Freak Out for “Fallout 4”

By: Jenna Beresheim 
News Editor

“Fallout” fans are rejoicing as the long-awaited continuation of a story sets into motion, with the official release date for “Fallout 4” fast approaching on November 10, 2015.

This will be the fifth installment in the series by the ever-popular production company Bethesda. The game developer is known for their work with “Fallout 3,” “Fallout Shelter,” and the “Elder Scrolls” series.

One bad thing Bethesda has been known for is their rush to publish games before all of the bugs, glitches, and patches have been dealt with. Their products have garnered backlash from the gaming community before, but that has yet to stop people from playing their games, apparently.

“Fallout 4” will be no different, with the hype extending to real-world consumables. Bethesda has announced that they will be producing a Nuka Cola Quantum by Jones Soda, soon to be available at Target, as well as a “Fallout” Beer, which will only be available in Europe.

But there is already a split between the fans. While this new game boasts stunning graphics, a vast expanse of dialogue options, and all along new features guaranteed to satisfy, fans are still apprehensive.

Over the past week, screenshots, clips, and more information have steadily been leaked into gaming forums and communities. But the response has not been a positive one. Gamers claim that the graphics are lacking and textures appear flat.

The game takes place in Boston, Massachusetts 200 years after a nuclear war between the US and China, known as the Great War. The player is the sole survivor from vault 111 and must make their way out into the wild as done in previous “Fallout” games.

A few new features for fans to look forward to include the ability to build settlements and buildings, sending a brahmin, a mutated type of cattle, between their settlements, and one of the biggest pieces of news is that there is no level cap.

Bethesda also boasts that skill building will now be more of a tree system, weapons will be fully customizable, and that the player can continue their story well after the main quest line “ends.”

Between all of these options, it’s understandable that a game may lack in the graphics department from the start.

The producers are focusing more on the gameplay and interactions of characters, as well as the growth of the player’s personal character—this more so than keeping up with the quickly evolving gaming systems it is being made for.

Expect to see “Fallout” madness in stores soon, along with “Fallout” products in Target stores, but as per usual, I have complete faith in Bethesda pulling through, even if it takes a few post-release patches.

Personally, I’m just happy that the dog companion will never perish during a risky quest again.