One of the greatest achievements a video game can boast is the creation of a true aesthetic. Few have created such an iconic world as in the Fallout series. Halfway between the futurism and atomic optimism of the 1950s, post-apocalyptic retro-science fiction has conquered generations of gamers around the world. 25 years old those that have passed since the first episode aired.
In fact, the original Fallout was released in the United States on October 10, 1997, and opened up a universe of original and unique stories: it’s always hard to tell who’s good and who’s bad. If really.
In the 1990s, the popularity of role-playing video games fell a lot, but the game Interactive Productions It has managed to rekindle the flame for RPGs. With morally gray events and open endings, game choices have a profound impact on the entire narrative structure, making the protagonists feel at the beginning of their own story.
in this Exclusive to Fallout history We’ll cover the early stages of the series, the big milestones after the Bethesda acquisition, and how many aspects of Fallout have impacted the gaming world.
origins
Fallout was born from the mind of the Interplay programmer Tim Cain In 1994, he began to develop alone. Over time, more developers started working on what was originally just an advanced RPG character creation system in their spare time. born like this SPECIAL, the system that serves as the backbone of the franchise’s entire post-apocalyptic universe. SPECIAL is the English abbreviation for Strength, Perception, Stamina, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck; Italian: Strength, Perception, Stamina, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck. These are the seven core characteristics of each character and are used to describe the strengths, weaknesses, and extra skills the hero has.
The first Fallout takes place in Southern California and shapes the origin story of the 4 main episodes of the series. everything is one TillA massive underground bunker where survivors of a nuclear war devastated the planet for 100 years. At one point, the chip that powers Vault 13’s water purifier fails, and the facility manager instructs our hero to go and get another one. After a life spent underground, the player is faced with a world in ruins but full of life. Humans, animals, mutants, and the most diverse organizations survive, struggle, conquer and shape what’s left of American society. The game has an isometric view from above because it was the only way to give the experience the amount of detail the development team wanted. The 3D perspective was considered, but it would stretch the build time too much and complicate the challenge too much. There is one in clashes with other characters and wild animals turn-based structure punctuated by action points: the player can make different moves, each with a certain cost, until the action points run out. Throughout the story, it is possible to recruit some characters (4 humans and a dog) to participate in fights, but these cannot be directly controlled by the player.
A triumphant welcome and an acclaimed sequel
Thanks to its deep character creation system, intuitive combat, and a world where the player’s actions resonate strongly, the first Fallout conquered critics and audiences, selling more than 600,000 copies. This one took a shot in the arm interaction this was in a state of financial fragility despite previous (Wasteland) and subsequent (Baldur’s Gate) hits. Regarded as one of the best RPGs of the time and one of the best video games of all time, the second part seemed natural to arrive. In 1998, Fallout 2 made its debut with an almost more enthusiastic reception than the original, which had a few flaws at launch. Developed in just 9 months by Black Isle Studios (its flagship members founded Obsidian Entertainment in 2003), the sequel puts players in the shoes of the first game’s protagonist.
At the end of the first Fallout, Vault Dweller (that’s the character’s official name) was banned by the supervisor when he returned to Vault 13, although he had managed to save the bunker with a new water purification chip and thwarted a lunatic. plans to create a super mutant strain. Exiled to the surface world, he founded a village called Arroyo, where a prosperous community began to flourish. 80 years after these events, his grandson called the chosen oneis facing a major drought that threatens to starve the new society. The village elders instruct him to find the GECK (Garden of Eden Creation Kit), a machine that can restore the environment after a nuclear disaster. The Chosen succeeds in his mission, but when he returns to the village he discovers that the inhabitants of the village have been kidnapped by soldiers.Residential areaA militaristic organization that claims to be the US government. After endless adventures and assassinating the president of the United States, the Chosen One can finally return home and revive his village.
The revolution of the third part
After the release and success of Fallout 2, it was 10 years before a new main chapter in the series saw the light. Two episodes came out between 1998 and 2008, Fallout Tactics and Fallout Brotherhood of Steel, which deviated significantly from the original recipe in terms of gameplay and atmosphere, to the point where Brotherhood of Steel had a metal soundtrack featuring Slipknot and Kills. Everything changed in 2007 when Bethesda acquired the rights to the saga from Interplay and in 2008 released Fallout 3, a true landmark in the gaming world.
The 3D graphics, real-time combat system, numerous side quests, and open-world structure were radical changes for the series, but Bethesda has masterfully put them into action, so Fallout 3 is conceivable. one of the best video games of all time. The design did not lack references and tributes to the two original parts, such as the return of the SPECIAL system, the Pip-Boy 3000’s interface, and the SPAV combat system, which uses action points as in the original. The story restores the player as an exiled Vault resident. The game and its expansions have brought the series back to the Olympus of role-playing video games, creating a true classic that has stood the test of time and contains some of the best memories of two generations of gamers.
Interestingly, one of Ink Spots’ iconic songs for the game, “I don’t want to set the world on fire,” was one of designer Tim Cain’s favorites to promote the launch of the first Fallout, but was never used due to copyright reasons. Now that sweet 1940s tune is the anthem of all retro sci-fi fans and the entire Fallout universe.
Fallout 76 and online landing
After the success of Fallout 3 came the critically acclaimed Fallout New Vegas, developed by Obsidian Entertainment with some members of the production team of the first 2 episodes, and Fallout 4, another major installment of the series starring a survivor of atomic war. . In cryostasis for 200 years. Two games expanded the post-atomic universe in unexpected ways: Fallout Shelter and Fallout 76. The first made its epic debut on mobile, with managerial gameplay putting players in place of a Vault supervisor. inhabitants survive.
Released in 2018, Fallout 76 brought the post-apocalyptic universe online with a story that served as a prequel to the events of the main video games. Set in the Appalachian region of West Virginia, it tells the story of the first humans to emerge from the Vaults 25 years after the atomic war. The map is four times larger than Fallout 4’s, and the game regularly receives updates and expansion content. came out recently Discoveries: Pitt, the first expansion that takes players beyond the original map and into the city of Pittsburgh, already features a DLC for Fallout 3, which has been critically acclaimed by fans of the series. We told you about this in our Fallout 76 – Expeditions: the Pitt review.
Aesthetic and cultural influence
Fallout 3 and 4 game director Tod Howard said that “development of Fallout 5 will begin after The Elder Scrolls 6’s release,” so the future of the saga is assured, even if it doesn’t seem so imminent. No one forgets the cultural impact of this universe, which celebrates its 25th birthday, on the gaming world. Mixture 50’s aesthetic With the nuclear apocalypse, he created a style that was impeccable: from everyday objects to the graphic design of writing and weapons, this post-apocalyptic universe has a decadent appeal that’s hard to resist. So Power Armor, the iconic exoskeleton found in all video games in the series, is among the most beautiful armor in video games.
If we analyze the cultural impact of the show for a moment, we will discover that many people will realize it, albeit unknowingly. cashier Photo of Fallout with her iconic yellow and blue jumpsuit and blonde hair. The origin story of the thumbs-up pose is trending regularly on Instagram and TikTok: It seems to wink at the viewer, actually using 1950s technique to understand the dangers of nuclear explosion. If your thumb covers the entire mushroom cloud with your right arm open and your left eye closed, you are (it was said) at a safe distance. Bethesda has never confirmed or disproved this myth about the mascot, but if you see a big blinding light followed by a roar, run to the nearest Vault without wasting time with measurements.
Source: Multiplayer
