I didn’t like 4, but couldn’t similar be levelled at 3 (which I love and is my favourite in the series) in that it’s kid looking for their dad, not quite as extreme but still
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
I feel like it's worse in 4 because of how heavily they lean into the main character's desperation about losing their son. It's all "Shaun! I have to find Shaun! MY BABY SHAUN HAVE YOU SEEN HIM PLEASE I'LL DO ANYTHING".
At least the silent protagonist in 3 lets you build your own headcanon.
I think, also, ultimately, the audience’s reaction doesn’t have to be “consistent”: find your lost dad didn’t irritate people in Fallout 3, find your lost son did in Fallout 4, the execution is part of why. (Also there is just the real thing of “you have no reason to believe your dad won’t be fine”)
It’s not just that the voiced protagonist is intermittently howling at your lost baby, it’s not just that “a baby is lost in the wasteland” just is a bigger deal than “your dad has fled into the wasteland”, also when you meet your baby again something terrible really has happened to them!
Kid looking for dad is very much an accepted universal story for coming of age. Losing your child is culturally coded as the worst possible thing that can ever happen and doesnt lend itself to fun side adventures
You're supposed to be beelining to Diamond City at the expense of all concerns (there are two separate things that put a permanent pin for Diamond City in your map within 2 hours of starting the game) and yet, at the same time, you meet two factions and get asked to do their quests.
It's that break between 'my son has been kidnapped, I must find him!' and 'Why yes, I will join the faction of the power armoured army who appear to have Legitimate Concerns'.
Even NV, great a game as it is, had The Road that you follow that leads you through the first act.
Comments
At least the silent protagonist in 3 lets you build your own headcanon.
It’s one where I think New Vegas it does make sense to be meandering the wasteland a bit, like ‘I’ll find the person who shot me one day’
Even NV, great a game as it is, had The Road that you follow that leads you through the first act.