Fallout: history and evolution of the Bethesda brand

The reveal was sudden, a blinding flash before the thunderous thunder that will hit us probably at E3 2018. Fallout 76 is in the works, and will be the first title in the main series to abandon conventional numerology afterwards Fallout 4. The questions regarding the title are really many, and already this little clue could be the tip of a well-submerged iceberg. Why never? As happened recently for Santa Monica Studios and the God of War masterpiece, the absence of a number could mean change, revolution, the toss of a coin that will give us its verdict only once it has stopped. It would not be so wrong to expect it, Fallout is not new to changes that have distorted its characteristics (such as the famous transition from isometric view to first-person open world exploration). Perhaps, however, nothing will happen and we will do nothing but play the same way but living a different story, and we can say that the bets are open until what at E3 2018 promises to be a slap-up show. In the meantime, leaving aside the collateral titles - like Fallout Tactics or the most recent Fallout Shelter - we relive step by step the changes that the series, before Interplay and then Bethesda, suffered during his long life.

Fallout: A Post Apocalyptic Role Playing Game

In the now distant 30 September 1997 a very particular title reached the public, Fallout: A Post Apocalyptic Role Playing Game. Developed by Interplay, this title was the classic role-playing game that a lot had begun to take hold in that decade, coupled with a world ravaged by a great nuclear war. Anyone who has had the opportunity to get their hands on the brand already from that "little" pearl, already knows how enormous and finely studied the plot behind it was. With the events that come to life since Vault 13 in 2161, Fallout offered players isometric gameplay, in which to exploit all the features of the classic role-playing game in the wasteland. The first approach to the devastated civilization of the golden age already saw the system SPECIAL to create your own character and outline its characteristics based on the chosen skills. The game system also included the ability to use equipment, to join companions on the journey, and to make important choices for the story that modify the character's karma.

Fallout 2: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game

Fallout 2: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game makes its entry into the world of video games a year after its predecessor, with the events starting 80 years after the events experienced in Fallout. In this title, also developed by Interplay, we play the role of "Chosen", following in the footsteps of our Vaulted ancestor who founded the tribal village of Arroyo. Our task is to find an artifact dating back to the pre-war era, the Garden of Eden Creation Kit, which seems to be able to make the outside world habitable. Beyond the interesting narrative plot, the title returns with the same modus operandi of its predecessor, but greatly improving all the main aspects: always experiencing the adventure with the isometric view, a greater number of usable items are offered - including equipment - and a great variety of enemies, but above all an even greater sense and decisive importance is given to survival skills. By experiencing much more articulated and better distributed missions in the map, in this Fallout 2 it also greatly improves the karmic system, with the decisive addition of the reputation which will be affected by our behavior.

Fallout 3

So we come to talk about the first chapter of the Bethesda series. Although the quality and appreciation were really great, the generational leap to move to modernity was accomplished with Fallout 3, published in October 2008. Yep, 10 years after the previous chapter. In this long period of time, the generation has changed, and the players have changed, and that's why Bethesda wanted to come up with a product that was up to par, reflecting modern standards. Set in 2277, we will see our character born (in the literal sense of the term) and grow up in Vault 101, until for reasons unknown at first, he will run away to look for his father. Right during our adventure in Fallout 3 we will hear about the Vault 76, one of those dedicated to control.

First person view arrives, with free exploration of the wasteland of Washington: the gameplay changes shape in a substantial way, but keeping firm the principles that have forged the series. The trademark that returns is obviously the skills SPECIAL that can be set at the beginning of the game, with an even greater importance than those related to survival. We may be intoxicated by the radiation of the environment, but also by the food we eat and the drinks we will take, and it will be essential to reduce its effects thanks to the multitude of objects that can be recovered in the vast play area.

The combat system is totally renewed: passing to purely FPS mechanics, an assisted shooting method called SPAV, which will allow us to hit the parts of the body of the enemies that most please us and with a system that describes the percentage of success. The elements in the game are many, filled with dozens of main and secondary missions that will make us travel from one part of the map to another. The influence of karma is even more decisive than the second chapter, and the choices we make will be of extreme importance. The basic features, translated to this new gameplay system, come back overbearing, as well as the support of the companions met. To close the circle, the possibility of visiting several vaults scattered in the area, and a historical soundtrack to keep us under our arm on our journey.

Fallout: New Vegas

October 2010. Born from the same graphic engine of the last title we talked about, Fallout: New Vegas turns out to be a controversial title in many respects. Set in 2281, in the Mojave Wasteland in the post-apocalyptic version of Las Vegas, the game strongly incorporates the mechanics and main features of the predecessor. As a background to the personal plot of our unfortunate protagonist, in this title the factions take on greater importance, for which we can decide whether or not to side in a political and military struggle for power.

Fallout 4

Without needing too many introductions, the latest installment in the Fallout series has been coveted for years, coming 5 years after New Vegas. As you will have read in detail in our review of that period, Bethesda with Fallout 4 tries to reinvent and remodel a brand that was already a success, but that definitely needed an extra gear compared to what we saw with New Vegas. Leaving unchanged the basic mechanics that made the fortune of Fallout 3, first of all we are shown a gem at the beginning of the game, experiencing those few minutes of the pre-apocalyptic Boston that was, only to be hibernated and catapulted into the harshest of realities. . This chapter inserts very particular features, some of which completely overturn the player's attitude. It will in fact be possible to establish gods real camps where to give shelter, food and water to NPCs, also managing the resources ourselves to craft the objects useful for the needs of citizens (as well as cooking and modifying weapons). Clearly these must also be defended from attacks by marauders, giving the game a managerial and strategic flavor in addition to the "on the road" one imposed by the journey in search of our son. Finally, another decisive addition was that of armature, which you wear will make us become real war machines, but always keeping an eye on the battery!

As can be seen from this long review, apart from the brief parenthesis of New Vegas, the news has always been many, constant and very decisive for the spirit of the game and beyond. What will Bethesda's moves be for Fallout 76? We will find out really soon.