Summary
Overall, reviews for theFalloutshow’s first season have been relatively positive among critics and longtime franchise fans alike. As a consequence of theFalloutshow’s success, this has caused a recent surge in popularity for the modernFalloutgames, particularlyFallout 4andFallout 76. DespiteFallout 5still being several years away, the franchise’s newfound popularity will presumably still lend itself to a massive hype trainwhenFallout 5eventually releases, all the same.
Although details forFallout 5are still uncertain this far out, in hindsight of the show’s success, it might be worth futureFalloutgames embracing one of theFalloutshow’s biggest strengths. More specifically,Fallout 5should consider offering multiple playable characters, instead of a typical lone wanderer, Vault dweller protagonist.
Future Fallout Games Should Follow in the Fallout Show’s Footsteps with Multiple Playable Characters
TheFalloutshow put the spotlight on plenty of new secrets within theFalloutuniverse, while at the same time, faithfully honoring the source material with an impressive level of accuracy. However, one significant way that the show deviates from the formula that longtime fans of the franchise are familiar with is by dividing the plot between the perspectives of several main characters.
Lucy offers a familiar Vault dweller perspective considering that the majority of protagonists in theFalloutfranchise games have been Vault dwellers. Meanwhile, Maximus and Cooper offer some new insights into the wasteland that innocent, sheltered Vault dwellers like Lucy – and the majority of the game’s protagonists – aren’t accustomed to. All together, the three of them end up making a formidable team in the handful of moments where their interests align, which could be a fun dynamic for futureFalloutgames to explore.
Multiple Playable Characters Could Give the Fallout Franchise’s Factions Their Moment in the Spotlight
In recent years there has been an increasing demand among franchise fans to play as a member of one of theFalloutfranchise’s famous factionsother than the familiar Vault dwellers. So, with multiple playable characters,Fallout 5can still have the old reliable Vault dweller protagonist, while also offering other distinct characters who belong to some of the local factions.
The upcomingplayable ghoul character inFallout 76will mark a significant first step toward this endeavor, but playable ghouls are only the tip of the iceberg. Ultimately, theFalloutfranchise has a wealth of fan-favorite factions that are more than deserving candidates for introducing new playable characters. Not to mention, any new factions introduced in futureFalloutgames could also stand to benefit from their own playable characters, not just the recurring factions.
Multiple Playable Characters Seems Like a Natural Progression for the Fallout Franchise
Having multiple playable characters would presumably introduce some major challenges forFallout 5to retain its identity as an RPG that also stays loyal totheFalloutfranchise’s roots. However, if handled with care, having multiple playable characters could be a natural progression for the franchise, especially for theFalloutfranchise’s companion system and combat mechanics. Being able to recruit memorable companions in theFalloutgames is one thing, but being able to swap between them on the fly likeBaldur’s Gate 3’s party members could prove to be theFalloutfranchise’s key to moving back to turn-based combat from the original games.
Afterthe success of theFalloutshow, it might be wise for futureFalloutgames to further explore some of the concepts introduced in the show, potentially turning them into a staple of the franchise going forward. Especially in the case of having multiple playable characters, this could be the perfect opportunity to give some of the fan-favorite factions their turn in the spotlight, while also potentially reviving the turn-based combat to bring the franchise full circle.
Fallout 76
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Skyrim and Fallout 4, welcome you to Fallout 76. Twenty-five years after the bombs fell, you and your fellow Vault Dwellers—chosen from the nation’s best and brightest – emerge into post-nuclear America on Reclamation Day, 2102. Play solo or join together as you explore, quest, build, and triumph against the wasteland’s greatest threats. Explore a vast wasteland, devastated by nuclear war, in this open-world multiplayer addition to the Fallout story. Experience the largest, most dynamic world ever created in the legendary Fallout universe. Expand southward to Skyline Valley – a brand-new region of Appalachia. Investigate the cause of the electric storm circling overhead and unveil the mystery around Vault 63 and its dwellers, including a shocking new Ghoul type – The Lost.
