If the world of Fallout has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. Bethesda announced the new game in this series and fans were confused. No single player campaign and a story that would have to be discovered without Non Playable Characters? Fallout 76 promised gamers a new world and a new experience. The results is a game series that has reinvented itself for the better.
According to the lore, Vault 76 was created to shelter and protect the very best America could offer if war ever came. As we know, the bombs did drop and Vault 76 has finally deemed it safe to let the people out. You wake up after a big party, strap on your Pip Boy and head outside to see what the great state of West Virginia has become. The answer is a dangerous place with out of control robots and mutant dogs. You should probably find a weapon, as there are quite a few nastier and bigger threats roaming around. In the distance, you see a camp with other Vault dwellers. Hopefully, they are friendly and can help you out.
Fallout 76 is a departure for the celebrated series. The main objective, if there really is one, is find out where the leader of your vault went. The other people are real, other gamers behind the controls. This brings two important things to the table. The first is that Fallout 76 is a prequel to the entire series. It would not make sense to have factions and parties waiting to greet you because you are the first Americans to go outside. The second is that human players bring a element of surprise to the game. Maybe, one of the people will follow you for miles and not say a word. Maybe you will find a haven where more experienced gamers have set up a place where newbies can get some supplies. Or maybe you will come across a player who will examine you for a second, and then shoot you dead.
The world of West Virginia, or Appalachia as it is called, is enormous. Almost to the point of being intimidating. You can play for hours and still not see half of the world. The big threats mentioned earlier take the form of some of the local legends, such as the Mothman. As someone who grew up in this area of America, I can say that a lot of attention was payed to making it realistic. There is something amazing about playing a game and suddenly spotting something you have seen in real life. The graphics and sounds, as always, look beautiful. The biggest addition is C.A.M.P. This handy device has one purpose, to create a base where ever you want. This freedom might be the message of Fallout 76. The rules don’t exist anymore, make up your own.
Fallout 76 is lonely and I believe that this was done on purpose. The first Vault dwellers would have looked out on an almost alien world. Would this new place make people work together, or tear them apart? No one is there to tell you the answers. For a series that has nine games, this one feels new and strange. In a way, it makes this scenario more realistic. For veteran players and the newcomers, Fallout 76 is almost a reboot. It is also one of the most respectful games in recent memory. There is no need to tell players where to go or what the story is. Bethesda believes that you are smart enough to make up your own story. This, as much as “Reclamation Day”, deserves to be celebrated. War never changes, but Fallout sure did.
9/10
Available on PS4, Xbox and PC
