Fallout: Reviving Its Legendary Roots for a Thrilling Comeback

Highlights

Fallout's shift towards a more modern RPG design in recent entries may have neglected the classic CRPG framework that defined the series in its early days.

Returning to the top-down, turn-based mechanics of the first two games, as showcased in Baldur's Gate 3's triumph, could greatly enhance a future Fallout game. Opting for a more traditional approach would provide a revitalizing perspective on exploration, intensified strategic combat, and an emphasis on intricate RPG systems along with diverging storylines.

The release of Fallout 3 in 2008 brought a significant resurgence in the popularity of the Fallout franchise. Bethesda's modernization of the established RPG formula in this game contributed greatly to its success. This trend continued in subsequent Fallout games such as Fallout 76 and Fallout 4, the most recent mainline entry. While the current-era Fallout games, with their more modern design philosophy, have their merits, it is evident from fellow modern RPG Baldur's Gate 3 that the franchise could benefit from adopting a more old-school approach in a future game.

In its earlier iterations, Fallout featured a top-down perspective that gave players a birds-eye view of the environment. Combat in these games utilized a turn-based system, requiring players to manage their action points and devise effective strategies to defeat their enemies. In this way, Fallout and Fallout 2 adhered to traditional CRPG frameworks. However, with the release of Fallout 3, the expectations for RPGs had shifted, prompting Bethesda, the new developer of the series, to take a different direction. The focus of the newer Fallout games shifted towards cinematic flair, graphical fidelity, and real-time gameplay, leaving behind some of the conventions of CRPGs. Nevertheless, Baldur's Gate 3 has demonstrated that there is still space for more classic CRPGs, and it would be wise for the next Fallout game to take note of this.

A Future Fallout Game Could Turn Back the Clock

Fallout's allure lies in its captivating lore, vibrant characters, immersive atmosphere, and fulfilling progression systems. These aspects have been amplified and expanded upon in games such as Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and Fallout 4. However, to further evolve and experiment with the series, a format change could be considered. While the next mainline Fallout installment could retain the modern entries' first/third-person, real-time gameplay, a spin-off title inspired by Fallout: New Vegas should draw inspiration from BG3 and reintroduce the top-down, turn-based mechanics of the original two Fallout games.

Adopting this design approach comes with several advantages. Firstly, a top-down perspective offers a fresh perspective on exploration by introducing meticulously crafted environments that offer more than just basic loot to discover. The game map could be condensed to suit this new direction, prioritizing densely packed and focused locations over sprawling expanses. Modern Fallout games have always delivered combat that feels somewhat lacking, with the notable exception being the V.A.T.S. system. By transitioning to a turn-based structure, combat can be rejuvenated, placing greater emphasis on strategy and positioning. Furthermore, this shift would allow for the inclusion of more eccentric and innovative special abilities, as the game would no longer be confined by the constraints of real-time gameplay and specific button inputs.

Returning to the series' original style could potentially lead to less emphasis on real-time movement mechanics and controls. This shift would allocate more development resources towards building intricate, branching quest lines and deep RPG systems. By adopting a top-down perspective with strict point-and-click controls, Fallout would be able to prioritize the fundamental aspects of RPG design. Players would then focus less on moment-to-moment gameplay and more on the overarching narratives, quests, and class options.

It is important to note that the current direction of modern Fallout games is not inherently flawed, and they do have their strengths, surpassing traditional CRPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 in some aspects. However, one can argue that Fallout has deviated from its complex RPG roots as newer games place greater emphasis on real-time combat and contemporary exploration and narrative approaches. Baldur's Gate 3 successfully demonstrates that an older style of CRPG can still achieve success, suggesting that Fallout should consider following suit.