The Fallout Series: Unveiling 7 Grim Decisions

Article Key Points

The Fallout series is dark, but the developers add whimsical humor, making players forget the bleakness.

In the game, certain choices can have profoundly grim consequences that deviate from the desired romantic outcomes.

Players have the option to make dark choices such as annihilating entire regions or affixing explosives to a child's person, effectively conveying the game's dark essence.

The Fallout series is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland caused by a devastating nuclear war, resulting in the decimation of Earth's population. Consequently, the games possess an inherently grim atmosphere. The world is scattered with skeletal remains, while mutated humans and animals form a significant portion of the game's adversaries. Despite this darkness, the series remains highly enjoyable to play due to the developers' incorporation of whimsical humor into the environment. Many players are able to forget the bleakness of the Fallout world thanks to these comedic elements.

However, this perception changes when players are confronted with pivotal choices. As an RPG, the Fallout games frequently task players with decisions that have a direct impact on the storyline or the open world they inhabit. Most of these choices do not pose significant risks; nevertheless, there are certain decisions that can lead players down incredibly dark paths, veering away from the romantic pursuits they may have preferred.

7. Nuking The Institute

Fallout 4

Fallout 4

Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PCReleased November 10, 2015Developer(s) BethesdaGenre(s) RPG, Action

Final Quest Given By Minutemen, Brotherhood of Steel, or Railroad

Prioritize Alternate Story Missions Initially

In Fallout 4, it is advised to focus on completing every other story mission before diving into the main storyline. The main quest revolves around the player's quest to find their missing child and involves navigating the intricate politics of four different wasteland factions. This journey delves deep into the scientific labs of the Institute, a faction led by the player's grown son, who conducts unethical experiments for personal gain and operates somewhat like a cult. All other factions aim to eradicate the Institute's malevolence, culminating in the final mission where the player successfully destroys the Institute through a nuclear strike.

However, opting for the obliteration of an entire section of the map is not the triumphant victory that many players perceive it to be. Once the bomb is detonated, a somber melody fills the air, serving as a haunting reminder of the game's poignant message that war remains unchanged. Paradoxically, in their quest to eliminate one insidious force, players unwittingly perpetuate the cycle of darkness, thus concluding the game much in the same manner that ignited this predicament in the first instance.

6. Nuking Megaton

Fallout 3

Fallout 3

Platform(s) PS3, Xbox 360, PCReleased October 28, 2008Developer(s) BethesdaGenre(s) Shooter

Head To Tenpenny Tower

Talk To Mister Burke

The town of Megaton in Fallout 3 is a peculiar place. Upon arrival, players will quickly notice an intact nuclear bomb positioned right at the heart of the town. Surprisingly, instead of viewing it as a imminent danger, the townspeople perceive it as a miraculous entity. Players have the option to demonstrate the true extent of its danger by approaching the bomb and activating it, resulting in an instant game over. However, for those seeking a more sinister path, there is a darker alternative available.

Upon visiting Tenpenny Tower, players will encounter an NPC named Mister Burke. By engaging with this character, players will embark on a quest that presents them with a choice: to save the lives of the people residing in Megaton and its surrounding areas, or to detonate the bomb, effectively ending the lives of everyone in the vicinity. Clearly, needlessly exterminating this innocent population is the more malevolent option, but it comes with the reward of acquiring a substantial number of bottle caps.

5. Vault 22

Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout New Vegas

Platform(s) PS3, Xbox 360, PCReleased October 19, 2010Developer(s) Obsidian EntertainmentGenre(s) RPG

Found East of Jacobstown

Search for the Vault hidden within the shrubbery and proceed inside.

Vault 22, featured in Fallout New Vegas, is a disturbing setting. Originally a scientific laboratory, it was utilized for experimenting on and observing different forms of plant life. However, the devastating effects of radiation from the nuclear blasts have caused significant mutations in the plant life within the bunker. Consequently, players are met with daunting challenges such as enormous Venus fly traps and other terrifying plant-based creatures upon entering Vault 22.

However, upon further investigation, it became apparent that one of the researchers managed to survive in this underground facility and is now faced with the dilemma of how to handle the uncontrollable lifeforms. The ghoul confronts the player and poses the question of whether the research data from their vault should be erased or preserved. Erasing the data would ensure that incidents like this never occur again, but preserving it could allow another twisted mind to replicate these monstrous creatures, further plunging the wasteland into chaos.

4. The Covenant Dilemma

Fallout 4

To the North of the Tucker Memorial Bridge

Pass Entrance Test

Engage in Conversation with Honest Dan

In Fallout 4, a crucial task for players is to discover and construct fresh settlements for the survivors in the wasteland. Nonetheless, when stumbling upon the town of Covenant, it initially seems like a well-functioning community for its residents. Upon delving deeper, however, players will uncover a sinister conspiracy lurking within the town.

The

3. Killing Frank Carlson

town operates with the purpose of carrying out a mass extermination of synths. Any human who uncovers this hidden agenda is confined underground, enduring a lifetime of torment. Players embarking on this quest can opt to pass the town's assessments through a series of persuasive tests or unleash the imprisoned and annihilate the entire town. Regardless of the choice made, a significant amount of bloodshed ensues.

3. Killing Frank Carlson

Fallout 2

Fallout 2

Platform(s) PCReleased October 29, 1998Developer(s) Black Isle StudiosGenre(s) RPG See at Steam

Talk To John Bishop

Find Child Outside Compound

The early Fallout games were widely regarded as much darker before Bethesda took control of the series and brought it into the realm of 3D. This sentiment is highlighted particularly in the Frank Carlson quest.

In Fallout 2, players are assigned the task of assassinating Frank Carlson, a politician. There are various approaches to achieve this objective. Players can choose stealth and leave non-playable characters puzzled about Carlson's death, or they can charge in through the front door with guns blazing. However, for those seeking a truly sinister option, they can involve Carlson's child. When players encounter Carlson's child outside his secure residence, they have the option to attach explosives to the boy and detonate them once they are inside. It may not be pleasant, but it gets the job done.

2. Joining Caesars' Legion

Fallout: New Vegas

Enter Caeser's Tent in his Fort

Join Caesar's Faction Offer

At first glance, joining Caesar's faction in Fallout New Vegas may not appear unfavorable. Their followers are well taken care of and appear to be relatively secure. However, this perceived sense of safety comes at a cost. The survival of Caesar's faction is fueled by a dark history of enslavement and mistreatment. In essence, they embody the role of villains.

1. Child Killer Reputation

serves as a crucial factor in the confusion arising when the game presents the option for players to align themselves with this particular faction. Opting to join forces with them within the narrative implies that players are intrigued by the more sinister aspects of what New Vegas holds and prioritize their own personal gain.

Fallout 1 & 2

Kill Any Three Children To Get Reputation

This Activates Bounty Hunters

In modern open world games, it is common for child NPCs to be either immune to player attacks or invulnerable. However, the first two games in the Fallout series deviated from this norm. Players had the ability to harm and even kill children in these games, and rather shockingly, they could earn a reputation boost for such heinous acts.

After taking the lives of three children in the wasteland, players would be branded as Child Killers, resulting in negative reactions from NPCs and the appearance of bounty hunters on the map, all intent on capturing the player responsible for these despicable acts. While these rewards may not be desirable, the inclusion of such a feature in any game is undeniably disturbing.

Editor's P/S

The Fallout series is a popular post-apocalyptic role-playing game franchise that is known for its dark and gritty atmosphere. The games are set in a world that has been devastated by nuclear war, and players must navigate the harsh wasteland in order to survive. The series is full of difficult choices, and players are often forced to make decisions that have far-reaching consequences.

One of the most striking things about the Fallout series is its ability to convey the grim reality of war. The games are full of violence and gore, and players are often forced to kill in order to survive. The games also do a good job of portraying the psychological effects of war, such as PTSD and depression. The Fallout series is a powerful reminder of the horrors of war, and it is a game that everyone should experience at least once.