[Console games] Fallout 76 Review - 2024

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As someone who hadn’t returned to Fallout 76’s post-apocalyptic West Virginia since its troubled debut back in 2018, six years really has made quite the difference. Appalachia looks pretty dang gorgeous on modern systems, its reworked leveling and perks make for an extremely engaging grind, and in stark contrast to the lonely and depressing slog I endured last time, the world is actually filled with interesting NPCs to chat up – you know, like a Fallout game. Throw in all the new quests and activities that have been added, and you’ve got yourself a pretty robust multiplayer adventure filled with gore and silliness. That said, there’s still plenty Fallout 76 misses the mark on in 2024, whether it’s an endgame that’s fairly light on content, underwhelming jaunts into other areas of the Fallout setting, or an encumbrance and storage system that’s so irritating it’s practically a requirement to pay for a monthly subscription that eases the pain. I’ve still overwhelmingly enjoyed my time blasting ghouls into pink, irradiated meat chunks, though, and can easily recommend it to anyone who similarly felt a deep yearning for more Fallout after watching the recent TV show. Fallout 76 Gameplay Screenshots (2024)

Like the other 3D Fallout games, Fallout 76 is a goofy first-person shooter RPG where you explore a radioactive wasteland stuffed with disgusting monsters, complete harebrained quests that usually involve shooting and/or dismembering said monsters, and claim loot to fuel your badass survivor’s legend. Fallout 76 mixes up that playful and gory formula by letting your friends join your quest online, which comes with most of the advantages and drawbacks you might expect. A compelling story and the ability to make major decisions that impact it certainly take a backseat, but on the other hand, you get to fight giant, flying gargoyles with your buds while you all sing along to classic bops straight out of 1934. A compelling story and the ability to make major decisions that impact it certainly take a backseat. “ As a vault dweller, you emerge from the titular Vault 76 only 25 years after atomic warfare has left the world in tatters, at which point you are vaguely told to go and rebuild it or something. Instead, you’ll spend most of your time blowing it up even further with grenades, missiles, and even the odd atomic bomb while you run around completing errands foisted upon you by survivors, computer terminals, and constant pop-ups that recommend you do things like “kill the protestors” – typical heroic Fallout stuff. There are definitely some funny gags, wacky characters, and even the occasionally interesting bit of lore along the way, but Fallout 76 largely ditches the focus on story found in its single-player siblings in favor of letting you, your friends, and strangers tell your own stories in a big sandbox filled with ridiculous nonsense. That can be a lot of fun, though, and at least now there are non-robotic NPCs to talk to out in the world to make it feel more alive. (It’s still pretty wild to me that this wasn’t always the case!)

https://www.ign.com/articles/fallout-76-review-2024