I finally beat Fallout 4. I am well aware that this is a decade late, but we can’t always be perfectly on time for everything. Ironically, I actually played it at a friend’s house for a few hours back when it came out, and then borrowed New Vegas and put about 10 hours into that. I have no recollection of why I didn’t continue or get my own copy of either game.

Nevertheless, almost a decade later, the Fallout series on Amazon Prime blew me away, so I decided to finally revisit Fallout 4 through the magic of Xbox Game Pass. I was enjoying it, but I got sidetracked with other games (this would happen again with Season 2 of the show because I started playing Hollow Knight: Silksong, and it took me forever to beat).

But after all this time and tons of hours put into the game, I finally beat it. It’s my first official Fallout experience, which might be influencing my opinion of the game, but I came away wondering why on earth it’s considered the black sheep of the series.

Fallout 4 Is Actually Really Good

While I do not have any experience with the story of New Vegas (since I barely got into it and have only just now started it up again) or the original three games and cannot speak to their narrative quality, I can agree with the argument that Fallout 4‘s story is what makes it a little weaker.

I think the story is good, especially because it features a neat plot twist that totally changes your playthrough about halfway through. However, I can totally understand the criticism. At times, it feels like an afterthought to the rest of the game. It’s not terribly deep, and it sometimes feels like an excuse for the gameplay. The game wants you to build settlements, so part of the story is about developing that community.

That’s where I no longer see the flaws. And speaking of, building settlements is a whole lot of fun, especially after choosing one to set up your own mini-base. It’s like if Minecraft and Fallout merged for a brief moment, and it’s so much fun. I hope it becomes a feature, though perhaps not quite as prominent, in future installments.

The characters are delightful, and the locations are awesome. People have complained about the danger of the Commonwealth, but I found it to be a really cool setting. You’re telling me I can go sell my wares in a market that popped up in the destroyed Fenway Park? That is incredible. The Boston Public Library and plenty of other iconic places get the wasteland treatment, and the game is all the better for it.

The combat is amazing, too. I thought initially that the combat system was pretty good and engaging, but now, having stepped backwards into New Vegas, I can see how immaculate Fallout 4‘s system really was. It’s so much easier to fight, and since the name of the game is survival against creatures and humans alike, a good combat system goes a long way.

The freedom of choice is a staple of all Fallout games, so I won’t pretend like that’s a huge bonus for Fallout 4. I will say, though, that the choices presented are pretty great. I also liked how I could choose between the Railroad and the Minutemen (the two good options) and still recruit the other to the cause, since they were both morally upstanding groups.

The only other flaw in the game I can think of was a lackluster final mission, which absolutely could’ve been due to the path I took. I was saving my weapons for a final boss fight that never came, and while the endless waves of Synths and Coursers were a challenge, they just weren’t all that engaging.

Final Boss

Once I’ve played New Vegas and Fallout 3 on Game Pass, my opinion on Fallout 4 might change. It will always hold a special place in my heart as the first, and as of now, that is undoubtedly boosting my opinion of it. For now, though, it’s one of the most fun gaming experiences I’ve had in a little while.

Score: 4.5/5