No-one builds a world like Bethesda

Every chance it gets, Bethesda is throwing out the “four times bigger” catchphrase.

So yes — the world of Fallout 76 is four times bigger than any Fallout game Bethesda has released before. Is this a good thing? Probably, but it doesn’t tell us much.

Here’s what we do know: very few developers do world-building better than Bethesda. Regardless of the genre, or the choices, we’re keen to inhabit another Bethesda built universe.

Playing co-op in Fallout could be fun?

Fallout 76 is very much a game of its time. Games like Destiny, The Division, Day-Z, PUBG, Fortnite and the upcoming Anthem — they’re all online focused video games with co-op elements. This is clearly Bethesda’s attempt to hop onboard with that trend.

But expect something different. Bethesda’s a little like Blizzard in that regard. If it attempts something, it typically does a good job of innovating within the genre.

Base building was great, why not more?

Base building is back in Fallout 76, which is good because base building in Fallout 4 was pretty neat.

This time Bethesda is hoping base building will be more about survival, and protecting yourself and your team mates from other hostile players in the world.

Which sounds pretty awesome to be honest.

A different type of Fallout universe

Other Fallout games have been a bit drab — that’s not a knock, it’s simply the aesthetic. It’s a post-apocalyptic wasteland, so it makes sense. 

Fallout 76 is noticeably… brighter. It has more colour. Part of that has to do with the new lighting system Bethesda has implemented, but it also seems like a very conscious choice. For better or worse, this will almost certainly be the ‘prettiest’ Fallout game yet.

You can play alone if you want…

I mean, I guess you can. Todd Howard says you can. He probably said it appease the Bethesda fans who are typically made up of single player enthusiasts, but it can be done. I do suspect, however, that you’ll hamper your potential enjoyment of Fallout 76 by playing alone. That’s my gut feeling.

There will be emergent insanity

I guess the thing that excites me most about Fallout 76 is the potential for Day-Z-style emergent encounters where insane stuff happens.

Basically I’m excited for the YouTube videos. 

Considering the clear inspiration for Fallout 76, you have to think that Bethesda is going to be working hard to cater to this style of gameplay.

Death isn’t the end

Online survival games like Day-Z and Rust are generally unforgiving. Bethesda has recognised this and it appears that making Fallout 76 accessible to all players is a high priority.

Bethesda describes Fallout 76 as a “softcore” experience. You don’t typically hear that word used when discussing Bethesda games, but it makes sense. Bethesda is clearly walking a tightrope here: the hook of survival games is often the challenge inherent with surviving against other human players. You have to believe they’ll do a good job of walking that tightrope.

You can team up and launch literal nukes

You might say this subverts the “nuclear war is bad” message of Fallout as a series (and you’d probably be right) but this is a cool mechanic, particularly if you’re looking to encourage co-operative play.

Scattered throughout the world of Fallout 76 are missile silos. Launch codes are scattered throughout the world and here’s the trick: you can’t launch a nuke with just one code, which means you have to co-operate in order to use them.

Pretty awesome idea.

But how will VATS work?

Or let’s put it another way: does VATS even exist? It’s hard to imagine how it might work against other players. Perhaps the best way to make Fallout 76 work is to remove it altogether. 

We’re not 100% sure at this point, how it will work. 

But that’s a quibble on what otherwise looks like an enticing gaming experience. Fallout 76 hits Xbox One, PS4 and PC on Nov. 14, 2018.

Even more great games from E3 2018

Fallout 76 looks great, but it’s just one of dozens of games at E3 2018 that has us excited. Check out Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (shown here) and all of the other top E3 2018 game unveilings.