Right now, Fallout 5 is far off in the distance, but that doesn’t make the prospect of the next chapter any less exciting. After the first season of the Amazon Prime series aired last year, interest in Fallout 5 and what it may have in store has been reignited. There’s no telling where the next story will take place, but one thing feels for certain: companions will play a vital role in the journey.
With each Bethesda game, the use of companions to aid players in their character’s story is one of the developer’s key features to be expected. From Skyrim to Starfield, companion NPCs can be found. Sometimes they’re helpful, other times annoying, but their unique personalities and skill sets offer a diverse roster for players to pick from. When it comes to the Fallout games, though, one companion has been a standout; Nick Valentine. A Synth who works as a private detective, Nick Valentine remains one of the franchise’s most compelling NPCs, and Fallout 5 would benefit from having its own take on the character.
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Fallout 5 Deserves Its Own Version of Nick Valentine
Nick Valentine’s Role is More Significant Than Being a Mere Companion
A central moral dilemma presented in Fallout 4‘s story is whether Synths should be welcomed into this post-apocalyptic landscape or not, making Nick’s role incredibly important. While the creation of Synths is a debate in itself, the social treatment of a race that had no say in whether they were created or not is a completely different argument. As a companion, Nick is intelligent and thoughtful, always trying to steer on the side of justice. His presence in the narrative serves as a central part of weighing the ethical questions presented, and Fallout 5 would be wise to offer another companion that helps bring its themes to life through character development.
- Nick Valentine was created by The Institute.
- He’s a Generation 2 prototype.
- Generation 2 prototypes were the first synths capable of independent thought.
Fallout 5 Has Intriguing Options to Explore
Whatever Fallout 5‘s companion options are, the game’s setting and story will play a major part in deciding what they are like. One race teased throughout the series, the Zetan alien race, could be a fascinating option to explore. Fallout has teased the presence of aliens through the years, and finally seeing that come to fruition with a Zetan companion who serves as an important figure may be intriguing. For example, if Fallout 5 decided to bring Fallout 76‘s seasonal Invaders From Beyond event up a notch and center its next story around an alien invasion, a Zetan who seeks to work with the humans and be accepted in society could provide the same type of dilemma.
Nick Valentine’s story is expanded even further in Fallout 4‘s Far Harbor DLC.
This is purely speculation, but it’s not entirely outside the realm of possibility. Fallout‘s alien encounters can be fun hidden moments, but seeing them become a full-blown story arc could be an even more rewarding outcome for the Zetans. Of course, Fallout may just continue to feature Zetans as a fun Easter egg, and that would still be exciting.
The Story of Fallout 5 Hopefully Explores Similar Moral Dilemmas
Fallout 4 presented one of the most fascinating ethical problems in the series yet. The fear surrounding Synths from groups like the Brotherhood of Steel can be understandable, but characters like Nick Valentine showcase that it’s a complicated moral gray area that isn’t as easy to navigate as it seems.
As of now, there is no way to know what Bethesda has planned for Fallout 5‘s story. The game is likely still years away at this point, which is frustrating, but between Fallout 76 and season 2 of the Amazon Prime series, there is at least the promise of more content on the way.
