With the release of Fallout 4 quickly approaching (November 10th to be exact) I’ve decided to compile a list of the reasons why I am so excited for Fallout 4. Hopefully my list will create or enhance the enthusiasm that Bethesda’s Fallout series deserves.
Setting:
Fallout 4 takes place in the exciting metropolis of Boston, Massachusetts, which is exciting on its own. Not only does the game guarantee interesting architecture with the Fallout post-apocalyptic aesthetic, but the city itself has great historical significance. Being a history buff, I’m really looking forward to seeing what historical landmarks are included. For instance, I’d love to see the Boston Harbor, Liberty Bell, and places where they hosted the continental congress. I could make a list the length of this article of historical landmarks I would just enjoy seeing in Fallout 4. I really am looking forward to Bethesda’s take on a lot of the historical landmarks from the city that boasts a history beginning in the 17th century. Jeff Gardiner, one the game’s producers, stated in a recent interview, “I’ve played the game for probably 400 hours, and I’m still finding stuff that I haven’t seen”. Gardiner has me even more excited, since 400 hours of gameplay, from exploration alone, guarantees some historical goodness with that classic post-apocalyptic ambiance.
Perk Tree:
Bethesda introduced perk trees in Skyrim and they are bringing it back in Fallout 4. Now if you’ve played other Fallout games you should be familiar with the Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck (referred to as S.P.E.C.I.A.L) system. Bethesda released several animated videos explaining the significance of each segment of S.P.E.C.I.A.L, which you can check out here . Except, from what I can tell, they left luck out from the series. So I wish you the best of luck finding that video. Anyway, the S.P.E.C.I.A.L system will act as a base for the advanced Perk Tree in Fallout 4. So after distributing your S.P.E.C.I.A.L points you can invest in different sections of the perk tree. There are 70 base perks, which have multiple ranks that allow you to choose 275 different variations based on the base perk you choose. Bethesda hasn’t released a lot of information on the perks as of yet, but in a few weeks I’m sure, like me, you’ll be reading up on all of them.
Companion:
The companion aspect of Fallout has been a staple since Fallout 3. However, there were downsides to having a companion in previous games. One downside is that companions in previous Fallouts could suffer an untimely death (sad face). In the new Fallout 4, your companions will be immortal, or to put it in less poetic terms—they won’t die. This is wonderful, considering I personally love having in-game companions to lug around more gear and items. A major downside for me was when the companion would die. Not only would I feel emotionally attached (I know it’s a game but I still have emotions) but I would also have to figure out a way to carry my items and gear back. I’m also pretty excited to see all the in-game companions, such as Dogmeat. I’m not too excited for the ability to woo your companion but it should still be interesting none the less.
Weapons:
Fallout weapons are always fun and diverse, whether you choose a plasma pistol or a tesla cannon. Fallout 4 promises to deliver an even more diverse spectrum of weapons. One exciting feature that has been teased in Fallout 4 is that ranged weapons will be able to do melee damage. This nice feature allows indecisive players to choose both attacking methods as brought to you by Fallout 4’s massive weapon crafting system. In Fallout 4 you can modify any weapon and add a vast assortment of modifications. You can even change the color of your baseball bat. The fast paced video shows only a brief glimpse of the possible weapons you can craft in-game and really has me hyped since weapons play such an important part in Fallout’s world.
Settlements:
Another customization aspect of Fallout 4 that has me hyped is the ability to customize settlements. The game allows you to construct buildings, trading posts, farming, and even set up utilities within the settlement you create. In The Sims fashion, the game really does allow you to create a personalized settlement with that Fallout game flair. Like many other people I don’t really look to the Fallout series for constructing settlements, but it seems like it will be a great addition to the game.
Avatar:
All of the aforementioned in-game additions are exciting but I’m most excited for the additions made to the Avatar. One interesting addition is the ability to mold your avatar’s face. I always felt sort of weird getting plastic surgery done in Fallout 3 to alter my character’s appearance. So I’m pretty excited that in Fallout 4 you do literally mold your character, right away. Not to mention that molding your character in Fallout 4 will be way more in depth than previous Fallout games. Additionally, your avatar plays an even larger role in the game. In Fallout 4 you get to view your character in third-person during conversational dialogue, so you better create something that is easy on the eyes. Your avatar will also have a voice, which I think will be one of those things that you never really thought about but won’t be able to imagine not having. The dialogue will also not be listed but will feature a conversation wheel when selecting dialogue. So it will be very exciting seeing how all these new avatar features will pan out in Fallout 4.
The most exciting reason for me really is that Fallout 4 is a new installment in the fantastic Fallout series that I adore and Bethesda rarely disappoints. So get ready to add Fallout 4 to your vault of incredible games.