Fallout 4: good game, bad RPG

Wouldn't really fly, considering I'm not exactly super high on Obsidian, New Vegas is the only Obsidian game I actually like for that matter. It was as simple as Fallout 3 did these things, I didn't like it. New Vegas did these things, and added up to me enjoying it more. Simply put there are more checks in New Vegas, that aren't there in Fallout 3. You need to be a proper speech level to pass certain speech checks. Basic, simple, old rpg design that still matters to this day in that stuff. Fallout 3, you can be dolt, it doesn't matter. Likewise the choices aren't tied to this bs morality system Bethesda wanted to tie it all to, I'd rather the faction system in that regard.

Shoot up rivet city? Wait 3 days, no one gives a shit. But until then everyone who had nothing to do with Rivet City, gives a shit. In contrast Novak don't care what you did to the white glove society, they are Novac, they don't care about anything that isn't Novac. If you have negative reception with a faction in New Vegas, you miss out on quests, again that means something. It's really as simple as that when it comes to a RPG. Per playthrough the system is willing to actually take things away from you, because that's what you created and the choices you made. Fallout 3 is sloppier about it, it's gamey at times where it wants me to suspend my disbelief on a lot of things. Shit the way you handled quests had impact on things ranging from Karma, to faction rep, to companion rep, to what future quests you can and can not do.

well played.

Seems like it'll become a pure shooter one day.

@jg4xchamp: Fair enough

I've long since given up hope of Bethesda making a game as in-depth and as utterly engrossing as Morrowind. That ship has sailed...sadly.

They've streamlined their games to appeal to a broader audience. And I can't say I blame them, considering the amount of mass appeal and oodles of cash that have flowed their way since doing so.

Still, I think they take a ton of flak that is a bit unwarranted. Yeah, their games ship with a fairly copious amount of bugs...but I'll definitely say that Fallout 4 has easily been their smoothest launch yet (at least since Oblivion). I've experienced nothing gamebreaking at all...a severed limb bobbing about here and there, the little girl in Diamond City selling newspapers hovering 2-3 feet above the box she's supposed to stand on...but haven't had a single CTD in 50+ hours of gameplay).

I love Bethesda games because they give me the freedom and exploration factor that no other title out there does.

The minute that someone surpasses them in that field...trust me...I'll have no qualms about telling them to go suck a dick.

But until then...they always give me my moneys worth and provide me with AT LEAST 200 hours of enjoyable gameplay with every title that they produce.

That makes them a winner in my book

That's fine, trust me a lot of my appreciation for New Vegas is tempered expectations and me appreciating its systemic achievements. Otherwise I still don't care for the combat mechanics or vats itself, the games plot and atmosphere are quite lacking, and that ending never really worked for me. I'm usually a much bigger fan of games that have tight and smooth mechanics, with layers to them. Bethesda's games only really offend me in the context of Oblivion (I can not stand that game), Fallout 3 was a mixed bag of some of it was fun, other times I was bored out of my mind.

Morrowind I really like the setting, the lore, and the way they handle the questing. The game benefits from Bethesda actually doing handcrafted stuff. hate the Combat, and **** cliffracers, Daggerfall is interesting from what i got to try this year. I think what helps that games cause is just the sheer fucking size of things that can happen and can be done, plus it being that first person dungeon crawler menu stuff, kind of like what Grimrock has and those older Ultimate games have. The combat isn't inherently annoying the way Morrowind is (though similar drawbacks).

I don't think streamlining is their complete issue. If anything it makes sense for the type of game they make, a big toy box to explore, but if they aren't going to polish it, I would at least mechanics that are more enjoyable. I plan on getting around to Skyrim, one day. Mems said I won't last 5 hours into that game without bitching lol

I actually totally agree with AngryJoe's review of Fallout 4

I can give Bethesda a pass on the decisions and the engine that they've re-implemented in Fallout 4...but I'll come down on them like the fucking hammer of Thor if they make the same design choices with the next Elder Scrolls/Fallout title. There will simply be no excuse for that shit 2-3 years from now.

The engine is definitely a bit stagnant...but I think they certainly fine tune it and squeeze every ounce of potential out of it in Fallout 4.

But from here on out...they really need to innovate.

Because I'm in total agreement that the animations need to be modernized and the gunplay (despite being markedly improved over Fallout 3 and New Vegas) needs to take the next step.

It sucks for other developers that the Witcher 3 came out this year because that game man.. that game blows everything else out of the water. It's probably the best game I've ever played.

I never actually did this because there's a certain way to do the missions I think. It's an unintended design, and Fallout 2 feels slightly unfinished anyway.

Nevertheless both original Fallout games don't make you feel like supermen. You choose a type of character you want to play and you try finish it in that particular way. The most famous example everyone knows is to choose a character that's dumb as bricks but is physically strong, or be a super genius that's physically frail. That's where the immense replayability comes in: from doing the same game in a different way.

You don't get that in the new Fallout games, or the latest Elder Scrolls games. My traditional cRPG build is to roll a high intelligence character that tries to avoid as many physical confrontations as possible, but in the last 7 years or so I've had to eschew that and just build a character that makes the inevitable combat more bearable. Bethesda and Bioware **** me off for calling themselves "RPG developers" and yet just make the entire game combat-centric. The only intelligence checks are pretty much at merchant stores and measly dialogue-chain infodumps. It's rubbish. I'm somewhat glad they're just becoming open world action developers.

I'm 43 hours into the game, and I've barely began the main quest. This is an absolutely phenomenal game. So much to explore, and the exploration isn't sparse like Fallout 3; it's rich and detailed... and you never know quite what you're about to run into. Every new path feels fresh, and exciting. I had really high expectations, and Bethesda managed to surpass them. Definitely my game of the year.

Indeed. But at least it's better than Fallout 3, which was garbage imo.

people will still complain about something or other

Borderlands 2 is my zone at the moment. If I don't have anything to play...I go do some grinding for legendaries with other players.

I don't get why anyone would fight tooth in nail for the Inclusion of Stat Checks......

There's literally no good way to include them.