Bethesda’s Fallout series is easily one of the most popular in the company’s history, delivering the kind of lore most developers dream of. With its unique VATS-driven combat system, every battle is unique, especially when you time those kill shots just right.
Thankfully, the franchise will continue later this year when Fallout 4 makes its debut for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on November 10. As you would expect, this game has the kind of depth and exploration features to eclipse the competition, even predecessors Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas.
Fallout 4’s post apocalyptic world takes place in Boston 200 years after the initial events in the story unfold. You’ll be able to explore a few miles of territory, taking on everyone from powerful droids to mutant monsters to ravagers that want nothing more than to take your stuff.
For the first time in the series, Fallout 4 will introduce a new component where you can build your dream fortress, improving upon an existing foundation. With four key categories – glass, adhesive, screws and steel – you’ll be able to trade in scraps and receive the parts necessary to get key components useful for making a better stronghold. You can also spice up the décor, in case you want to make a house worth visiting, even though ravagers aren’t the friendly type. For these guys you’ll want to set up defensive perimeters, utilizing a number of power generators, along with traps like flame throwers, turrets and laser lines to cut their limbs off.
On top of that, you can modify weapons and armor. There are 50 base weapons to choose from, with over 700 different modifications available. If you want to turn a pistol into a cool laser rifle, all you need are the proper tools and you can get it done. In addition, the armor can be modified to take more hits, or look stylish while you set up shop.
Customization doesn’t end there. This time around, you can play as a man or a woman, and choose what features you want to change on the fly with your character, simply by looking in a bathroom mirror and tweaking things here and there. After that, you’ll be able to adapt other features, such as what tone you want your conversations to take (you can choose from several options) and what kind of vault you initially want to make for yourself and build upon. Skills can be learned as the game goes on, and improvement goes a long way in this post-apocalyptic world.
You’ll be able to work alongside a dog, a loyal friend you find at the start of your adventure after running into your robot servant, Cogsworth, who somehow survived for 200 years. The dog can be taught to fetch and sticks with you, depending on the conversation you have with this creature.
Combat is still as great as ever, with superb first-person (or third-person, depending on perspective) action with a variety of enemies. The VATS system returns, as you can use your Pip-Boy to aim for specific parts on a person, if you want to go for a blood-inducing head shot or maybe something a little more painful so your target can feel the pain.
Speaking of the Pip-Boy, you’ll be able to use it a bit more this time around. Along with leveling up and learning a thing or two about the world, you’ll play old tapes you stumble across, which can unlock some mini-games. Ever see Pip-Boy star in a Donkey Kong clone called Red Menace? Find the right tape, and you’ll be able to check this out. There’s even a Collector’s Edition that comes with a real Pip-Boy that works alongside a mobile device. Time to pre-order!
Fallout 4 is a huge sequel. There’s a massive world to explore, dangerous encounters and plenty to rebuild and modify however you choose. We’ll see how the final game fares when it arrives for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC later this year!
By the way, the Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition comes with an actual Pip-Boy.
Enough reading! Watch the new Fallout 4 trailer.
