Skyrim... Lets hope the promised expansion packs make up for the currently uninspired and occasionally repetitive game play.

The best rpg game of bethesda

[syaril-99019 · 10/10 · 9 July 2020]

Really good game mechanics, great storyline, good graphics, and every aspect of the game are really nailed it. I think it's the most rpg game of bethesda games company.

I Love Parts of This Game but I Can't Deny All the Criticism Either

[CANpatbuck3664 · 8/10 · 6 September 2021]

One of the biggest criticisms that gets lobbed at Fallout is the overall plot and the story of the Sole Survivor. I have to add that I haven't played any of the other Fallout games but I actually disagree. I like the overall arc of the Sole Survivor in Fallout 4 and his quest to find/avenge his family, I admit that it would be boring/too familiar of a revenge quest without the inclusion of the other factions but having played through the campaign twice, I was still caught up in it. I also really like the choose-your-own-adventure aspect of it, getting to pick which faction you support and seeing how it impacts the story is a lot of fun. I'm a bit of a sucker for when that mechanic is done well and this is one of the better games I've played that gives the player that kind of freedom (I'd also recommend the Far Harbor DLC for the same reason).

While Fallout 4 is defined as an RPG, I agree with the fans that its more of a FPS with RPG elements. The positive side of this is that the gun play is well designed and tons of fun. If this kind of game isn't your specialty, the inclusion of VATS (its a targeting system that helps the player play percentages of where to strike at an enemy) helps keep the game play fresh. There is a lot of variety with the enemies you can fight against, the ability to upgrade your weapons and your armour to buff against certain types of foes and damage. It was ahead of its time and it holds up pretty well.

I'd be remiss to not talk about my other favourite aspects of this game which is characters. The Sole Survivor is the audience avatar, he's got a driving force but you choose who he/she is or how they impact the Commonwealth. But the side characters are a colourful, vibrant and interesting group that I could continue to just gush about. They're alp distinct and grab your attention. The companions would be enough for me to recommend Fallout 4 alone and while your ability to interact with them properly falls short (more on that later), I couldn't help but be transfixed by their depth and their backstories at points in the game.

I wish it was all just praise but this game does become more of a mixed bag upon revisiting it. Firstly, while the game features an ample campaign with many missions, the pacing does drag, especially in the introductory missions for the factions. You get a lot of the standard fetch/ eliminate the target quests and while that is to be expected, that can be tiresome. The next is the dialogue system. To be fair, this isn't easy to do, to create natural sounding dialogue while giving the player choice. But the summation of the option in the dialogue wheel isn't always accurate and when you step back, the cadence of the responses becomes easier to discern. A lot of the dialogue is clunky because of this and picking one option could lead to a different result than you desired because of the inaccurate summary. Lastly, the RPG mechanics aren't as finely tuned as they could be. It was clear when I was playing this that the previous games were more focused on this and that in an effort to modernize the franchise, it got pushed to the side. I didn't think they were as awful as some do but underwhelming isn't a bad way to describe it.

Players of the classic Fallout games spit venom at this game and at Bethesda for diverting the the franchise. But coincidentally, most of the people who played this game first before other entries in the franchise (like me), really enjoy it for what it is. I haven't even touched on how big the map is and all the areas that can be explored (conversely, there's not as much aesthetic variety to the post-apocalyptic environment, another mixed element in 4). This game is the definition of a mixed bag with some strong virtues and some glaring weaknesses but its a memorable experience and even after playing the campaign twice, I'll probably revisit it again someday. If you're interested and willing to put the time in, I'd still recommend it. I'll play 76 someday but while that game was panned, at least this one had a mixed response overall?

Great fun despite the flaws

[cdalley1979 · 8/10 · 13 April 2016]

I was somewhat surprised to rate this game as highly as I did. Fallout 4 is a Bethesda game, and any veteran of their franchises will immediately recognize the familiar quirks and flaws which they seem incapable of overcoming. But I just love exploring the worlds they create, so much so that I'm perhaps a little too forgiving of the numerous imperfections. To keep things succinct I made a list of positives and negatives:

+) The world they've created is just as deep and fun to explore as any of their titles. I enjoyed the urban nature of the setting; the downtown area was particularly chaotic- in a good way. My favorite parts of this game often came during the quiet moments between combat, when I learned about the people that inhabited an abandoned office through computer terminals, or when I reached the top of a tall building downtown at sunset and was able to just appreciate a sweeping view of the commonwealth. This, combined with the excellent atmospheric music created some truly memorable moments.

+) Combat is fun if not terribly strategic. Guns feel better than previous fallout games but still not as good as a pure FPS. I liked the slow-motion VATS. Enemies aren't always matched to your level, which makes for some exciting moments when you run into something that can easily kick your ass. They are still pretty stupid though.

+) The main storyline is one of Bethesda's better efforts. I felt much more of a desire to stick to the main quest, at least initially. SPOILERS AHEAD: In the beginning,, your objective is simply to track down your son. There's plenty of mystery as the game introduces you to the world, and I really appreciated how personal and emotional the story felt. I found the infiltration of Kellogg's mind to be unique and memorable. However, things eventually derail into more of a generic sci-fi trope as you are forced to attach yourself to a faction…

-) Factions: on one hand, I appreciated that none of the factions are wholly good or evil. They each have their own aims and are willing to do some extreme things to achieve those aims. HOWEVER, they are perhaps a bit too flawed in my opinion. I ended up siding with the railroad, but only because the institute seemed so obviously evil (at least early in the game), and the brotherhood of steel's code made no sense at all to me. Also, I was playing a sniper-type character and the railroad was the best fit for that play style. In hindsight, I should have probably stuck with the minutemen, which is the one faction that isn't in direct opposition to the others.

-) Dialogue- many of my biggest complaints with this game are tied to the lack of dialogue options. Rather than being able to ask specific questions, you are only allowed to respond in 4 ways during conversation, and it's not always clear what direction your selection will take the conversation in. In many cases, your choice doesn't seem to matter at all.

I really wanted to learn more about the factions, for example, but the dialogue system doesn't give you the opportunity. Even your exchanges with faction leaders are quite limited. I would have loved to ask the institute why they are so obsessed with making increasingly human- like Synths as opposed to the nearly infinite list of other things an organization with their resources could be doing.

The story eventually reaches a point where you have no option but to mass-murder nearly every single member of the two opposing factions. I'm not asking for a happy-ever-after, can't we all be friends type of ending, but it would have been nice to at least be able to make an attempt at diplomacy or compromise.

+) I was impressed with the companions in this game. I liked how you can gradually get to know these characters if they approve of your actions, and the companion quests I completed felt significant in a game with too many lazy side quests. Some characters tended to repeat the same lines too often, and they didn't really seem to differ much in their combat tactics, which would have been a nice addition.

+) I loved the crafting/modding system. Bethesda has been putting interactive junk in their games for a while now, and it was great to see it given purpose. The settlement building feature was fun, but ultimately pointless.

-) Graphics were very uneven. The environments looked decent for the most part but some of the models and animation were pretty bad. Compare this game to modded Skyrim and it looks pretty pathetic.

-) And now for the one thing that really interfered with my enjoyment of this game: technical issues. I experienced frequent drops in frame rate and freezing during load screens.

Still, I put nearly 130 hours into this game on one play-through, and most of that time was very enjoyable. Even with its flaws, this game kept drawing me in.

Great game!

[Eugenia123345 · 9/10 · 20 July 2019]

Great game! My first very first Fallout game ever and also what got me into the Fallout series.

Todd Howard you've done it again!

[future-22729 · 9/10 · 19 February 2019]

A brilliant RPG from Bethesda that leads you through an enticing story with 4 different endings and different storylines depending on what the player wants to do. This is another brilliant game by the great Todd Howard.

It's good but they changed too much.

[kobemackenzie · 8/10 · 13 July 2022]

Fallout 4 takes place in a post apocalyptic world in Boston. You play a character as he tries to find his kidnapped son. Fallout 4 has the best graphics the game looks amazing. The combat has improved what times of new weapons being introduced in this game. Fallout 4 has a big open world with new lore and tons of places to explore. And like very other fallout game it's gives you so many choices for you to complete the main quest line and all the side quests! The game does change how the perks work and I think that is what I don't like. Overall the game is good but could have been way better.

Really enjoyed it...

[paulina_szal · 7/10 · 25 June 2020]

...till the fatal bug at the end :-/ Aaaargh! Good graphics, atmosphere, fantastic music.

Da Bomb (Get it?)

[jayyburke · 10/10 · 21 June 2023]

Fallout 4 is easily the best instalment in the series. Set in Boston, Massachusetts, it really well displays what a post apocalyptic America could look like. Either being able to play as a man named Nate or a woman named Nora, there are so many customizable options for your character. The whole game just seems so realistic and it is portrayed so well as something that could be real.

Your adventures within the game are practically endless, hundreds and hundreds of hours are able to be put into the game with constant entertainment for all players. It's an incredible game and is worth it for everyone. While it may not be a kid friendly game, it can be played by all audiences and is overall a game you can put many hours in and do multiple playthroughs unlike games such as Assassins Creed.

Overrated?

[Moviememmer · 26 October 2019]

Pros:

• Improved gun-combat
• Graphics are more colourful and lively
• All junk is useful in crafting
• Tons of mods for weapons
• Deep expansive "Bethesda" open world
• Tons to do
• Can explore world after finishing game!!!!!
• Good character customisation & progression

Cons:

• Story isn't anything special
• Shallow dialogue options
• Lack of RPG elements!!!
• Voiced protagonist
• Graphics aren't honestly good.....
• Building feels tacked-on
• Bad AI
• Tons of bugs and glitches
• VATS is kinda unneeded, in spite of improved gunplay (thou still fun to use)

Verdict: I found this game kinda overrated. RPG aspects from previous Fallout's are lacking or removed completely. However, it still is a great open world exploration game with tons to do and hours and hours of playtime. So it's well worth. I just wanted the right proper Fallout RPG game and I didn't get it.

7/10

The Community made it Great

[spiff-12 · 7/10 · 10 December 2015]

With the addition of Survival mode and the Modder community, this game was pulled out of the fire. There are far too many concepts that do not work with other concepts within this game. Timed quests mixed with not timed quests with no apparent way to tell them apart? Who was the genius who thought that one up? Auto insertion radiant quests? I'll Mark it on your Map...to stupidtown.

I choose a character and all choices look like they were beat up with the ugly stick. Why do Gunner guys all look like a young Michael Biehn while I look like some drunk in a dive bar? The Modders made it all better.

When I open my mouth to say something that I think is intelligent and well placed based on what I see in a VERY short description I end up saying something so stupid that I cringe. Modders to the Rescue with a 'Verbose' description.

Bethesda has decided that it likes this 'Modder' idea in that it wants to appropriate it and make money off of it. I find that to be a conflict of interest. Now, instead of creating a poorly thought out game by accident, they could do so by intent...saying "Well you could customize your experience by giving us more money". Trump Howard says it's all about quality control. I've played the unmodified game...it breaks just fine without mods! How many years has it been and there are problems with the original game that still haven't been fixed. 'Quality Control' indeed!

Its not a RPG.

[gulskare · 2/10 · 6 February 2016]

I was still on the hype train when I started play on my XboxOne. The game was still new and everything was so new and exiting. But it quickly fades as the days playing Fallout4 passed. It became clear that the role play element of Fallout 4 was cut to the bone leaving a fun but thin skeleton of role play mechanics. The game is all about being the dad of Shaun, The freedom to make the main character ones own is all but a illusion.

The feeling of loss of the actual role play in the game, have made many of the Fallot franchise and RPG fans express their disappointment in many forms of media.

On the second run through the game I tried another concept and to side with another faction. And this is when Fallout 4 falls apart, all dialog leads either to the same place, or nowhere. I was lead by a fat red rope all along. None of the choices mattered. The endings feel like the endings of Mass Effect 3, witch caused a uproar at the time. It felt like none of the game choices I made mattered to the story. Save minute men or not. Help a settlement or not. It just didn't matter in the end. However you play it its just two endings. Help destroy the institute or not. There was no consequences and the endings were almost the same.

If I had my character be a evil person, the Npc's in the game didn't mind. The action for good or bad had consequence.

I was hugely disappointment because that is to me why the fallout game series and Elder scrolls series had replay value and were souch fun games.

It's is however a fun shooter game with role play mechanics.

I love the crafting of settlements. I hate how helpless the settlers are, and unable to do anything them selves. They must be micromanaged.

It is the same problem with the Minutemen, the protagonist is made the General, the highest rank within the organization. But the protagonist is still made to do all the work. Every cry for help, is only answered by the player. None of the minutemen seem to be able to help each other or take action on anything at all. And they may or may not come to aid the player if he needs it. They come across as needy and helpless, more an annoyance than someone I would like to help.

I love the new handling of and crafting of, weapons, Armour, food and drugs. Its the best new thing in the Fallout series.

I love the faction specific services. Brotherhood of steel Vertibird rides, Minute men artillery calls and support flares, and teleportation cynth trooper grenades from the Institute. All fun with lots of opportunity to use them.

The game have good mood setting with use of light, weather, sounds and area designs. It feels like playing a role playing game even when it isn't. It have charm and have a huge amount of background story exploration and geographical exploration. Fallout4 is also stuffed lore to discover if one likes that. I do.

The voiced protagonist also takes away from the freedom of role playing, unlike the Withcer games. The dialog options are just four, vague and often misleading.

The personal disappointment is why this shooter game with role play elements get a low score.

Great game.

[M_Exchange · 8/10 · 5 October 2022]

It's fairly profound. It caused me to make a decision about an issue that doesn't even exist yet-- artificial intelligence in androids/ "synths". Are they truly sentient? I decided (with the movie "Ex Machina" weighing on me), "hell no." Thankfully, I will probably never need to invoke that belief in my everyday life, but my kids will probably need to deal with such matters.

Fairly early during the game, when I discovered the Minutemen, I was completely on board with their cause, and not just because I love such references to American history. I loved that Preston Garvey (I assume a reference to Marcus Garvey--again, I love American history) bestowed the title of "general" on me and allowed me to call the shots. So, when I discovered The Brotherhood of Steel and realized that they wanted me to serve them as a grunt soldier, I rejected their invitation to join them. Plus, Preston spoke about them as if they were evil.

By the end of the game, I wished I had joined them. I maintain that the Minutemen UNDER MY COMMAND were good, but the other factions were garbage. The Institute was comprised of elitist morons who believed that they could save humanity by dehumanizing everyone. The Railroad asks you, "are you prepared to die for a synth?" as an opening question. When I answered "no" then received disapproval from a supposedly "good" character (Piper) I believed that I made the wrong decision. Then, when I joined them, they wanted to send me on assassination missions against The Brotherhood because they're SO MUCH MORE DECENT... I guess.

Although the game has a theme of its "good" characters siding completely with the synths and "selfish" characters hating synths, it drops subtle hints that they are simply robots with implanted human memories, and there is an additional creepiness of them replacing actual organic humans surreptitiously.

By the end of the game, I knew that my transition from "undecided" to "HELL NO" about supporting synths was complete when Preston looked at the smoldering wreckage of The Insititute after we demolished it and said something to the effect of, "I wish it didn't have to be that way. But they brought the fight to us."

I wanted to say, "Dude... Shut up. I loved it."