Fallout 4 for Windows

Get ready to go back to the wasteland

Most role-playing games are set in fantasy worlds, which is why the post-apocalyptic Fallout series is so beloved by fans. However, it was when Bethesda took control of the franchise and moved the action to first-person in Fallout 3 that it really hit off with a wider audience. With Fallout 4, the company hopes to further explore its futuristic fiction, build on its systems, and correct its technical shortcomings.

Set in Boston, Fallout 4 begins with America under the threat of a nuclear war. The franchise’s signature faux 1950s suburbia tech is maintained, but you will experience a few moments of life before the bomb.

Relics of the past

Fallout 4 kicks off with the sirens beginning to wail and you running with your family to Vault 111, just in time to watch the bombs hit as you are lowered beneath the earth. All is not as it seems, however, and upon being asked to step into a cubical to be “sterilized,” you’re frozen for 210 years. During a brief moment of consciousness, you watch helplessly as a harrowing scene unfolds. Your partner is murdered and your baby is taken by raiders – instantly establishing the game’s motivation.

Seemingly moments later you awaken in the empty vault. With nothing but a desire for revenge, you head out into the world. Exiting Vault 111, the stunning expanse of the open world stretches out before you, and your journey of discovery begins. To Fallout 3 veterans, the similarities are striking —which, at times, feels like a failing. Bethesda’s open world still manages scale wonderfully, with you able to interact with everyone, accept dozens of quests, and choose how you want to solve every problem presented to you.

However, there is a trade-off for this complexity and ambition, much of which manifests in the characters and their AI. Characters regularly look awful and happily block your path, hover in the air, or stand in the most unnatural positions during important dialogues. You have to look past these initial failings because what lies beneath is undoubtedly a better, more refined experience that builds on the wonderful world navigation and character-building of Fallout 3. 

Take the bad with the good

The first thing of note is the presentation and pacing. There is no hanging about, and after creating your character it takes less than an hour to start into the beautifully realized Boston wasteland. Combat is also notably improved, with gunplay now more reliant on your ability rather than a hidden Perception or Agility stat. This change means that Fallout 4’s fights can play out far more like a satisfying traditional shooter, with your own skills reflected in every shot.

VATs have also been changed to create a faster play experience. This system—which previously allowed you to stop time to target enemies—now just slows the action to a crawl. It is a tiny change, but one that keeps things flowing while still giving you a little more time to plan attacks. This accelerated pace is a constant theme. Rather than making you wait half the game to get fun toys like the power armor, it is a fairly early acquisition, although there have been some changes.

Firstly, the advantages of this heavy-duty equipment are not as pronounced, with its use throttled by the need for fusion cells to power it. Also, any armor you find is just a starting point as you can customize it with scraps and items you scavenge. This leads to some down-and-dirty—but kind of awesome—builds, with metal grills and plates welded on to add defense or lead lining to protect from radiation.

Finding these upgrade elements and items is mercifully more streamlined than in other Bethesda titles. Stumbling upon a storage chest or table, you will be met by a helpful pop-up that stops you from trawling through menus just to see if you want what is contained within. You can also easily break them down into useful parts, use them to craft, and check them for any interesting buffs they can provide. That said, if you collect everything you find, managing your inventory can become a chore as you navigate the multilayer interface.

Customization is not limited to weapons and armor, Fallout 4 also adds settlements. These bases provide a place to store your items and send any friendly survivors you discover in the wasteland. At some point, this feels like an end unto itself, as the benefits of upgrading these areas—and defending them from raider attacks—only seem to aid further construction rather than any substantive gameplay advantage. 

A host of fresh content

Get ready to dive back into the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Fallout 4 with the latest update, packed with even more content to enrich your gaming experience. From new quests to unconventional weapons and spooky decorations, there’s something for every survivor in this expansive update. The enigmatic and formidable Enclave makes its mark on the Commonwealth in the latest questline titled “Echoes of the Past.”

As a lone survivor, it’s up to you to thwart the Enclave’s nefarious plans and prevent their dangerous ideology from taking root. Alongside this captivating storyline, players can deck out their settlements with Enclave-themed workshop items and don the prestigious Enclave Colonel uniform. Plus, players can dive into battle with Enclave Weapon Skins, Enclave Armor Skins, Tesla Cannon, Hellfire Power Armor, X-02 Power Armor, and the devastating Heavy Incinerator.

Meanwhile, the Makeshift Weapon Pack introduces a slew of unconventional objects turned lethal, perfect for survivors who thrive on ingenuity and resourcefulness. When the odds are stacked against you, think outside the box and arm yourself with the unexpected, such as a piggy bank, a baseball launcher, and a nail gun. Beyond that, you can also score the Halloween Workshop pack and get access to 38 eerie decorations all year long.

A series of technical enhancements

Bethesda Game Studios has announced exciting free updates for Fallout 4, set to enhance the gaming experience for players on next-gen consoles and PCs. Players can return to the Commonwealth with improvements specifically designed for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. This update not only brings native applications for these consoles but also introduces Performance mode and Quality mode settings, allowing players to experience the game at up to 60 FPS and enjoy increased resolutions.

PC players have not been overlooked in this comprehensive update. A slew of upgrades awaits them, including support for widescreen and ultra-widescreen displays and enhancements to the Creation Kit and numerous quests. This update is extended to players across various platforms, including Steam, the Microsoft Store, and GOG, offering stability improvements, mods, and bug fixes. Moreover, to address specific community feedback, the developers have fixed login issues for Japanese and Chinese language players, improving access to mods.

Wait for the dust to settle

Fallout 4 does not correct all the problems of its predecessor, with the same technical flaws dogging your every step. However, it doesn’t feel like Bethesda doesn’t care, it feels like it had greater aspirations. Instead of focusing on correcting some minor—often endearing—problems, it has instead spent its time working on a larger, more fleshed-out, and complex world. It’s a fair trade-off because Fallout 4 is a brilliant RPG and a worthy successor to the franchise name.