Fallout 4, despite being reviewed favorably by critics, was incredibly polarizing among players upon release. On one hand, it vastly improved upon Fallout 3’s and New Vegas’ shooting mechanics, and the introduction of settlements paved the way for Fallout 76’s base-building systems. On the other, its role-playing elements were stripped back considerably, dialogue choices were more ambiguous, and it was more akin to an open-world, single-player shooter than a true RPG.
Looking back, there’s one area where Fallout 4 improved upon its two predecessors but didn’t get the plaudits it deserves: power armor. In Fallout 3 and New Vegas, power armor is treated like any other piece of armor or clothing. It can be equipped whenever the player likes from their inventory, and wearing it has next to no drawbacks, except for the fact that in plenty of circumstances, other types of armor are more beneficial. That’s a little nonsensical for what is essentially a wearable robot with extreme strength, don’t you think?
Fallout 4, on the other hand, treats power armor like a vehicle — as it should. There are a limited number of power armor suits in the game, and you cannot store power armor in your inventory. Once you exit the suit, that’s where it remains until you fetch it again. When your power armor takes damage, you can only repair it if it’s docked in a power armor station. And to use the power armor itself, it requires fueling with a fusion core.
Not only that, but when you’re inside power armor, you feel unstoppable. One of the game’s earliest quests, “When Freedom Calls,” has you fetch a power armor suit from the roof of a nearby museum and take on a ferocious deathclaw with it. Very quickly, you realize this thing’s true potential. With a minigun in hand and the ability to jump from any height, stomping your big ol’ metal boots around as you go, it’s a proper power fantasy.
Reworking Fallout 3 and New Vegas to include this style of power armor should be a no-brainer, especially since this is also how the iconic suit is portrayed in the Amazon Fallout television series. We see Brotherhood of Steel squire Maximus struggle to become one with the armor due to its weight and unwieldiness, but once he does, he’s a force to be reckoned with. And since there’s a strong chance the Fallout game currently in development at Obsidian Entertainment is Fallout New Vegas 2, that will likely pull in plenty of new fans from the show. It makes sense to ensure every upcoming Fallout game follows suit, even the remasters.
