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REVIEW: FALLOUT 4 (PS4, Xbox One, PC - PS4 version tested)

11/11/2015

14 Comments

 
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I've no idea what it would've been like to be a teenager in the 30s or 40s, with the rise of Hitler and fascism, and World War II, an ting.

But I do know this: growing up in the 1980s was utterly terrifying.
 

Thanks to The Cold War - as anyone who was there will attest - we were all pretty certain that the entire world could end at any second, with barely enough time to boil an egg. There were pamphlets in the library advising on how to survive a nuclear attack, primetime dramas showing just how much more grim Sheffield would be after the bombs dropped, and top 10 pop songs insisting it was only a matter of time until the world ended.

BAD DREAMS
I lost count of the dreams I had about atomic annihilation, and used to lay awake in bed worrying if the glass interior doors of my mum and dad's house were adequate material to build a fallout shelter from.

When I wasn't worrying about nuclear bombs, I was worrying about AIDS, thanks to tabloid projections that it would wipe us all out by the turn of the century.

All kids have to be concerned about nowadays is whether they look thin enough in their Instagrams.


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Of course, history now records that the world didn't end any time in the last 30 years, and though Al Qaeda and bird/swine flu, Y2K, and mad cow disease, and now ISIS, have all made a fair 
stab at putting the wind up us, and Russia is currently on a bit of a greatest hits comeback tour, Western governments have yet to find another bogeyman as effective as the Soviet Union and AIDS.

Ever feel like you've been cheated? It's almost like they're losing faith in their fear-based mind control...


"Er... yeah... so, um... dog flu! You're all going to get dog flu. No. Wait. Um... sausage cancer! Syrian refugees! I know - dust motes! Killer hats! Wyverns! Bum handles! Oil's running out you know! And there's a wind shortage! People with goatees! What's that? Global warming? Pfft. Don't be so stupid."


SO ANYWAY

Yeah, so. Fallout 4. It's back to that post-nuclear-annihilation world, this time set in a New England that's been renamed The Commonwealth, and is full of mutants, Mad Max-esque raiders, robots, and other assorted oddballs. If you've played Fallout 3, you know exactly what to expect here, because there's not a whole lot that feels different from last time around. 

You do, however, get a dog sidekick, because that's a thing that has to be in all games nowadays, apparently.


Beginning pre-bombs, we get a glimpse of the atom-powered alternate America that succumbs to World War 3. It's a decent set-up that gives your character a solid motivation for moving through the main story (though, of course, this being an open-world game you'll spend most of your time exploring, and embarking on side-quests, and forgetting all about that main story for huge swathes of it). 


Fallout 4 is ostensibly a role-playing game, and - despite its post-apocalyptic setting - it plays much like every other RPG out there.

HOURS
​Countless hours of your life will be spent looting and scavenging, deciding which items to drop because you're carrying too much, and juggling a long list of quests and side-quests. When you're not doing that, you're fannying around talking to other characters, via dialogue wheels. If that sounds boring and repetitive and old-fashioned to you - and it probably should do - then Fallout 4 might not be the sort of thing you like.

​Still, the real draw of the Fallout games is in simply exploring the world, meeting weird characters, and discovering the secrets which litter the wastelands. In this respect, Fallout 4 doesn't disappoint: it's absolutely stuffed. However, the slightly comic book-y atmosphere, the broad characters, the humour, and graphics which veer from being properly next-gen, to looking almost PS2 quality - there's no excuse for such ropey character models and animation in 2015, frankly - all pull against the atmosphere.

Admittedly, its quirky tone makes the Fallout world distinct, and not just another grim, post-nuclear, setting... but it all conspires to make Fallout 4 something of a schizophrenic game.

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CLUNK
There are subtle changes to the combat in Fallout 4, making it feel slightly more first-person shooter-like.

Unfortunately, it ends up falling between two stools in its bid to try and please everyone.

​Whereas in Fallout 3 you could freeze time and select specific parts of an enemy to aim at, this time you can only slow time - which gives it a slight bullet-time vibe.


It feels like an attempt at making concessions to the FPS audience, without alienating the series' existing fanbase. It would've been more satisfying if it was one or the other, rather than neither. Not anal enough to be full RPG combat, and not kinetic enough to be a FPS.

The biggest additions to the game are exoskeleton power suit things - which make you feel superhuman for about five minutes until their fusion cell runs dry, and you abandon them and realise they're a waste of your time - and the introduction of settlements. There's a somewhat tricksy construction tool that allows you to build and furnish entire communities, from pre-fab parts.

​Once I got the hang of it, I spent more time playing around with it than I expected to. However, it eats into your scavenged resources, meaning even more time spent collecting stuff. 

BUGS?
A lot of the coverage surrounding Fallout 4's release has focused on its bugs. In all honesty, as with last year's Assassin's Creed Unity, I didn't spot anything too major. I had one monster battle - that was presumably meant to be challenging - but became a doddle, because the monster had gotten stuck in a hole. But a lot of what I often thought was a bug just turned out to be appalling character animations...

So anyway. Yeah. In short: Fallout 4 is full of content, and existing Fallout fans will love it blindly - that's the only way to explain how so many reviews are overlooking the terrible graphics, and allegedly bug-ridden state it was released in

The main story and scripting is good, the setting is compelling, and there's so much going on that I can barely be bothered to mention most of it.

​Others might want to approach with caution, though; it's a mixed bag of graphics, the combat is clunky, the RPG elements are woefully hackneyed and derivative, and it builds on its predecessor in only subtle ways. It feels like more of the same, rather than something wholly new. But if you loved what it has always done, then you'll be right at home.


SUMMARY: A ton of content, but it looks and feels like a game that could've been released five years ago. Plus, these RPG tropes are getting tiresome - even in a setting as compelling and unique as this.
SCORE: 7.733 rads out of 10.3111 rads
FROM THE ARCHIVE:
REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY - BLACK OPS 3 (various, PS4 version tested)
REVIEW: SOMA (Various, PS4 version tested)
THE TALOS PRINCIPLE (Various, PS4 version tested)
14 Comments
Stoo
11/11/2015 12:13:39 pm

I'll have to admit they could have just released another game using exactly the same graphics and mechanics as FO3\NV and I'd want to play it. So even if this isn't doing a whole lot new, I'm keen to try it. It looks a bit more colourful, at least?

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Mr Biffo
11/11/2015 12:15:10 pm

Yuss... it's a bit less brown, grey and beige than before...

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combat_honey
11/11/2015 12:55:13 pm

It is a bit more colourful, yes (though the colours are inevitably washed out as it's been a while since anything had a new coat of paint). And the scenery looks fantastic during the day. Like Biffo says, though, character models and animations are pretty bad (which is the case with *every* Bethesda game so I really don't understand why they don't get their act together), and the combat AI seems completely unimproved over what was seen in the last gen games, so combat basically always devolves into a bunch of stiff-limbed mannequin men running back and forth and firing wildly.

In terms of the various gameplay systems, everything feels very streamlined. I haven't played much yet but so far there seems to be less of a focus on your character's personal skills and attributes, and it feels a bit more like an FPS with RPG elements than the other way around. (For example, no matter your skills you're competent with guns and can extensively modify weapons, and when you strap into your power armour your skills become pretty much irrelevant as you automatically take the role of a damage-dealing tank.)

There are definite improvements, though. I didn't like the idea of having a fully voiced player character but so far I think it works, and it's making me feel more engaged with the main character and her story. (I turned on the in-game radio after I first left the vault and there was a brilliantly appropriate song playing which really made the emotion of the character's situation hit home.) Movement feels significantly better - there's more of a sense of speed when you run, for example, and it generally feels less 'floaty' and artificial. The weapons feel a lot more satisfying, too, and while I find it silly that my character - who just hours previously (in her mind at least) had been a 1950's-style housewife - can effectively customise any weapon she finds with bits of scrap, the weapon customisation is great.

I'm enjoying the game so far, but I'm reserving judgment for the moment. For me this game will live or die based on how good the quests and story are, and I've only played for about four hours so far (two hours of which were probably spent on character creation) so I haven't seen much of either yet.

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PeskyFletch
11/11/2015 03:12:54 pm

They pretty much did!

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Voodoo76
11/11/2015 12:59:21 pm

I was going to get this on release due to the hype machine but thought I'd wait for your thoughts. Glad I did as I won't bother now. I haven't the time nor the attention span to get into this. Thanks for your honesty Mr Biffo.

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Mr Biffo
11/11/2015 01:25:15 pm

Don't get me wrong: I like it. I just don't love it...

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Rimmy Tim
11/11/2015 01:27:26 pm

Essentially the game is still based on the Morrowind engine, albeit highly modified, which would explain the lack of advancement in terms of animations and character models. Doesn't endear me to Bethesda every time I see another Elder Scrolls/Fallout installment STILL using Gamebryo (cunningly renamed 'Creation engine' for Skyrim).

I forgive these things though for the fun role playing experience. And I do happen to have a thing for the 50's retro-futurism/lore, which I realise is subjective. Unlike Biffo I'd find it a bit dull and uncreative if it was just an apocalyptic version of the present day... although a Cold War 80s apocalypse would be interesting.

Also r.e. the power armour, there's bound to be a perk or something along the line where you can craft power cells rather than having to loot for them?

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Superbeast 37
11/11/2015 05:05:51 pm

This type of game requires some serious immersion for me to buy into it with a large time investment.

A lot of people say "graphics don't matter" but I will quite shamelessly say that they very much matter to me especially when it comes to the immersion factor.

Graphics have to be measured by the standards of the day. I played Speccy games in the mid 80's that immersed me but they ceased to immerse once I'd played on a friends Amiga.

Witcher 3 raised a bar and Fallout 4 fell short. Had Fallout 4 released a few years back I could have bought into the world they were selling. Combine that with the mediocre combat and I wonder how it scored so highly. This is Halo 5 part 2 as far as reviews go - at least in terms of me sat there thinking "how on earth did they come to that conclusion".

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Stay
11/11/2015 07:24:45 pm

I think art and sound design is far more important that polygon count for immersion. For me far more emotion is conveyed in through the simple animations of the gouraud shaded characters in FF7 that in most AAA games now even with voice acting and uncanny valley faces.

I do like the world design and lore of the Fallout games but I think the Bethesda jankiness gives the game a certain amount of character due to the randomness of it all.

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RichT
11/11/2015 07:32:58 pm

It may not be as apparent as say, yer Assarssarsin's Creeds or your The Halos, but Bethesda's treatment of the Fallout world is one notch away from being as obviously "more of the same".

SORRY TO GO FULL NERD, BUH: In Fallout 3, Bethesda didn't introduce a single concept that wasn't in Brian Fargo and Chris Avellone's original PC RPGs, or outlined in the original source material ("The Fallout Bible") written by them to flesh out the history of this world. And I can sorta understand that: given the length of time between the Fallout 2 and 3, and that they had acquired the license, and that it was delivering the game to a mostly new audience.

The things I've heard about Fallout 4 though: it appears that it's simply a cosmetic change of setting to obscure that Bethesda haven't developed any of their own ideas. Again.

In Fallout, I got a dog called Dogmeat.
In Fallout 3, I got a dog called Dogmeat.
In Fallout 4, I get a dog called Dogmeat.

In Fallout, I get the Ink Spots on the intro titles.
In Fallout 3, I get the Ink Spots on the intro titles, and on the radio.
In Fallout 4, I will eat my socks if I don't hear the Ink Spots at some point.

I sure as hell destroyed the Super Mutants lab and Master in Fallout, and mopped up their remnants in 2, 3 and New Vegas. But I bet a sizeable contingent of those loveable oafs have somehow ended up from New Mexico in New England..!

I sure as jillikers completely destroyed the Enclave in Fallout 2, and made absolutely sure I'd finished them off in Fallout 3, but I don't know... I've a feeling those RASCALS will be up to their MERRY MISCHIEF again in Boston..!

I'm not trying to be a downer on the series - it's been my absolute favourite RPG since the very first game - but with this one I'm feeling The Fatigue. The feeling that Bethesda are more concerned with establishing the iconography of the game than in how it is used and played. How that iconography works as a brand. How they hope it will be famously recognised in popular culture. Rather than: how does this item work in the game? How is it useful? What does the predominance - of Nuka Cola, of Fallout shelters, of Brotherhood armour, of super-roundy 50's consumer items - bring to the game and how does this improve the user experience? Or would their absence make for a better game? Why is the conspicuous repitition of motifs, iconography and game mechanics considered of greater value than designing a game that reaches beyond them?

Anyway: I'll be finishing Wasteland 2 before I get around to playing Fallout 4. It might not have the Fallout brand, but it is in body, mind and spirit the sequel to these games. And I'll end up buying Fallout 4, and enjoying it, and playing countess hundreds of hours on it: but it'll be for the wandering around, and finding delightful little secrets. I highly doubt it'll be for -"BONGO BONGO BONGO (I DONT WANNA LEAVE THE CONGO)" (again)

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Hamptonoid
11/11/2015 07:52:23 pm

Dog companion? Bet it isn't as good as Shadow Dancer. . .

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Kelvin Green link
11/11/2015 09:23:17 pm

After a while in Metal Gear Solid V you can change D-Dog's fur colour and patterns. I have changed him to a white wolf in homage to the mighty Shadow Dancer. Alas you cannot change his name, or at least I haven't unlocked that option.

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Kelvin Green link
11/11/2015 09:19:10 pm

"You do, however, get a dog sidekick, because that's a thing that has to be in all games nowadays, apparently."

That reminds me of how at one point all games needed to have vehicles, or all games needed to have crafting. There was one release a couple of years ago that didn't have any sort of crafting -- because it would have been out of place -- and the outcry led to them putting in a rudimentary crafting system. I can't remember what it was now.

Er, I have no idea where I was going with that.

Anyway, I'm a grumpy old git and I'm still waiting for a sequel to Fallout 2. This doesn't look like it.

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Alastair
12/11/2015 11:52:23 am

I grew up in Northern Ireland, so there were problems of a different home grown type in the 80s for us. Rarely did the cold war worry us.

There was one friend who worried about nuclear armageddon a lot, the same guy who setup a trip wire for Santa Claus as a kid and now sports a beard and enjoys craft beer.

So I'm not too sure if he was just a worldly person all along, or just a hipster from the start who insisted on have fashionable angst that the rest of us didn't register.

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