The purchase of Zenimax Media (and therefore Bethesda) recently passed the last ongoing process, the approval of the European Union’s Antitrust Commission. This now puts (almost) all of the original parents of the franchise under the Microsoft mantle. Fall. Taking advantage of this fact, we wanted to bring you this special on the first installment of the saga. But before Who are these Fallout “fathers” we’re talking about?
For those who don’t know, Fall, the now well-known Bethesda franchise, he was originally created, by Brian Fargo. The founder of inXile Entertainment is currently working on Wasteland, then we will also come back to this other title. On the other hand, IThe first 2 installments were developed by Black Isle, whose former employees founded Obsidian Entertainment. Those who have also developed what is for many the best 3D opus of the saga, Fallout: New Vegas.
From a sequel to a not-so-new IP
The gestation of the original Fallout was not easy. Brian Fargo at first, did not want to create a new franchise, on the contrary, the intention was to make a sequel to one of his early works Wasteland Have you ever noticed how the two universes look alike? However, the original video game by Wasteland It was distributed by Electronic Arts, retaining the rights. According to rumors at EA, they weren’t for the job, or to help get a sequel to a game they said wouldn’t work in sales, or on the contrary to relinquish the license.
Despite EA’s refusal, Brian Fargo and Black Isle didn’t give up on the idea, but decided, from the same base, to create a new video game. This new game, despite clear similarities with WastelandHe had enough personality to stand out at the end of 1997.
War, war, it never changes
I still remember as if it was yesterday, the first time I played on my Pentium 166. A friend lent it to me, telling me that “I could go where I wanted, talk to who I wanted and kill who I wanted” And of course back then, for a young and impressionable mind like mine, that said a lot.
From 1997 to today, all the sections of the saga have opened with this already mythical “war, war never changes …” but I still tremble with emotion when I remember the first time I saw him. It wasn’t just any game, it wasn’t the typical family game I was used to at the time, nor an empty action game where you end up with all your enemies without further ado. It was an adult game and a game with a deep story.
You are special
The original Fallout (radioactive dust in Spanish) takes place in Southern California (United States) in 2161. In a post-apocalyptic future, where the planet was devastated after a nuclear war that faced China and the United States, to get the last supply of fossil fuels, does anyone else remember Mad Max ?. This is no coincidence, since it is another of the sources of inspiration recognized by the creators, both for the design of the characters, and for the creation of one of the mythical characters of the saga, our dog. beloved Meatball.
In PC exclusivity to this day, the first thing we had to do as a good ROL game was to create our own character. For this, the game presents us with a very detailed screen of attributes, skills, characteristics … in the purest style of Dungeons and dragons. In character creation, the most original section, and the one that has transcended the most over the years, has without a doubt been the SPECIAL
Through 7 characteristics each identified by its initial, S (Strength), P (Perception), E (Endurance), C (Charisma), I (Intelligence), A (Agility), L (Luck) we could sketch our character in a simpler and faster way than with the classic pencil and paper games and therefore quickly go on an adventure.
A special technical section
Even with his successes, it is still a game of his time, and the years have not gone in vain for him. Its aerial view was shared by many other role-playing classics of the time, such Diablo, Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights… but for those who are now approaching the saga, it is clear that it is a heavy burden. On the other hand, the presentation of their dialogues with a clear menu loaded with options, very similar to what we now see in The Outer Worlds, is still beautifully preserved, and helps us enter into a story that is still wonderful today. ‘hui.
For its part, the combat, slow and tactical, will already pose a small challenge to us from the rats that we find in the first cave of the game. Where we have a limited number of action points to move, attack or even access our inventory. Something that a current analysis would undoubtedly penalize.
Half a success
When the game finally hits the market the reception was very good, especially from the critics with exceptional ratings, but not so much from the public. And that’s it, barely exceeded half a million units sold worldwide. Far from the more than 3 million Final Fantasy 7 o Pokémon that same year. However, they were sufficient to accommodate a suite barely 1 year later.
And the rest, we all know, Bethesda got the IP Yes took it to a new level of popularity by bringing it closer to the mainstream by increasing the action and changing the view in first person. All of this to later make it a living meme with one of the most controversial online games to be remembered with. Fallout 76. A long way, until we get to the present moment where everyone is back under the huge umbrella that is Xbox Game Studios. And in the future? At the moment, in Game Pass we can already play the last 3 episodes of the saga, and surely many and very good games will come and we will be here in AreaXbox to tell you more.
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