digitec plays "Fallout 76": Looting, crafting and slaughtering mutated monsters
15.11.2018
Translation: machine translated
"Fallout" mutates into multiplayer. Instead of chattering NPCs, in "Fallout 76" several human players populate the post-apocalyptic world at the same time for the first time. You can find out whether the "Fallout" MMO is any good or whether my hair is about to fall out (not from the radiation) in the livestream from 11am.
Uiuiuiui, there's a new "Fallout"? Yes, but not really. "Fallout 76" is not the successor to "Fallout 4", neither in terms of time nor gameplay. It is set before all previous instalments, 25 years after the nuclear catastrophe. As an inhabitant of Vault 76, the first bunker to be opened after the war, it is your task to reclaim the world for humanity. And not alone, but with other players.
"Fallout 76" is no longer a single-player game, even if you can theoretically play it alone. There are up to 24 players on each server at the same time. You can team up with them and explore the world in teams of up to four players. "Fallout 76" is an MMO, albeit not quite as massive in terms of players. Another special feature is that there are no NPCs - at least not really. There are only enemies and a few robots that you can interact with. Other NPCs who give you quests or with whom you can have dialogues do not exist in "Fallout 76". You receive all quests either via robots, computer terminals or any notes you find. Nevertheless, you always have a full quest log and you are constantly being chatted to. All via audio tapes, some of which blare away for minutes on end.
"Fallout 4" was just the beginning
The survival system is even more exciting. In "Fallout 76", resources have become even more important. You can build new things from everything you collect: Weapons, armour, food. Survival also means that you have to manage the latter. However, this is relatively easy and is limited to water and food. The crafting and basic system from part four has been greatly expanded. You can set up your camp practically anywhere and also pack it up again if you no longer like the space.
Skills and perks have been converted into a new card system. When you level up, you get new cards that give you different abilities. The cards can be combined into better ones and even shared with friends. This results in a wide variety of play styles.
VATS, the system for targeting individual body parts of enemies in slow motion, has also been significantly revised. It now runs in real time. However, with the right skills, you can still shoot arms or legs and land safe critical hits.
One thing that could have done with a much more urgent overhaul is the graphics. The engine is the same as in "Fallout 4" and it already looked dusty back then. At least the design of the world has become a bit more colourful and creative.
I'm curious to see what the long-term motivation of "Fallout 76" will be like. As the quests are not particularly creative, as is typical for MMOs, it all depends on how much fun the new multiplayer component is. The expanded crafting and base building system is promising and the upgrade system also makes an interesting impression. But what I'm most looking forward to is being able to play "Fallout" with friends.
You can get a little insight into Bethesda's latest work in the Let's Play.
"Fallout 76" is available for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The code was provided to us by Bethesda.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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