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Fallout 4 review

War is hell, but the wasteland is more fun than ever in Fallout 4

Fallout 4
Fallout 4
MSRP $60.00
“Fallout 4 sets a new standard for first-person RPGs.”
Pros
  • Massive, inviting world
  • Deeply flexible character development
  • Smoother gunplay makes it a more viable action game
  • New crafting integrates smoothly without obtruding
  • Greater visual variety than Fallout 3
Cons
  • Overly simple dialog and limited role playing
  • Solid, but predictable genre storytelling

As I crept up the rotting wooden staircase, I fished a handful of pills out of my pocket and popped them one by one — a mix of amphetamines and painkillers to jack me up for the coming fight. Seeing that was the last straw for Hancock, who pulled me aside to confess his deep admiration for me. I ventured that what we were feeling might be something more than friendship, and damn what anyone else would think. The ghoul smiled and we shared this quiet moment of joy before readying our weapons and rounding the corner to face certain doom at the razor-sharp hands of a monstrous deathclaw. Welcome to life after the end of the world.

“War never changes,” Ron Perlman traditionally intones in the opening to every Fallout game, though this series of post-apocalyptic adventures has changed a lot throughout its 18-year run. Starting as an isometric PC RPG in the late-1990s, the franchise exploded to a much-wider audience with a new developer and fresh first-person perspective in 2008 with Bethesda’s Fallout 3. After lending the franchise back to some of its original creators at Obsidian with New Vegas, Bethesda is back at the helm again with Fallout 4.

Burned out Boston

Bethesda continues to carve out its own corner of the Fallout universe in the Northeast, following up on 3’s Capital Wasteland around Washington D.C. with a setting in and around the ruins of Boston, known to its residents as the Commonwealth. The expansive map is dotted with the remains of familiar Massachusetts landmarks such as the Bunker Hill Monument, the USS Constitution, and Fenway Park, all recreated in nostalgic detail that evoked this reviewer’s Boston childhood. Starting up near Concord in the northwest corner of the map, the playable area ranges over to Salem in the northeast, down through forest, suburbs, Cambridge and downtown Boston to a swampy Southie.

The repetitive grey-green from the Capital Wasteland has fortunately been replaced with a more dynamic range of looks and settings. The look of Fallout 4 is instantly familiar to anyone who has touched the series before, but it’s looking lovelier than ever. Everything still has that signature Fallout dinginess, but it pops much more against vibrant blue skies that give way to sickly yellow when a radiation storm drifts in.

The developers at Bethesda have learned a lot about creating open worlds with their experience on Skyrim. The Commonwealth is expansive, with a well-tuned density of sites and encounters that feels organic and invites exploration.

Before letting you loose in the Commonwealth though, Fallout 4 performs a series first: It shows you what life was like in idyllic suburbia just before the bombs dropped. The prologue is brief, but it’s an effective device for providing a little perspective on how the game’s world came to be.

Improved leveling, better control

While much of the moment-to-moment action has remained the same from Fallout 3, Bethesda has overhauled the character progression system to excellent effect. Whereas before every level saw you assigning skill points and selecting from perks that were gated by level, those have now been combined into perks that improve your abilities in any area of the game. At every level you have one point to spend either boosting one of your core stats or taking a perk. Perks are laid out on a grid with columns for each special stat and rows corresponding to each level of that stat. For instance, in order to take the Solar Powered perk that buffs you up during the daylight, you need to have 10 endurance. Additional degrees of each perk have level requirements, but the first is available to anyone from start of the game if they have the prerequisite stats.

Fallout 4 performs a series first: It shows you what life was like in idyllic suburbia just before the bombs dropped.

The flexibility of this new system allows for much more freedom early on in what kind of character you can create. Whether you want to be an axe-wielding brawler who eats people, or a fleet-footed hacker with a silver tongue and a penchant for finding spare change, there are perks to support however you want to play. Providing so many options so early and giving you control over the order in which they become available allows you to specialize from the beginning, and encourages replays to try out entirely different builds. Unlike Fallout 3 there is also no level cap, so you can explore and develop your character indefinitely while waiting for more DLC to drop next year.

Bethesda hybridized Fallout’s RPG roots with first-person shooter mechanics in 3, but the marriage was rocky. The gunplay felt clunky, but was largely made irrelevant with the VATS system for pausing the action and cuing up attacks against particular body parts. This was fine for roleplaying fans, but let down players expecting a viable shooter. Fallout 4 corrects this with a much greater attention to how the shooting feels. Bethesda, which is also publishing the upcoming Doom reboot, brought in the FPS genre experts from Id Software to consult. Bethesda also hired a senior systems designer who previously spent six years at Bungie with the explicit goal of modeling Fallout 4’s gunplay off of Destiny.

Fallout 4
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The result is much smoother than its predecessor. Everything from the iron sights aiming to the reload animations feel weighty and satisfying. VATS is still present, but tweaked so that it only slows down the action, and doesn’t pause it — keeping things tense. Players who really want to rely on it can choose perks that greatly increase their power to chain deadly attacks within VATS, but those who prefer to keep the action at full speed can instead focus on weapons damage perks or unlocking more powerful mods to tweak their guns just right. As an extension of the character customization system, combat is extremely flexible and allows for an excitingly wide range of options when you’re out in the wasteland.

Crafty new gameplay

The other major change to the core gameplay is the addition of crafting and settlement development. Item crafting has become an almost obligatory feature of modern open world games, and Fallout’s could have very easily felt tacked-on, but fortunately this is not the case. It works because the game already includes a heavy focus on collecting scrap materials everywhere you go in order to sell. Now instead of serving as dead weight to be exchanged for caps, every piece of scrap you find comprises a list of elemental components, such as steel, rubber, adhesive, or screws. These are the required ingredients for crafting things like weapon or armor modifications.

Fallout 4 performs a series first: It shows you what life was like in idyllic suburbia just before the bombs dropped.

In addition to crafting personal effects, you can also use these materials to create objects, furniture, resources, and structures for various settlements around the map. This mini-game is essentially a large-scale version of Bethesda’s casual mobile management simulation, Fallout Shelter. Each settlement has a population, resources like food, electricity, and water, and a happiness rating. By building amenities you can attract more settlers to live there, and collect surplus food, water, and caps that they generate from stores and workstations that you build.

Thankfully, if you just want to kill it’s entirely impossible to ignore all of this settlement and crafting stuff. If you want to play it like previous games and just sell your scrap for caps and never give crafting or settlements a second thought, that’s your prerogative. The game smartly doesn’t force these new systems on you, but leaves them available to reward the effort you put in. It’s all pretty lightweight, but putting in a little bit of effort to build a nice home base pays off, and it’s nice to have the option for more for people that want to settle down.

Companionship in the wasteland

As in previous games, there are a wide variety of companions that can join you in your travels, one at a time. In addition to the faithful German Shepherd featured in the game’s promotion, they include the likes of a sycophantic robot butler, a high-minded Brotherhood of Steel paladin, and a street-wise ghoul, self-styled as Hancock, among many others.

Fallout 4
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The companions largely provide combat support and a peanut gallery of commentary on the action, but they are all well painted and distinct. Their opinion of you fluctuates based on your action, with a little notification popping up whenever they like or dislike something you just did. At certain thresholds they might grab you to talk, which can lead to a quest, and if you max out their affection it unlocks a unique perk. It’s a simple, but effective feedback mechanism to reflect your style of play and to give the companions a dash of depth.

A grim story with little surprise

The main storyline takes a page from Fallout: New Vegas by structuring itself around multiple, competing factions. While it is initially possible to become friendly with all of them, as time goes on it becomes harder to support one group without actively pissing off another. Where you put your weight ultimately determines how things fall out when tensions inevitably boil over. The factions and their respective quests are all different, which gives the game a fun variety. The site of one player’s epic final battle could be where another player spent most of the game between missions.

Combat is extremely flexible and allows for an excitingly wide range of options when you’re out in the wasteland.

Fallout 4’s events are a familiar mash-up of sci-fi tropes and ethical linchpins. It’s studiously and solidly executed, with a few good twists and fun characters, but overall it falls a hair flat. Once all the pieces are in place, the story’s trajectories are pretty obvious, and it rarely grips or surprises you.

It’s also straight-laced. Fallout 3 disappointed some fans for its serious tone, where previous entries contrasted the grim realities of the post-apocalypse with more dark and strange humor. New Vegas, with some of the original writers back on board, returned to this lighter tone, but Bethesda has once again focused on the grim.

There are moments of levity to be found off the beaten path, however: an email chain of someone’s play-by-mail RPG in an old terminal, or a rocket-powered USS Constitution crewed by robots with British accents. This is a massive game, best enjoyed at a leisurely pace where advancing the story is mixed with wasteland serendipity.

Fallout 4
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Although systems like combat and character progression have improved distinctly over the previous games, they may have come somewhat at the expense of role-playing. Conversations in the previous games gave you a list of full-text options for what to say. You could try special options if you met certain thresholds in various stats, such as being smart enough to offer a technical solution or strong enough to intimidate someone. Dialog in Fallout 4 has been reduced to a wheel of four options of just a word or two to indicate the general sentiment of what you’re saying. Options with a chance for failure are color-coded from yellow to red, depending on your odds, which are only affected by charisma.

It’s unfortunately reductive, and that is reflected in the relative paucity of conversation-based alternative answers to quests. Most problems are about raiders or supermutants, and the solutions generally involve lasers and bullets. That’s not a problem for players chiefly interested in the action, but it’s a little disappointing when previous entries offered a greater variety of interesting, non-violent alternative solutions in addition to combat.

Conclusion

Fallout 4’s staler story and oversimplified dialog are relatively minor dings to a largely satisfying whole. Bethesda had two hugely popular games in Fallout 3 and Skyrim. Fallout 4 doesn’t make any radical leaps forward, but it smartly iterates upon the accumulated wisdom of its predecessors. It has simple, smart improvements to combat; companions have more depth; leveling is a more elegant process; and the addition of crafting and settlement building open up entirely new forms of play.

All in all, Fallout 4 is the best, most polished Bethesda RPG to date. The Commonwealth is expansive, inviting, and a lovely place to explore for a few months.

Highs

  • Massive, inviting world
  • Deeply flexible character development
  • Smoother gunplay makes it a more viable action game
  • New crafting integrates smoothly without obtruding
  • Greater visual variety than Fallout 3

Lows

  • Overly simple dialog and limited role playing
  • Solid, but predictable genre storytelling

Available at: Amazon | Microsoft

Editors' Recommendations

Will Fulton
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…
The best Bethesda games of all time
Soldiers about to fight with a giant in the background.

Bethesda is one of the rare cases of a game developer finding so much success that it branched out to become one of the biggest publishers in the Western gaming market. While not quite as gigantic as the likes of Activision or EA, Bethesda has a great stable of developers, itself included, that have made some of the most ambitious games on the market. Whether it's the cutting-edge technology coming out of ID Software, the high-octane FPS action of Machine Games, or even the more experimental titles from Arkane, Bethesda's name is attached to far more than just its high-profile RPG series.

Since it was acquired by Microsoft, all of Bethesda's games, including the games made by the studios under it, will be console-exclusive to the X-box platform moving forward. However, there is a long history of games already released for multiple platforms, and between all the studios Bethesda is in charge of, there are games of all types to check out. You will obviously know the major players here, such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, but there are way more Bethesda games that are just as good. That's why we've rounded up this list of the best Bethesda games of all time.

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Every blockbuster reveal from the Xbox leak: new consoles, Bethesda games, and more
Xbox's logo used during the Extended Games Showcase

Unredacted documents submitted and made publicly available to view as part of the ongoing Microsoft vs. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) trial just led to what may be the biggest leak in video game history.
A flood of files have revealed deep secrets about Xbox's upcoming plans for the bulk of the decade, giving us unprecedented insight into what's on the horizon for the gaming giant. That includes information on upcoming hardware refreshes, next-gen consoles, and unannounced Bethesda titles, as well as a further peek into Microsoft's acquisition ambitions. It's a lot to trudge through, so we've rounded up five key revelations that you'll want to know.
A new Xbox Series X model is coming next year
https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1704121068519133313
The most shocking thing to leak as part of the trial is a new Xbox Series X model. Referred to as "Brooklin -- Xbox Series X Refresh" in the leaked documents, this is a diskless, cylindrical version of the Xbox Series X with 2TB of internal storage, a USB-C port, and smaller technical improvements to the system's Wi-Fi, PSU, standby mode, and more. An upgraded Xbox Series S code-named Ellewood may also be in the works and released before Brooklin.
If Microsoft still follows the plan laid out in this "Roadmap to 2030" document created in May 2022, it would release Brooklin in late October 2024 for $500. If Microsoft still plans to release Brooklin next year, it does contradict recent statements from Xbox chief Phil Spencer, who acted bearish on the idea of a mid-gen refresh in Gamescom interviews. It's possible Microsoft's plans have changed since these leaked documents were made, but if not, we now know what to expect in terms of Microsoft's console refreshes.
A new Xbox controller is in the works
https://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1704088621475598345
Throughout that Brooklin leak, a new version of the Xbox Series X controller is also teased. The Xbox Series X controller is great, but lacks the unique features of controllers like the DualSense or Joy-Cons, so it makes sense Microsoft would want to change that. Referred to as "Sebile -- The New Xbox Controller," this controller can seamlessly pair and connect to the cloud.
It also will feature haptic feedback, an accelerometer gyro, quieter buttons, modular thumbsticks, a rechargeable and swappable battery, and the ability to wake just by being picked up. The same road map that lists Brooklin and Ellewood's release windows says the Sebile controller will launch sometime in late May 2024 for $70.
First details on Microsoft's next-gen console leak
https://twitter.com/AR12Gaming/status/1704102055206322389
It's hard to believe we're almost already three years into this console generation and that Microsoft is planning for its next major console release, but that is the case. Unfortunately for Microsoft, its current technical ambitions for the platform were included in this leak. A leaked document states that Microsoft's ultimate goal is to "develop a next-generation hybrid game platform capable of leveraging the combined power of the client and cloud to deliver deeper immersion and entirely new classes of game experiences." 
In practice, a list of technical improvements lays out that we can expect an ARM64 CPU that balances big and little cores, a GPU co-designed with AMD, and an NPU that balances "the desire for flexible, programmable ML silicon versus high-performance silicon for targeted workloads," as well as support for better ray tracing, global illumination, micropolygon rendering, and an ML-based Super Resolution. Microsoft also mentions a "thin OS" meant for cheaper consumer and handled devices, likely to play games via the cloud.
This next-gen console is currently slated for a 2028 launch.
Several upcoming Bethesda games leak

Enough about hardware -- several upcoming Bethesda games also leaked. A document from 2020 outlining Bethesda's game road map through fiscal year 2024 includes some games we don't know about. Alongside games we know of like MachineGames' Indiana Jones project, the list also includes several code-named projects, remasters of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3, a GhostWire: Tokyo sequel, Doom Year Zero, and Dishonored 3.
Another document also confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI won't launch until at least 2026. Some of these games have missed the release windows listed in the documents, so it's very possible that these dates are no longer accurate and that some may not be released at all. Still, it lays out a clear picture of what was in development at Bethesda just a few years ago and provides insight into the lineup that enticed Microsoft to purchase Bethesda in the first place. 
Microsoft considered acquiring Nintendo and Warner Bros. Interactive
https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1704021807341203802
A leaked email from 2020 gives some insight into Spencer's acquisition ambitions at that point. Namely, it sounds like he'd love to acquire Nintendo as it would be a "career moment" for him.
"I totally agree that Nintendo is THE prime asset for us in gaming, and today gaming is a most likely path to consumer relevance," he wrote. "I've had numerous conversations with the LT of Nintendo about tighter collaboration and feel like if any U.S. company would have a chance with Nintendo, we are probably in the best position ... At some point, getting Nintendo would be a career moment and I honestly believe a good move for both companies."
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It's worth noting that this email is from over three years ago, and these acquisition ambitions might have been quelled following changing economic conditions and the rocky and expensive process of acquiring Activision Blizzard. 

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All status effects in Lies of P and how to cure them
Pinocchio in Lies of P.

Lies of P is a challenging role-playing game that will test your mettle at every turn with deadly enemies and dastardly environmental traps. But to make things even a bit more difficult, you'll have to contend with a collection of status effects that can majorly affect your character and make things much harder for you in battle. We've compiled a list of all status effects in Lies of P, as well as a list of ways to cure them.
All status effects
There are a total of seven status effects, with each either dealing damage or having a noticeable impact on your ability to perform in battle. Here are all of them and how they work.
Overheat
Overheat is caused by taking too much fire damage too quickly. When the Overheat bar fills entirely, you'll begin to burn and lose health until it is cured or wears off naturally. During this time, your Guard Regain recovery amount will also be reduced, which can drastically impact your survivability in fast-paced encounters.
Shock
When Shock is applied, your character's stamina recovery will be reduced significantly, which can have devastating consequences. Until this effect is cured or wears of naturally, you'll be stuck with very limited movement and attack opportunities due to your decreased stamina.
Electric Shock
Not to be confused with standard Shock, Electric Shock is caused by taking too much Electric Blitz damage in a short period of time. When this happens, you'll take increased Electric Blitz and physical damage for the duration of the effect, and your Fable meter will drain continuously, which can reduce your attack options in combat.
Decay
Decay is caused by taking too much Acid damage within a small time window. This will cause constant weapon and acid damage, both of which can make life difficult for you in battle since letting it go on for too long can result in needing to repair your weapon while also dodging your foes' attacks.
Corruption
Corruption is caused by a buildup of, well, Corruption. When this happens, you'll be afflicted with what is essentially your textbook poison effect, meaning your HP will drain continuously until it wears off or is healed with an item. This can be especially challenging to cope with when also fighting enemies, so avoiding sources of Corruption is highly advised when possible.
Break
Break is an annoying status effect to contend with, as letting its bar build up entirely will temporarily decrease how much health your Pulse Cells heal. This can be especially frustrating when you already find yourself at low health and don't have many Pulse Cells left, but it's usually best to wait until the effect wears off before healing so you can ensure you get the maximum amount of health possible.
Disruption
Disruption is perhaps the most concerning of all status effects in the game, as you'll be instantly killed when the Disruption bar fills up entirely. If you find yourself in a situation where a lot of Disruption damage is being doled out, it's best to back off until the bar depletes some or you'll soon be seeing a Game Over screen.
How to cure status effects
There are multiple items in the game designed to help you cure specific ailments, as well as items that can increase your resistance to them so that you can reduce your chance of becoming infected to begin with. You can find these cure and resistance items in various places while exploring throughout the game, or you can buy them with Ergo from Polendia at Hotel Krat.

Attribute Purification Ampoule - Cures Overheat, Electric Shock, Decay, and Corruption
Special Purification Ampoule - Cures Shock, Break, and Disruption
Attribute Resistance Ampoule - Enhances resistance to Overheat, Electric Shock, Decay, and Corruption
Special Resistance Ampoule - Enhances resistance to Shock, Break, and Disruption

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