The Ultimate Fallout 5 Destination: A Step Beyond One Iconic Fallout 4 Location

The Commonwealth of Fallout 4 boasted several remarkable locations for players to explore, featuring real-world influences from Massachusetts' capital city within its post-apocalyptic environment. Among these destinations, the Boston Public Library stands out as a shining example of the game's exceptional approach to environmental storytelling. Through meticulous attention to detail, the library's terminal notes, scattered items, and decaying corpses paint a vivid picture of a once-great institution now reduced to a fortress, slowly deteriorating from the relentless attacks of super mutants. Even the impressive architecture of the landmark serves as a testament to Fallout 4's dedication to creating a rich and immersive world, setting a high standard for future installments of the series.

Fallout 5 Could Take Notes from Fallout 4's Boston Public Library's Environmental Storytelling

Fallout 4's companions offer interesting insights when exploring the dilapidated structure. Codsworth and Deacon express sadness over the loss of knowledge and the destruction of the library, while Preston Garvey remains optimistic about its future. However, the current state of the building leaves much to be desired. The library's setting raises important questions about preserving pre-war life for the sake of humanity's future. Despite Givens and his team's sacrifice, their cause proved ultimately fruitless in the wake of the Commonwealth's violence. Architecturally, the building blends Fallout's influence with Copley Square's McKim building, complete with vaulted, coffered ceilings and lion statues. Despite its disarrayed state, the game manages to exude charm, tying it well into the themes of preservation and history. The translation between Massachusetts and the game world of Fallout 4 emphasizes the realistic nature of its inciting conflict, given the tangible threat of nuclear war in the past and potentially in the future.

The library's setting also serves a mechanical purpose that rewards players who thoroughly explore it. Scattered throughout the debris are overdue books that can be collected and exchanged for book return tokens. These tokens can then be used to obtain the Massachusetts Surgical Journal, which grants a permanent +2% limb damage to enemies. This reward cleverly emphasizes the value of intelligence, which is further emphasized by the discovery of a special bobblehead on the library's computer terminal. Fallout 5 has the potential to explore vastly different terrain, such as Alaska or Hawai'i, and could benefit from the use of real-world influence and environmental storytelling, as seen in the Boston Library.

Fallout 4 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One platforms.