Biggest Traditions In The Fallout Series

Open-world RPG games are nothing new, and if anything, the market has become so oversaturated with them that it can be hard for games within the genre to really stand out. In the case of Fallout though, this beloved franchise has succeeded in carving out a unique identity for itself through its traditions, which have managed to show up in every game, or at least, the majority of them.

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As a result, while the setting, story, and characters of a Fallout game may be entirely different from the last, fans can always expect a fair few iconic mechanics and systems to show up in one form or another for each wasteland adventure. Considering Fallout has been experiencing somewhat of a resurgence thanks to the hugely successful TV series, it only seems fitting to reflect on the nooks and crannies that make this series what it is, and that have helped make it one of the most beloved video game franchises on the planet.

8

Vaults

Underground Bunkers That Shield Vault Dwellers From The Outside World

Vaults have been a staple of the series since the very beginning, though there isn’t just one. Spread out across America are many Vaults which essentially act as underground bunkers that people would be forced to reside in after the bombs dropped. Considering each Vault is made up of entirely different people from all walks of life, it means they each have their own distinct culture and social norms.

Vault 101, for example, is a fairly basic home base that features an Overseer who watches over the citizens who live there. In Vault 11, though, the residents will act out a ritual of sacrificing one of their own every so often, due to them all believing they will die if they don’t carry the sadistic tradition. Needless to say, no two Vaults are the same, which is why many players will make it a top priority to seek them out as soon as they enter the open world.

7

Super Mutants

Super Mutants Have Shown Up In All Shapes And Sizes To Either Intimidate The Player Or Befriend Them

It’s difficult to find many enemies in video games who are more terrifying than the Super Mutants. These powerful behemoths appear in every single Fallout game, though they are far from just mindless brutes. In the original, Super Mutants were led by a being simply known as The Master, but players can run into wild mutants when exploring in the third and fourth games.

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There are actually numerous different types of Super Mutants that can be discovered through the games, such as the Nightkin, whose constant use of the Stealth Boy has warped their minds, turning many of these ‘elite soldiers’ into violent monsters. One thing is for sure though, regardless of whether they may be friend or foe, it can always be a good idea to keep a finger on the trigger when approaching a Super Mutant for the first time, considering they can usually kill humans in no more than a few hits.

6

SPECIAL

Players’ Personal Stats Can Be Tinkered And Adjusted With The SPECIAL System

Being able to adjust certain stats and attributes in an RPG is nothing out of the ordinary, but very often, they would be pretty long and complicated to keep track of. Fallout decided to streamline the mechanic through its SPECIAL system, which is an acronym for strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck.

At the beginning of each game, players will be given the option to adjust these stats to create a basic concept for their character, whether that be a super-intelligent tech wizard, a devilishly charismatic smooth talker, or simply a bloodthirsty brute. The SPECIAL system is easy to understand yet still grants players a ton of creative freedom, while also encouraging players to jump in for a second playthrough to try out someone brand new.

5

Deathclaws

Immensely Powerful Beasts Who Prevent Players From Exploring Certain Areas Of The Map

By far the most ferocious enemy players can stumble into early on in a playthrough of any Fallout game is the dreaded Deathclaws. These beasts are easy to spot from afar due to their large horns and massive claws which are capable of killing low-level characters in a single hit. As a result, they will usually be placed in areas of the map where players shouldn’t be exploring until they are at least decently prepared.

An example of this which has given many players nightmares is in New Vegas. If players try to make a B-line straight for Vegas after they wake up in Goodsprings, they’ll be met with a horde of Deathclaws who will prevent them from going any further unless they have the weapons and armor needed to take them down for good.

4

Post-Apocalyptic Setting

Every Game Allows Players To Explore A Post-Apocalyptic World Set In Different Regions

While open-world games will often try to make their environments as vibrant and eye-catching as possible, Fallout takes a different direction in its aesthetic and tone. Since every game kicks off after a nuclear war has broken out, it means that by the time players reach the open world, they will be greeted with obliterated towns, dusty wastelands, and plenty of fiends roaming around looking to kill anyone they set their sights on.

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If anything though, this makes these worlds a ton of fun to explore, since there is literally no guessing what will appear around the next corner. One moment, players will be sharing a drink with a rag-tag band of survivors, while the next, they’ll be blasting a gatling gun at an army of Super Mutants. Simply put, exploring the remnants of the old world is always an absolute joy in each and every Fallout game.

3

Brotherhood Of Steel

A Group Of Tech-Obsessed Soldiers Who Have Been Presented As Both Heroes And Villains Throughout The Series

The Brotherhood of Steel would become such a popular faction in the first game that they would quickly earn their own spin-off game in Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel. However, they have also appeared in various different forms throughout the entire mainline series, though whether these heavily armored energy soldiers are friends or foes depends on the game.

In New Vegas, the group is hidden away in a deserted bunker, and can easily turn on the player if they are already aligned with other factions, such as Caesar’s Legion. In Fallout 4, they seek to reserve and hoard all the technology in the wasteland, which the player can either help them with or prevent them from doing so, depending on the morality of their playthrough.

2

Pip-Boy

A Neat Little Device That Keeps Players Immersed In The Post-Apocalyptic World

The Pip-Boy is a recurring device that has shown up in every Fallout game since the very first, and to be honest, it’s a genius way to keep players immersed in the action. Rather than needing to go through the pause menu and multiple loading screens, players can simply bring up their Pip-Boy to see their current status, their inventory, the map, and plenty of other small insights such as their reputation and companions.

What also adds to the charm of the Pip-Boys is how they all possess their own quirky design schemes and layouts. The Pip-Boy in the original Fallout, for example, is made to look like it was cobbled together with little more than a few screws and pieces of tape. In Fallout 4 though, it’s more of a hyper-futuristic gizmo that looks like a marketable piece of tech that would be a common sight in supermarkets, if they were still around, that is.

1

Vault-Boy

The Face Of The Series Always Looks So Cheery Despite The State Of The World

The mascot of the Vault-Tec corporation has become a character that every fan, and even those not familiar with the Fallout franchise, will be able to recognize. While he was given the name “Vault Man” in the instruction manual of the first game, he would eventually become known as the Vault Boy, and it’s fair to say that players will be seeing his cheery face many, many times throughout a playthrough of each game.

Whether it’s propaganda posters, skill trees, or even just the home screen of the Pip-Boy, players can always expect this little guy to show up for each new entry. The signature pose of Vault Boy holding out his thumb is supposed to reference how people would do so to judge how far away they are from a nuclear explosion, so it’s actually quite eerie that he has such a massive smile on his face despite the dire circumstances.

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