Alex "Raoom" Sukhanov War. War never changes. Humanity is incapable of fixing even the apocalypse. The new Fallout series from Amazon perfectly illustrates this. The adaptation of the legendary gaming universe into a TV show format has caused such a sensation that Bethesda's numbered games are showing record online numbers on Steam.
Has Amazon succeeded in transferring our beloved universe to the screens? Let's talk about it without spoilers and answer the question: "Is the Fallout series worth watching?" The author has spent hundreds of hours in the virtual Wastelands, has studied the adaptation, and is ready to share his modest opinion with you.
Todd Howard's Wastelands
Image: polygon.com
Todd Howard, the creator of almost all the 3D Fallout games, closely monitored the creation of the series, taking an active part in writing the script and filming. From this, we immediately conclude — if you are a big fan of the first two parts of the franchise and deny the existence of Bethesda's games, then the series is not for you.
What did we see in the world of the classic Fallout RPGs? Humanity had returned to the Stone Age, with utter hopelessness and decay everywhere. There was no civilization, only tribes and small settlements proudly calling themselves cities.
On the screen, we see something else. The project took a bit from Fallout 3, a lot from Fallout 4, and all this spiced up with a pinch of New Vegas. Bethesda's influence is felt here not only in the decorations but also in the narrative.
Image: steamcommunity.com
The Fallout series amazingly conveys the joyful madness of the 3D franchise. Yes, there are drama, philosophy, serious themes, but all this is mixed with the brand's humor, satire, and bloody spectacle. Here, characters engage in frank dialogue, revealing their souls to each other. The next moment "Bloody Mess" turns on with soothing jazz.
There are indeed many brutal, bloody scenes, as befits the Fallout universe. Fans will definitely like this, but we urge viewers who are sensitive and especially children to restrict their viewing.
A World Without Heroes
Image: imdb.com
Let's talk a bit about the characters. Don't worry, we carefully avoid spoilers.
The main action takes place in the year 2296. The nearest chronological point in the gaming universe was the fall of Shady Sands, which will also be mentioned in the story. Yes, especially dedicated fans already know what the plot will be about, but we won't reveal anything.
As is clear from the trailer, three main heroes set off on a journey. Lucy MacLean, a Vault 33 dweller, Maximus, a member of the Brotherhood of Steel, Ghoul Cooper Howard, a dog, just like from Fallout 4.
Image: x.com
You will follow their path yourself, but we cannot omit one notable detail that is very pleasing to observe during viewing — there is no absolute heroism here. The screenwriters have excellently conveyed the philosophy of this world. If you cannot kill, you will be killed. If you are kind to those around you, they will surely take advantage of it. Pride, vanity, cruelty, principledness, naivety — these traits belong not only to secondary characters but also to the main heroes.
The Aesthetics of Fallout
Image: youtube.com/@trailerspot4k
It's time to talk about what the world looks like in the series, and it's beautiful! Some canonical errors in the gaming universe have been made. We don't dispute this. For dedicated fans, such errors might be critical, but there is something in which the creators of the adaptation have worked almost perfectly — the aesthetics of the world and the attention to detail.
Costumes, locations, characters, and various small details are fully reproduced. If a character is injured, they pull out a Stimpak; fried iguana is sold on city streets, and raiders ubiquitously use Screw. The weaponry also corresponds to the gaming universe, with even a Junk Jet making an appearance!
Moreover, viewers will see how Ghouls become feral. This is very impressive.
The Wastelands
Image: youtube.com/@trailerspot4k
The surroundings of post-nuclear LA look decent. Viewers will see a destroyed metropolis, scorched deserts, survivor settlements, and even a Brotherhood of Steel base, but one cannot linger long in these locations. LA is only visible in the background, the Brotherhood of Steel’s center is depicted as a shabby village, and the desert is shown from different angles of the same location.
However, what personally touched the author was the Red Rocket gas station. Look at its beauty!
Image: reddit.com
In terms of locations, the series lacks grandiosity, and life on the surface looks sparse.
The Vaults
Image: youtube.com/@trailerspot4k
Here, Amazon can confidently be praised. The charm and cruelty of the Vault-Tec vaults are conveyed very effectively on screen. As expected, there is a stark contrast between the harsh life on the surface and the "peaceful" existence underground.
The series presents storages numbered 31, 32, 33 and 4, where everyday life is very different. We saw something similar in Fallout 3 when we grew up alongside our ward. We can confidently say that this is one of the best aspects of the film adaptation, though the first exit from the vaults is not impressive.
Life Before the War
Image: amazon.com
The introduction to Fallout 4 thrilled many fans. For a few minutes, it showed us life in America before the bombs fell. The series' script writers took this into account, so this period is given special attention in the adaptation. Again, the attention to detail is evident. Ostentatious luxury, the gleam of metal, smooth shapes, all set against the backdrop of a nuclear threat — retro-futurism at its finest.
It is particularly interesting to see how people thought before the war, to see their everyday life and attitudes towards the conflict. Of course, viewers will also witness the dropping of the bombs. Very cool!
Brotherhood of Steel
Image: amazon.com
We want to talk specifically about the Brotherhood of Steel. The series shows this maximally fanatical and conservative society in great detail. It's particularly interesting to observe the interactions between the knights and their squires. The squires are so devoted to their masters that they are ready for any madness. It's amusing to see a frail person hauling heavy equipment, while a giant in power armor walks empty-handed.
Power armor has become the most ambiguous detail of the project. The mechanism looks incredibly cool and inspires awe. The knight is endowed with incredible power, but without a loyal squire, they cannot service their armor. It seems right, but… Here the picture begins to fall apart.
Image: escapistmagazine.com
Power armor — a walking tank with absolute protection. However, we see how this invulnerability simply disappears. Even a cockroach is capable of gnawing through it! The series shows how heavy this thing is. The T-60 model weighs several tons, and its repair requires a special lift. What do we see on the screen? Multi-ton armor is laid on the ground, stood up, and carried around with relative ease by a single person using their own hands! How?! Honestly, it's painful to watch!
Impressions
Despite some misses, we can recommend the Fallout series to all fans of Bethesda's games. In our view, it is one of the best adaptations of a video games. This project takes a prestigious second place after The Last of Us. Amazon has managed to convey the aesthetics of the world through decorations, it's interesting to follow the characters' stories, and the plot acquires a very vivid character. The finale clearly tells us that there will be a continuation, and it's worth looking forward to.
It's also worth noting the phenomenal acting. All the main characters have hit their marks precisely, which makes them come to life. All this is topped off by an amazing soundtrack taken from the entire franchise.
Main image: Ensiplay
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