For those who love a good post-apocalyptic FPS game, there’s no better choice than the Fallout franchise. Its disastrously bad Fallout 76 title aside, games like New Vegas and Fallout 4 are definitely worth picking up even years after their release. Thanks to a flourishing modding community as well, gameplay isn’t likely to get stale any time soon.
While Fallout 4 could be classified as a classic shooter game in many regards, it also brings some features to the table that most shooters typically don’t have. As a game, it’s difficult to give it a set classification. However, there are definitely reasons why Fallout 4 falls into the traditional shooter category, and why it’s actually something completely different and unique.
10 It’s A Shooter: Guns Are The Best Item
There’s no denying it: guns definitely reign supreme in Fallout 4. It’s evident the moment the Sole Survivor awakens from their cryogenic stasis. The first proper weapon the player will find is a small pistol, and from there onward they’re likely to find a wide variety of rifles and shotguns, whatever tickles their fancy.
Much of the combat revolves around guns in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Enemies, aside from ghouls and other monsters, will almost always prefer firearms over melee weapons. Explosives are a recurring theme as well, but are nowhere near as efficient as guns.
9 It’s Not: Character Customization
When thinking about traditional shooter games, these titles tend to place a lot more importance on the actual combat gameplay rather than any type of customization. Outside of maybe weapon customization, traditional shooters don’t usually allow for detailed character creation.
Fallout 4, however, has a pretty detailed character creation process. The amount of detail that goes into it proves that the game isn’t just focused on combat, but is about the character itself as well. In a regular shooter, characters don’t matter as much.
8 It’s A Shooter: Combat Is Huge
Despite all the other features that Fallout 4 does have, many players will still spend the majority of the game doing the exact same thing: shooting at targets. Each area has its own enemies, and it’s all a process of walking in, shooting and looting.
Moreover, unless specific perks are unlocked, completing the game without any combat whatsoever is practically impossible. Combat, and specifically firearm combat, is so central to Fallout 4 that it would be difficult not to classify it as a shooter simply based on that.
7 It’s Not: Emphasis On Survival
Life in the Commonwealth isn’t just about killing everyone on sight when they show a tiny bit of aggression. At the highest difficulty, another important gameplay steps in: survival. There are tons of other issues the player needs to tackle during their adventures, and the biggest is the environment.
Finding clean water, curing from radiation sickness, and using chems responsibly are just a few challenges that Fallout 4 introduces. If anything, the main purpose through the construction of settlements is to survive and eventually thrive in this new, damaged world.
6 It’s A Shooter: Great Aim Is A Plus
Anyone who’s ever played a shooter game will know that aiming is a vital part of those types of games. Having good aim will truly get a player ahead of their enemies, as will fast reaction time and environmental awareness. These are all the basic instincts of a shooter player.
A player in Fallout 4 will greatly benefit from excelling in aim, reaction, and awareness. Most major fights require quick reflexes and finding cover, as well as knowing when to peek or not peek. This is what makes the game so much like a traditional shooter.
5 It’s Not: Alternative Builds
While it’s true that guns hold a central position in Fallout 4’s gameplay, players don’t actually have to use guns to defeat the game. Other types of weapons are widely available, and with the right perks unlocked, they can be incredibly devastating.
Melee builds, for instance, are grossly underrated in Fallout 4. These builds include bats and maces as weapons, which deal a ton of damage at close range. While it might not win the fight against a sniper at long range, it’s still a completely valid way of playing the game.
4 It’s A Shooter: Call Of Duty Similarities
When comparing Fallout 4 to some of the most classic shooters out there, it quickly becomes evident that the game is perhaps much closer to being a shooter than players might even think. Call Of Duty is the foundation of most shooters, and a great example of what a classic shooter looks like.
Yet, the two games have many parallels. For one, weapons can be upgraded and modified, there’s a set arsenal of them, and characters can unlock different kinds of perks. This means that skill trees, which are generally associated with RPG games, can also be the sign of a shooter game. Fallout 4 definitely fits the bill.
3 It’s Not: Storylines & Choices
Fallout 4 has a very strong and emotional storyline that can’t be ignored, and doesn’t usually exist in games focused solely on combat and shooting. The Sole Survivor is on the search for their missing baby after witnessing the death of their significant other, a tragedy that drives them throughout their adventures.
There are many choices to be made in Fallout 4, which have far more impact than most combat scenarios. Saying the right thing and choosing the right side is so important and game-defining that if anything, this game just might be more of an RPG.
2 It’s A Shooter: The Weight Of V.A.T.S.
V.A.T.S. is the signature gameplay feature of Fallout 4. Essentially, this system allows the player to examine enemies, as well as target certain body parts of critical hits by using the action points. While it’s a cool and unique feature, it’s definitely something a shooter would have.
V.A.T.S. does have options for those with melee builds, but it’s a system that favors firearm combat the most. More specifically, it’s great for characters who rely on ranged sniper weapons and who want to take down their enemies quickly from afar.
1 It’s Not: Quests
It’s true that many shooters do have quests in them and some sort of a story, but those parts of the game don’t tend to be as well-developed as the combat itself. Fallout 4 has a pretty robust story, and the quests really make the game into what it is: an adventure.
Many quests require the player to complete missions that might not require any shooting at all. The final fight isn’t even necessary at times, if the player’s able to persuade the enemy to stand down. There are always alternative options to solving problems, including the peaceful way, which Fallout 4 offers for players.
