TheFalloutuniverse is a post-apocalyptic world full of danger and unexpected beauty that has fascinated players for many years. From the tough moral choices inFallout: New Vegasto the ambitious, though imperfect, world ofFallout 4, the series has always found a way to give players more than they expected. Fans are definitely looking forward to what’s coming inFallout 5, but that doesn’t mean every new addition will be loved.
The series' legacy is mixed; while many favorite features should be kept and expanded, some aspects show what not to do.The nextFalloutgame needs to make some decisions to remove and keep certain aspectsto please players. These are generally better storytelling and dialogue, the importance of factions, and a new way to approach building settlements. Even past those, there’s a lot to think about, especially ifFallout 5ends up a direct sequel.
10Want To See: An Even Better Settlement System Than Fallout 4 Had
It’s Time For An Upgrade
Fallout 4has a creative settlement system, andit should stay despite its issues.Fallout 5should improve this system to avoid the boring tasks and lack of impact players have experienced. Instead of having many similar settlements,there should be fewer locations with unique layouts, resources, and challenges. Right now, it’s optimal for the player to repeat the same builds to make each settlement work, and that’s not fun.
Could The Fallout Series Survive Without The Brotherhood of Steel? Pros & Cons Explained
The Brotherhood of Steel may seem like they’re a staple of the Fallout franchise, but could they be removed or replaced in the next game?
Player decisions should really matter with how settlements grow. Connecting settlements more closely to the main plot is important, with player choices influencing quests and relationships with factions. Additionally, the tools for managing settlements need to be simpler.A user-friendly interface and options for automating tasks like resource management and defense would help reduce the tedious micromanagementthat can take away from the fun.
9Don’t Want To See: Too Much Power Armor Everywhere
I Thought This Was Rare
InFallout 4, too many suits of Power Armor are available, which takes away from how special they should feel. Instead of being something rare and hard-earned,they become easy to find right from the start of the game. This makes acquiring and upgrading a suit feel less of an achievement.
Players end up feeling overpowered instead of uniquely powerful, reducing the game’s challenge. The frequent availability of Power Armoralso makes it seem really common. It’s supposed to be rare and sought after, but that’s not what it’s like inFallout 4. Bethesda should consider this feedback forFallout 5and limit how often Power Armor is found and when, because getting it early in the game is a huge mistake.
8Want To See: Fallout 76’s Character Customization
Bethesda Rocked This Character Customizer
Fallout 76has a unique level of character customization that the previousFalloutgames didn’t offer. This feature should definitely be included inFallout 5. Whileearlier games let players make some basic changesto their characters,76allows for much more detailed adjustments, allowing players to create truly distinctive avatars.
One big one isFallout 76’s upcoming Ghoul feature. This kind of customization improves player immersion and roleplaying, making it easier for players to connect with their character and the game world.Fallout 5could benefitfrom this in its storylineas well, where having a wide variety of character appearances could lead to different interactions with NPCs, resulting in mixed responses and quests.
7Don’t Want To See: Another Voiced Protagonist
We Learned Our Lesson
The strength ofFalloutgames comes from how much freedom players have and how immersive the world feels. InFallout 4, having a voiced main character takes away from this.It limits how players can express themselvesbecause the character already has a set personality and voice. This means players can’t project their own traits or values onto the character, hindering creative freedom and game exploration.
Bethesda’s most recent release,Starfield, has already abandonedFallout 4’s voiced main character – a promising sign for the next installment.
Additionally, having spoken lines limits the choices players have in conversations.Fallout 3andNew Vegasallow for deeper and more varied conversationsbased on player decisions, which is something that’s lost inFallout 4’s simpler dialogue system. Going back to a silent main character would be much better for roleplaying.
6Want To See: Bring Back Fallout 3 And New Vegas' Style Of Radio
Big Iron On His Hip
InFallout 3andNew Vegas, theradio stations are more than just background noise; they add life to the game. The DJs,Three Dog and Mr. New Vegas had great personalities and mixed interesting commentarywith the music, creating a memorable atmosphere. Their conversations, news updates based on what players did, and a variety of songs all fit the game’s vibe and setting, making it feel more immersive.
Fallout’s Oddest Cut Content Could Have Made The Games Completely Different
There was one piece of cut content from the first Fallout game that might have changed the way the franchise presented itself drastically.
In contrast, the radio inFallout 4feels dull and repetitive, focusing too much on the bleak theme of nuclear war, which took away from the fun. Bringing back the radio style ofFallout 3andNew Vegaswould really improveFallout 5’s overall feel. Alively DJ who shares clever thoughts about what’s happening in the game and the player’s actions could help players connect more with the world.
It’s Time To Return To What Works
The strength ofFalloutgames comes from their branching stories and the choices players can make, butthe dialogue wheel inFallout 4makes this worse. The choices are limited and often unclear, which can lead to unexpected results. Going back to text-based dialogue, like inFallout 3andNew Vegas, would remove this entirely.
Fallout 4: All Companion Personal Quests, Ranked
While not all of the companions in Fallout 4 get personal quests, the ones on offer give insight as they ask for the Sole Survivor’s help.
The simplification of the dialogue wheel creates too much ambiguity.Figuring out what each limited choice will result in the Sole Survivor actually saying can be frustrating, taking away from the fun. A full-text system enables more detailed answers, encouraging genuine interactions with the game world while avoiding the awkward and repetitive nature of the wheel’s four-choice format.
4Want To See: What Happened to the NCR
What Happened To The Great Bear?
Fallout 5needs to decide what happened to the New California Republic (NCR) since this was a big storyline left unresolved inFallout: New Vegasand theFalloutTV series' first season. The NCR’s decline, hinted at inNew Vegasand shown in theTV series with a ruined Shady Sands, needs to be explained. InFallout 5,we could see how the NCR is doing after its struggles in the Mojaveand the destruction of its capital.
The New California Republic is importantly a west-coast faction, and could be missing fromFallout 5entirely if it takes place on the east coast.
This could lead to different stories, like the NCR trying to rebuild, living in separate groups, or fighting to survive, or it could collapse, leading to new leaders rising. If the game ignores what happened to the NCR, it would overlook important backstories and miss out on a rich setting for conflict and political drama, leaving a significant gap. Addressing the NCR’s situation is key to a complete story.
Might As Well Have Mustaches To Twirl
The strength ofFalloutgames lies in their morally complicated world. Having clear “good guys” and “bad guys” gets in the way of the deeper storytelling and player choices that make the series interesting.Factions like the Minutemen and Institute are not appealingbecause they’re purely good and evil. They’re not even trying to justify themselves in a clever way that is arguable, like Caesar’s Legion.
Only a run throughNew Vegassiding with Caesar’s Legion elucidates its leader’s justifications, making him seem like a bogeyman until conversations are actually had with him, which is much more compelling thanFallout 4’s Institute. Caesar’s Legion is argued as a necessary evil that helps a lot of people; while the NCR isn’t as mean and may help a lot of people,it will eventually crumble, hurting everyone.New Vegasgives real-world morality, whereasFallout 4gives face value that isn’t improved as you learn more.Fallout 5needs to avoid that.
2Want To See: Truly Be A Jerk Without Limits
So Many Ways To Be Nice In Fallout 4
InFallout 4, the morality system is pretty limited. Even bad choices often lead to good outcomes,making it hard for the Sole Survivor to be played as a villain. ForFallout 5, there should be a stronger option for being a bad guy, which allows players to sabotage groups, betray friends without facing penalties, and chase selfish goals that actually have negative consequences.
Every Vault In Fallout 4, Ranked
Fallout 4 has seven Vaults throughout the Commonwealth for the player to discover and explore, each holding their own awful Vault-Tec secrets.
This isn’t just about being violent for the sake of it; it’s about giving players real choices. They should deal with the fallout from their actions, like a damaged reputation, missed chances, or conflicts with others, showing the harsh reality of the wasteland. Having the freedom to be completely unlikable would add complexity to the game, encourage replaying it, and make the story more interesting.A tough system where things like saying “no” to missions or people could have real weightand impact the game world in serious ways is essential for makingFallout 5a great experience.
1Don’t Want To See: Another Minutemen Group We’re Forced To Help
I’m So Tired Of This Faction
InFallout 4, the Minutemen are intended to be a noble faction, but they end up being a frustrating part of the game. Their constant requests for help force the Sole Survivor to be a good person.Each quest to help a settlement feels the same, usually just clearing out raiders or handling small threats. This makes the game feel so repetitive overall and makes replays less fun.
ForFallout 5, it’s essential to avoid making the same mistake. While building communities is important, how the Minutemen are presented focuses too much on forcing the player to do things and not enough on letting the player decide what to do.A better approach could be to have fewer settlements but with more engaging stories and varied challengesthat would actually get players invested.
Another option could be to highlight different factions or create a more natural system for helping settlements so it feels less controlled and more rewarding. Let us play as bandits or something similar; let us decide what kind of organization we want to be. Forcing the player to do anything is normally bad in RPGs, andFallout 5needs to be wary of that.
Fallout
Fallout is a post-apocalyptic RPG franchise set in an alternate future where a nuclear war devastates the world. Players explore vast, open worlds filled with mutants, raiders, and advanced technology. The series emphasizes player choice, allowing various approaches to combat, dialogue, and decision-making. Each game follows different protagonists navigating the wasteland to uncover secrets, form alliances, and rebuild civilization amidst the ruins of the old world. The franchise is known for its rich lore, dark humor, and retro-futuristic aesthetic, which has transferred over into its new series on Amazon Prime.
