Major Concerns for Fallout 4

I’m just as excited about Bethesda’s Fallout 4 as everyone else. They’ve done a great job of marketing and advertising the crap out of this game, and it looks impressive to say the least. I have played Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, and I’m actually concerned about this sequel. With all the hype and expectations going on, I feel very cautious...like I shouldn't get carried away with all the buzz and excitement. Here are some concerns that I feel us gamers should have in regards to Fallout 4.

The Size

Everyone has heard the cliché bigger is better, but I don’t think this is true when it comes to Fallout 4. There are rumors and reports floating around the internet that this game will be three times bigger than The Elder Scrolls’s V: Skyrim’s map. Skyrim left me feeling happy knowing that there was plenty to explore and discover across the world. But something this size seems a little too big. So if you’re a person that likes to complete and acquire everything in a game (like I am), then good luck to you. With this enormous map, that may prove near impossible. I could also see a significant dip in how the game performs as you near the map size limit. Bethesda better have plenty for us to do so we don’t feel like we’re just walking aimlessly around everywhere. 

Have they learned from their mistakes?

In Fallout 3, there were glitches, mechanical hiccups, game freezes at random moments, and a few other problems as well. I noticed the same issues in Fallout: New Vegas. With all these advanced features, promises, and hardware going into the game, I’m a little worried that I’m going to have to deal with these problems all over again. I understand that these things in many ways are unavoidable, especially for open-world games, but if fewer issues during gameplay, the more forgiving I am when one does actually occur.

The Complexity

Fallout 4 boasts a lot about all the things you can do in the game. You can customize your character, weapons, armor, and even build and craft structures. There is also the unique combat style, the leveling up system, training a dog, and dealing with mods. While I’m familiar and can handle all of this (and I’m looking forward to it all), new gamers that are just trying to get into the series might feel overwhelmed. It is a steep learning curve that they must overcome to enjoy the game. This could cause a lot of frustration and a failure to acquire newcomers to the series. 

The release date itself

The final concern is the November 10 release date. When you think about the size of the game, the hardware involved, the multiple features, I can’t help but wonder if this game will be ready by then. With a lot games going out unfinished (Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Assassin’s Creed Unity come to mind), I’m worried that this game will follow suit. I don’t want a game that forces me to wait for patch updates.

While I have these concerns, I’m still going to buy the game on the release date. Bethesda is one of those companies that for the most part, hasn't let me down, so I’m placing my trust in them despite my concerns. I have no doubts that this game will be awesome. I just hope it is awesome from day one.