The recentThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredhas proven to be a great success for Bethesda and Microsoft, leading many to wonder when the developer will tackle other classic games, likeFallout 3. Indeed, althoughBethesda has been responsible for some of the most iconicand successful western RPGs of all time, it’s not exactly a company known for its technical polish, so the benefits of sprucing up an older title, one that’s rough around the edges, are myriad.
Although Bethesda achieved success with the likes ofOblivionandMorrowindin the mid-and early-2000s,Fallout 3catapulted its popularity into the stratosphere. The game, which was a full-3D reimagining of the successful CRPG franchise by Interplay, was unlike anything that mainstream audiences had seen up until that point, with storytelling, atmosphere, and quest design that felt wholly refreshing to just about every demographic in 2008. But even for the time, its visuals were decidedly bland and, quite frankly, ugly, as were its character animations, and its overall performance left a lot to be desired as well. As such,Fallout 3could absolutely benefit from a modern remaster or remake ala Virtuos’OblivionRemasteredproject, and while there’s a lot of room for improvement, one specific mechanic needs to be first up on the operating table.
One of the biggestleaks relating toOblivion Remasteredahead of launch was a Bethesda release schedule, which also mentioned aFallout 3remaster. But much likeOblivion Remastered, Bethesda itself has remained tight-lipped about such a project.
If Fallout 3 Remastered Is Coming, Gunplay Needs To Go Under the Knife
Shooting Isn’t Fallout 3’s Strong Suit
Even the staunchest, most ferventFallout 3fans agree that it’s not a game prized for stellar shooting mechanics. This was among the most ubiquitous criticisms of the game at the time of its release, and the years certainly haven’t been kind in this regard:Fallout 3’s shooting is abysmalby modern standards, making it ripe for a redesign if Bethesda is indeed revisiting the game.
The addition of a few basic, conventional gunplay features would go a long way toward makingFallout 3’s combat less painful. The ability to aim down sights, for example, would bringFallout 3more in line with modern standards, as would common mechanics like the ability to sprint or mantle, as these would increase maneuverability during gunfights. Even one ofFallout 3’s original developers admits that combat could use a punch-up: writer Bruce Nesmith recentlycommented about the possibility of aFallout 3remaster, arguing that such a game would be wise to learn from the improvements Bethesda made to shooting inFallout 4.
Better Shooting Mechanics Would Make ‘Fallout 3 Remastered’ a Sight To Behold
Nesmith may think that aFallout 3remaster should live up toFallout 4’s standards, but why stop there?Fallout 4marked a big improvement for Bethesda’s shooting mechanics, no doubt about it, butStarfieldfurther improved in this area; aFallout 3remaster or remake should striveto be at least as well-crafted asStarfieldin the shooting department, if not better.
Fallout 3with modern, sharpened shooting systems, whether that be by virtue of more intuitive controls, added features, or just better all-around gamefeel, would be incredible. The 2008 original is one of Bethesda’s best-ever RPGs, with atmosphere and writing that haven’t been matched since, but its gunplay was weak even by the standards of the time. To put a fine point on it:Fallout 3’s strengths still hold up today, so if its shooting can be brought up to par, then “Fallout Remastered” could easily compete with even the best modern RPGs.
Fallout 3
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