Bethesda kick-started E3 2015 with an incredible presentation, showcasing Fallout 4, Doom, and more – let’s take a closer look!
Fallout 4 – Rockin’ in the Free World
Freedom really does seem to be the key word with the next instalment in the Fallout series. The gameplay Bethesda presented was stunning to say the least, with the nuclear-scorched world we know so well now rendered in amazing new-gen graphics. The company’s head of marketing, Pete Hines, and game director, Todd Howard, revealed that Fallout 4 has actually been in development since 2009 – it seems they jumped straight into this as soon as Fallout 3 was out the door.
Bethesda promise that players can enjoy an unparalleled amount of freedom in this instalment, with both little and big changes combining to make a huge difference to previous instalments: players can leave encounters at any point, and kill any character without affecting the game’s ability to tell its story (it’ll be interesting to see how far this can be pushed).
However, most exciting are the new weapon-crafting and defence-building elements: players can now cobble bizarre-but-kick-ass weapons together using bits and pieces found out in the wastelands of Boston – this will allow for a vast range of creations unique to each player. Players can also take materials and slap them together into a settlement, creating their own little home – but it doesn’t end there: planting food, digging for water, and installing power generators is all key to surviving. Gun-turrets can also be erected to defend against attacks (those pesky raiders again!).
Fallout 4’s story also starts in a pre-atomic-war world (as last week’s trailer suggested), showing us how life was before it all went to ruin – the player’s character then wakes in a vault two centuries later, to find they are the only soul left alive in their entire underground community. This should be a refreshing new angle, and help to expand the series’ lore a little bit farther. On top of all this, with 1,000 of today’s most popular names recorded for in-game dialogue and effects, most players will also get to hear their own names spoken throughout the game.
As if all of this wasn’t enough, Bethesda announced that a completely free mobile game (with no paywall timers or online-connectivity demands) went live on the App store yesterday. Titled Fallout Shelter, this is a neat little game that puts players in charge of their own vault, allowing them to build and maintain it well enough to ensure all of its inhabitants stay happy and productive.
Doom – Splatter-fest!
Yikes! This definitely seems to be the most likely first reaction for anyone watching Doom’s gameplay footage. By putting the series’ most fundamental elements – Hell, gun-toting monsters, Mars, blood, and big fire-power – through a modern filter, Bethesda may have another winner on their hands.
The fast-moving, gore-heavy footage showcased stunning visuals, frightening enemies, and new close-quarters combat: by getting within grabbing-range of a bad guy, players can now deliver a killing strike rather than simply blasting away. The atmosphere definitely seems to be as dark and foreboding as in previous games, with just one man against the hordes of Hell in nightmarish surroundings. The series’ beloved chainsaw also makes a comeback, allowing players to slice-and-dice with stomach-churning results.
The ‘Doom Snapmap’ was also announced – this is an in-game level editor that lets players create maps and tweak the game’s rules on the go: this can then be played immediately, or shared with fellow gamers across the globe. Multiplayer was mentioned, but is expected to be revealed in greater detail at a later date.
Dishonored 2 – Stealthy Steampunk Action
When Dishonored was released in 2012, it picked up several awards, received all-round great reviews, and was a top-selling title. Since then, a sequel has been largely expected, but Bethesda officially revealed it yesterday with a new trailer.
Set ten years after the previous game, this allows players to switch between two characters: Corvo Attano (the first game’s protagonist) and Emily Kaldwin – the child Corvo protected last time. Both will have unique powers, and can engage in the same cunning stealth and exciting sword-play.
The Elder Scrolls Legends – Mobile Digital Cards
The Elder Scrolls Legends was shown in more detail at E3, and looks set to be Bethesda’s own version of Blizzard’s Hearthstone. As a free-to-play strategy card game set in the world of The Elder Scrolls, this will definitely have its fans, but many people will likely want to see more of it in action soon. This will be available on the PC and iPad later this year.
So, all in all, a great start to E3, with plenty of fantastic titles to look forward to in the next year!
