Fallout 5: How Could Bethesda Improve on the Gameplay of Fallout 4?
With E3 fast approaching, rumors continue to circulate about a possible Fallout 5. While it’s no done deal that Bethesda will make any such announcement, it is certainly possible. Fallout 4 released three years ago, and we know that Bethesda has two more games to be released before the next Elder Scrolls. It is likely that one of those will be Fallout 5.
Speculation on release dates and the game’s potential setting aside, Fallout 5’s success will hinge on whether Bethesda can innovate the series’ gameplay and adapt to compete with other open-world first-person shooters. When Fallout 3 released, such games were relatively rare. Now, however, the success of games like Far Cry 5 makes it all the more important for Bethesda to improve upon what has come before.
Combat and VATS
Ever since Fallout 3, the series’ combat has been intertwined with the VATS mechanic. The ability to pause combat and stack up shots against a target’s body parts was one of Fallout 3’s most original features; it has remained a series staple ever since. In Fallout 4, VATS was more integral than in past games, but the non-VATS combat was also more fluid. That being said, however, the combat mechanics alone fall short of those of more recent first-person shooters. Far Cry 5’s combat, for example, is much more active and streamlined in comparison. Fallout can make up for this deficit in other areas, but nevertheless, Fallout 5 will need to move with the times to keep the gameplay from feeling comparatively clunky.
Streamlining VATS would be one way to do that; making it easier to transition in and out of during combat without interrupting the flow of the action. On the other hand, Bethesda could also improve the game engine. Handling combat more actively, improving player mobility and accuracy, and making enemies respond more realistically to injury, especially in the case of VATS shots, would all be positive.
Companions
Bethesda greatly improved its companion system in Fallout 4 compared to the company’s previous games. However, the AI was certainly not perfect. Once again, Far Cry 5 proves an apt comparison in today’s market; Far Cry 5’s Guns for Hire are capable of doing a lot more than those who appear in Fallout. One feature that Bethesda may look at is allowing companions to revive the player. While not always reliable, the mechanic definitely saves time and can keep a bad mistake from forcing you to redo an entire encounter. Given the limited usefulness of some companions in combat, this feature gives players a good reason to keep one around.
Base-Building & Crafting
Fallout 4’s base-building and crafting mechanics were unexpected gems. Needing to scavenge for resources was perfectly in-tune with the setting. Base-building in particular allowed players to construct a space of their own in a way that no previous Bethesda game has ever allowed. Looking ahead to Fallout 5, it seems wise for Bethesda to lean heavily on these new features. Implementing the crafting elements which were added in Fallout 4’s DLCs, for example. Streamlining the process of constructing automated crafting systems could also be a positive step forward. Likewise, giving NPC settlers more roles or introducing more events to bases (such as enemy attacks) would also give players more reason to build and recruit.
Whatever Bethesda chooses to do, the announcement of a new Fallout title will dominate news if and when it comes. Bethesda will need to show that it can innovate with Fallout 5, however. New titles like God of War and Detroit: Become Human have set a very high bar for storytelling in games.