The Fallout 4 trailer is out. Now, it’s time to dissect what little footage we have.
You can watch the trailer above, but to help us get a better look at the game, we’ve broken out some interesting scenes into their own GIFs. So let’s go ahead and take a closer look at the next big game from Bethesda.
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Outside of getting to explore a new world, the one thing that many people are likely most looking forward to in a new Fallout game is improved visuals. That’s especially true now that we’ve moved so far beyond the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 systems that Bethesda originally built Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for.
So, are the new visuals stunning? Well, (and we wrote about this here) it definitely is a better-looking game than Fallout 3 — just based on the trailer. And I think the art is quite attractive. Just look at the city above with its hanging power lines and rusty aluminum siding. That’s a well-designed video game level.
But, at the same time, I think it’s possible to have some disappointment about Fallout 4’s overall graphical capabilities when you compare it (maybe unfairly) to something like The Witcher 3. After all, tons of people did just buy Xbox Ones and PlayStation 4s — or maybe even new graphics cards for their PCs — and it’s normal to want developers to take advantage of that. And it’s normal to want characters who don’t walk like their butt cheeks are duct taped together — see the last GIF below for a look at what I’m talking about.
It’s still possible that Fallout 4 is taking full advantage of new hardware, but it’s manifesting as larger worlds or more on-screen characters for more interesting missions.
And speaking of that. …
A living, varied world with lots to offer
The world already looks expansive and varied. And it also looks more alive. Before we move away from the graphics talk, let’s just look at the last shot in the above GIF that shows a bunch of mutants running at the camera.
In this extremely brief glimpse of action, you can see about four mutants running right up to the camera, but several more are off in the distance. On top of the number of enemies, the mutants are running into grocery carts and boxes and knocking them around. This suggests a high level of interaction that could make for a dynamic-feeling atmosphere.
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While the rest of the GIF isn’t quite as packed with action, it does show a world that looks simultaneously open yet dense. And that’s important for a game that is about exploration and discovery.
Boston
We’re headed back to the East Coast for the next Fallout. Bethesda has set the game in Boston. That means we’ll see places like Massachusetts’ Bunker Hill Monument, the U.S.S. Constitution, and the Massachusetts State House. You can even see the Paul Revere monument when the light flashes in one of the GIFs above.
You come from Vault 111
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In Fallout 3, you emerged as an adult after growing up in Vault 101. This time, your character will start in 111.
Boom!
Yes. Fallout 4 still follows a nuclear war.
Puppy and me
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It looks like Fallout 4 will heavily feature a dog companion. And while many people just want to play as the dog, you’re still stuck in your human body (at least until modders have their way). But at least you have a friend in the wasteland … and maybe he’s tasty if you start to run out of food.
I’m kidding!