Fallout 4

The continuation of the iconic series of role-playing games in a post-apocalyptic world. The game features a completely revamped leveling system, gameplay, and changes to the RPG elements, as well as the introduction of a weapon improvement and crafting system for the first time in the series. The setting of the game is Boston, Massachusetts, where we will see moments of peaceful life before the atomic bombing for the first time.

A single-player shooter with RPG elements, Fallout 4 was released on November 10, 2015, for PC, Xbox One, and PS4. The game takes place in the future, in a world that has survived a nuclear war, with elements of retro-futurism from the 1960s. The main focus during development was on a large and well-developed game world, combat system, and character leveling. The story and quests received little attention, and the game suffers from an underdeveloped dialogue system.

The new version of the Creation Engine allowed for high-quality graphics with high-resolution textures and very good lighting technology, including light and shadow effects. There is decent animation, but the main feature of Fallout 4 is the realistic physics model, making the weapons feel more satisfying than ever.

The action of Fallout 4 takes place in Boston and its surroundings, called the Commonwealth — a large seamless world with no movement restrictions. The developers transferred many elements of Massachusetts into the game, such as the State Capitol, Bunker Hill, the Boston Library, the ship "Constitution," rivers crossing the city, Fenway Park baseball stadium, and more.

Despite the fact that the Commonwealth has endured two nuclear strikes that left almost no livable space, the central area of Boston survived, although many skyscrapers have begun to crumble, some of which are open for exploration. Outside the metropolis, players can explore satellite towns, industrial areas, distant suburbs — hilly mountains, rural villages, fields, and forests, as well as the Glowing Sea — a vast radioactive Wasteland.

The game world of Fallout 4 is inhabited by 9 factions, 3 of which are hostile from the start, and 2 may become hostile during gameplay. As for wildlife, there are many dangerous mutants in the Commonwealth — Deathclaws, Yao Guai, Behemoths, but at the beginning of the game, players will be bothered by smaller mutants and ghouls.

A significant portion of the content is hidden from the player's view — an inconspicuous building may be the entrance to a multi-level secret laboratory, Vault, or military outpost filled with rare weapons, ammunition, and armor. The subway is present but heavily damaged, with only certain stations available for exploration.

For the first time in the series, the combat system is based on shooter mechanics. Players have access to a vast arsenal for various play styles — they can be a ninja or a reckless fighter with a hammer, a sniper, an assault trooper, a machine gunner, or combine everything. There is a workshop that allows you to build a cozy settlement where the player not only manages the residents but also creates and improves their weapons, gear, regular and power armor.

The RPG component of Fallout 4 is the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system: 7 basic character attributes, such as strength or intelligence, on a scale from 1 to 10, as well as a set of 10 perks divided into 2-5 sub-levels. The perks are very diverse — they improve speech, increase weapon damage, and allow carrying additional items.

As the player explores the game world, they gain experience for completing quests, killing enemies, upgrading gear, and other actions, which accumulates into levels. Each level grants points that can be spent in S.P.E.C.I.A.L., and the higher the level, the more advanced gear and armor can be found, as well as encountering increasingly dangerous enemies.

A curse of Fallout 4 is the dialogue system, which offers 3-4 similar response options: yes, no, question, and sarcasm.

The events of Fallout 4 take place in 2287, where the protagonist wakes up from cryogenic sleep and must find their family. Upon emerging to the surface, they learn that the Commonwealth is slowly dying under the onslaught of super mutants, raiders, and the sinister organization known as the Institute. The defenders of this territory, the Minutemen, have been completely defeated.

The search for the family must be combined with helping the simple residents of the Commonwealth, exploring the world, restoring the Minutemen organization, and strengthening its positions. The plot is linear, without unexpected twists or replayability. If you don't get distracted by everything else, it can be completed in 10-12 hours. It is not always worth acting head-on — sometimes it is more beneficial to negotiate or buy the necessary information.

Very soon, the player encounters synths — android robots that are strong and hostile, creations of the Institute. As the plot develops, the Railroad comes into play, an organization aimed at helping synths escape the Institute's control, as well as the Brotherhood of Steel, which wants to impose order in the Commonwealth and unite it with the Capital Wasteland.

The player can either join these organizations or reject them, but in the end, they will inevitably confront the Institute. Each faction will offer its own set of quests, pleasant bonuses for joining, and determine the ending that the player will receive. In addition, there will be many contacts with independent settlements.

In Fallout 4, you can meet a variety of companions — from synths to super mutants. Each has a unique personal backstory, with well-developed details, a set of personal quests, and aspirations that sometimes do not align with the player's playstyle, but you will have to find common ground with each.