5 Games That Fallout 4 Should Borrow From

Finally, after years of speculating, pondering and (im)patiently waiting, Fallout 4 has been announced by Bethesda. The announcement was precluded by a mysterious - if easy to decipher - countdown that lasted just twenty-four hours from the moment it appeared online. Once that countdown reached its final second, it was instantly replaced by the first official trailer for this hotly anticipated next-gen sequel. The trailer and its following screens (seen below) finally gave the series’ fans something real, something tangible to further stoke the fires of their excitement. More importantly than this, however, is that the trailer has given the game’s fans some actual game engine footage to pore over and dissect; aiming to uncover every nugget of information that may be hidden within. While such deconstructions of Fallout 4’s early footage will undoubtedly be rife and autopsies of it will seek to confirm what this game will do, we thought it would be worth looking outside the box at what it could do. So, we’ve taken a look at the current crop of next generation games to see what interesting new features could be adapted to improve upon Bethesda’s iconic series. Each one would add a few refreshing offerings to the game’s formula, but without ever being unfamiliar enough to jar against the style. Take a look at our suggestions and help us ponder what exciting additions Bethesda might be about to bring to the Fallout series! 5) Flexible Character Progression - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt For our first look at how a feature from current generation gaming could help influence Fallout 4, we’ll start with an option for how the game’s classic RPG progression system could evolve into something a little more tactical. For an example, we need look no further than 2015’s instant classic: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In this game, perks are assigned by spending the ability points players gain each time they gather enough experience to level up, similar to the perks system that Bethesda have employed in older Fallout games. What’s different, however, is the way Geralt’s active perks can be altered in between encounters, meaning that different challenges can be faced by a different approach when necessary. While the amount of perks the player can obtain is barely limited by a generous level cap and alternative methods of obtaining ability points, only a finite amount can be equipped to the character at any given time. The higher the player’s level, the more can be assigned at any one time. The result means that character perks are flexible, and players have to take a tactical approach to how they alter Geralt’s strengths for different quests. This flexible approach could be an interesting tweak for Fallout’s existing progression system, especially given how impressively varied the series’ enemies and challenges can be. Traversing the Wasteland would become a more intense challenge than ever if this flexible approach were included. 4) A Map Of The Regions - Destiny Though there aren’t many gamers out there who are particularly keen on praising Destiny for anything, one thing that cannot be criticized is the diverse universe of planets that we were given the opportunity to explore. With a simple hub being the base, Destiny players are able to jump into a ship and set course for a number of different planets. Each available planet then has a large, roamable map for players to work their way through. In Destiny, these planets have very limited opportunities before things start to get highly repetitive, but a game like Fallout could really make the most of having a more varied world for its players. While Wasteland has been beautifully realized in the series’ existing titles, adding separate regions to Fallout 4’s map would allow for the developers to give players a wider look at what impact nuclear disaster would have on differing landscapes. Variety is the spice of life, after all! With separated regions in place, Bethesda could even improve the role that warring factions have on the game’s story, and that brings us nicely to our next suggestion… 3) Hierarchies Of War - Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor Coupled with a more varied map, Bethesda has the opportunity to improve the way the Wasteland’s warring factions and rebel groups by taking a lead from last year’s sleeper hit: Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor. In this game, players take on the role of Talion, a ranger stationed behind enemy lines during Sauron’s return to Middle Earth in Mordor. Through the game, Talion attempts to undermine the Dark Lord’s armies and defeat his captains by manipulating and dispatching a complex hierarchy of Orc leaders. This ‘Nemesis’ system could be brilliantly adapted into a Fallout game, and Fallout 4 could be just the place for it. Existing titles in the series already feature warring factions whose roaming servants are hellbent on halting the vault-dweller’s progress. Adding captains and soldiers to their ranks would develop a real sense of personality for each faction, whilst building upon the tactical demands of surviving in the Wasteland. Fallout games have already made use of faction leaders in their stories, but employing a version of the ‘Nemesis’ system would offer players a whole new way to conquer the wastes in Fallout 4. 2) Hunting - Far Cry 4 Though not an exclusively next-gen feature, Far Cry 4 is probably the title that features this mechanic most prominently in its gameplay and so, we’ll attribute the credit to Ubisoft’s game for these purposes. Far Cry 4 features a world inhabited by a huge variety of wild beasts for its players to contend with throughout the game. Of course, you have two options in this case; either hope to avoid the dangerous ones or simply seek them out and harvest them for their various goods. Assuming nearly everybody chose the latter, this approach could add a little bit of structure to Fallout’s existing relationship between its players and its creatures. Implementing a tracking mechanic for the various animals and beasts in the game could help players conquer the wilder side of the wasteland and, with the inventory system that’s already embedded in the series’ history, would make functional sense for each player’s quest for survival in the post-apocalyptic world. 1) An Online Influence - Watch Dogs Saving the most foreign influence for last, it’s time to make a case for how some subtle encroachment from online game modes could work their way into Fallout 4. Admittedly, this one is a little far-fetched, but hey, E3’s approaching and it’s the season to speculate to the max! Watch Dogs is, of course, not the only next-gem game to offer players a blend of single and multi player modes, but it’s Ubisoft’s subtle approach to the mixture that would best suit a game like Fallout. In Watch Dogs, players can merrily roam the world in their single player save file, only to find they were being invaded by a hacker in the form of another online player. From here, some chaotic mini games ensue, with the victors being rewarded with in-game spoils. Fallout 4 could easily make use of a less invasive version of a mechanic like this, without losing the integrity of the series’ engrossing story-driven style. Instead of having other online players attacking players in the game, friends who have also played their own version could input recordings or documents into each others’ games. The contents of these could vary from helpful hints and supply locations to pointless teases and comedic accounts. It wouldn’t be compulsory, and could be subtle enough to satisfy this generation’s demand for online functionality while still feeling like a Fallout game. So, there you have it: five next-gen features that could make their way into Fallout 4. Tell us, what are your thoughts? Would you play our version of the game? Do you have any of your own suggestions? Sound off below!

5 Games That Fallout 4 Should Borrow From

2) Hunting – Far Cry 4