Finally getting around to this. Got the GotY Edition when it came out in September. And i have to say… WOW. I couldn’t wait for it to be over. The main storyline, that is. And usually, with Bethesda games, it’s the opposite.
The story was really intriguing and i DID NOT see that twist with Shaun leading the Institute. I love bold, hard-to-take-in plot twists like that. But i have to say that now is unarguably the era of edginess. Bethesda tried too hard with the story to make it impacting in a bold way. It worked up until the point where you finally had to make a decision with who to side with. It’s basically as if the writing is non-existent once you pass the revelation that Shaun is much, much older than you expect him to be - and that he’s leading the Institute. Seeing him on his medical…electronic sarcophagus thingy when raiding the Institute just wasn’t impacting at all. And just felt like filler at that point. It didn’t hit hard. There was nothing substantial. But most of all, i couldn’t WAIT for the story to be over. For some reason - and i can’t pinpoint WHY - Fallout 4 made me play extremely thoroughly. I’ve never played a Bethesda game and looked through every single square inch while exploring. Perhaps because of crafting? Not sure. But what i’m getting at is that everything OUTSIDE the story was very well done. Side quests felt more like main quests from other Bethesda games.
I felt a lot more when Paladin Danse was exiled rather than leaving Shaun in the Institute. I actually have some sort of connection with these companions - these characters you meet in the game world. And i almost forgot child Synth Shaun. One GIANT question mark if you ask me. Another attempt at being bold - but ends up just being dumb edginess. I wasn’t sure what to make of that. Honestly. Maybe it was just intended to have a psychological effect? And i love how Skyrim’s overall karmic neutrality carries over greatly into Fallout 4. There is no black or white side. It’s just a GREY that just seems convoluted and insecure with itself. Hideo Kojima likes to use ambiguity in his games. And it just sort of works with how the player can interpret certain parts of the story. But Fallout 4? EH…
I don’t know. I wasn’t a fan of the main quest line. I couldn’t wait for it to be over because of how complicated the different paths are. I had to carefully RESEARCH everything before i made decisions. It’s really irritating. I’ve reloaded saves so many times that i couldn’t even make a nearly accurate guess of how many times it’s been.
And on to the good. It might be an arbitrary point. But ho-ly-FUCK the music. The soundtrack - especially the tracks which clearly sound influenced by Celtic music. They add in a kind of atmosphere i haven’t felt in such a long time. The first time stepping into Diamond City is truly unforgettable as a gaming experience. It reminded me of Chrono Cross - specifically Termina. And other bits of Chrono’s soundtrack. And i love the way Power Armor feels and performs. The game actually plays like an FPS now. Instead of Oblivion with guns…
So yeah. What does everyone else think of the main quest line? Sheesh, what a mess.