Fallout 4 review
Fallout 4 is the latest entry in the post-apocalyptic franchise by Bethesda. Unlike previous titles, Fallout 4 is the first to have a voiced protagonist, but does this help or hinder the game? Were the compromises that had to be made worth it for whatever added immersion the players might have experienced as a result?
Set in Boston, Fallout 4 follows the story of the Sole Survivor; in their mission to find their Son after he is kidnapped (So it’s somewhat similar to Fallout 3’s story only the roles are reversed this time) Along the way you’ll get to meet the four main factions in the game, alongside a host of interesting NPCs. The gameplay has also seen an overhaul in this instalment, bringing it up to par with modern standards of game design.
Starting off with the most obvious and controversial part of Fallout 4; the voiced protagonist. In some ways it does allow the player to immerse themselves a bit more in the game, as you get to see your player responding to characters and talking to people as part of the world. On the other hand, however, it also restricts it somewhat. The dialogue options have been reduced to a four-choice system, whereas before there were many branching options with dialogue changing with your selected perks, here there is hardly any of that. It means that the options the player has when it comes to role-playing have been vastly limited compared to what you were previously able to do. A big problem in a role-playing game.
When you move on to the gameplay however, things get a lot better. The gunplay is a lot more fluid, fast moving. It feels as if there’s more weight to the weapons and there’s a satisfying spray of blood when you shoot and enemy (At least and enemy who isn’t a Robot) However there is a tendency for enemies to feel bullet spongy. This becomes especially apparent at later levels, though by then you’ve usually got enough gear that it doesn’t become as much of an issue. The crippled limb system returns, this time however limbs can heal on their own over time, useful If you’re out of combat and don’t have a stimpack. Stimpacks also heal limbs now, rather than Doctors bags, which some may enjoy. Power Armour has also changed, there is no perk required to use it, and rather than being equip-able armour it is instead assembled around a frame. This new mechanic gives the armour more weight and makes it feel like you’re actually a walking battle-tank. However, this can also make Power Armour more hassle than it’s worth for some people, as they have to be fuelled with Fusion Cores, which last about half an hour real time and need separate pieces like the arms or legs constantly repaired and they can only be repaired at Power Armour Station, meaning you’ll be travelling between settlements constantly in order to keep your Power Armour in mint condition.
One other thing to talk about is the hugely controversial subject of ‘Creation Club’ Which is a system in game that allows Bethesda to sell ‘Micro-DLCs’ to the consumer. These micro DLCs are usually things like armour or weapon paints, new armours or weapons and content packs for the Settlement mode. What makes Creation Club stand out is that modders can apply to be part of it, if successful in their application, they are then able to produce content for the Creation Club and can earn some money back. It’s a nice idea and it would look good on the portfolio of a modder, if they had done work with Bethesda and had that work featured in a major title. Most complaint’s came from the pricing of the content, with most people believing that it wasn’t worth the money that Bethesda were charging for it (For instance, one Power Armour paint costs 100 creation credits, equal to about $1 USD) While I personally am split on whether these pieces of content are worth it, I can see the potential of what’s on offer.
I think in the end, Fallout 4 is a very fun open world shooter, however those who play the games for the story aspect may end up feeling somewhat disappointed at the apparent lack of RPG elements. The settlement mode is a bit clunky but it works and so you may find some enjoyment from it. The perk tree is a bit confusing at first but after a little while you get used to its layout. Overall, if you’re a fan of open world shooters, Fallout 4 is for you, but otherwise you may leave feeling disappointed.
If you would like to purchase a copy of Fallout 4, then follow the link below:
Fallout 4 - Xbox One
Set in Boston, Fallout 4 follows the story of the Sole Survivor; in their mission to find their Son after he is kidnapped (So it’s somewhat similar to Fallout 3’s story only the roles are reversed this time) Along the way you’ll get to meet the four main factions in the game, alongside a host of interesting NPCs. The gameplay has also seen an overhaul in this instalment, bringing it up to par with modern standards of game design.
Starting off with the most obvious and controversial part of Fallout 4; the voiced protagonist. In some ways it does allow the player to immerse themselves a bit more in the game, as you get to see your player responding to characters and talking to people as part of the world. On the other hand, however, it also restricts it somewhat. The dialogue options have been reduced to a four-choice system, whereas before there were many branching options with dialogue changing with your selected perks, here there is hardly any of that. It means that the options the player has when it comes to role-playing have been vastly limited compared to what you were previously able to do. A big problem in a role-playing game.
When you move on to the gameplay however, things get a lot better. The gunplay is a lot more fluid, fast moving. It feels as if there’s more weight to the weapons and there’s a satisfying spray of blood when you shoot and enemy (At least and enemy who isn’t a Robot) However there is a tendency for enemies to feel bullet spongy. This becomes especially apparent at later levels, though by then you’ve usually got enough gear that it doesn’t become as much of an issue. The crippled limb system returns, this time however limbs can heal on their own over time, useful If you’re out of combat and don’t have a stimpack. Stimpacks also heal limbs now, rather than Doctors bags, which some may enjoy. Power Armour has also changed, there is no perk required to use it, and rather than being equip-able armour it is instead assembled around a frame. This new mechanic gives the armour more weight and makes it feel like you’re actually a walking battle-tank. However, this can also make Power Armour more hassle than it’s worth for some people, as they have to be fuelled with Fusion Cores, which last about half an hour real time and need separate pieces like the arms or legs constantly repaired and they can only be repaired at Power Armour Station, meaning you’ll be travelling between settlements constantly in order to keep your Power Armour in mint condition.
One other thing to talk about is the hugely controversial subject of ‘Creation Club’ Which is a system in game that allows Bethesda to sell ‘Micro-DLCs’ to the consumer. These micro DLCs are usually things like armour or weapon paints, new armours or weapons and content packs for the Settlement mode. What makes Creation Club stand out is that modders can apply to be part of it, if successful in their application, they are then able to produce content for the Creation Club and can earn some money back. It’s a nice idea and it would look good on the portfolio of a modder, if they had done work with Bethesda and had that work featured in a major title. Most complaint’s came from the pricing of the content, with most people believing that it wasn’t worth the money that Bethesda were charging for it (For instance, one Power Armour paint costs 100 creation credits, equal to about $1 USD) While I personally am split on whether these pieces of content are worth it, I can see the potential of what’s on offer.
I think in the end, Fallout 4 is a very fun open world shooter, however those who play the games for the story aspect may end up feeling somewhat disappointed at the apparent lack of RPG elements. The settlement mode is a bit clunky but it works and so you may find some enjoyment from it. The perk tree is a bit confusing at first but after a little while you get used to its layout. Overall, if you’re a fan of open world shooters, Fallout 4 is for you, but otherwise you may leave feeling disappointed.
If you would like to purchase a copy of Fallout 4, then follow the link below:
Fallout 4 - Xbox One
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