Summary
Potential remakes of the originalFalloutgames have been a subject of conversation for years, but there’s already a better place to look than anything thatFalloutlicense holder Bethesda Game Studios might bring to the table. Originally released in 1997 and 1998, the first twoFalloutgames introduced the world to the harsh but darkly humorous wasteland of a post-nuclear America. While these titles were respectively developed by Interplay Productions and Black Isle Studios, Bethesda brought the franchise back in a big way withFallout 3, and many fans have fallen in love withFalloutthrough its recent entries.
Fallout 1and2are still great games today, but jumping into them after playing the modern games can be a big adjustment. An isometric style and complex mechanics present a very different experience from the first-person approach that Bethesda took, even if the flavor of the world is immediately familiar. Although mastering their strategic RPG elements can be incredibly rewarding, it’s not something that appeals to everyone, and getting to experience those stories in an updated format is a reasonably common request.
Fallout Games In Order & Which Order You Should Play Them In
The Fallout series can be intimidating, but there’s one path to take that makes it easy to get invested in the post-nuclear world of the wasteland.
A Fan Project Has Potential As A Fallout 2 Remake
Project Arroyo Is Doing What Bethesda Won’t
Anyone hoping that Bethesda might take a crack at updatingFallout 1and2would do best to give up on that notion, as Bethesda executive producer Todd Howard has confirmed that the studio has no plans to do so. As reported byVGC, YouTube creatorMrMattyPlaysbroached the subject in a recent interview with Howard, who quickly shot the idea down. Howard established thatthe priority regarding the original games is simply to have them available and playable on modern platforms, expressing concern that remaking them in Bethesda’s style could “paste over” some of the original charm.
The lack of an official Bethesda treatment doesn’t mean that there won’t be any updated way to play the games, however, and the extensive creative community surrounding the games can offer the perfect alternative. Afan-madeFallout 2remakeis currently in the works under the name ofProject Arroyo, with around 100 developers on the game.Project Arroyois being built inFallout 4’s version of the Creation Engine, a famously mod-friendly engine first used forThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
10 Fallout 4 Mods That Make The Game Feel Like The Fallout TV Show
Whether it’s realistic character models or environmental adjustments, these mods make Fallout 4 feel more like Prime Video’s TV series.
Although there’s still a lot of work ahead forProject Arroyo, a finished release might be a better option than an official Bethesda remake ofFallout 2for a number of reasons. The most obviously attractive one is thata fan-made project won’t cost any moneyto play, withProject Arroyolead Damion Daponte referencing the free Steam release ofSkyrimmodEnderal: Forgotten Storiesas an inspirational model. Bethesda tends to be supportive of fan projects as long as they don’t attempt monetization outside theofficial Bethesda Creations platforms, so gettingProject Arroyoon Steam might be possible.
Bethesda Isn’t Well-Suited To Making Fallout Remakes
The Studio Has Changed A Lot Over The Years
The best argument in favor of fan-madeFalloutremakes might come from looking at Bethesda’s recent games, which have struggled to reach the roleplaying heights that theFalloutseries is known for.Starfield’s mixed reception is the most striking example, butFallout 4’s simplification of elements like dialogue interactions is damning in its own right. These games have their own strengths, but they aren’t the strengths that made people fall in love with the classicFalloutgames, and Bethesda might be less suited to remaking them now than ever before.
Latest Starfield Controversy Is Sadly Repeating Bethesda History
Although new announcements and content for Starfield should be exciting, Bethesda has unfortunately managed to dredge up a repeating controversy.
Comparing something like Bethesda’s 2002 gameThe Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowindto their modern titles, it’s especially obvious how much the studio’s priorities have shifted. Weird, rich atmospheres, fascinating lore, and real repercussions have been increasingly sidelined in favor of more dynamic combat, clarified quest structure, and the addition ofsystems like settlement building.The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, Fallout 3, andSkyrimall sit at points along this path that balance these goals in reasonably strong ways, but at this point,it’s difficult to imagine that the studio’s take on the originalFalloutgames would recapture their greatness.
Even when it comes to Bethesda’s best games, community involvement has played a big part in making them as great as they can be. VeteranFallout 3andSkyrimplayers on PC tend to think of modded versions of the games as the primary experience, and community creations forStarfieldare already addressing a number of the newest title’s major problems. The originalFalloutgames had their own share of bugs, with community fixes serving once more to improve the experience, but the odds of a stable release might be higher in the hands of a talented mod team.
The Original Fallout Games Are Great Without Remakes
Fallout 1 & 2 Hold Up As Engaging Experiences
There’s still no guarantee thatProject Arroyowill live up to its potential, but even if it doesn’t, the original games will always be worth taking out for a spin.Baldur’s Gate 3recently showed how isometric games can still capture the attention of RPG fans, and althoughFallout 1and2aren’t quite as accessible, they could be great ways to follow up that experience.Anyone who loves the flavor ofFallout: New Vegaswill find more of it inFallout 1and2than in any of Bethesda’s titles, and remakes would stand a chance of diluting that style.
UnlikeFallout 3and4,New Vegaswas developed by Obsidian Entertainment, essentially a successor studio toFallout 2developerBlack Isle.
To Bethesda’s credit, it seems like Todd Howard more or less agrees on this point, with the unique qualities of the original games serving as his main reason for dismissing remakes. Considering how common remakes have become, it’s nice to see someone acknowledge that implementing modern game design isn’t always a default improvement. If there is any legitimate potential in the idea of remaking classicFalloutgames, however,Project Arroyomight be the best chance to see how much a modern version could bring to the table.
