With the success ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, eyes are naturally turning towards other well-loved older Bethesda games. At the top of many people’s lists isFallout 3, which was Bethesda’s first foray into theFalloutfranchise, rebooting the series from a top-down, turn-based, isometric into something closer to a first-person shooter. But in order to compete with the success ofOblivion Remastered, there are particular issues anyFallout 3remaster would have to address.
As the first of Bethesda’sFalloutinstallments,Fallout 3was the testing ground for a lot of new ideasthat would be built upon in games that followed. WhileOblivion Remasteredhas faithfully recreated the original experience of adventuring in Cyrodiil, bugs and all, aFallout 3remasterwould need to see some more robust changes. From more fleshed out environments to Power Armor upgrades, here are some of the things any remaster would need to consider.
10Updated Graphics & Character Models
Overhaul The NPCs But Keep The Green
One of the most obvious changes to aFallout 3remaster would have to be its graphics and character models. First released in October 2008,Fallout 3looked amazing at the time, and I can still remember how real everything felt the first time I stepped out of the Vault to explore the Capital Wasteland. While there are elements that are still impressive, almost 17 years later, things are more than a little rough-looking, withmany of the character models in serious need of an overhaul.
One thing that I don’t think should change is the unique green hue that the game has. This is a somewhatcontroversialFallout 3feature, but one thatreally makes it stand out and lets other colors be used in bursts for storytelling. In my opinion, it also shows how badly irradiated Washington DC is compared with the rest of the United States, hammering home just how many nukes hit the capital.
9More Settlements & Locations
The Wasteland Felt Too Barren
One change that could veer into remake more than remaster territory would be toflesh out the Capital Wasteland a little more.Fallout 3, just like the originalOblivion, was constrained by what consoles of the time could accommodate. This meant much smaller file sizes than most modern games, which forOblivionmanifested in a very limited number of voice actors and forFallout 3, large areas of empty space in the environment.
Having some more settlements or points of interest to fill out the Capital Wasteland would allow for more environmental storytelling, whichFallout 4andFallout 76have excelled at. It would need to keep the balance between the bleak feeling of destruction, which should be present in allFalloutgames, and giving the gamea more realistic map for what was a major metropolitan area.
8Keep The Broken Steel DLC Ending
Preferably Without Being Called A Coward
AFallout 3remaster should take a cue fromOblivion Remasteredand include all its DLC as part of the game. ForFallout 3, this would includeBroken Steel, which drastically altered the ending of the original game, for the better. In the originalFallout 3ending, you, asthe Lone Wanderer, would need to be the one to go into the highly irradiated chamber to activate Project Purity, resulting in your death and the end of the game.
There is also an option to order Sarah Lyons into the chamber, which would also kill her and end the game.
Broken Steelallowed companions who were immune to radiation to be the ones sent into the chamber, such as Fawkes.The ending slides then slyly call the Lone Wanderer a cowardfor not sacrificing themselves and referring to the companion sent in as a “true hero”. A remaster should allow radiation-immune companions into the chambers, but perhaps lose the judgment this time.
7Update The Power Armor In Line With Fallout 4
Who Doesn’t Like Feeling Like A Walking Tank?
Few things are as synonymous withFalloutas the franchise’s iconic Power Armor. Over the years, how this powerful piece of equipment functions and is depicted has changed from game to game. InFallout 3,Power Armor looked and felt more akin to a suit of medieval knight’s armor, which covered the whole body but left the wearer still looking like a person in armor.
Fallout 4changed this,adding Power Armor frames that must be climbed into to emphasize just how powerful this piece of military hardware actually was. This makes far more sense for Power Armor, creating the feeling of being a walking tank capable of winning wars. Changing the Power Armor inFallout 3would also fit very nicely with how it is attained, as special training is needed for non-military personnel to allow them to use the complex and dangerous equipment.
6Allow Armor To Be Worn Over Clothes
Mix & Match For Great New Builds
Other armors inFallout 3could also benefit from being tweaked slightly to allow for more versatility.Fallout 4has options toallow armor pieces to be worn over certain items of clothing, and implementing this for aFallout 3remaster would be great. Armor inFallout 3currently works in a similar way to its Power Armor, as full pieces that work in place of clothing.
Meanwhile, clothing provides little protection but frequently increases stats and skills such as Agility or Speech.Allowing clothing and some armor to work together will not only allow some interesting buildsto be created but also open up more roleplay and customization options. Removing the underclothes from armors such as the combat or raider armor to fit over clothing would breathe new life into some of the great clothes on offer in the game.
5Ability To Modify Weapon & Armor
More Remake Than Remaster, But A Great Feature
Staying with armor and improvements fromFallout 4, I think a great inclusion to anyFallout 3remaster would be the ability to modify armor and weapons. Again, this might fall more into remake than remaster, but the modification system introduced in Fallout 4 was a great expansion of a feature that had been present sinceFallout 2. The ability totake any standard weapon and customize it completelyfelt very at home in theFalloutuniverse, and the make-do and mend attitude required to survive.
Fallout 4took this approach and also applied it to armor as well, allowing the Sole Survivor to tweak and alter everything from basic leather to Power Armor upgrades.These mods are a great way to use all the junk you inevitably end up collecting, and they’re a fun way to further customize characters during a playthrough.
4Sprinting Is A Must
Speed & Maneuverability Are Key In The Wasteland
One of the best improvementsOblivion Remasteredmade, aside from the graphics, was giving the Hero of Kvatch the ability to sprint. While it might sound strange to get excited over something so small,improved movement in any game where exploration plays a key role is vital. With the Dragonborn, the Sole Survivor, and now the Hero able to sprint at the touch of a button, the Lone Wanderer is getting left in the dust.
There are mods that allow for sprinting inFallout 3, but having such a basic function of modern games be part of a remaster is a must. It opens up new tactics in combat or evenallows you to escape dangerous enemies. Sprinting is also great when playing with a melee build, allowing you to close the gap more effectively or even barrel into opponents.
3Make Companions Essential
They Can’t Help In Combat If They’re Dead
Companions inFallout 3don’t play as huge a role as they do inFallout 4, and while they can be very useful to have around, they can also cause problems. Part of this, and the source of much frustration for me, is thatcompanions are not considered essential inFallout 3. This means that they are just as mortal as any other wandering NPC, and it is possible for them to die in battle.
This seems so silly to me, as they are there specifically to provide backup for the Lone Wanderer in combat. It’s hard to describe how bad I feel and how quickly I will load a previous save every time Dogmeat dies, despite his increased hit points fromBroken Steel.Making companions essential increases their usefulnessand also feeds nicely into my next suggestion.
2Give Companions Personal Quests
Add More Story To Fallout 3’s Companions
I think a wonderful addition to anyFallout 3remaster would be theinclusion of companion personal questsor even romances. While romance might be far down on the list for some, fleshing out companions more by giving them personal quests is somethingFallout 4did very well. Whether you love or hate a particularcompanion inFallout 4, they all stood out, and their quests were enjoyable and added to the overall experience.
Only two ofFallout 3’s eight companions have no karma requirement: Dogmeat and Charon.
There are not as many companions on offer inFallout 3, with only eight to recruit, but each of them is interesting enough that a personal quest would be more than welcome. This could thenbe developed further to offer rewards for getting to know them better, just likeFallout 4’s companion perks. Personal quests could also expand on the karma requirements for specific companions.
1Improved Combat Mechanics
Better Aiming Without VATS, Please
Finally, one change that every long-timeFallout 3player will be crying out for if a remaster is ever officially announced will be improved combat mechanics. Just as with the originalOblivion,Fallout 3’s melee combat leaves much to be desired, while ranged weapons can be just as frustrating to use. You might think that using a gun with sights would allow you to aim down them inFallout 3, but you’d be wrong, making targeting enemies at long-range hit-and-miss without using VATS.
Truthfully, anyFallout 3remaster would need to completely overhaul the lackluster combat system tomake it much more user-friendly and responsive, withFallout 4’s mechanics being the obvious starting point. This would include doing away with unblockable damage and improving perks to actually reflect a character’s proficiency with certain weapons.
