ZigzagPX4
The Swiftness of the Ranger
I got reminded of this thought of mines through one of the other posts here.
Fallout games tend to have one of the following. I'm not taking a sided view on "this company does this, this game does that" lest this thread degrades into an argument about that instead of my point.
or
Why, oh why, do we need to go all the way one way or another? Do I always need to be reminded that there's world to explore, fight to take back, and rebuild? People to save? And on the other hand, do I always need it shoved in my face that I'm standing in the grimdark apocalyptic future with no way forward other than to destroy each other in pursuit of pointless aims, again and again? Can we not have something balanced between the two? Something that reaches toward the light without letting go of the somberness? Fallout's tone has one requirement, IN MY OPINION. And that's that it takes places in a nuclear wasteland in a divergent timeline, as a result of an apocalypse caused by the hands of humanity. That's fine. I really don't think there should be an addiction to being dark, or heroic, all the time.
No, Fallout shouldn't always have an alien, somber, dead feel that seeks to invoke despair, strangeness, and a sense of an abandoned world. No, it shouldn't be bravery-filled epic tale of excitement. But the singular tone always end up giving me a single lingering feeling one way or the other, and in that sense it feels sort of empty.
Anyone have any good ideas on how a mix of tone could turn out better?
Fallout games tend to have one of the following. I'm not taking a sided view on "this company does this, this game does that" lest this thread degrades into an argument about that instead of my point.
- Harsh atmosphere
- Dark feel in exploration
- Realistic and cynical viewpoint on world
- Factions that have nothing but flaws
- Reminds you of death, destruction, hubris, mistakes, and failures
or
- Bright atmosphere
- Intense feel in exploration
- Hopeful and optimistic viewpoint on world
- Factions that are one-dimensional in aim
- Reminds you of potential, courage, action, and rebuilding
Why, oh why, do we need to go all the way one way or another? Do I always need to be reminded that there's world to explore, fight to take back, and rebuild? People to save? And on the other hand, do I always need it shoved in my face that I'm standing in the grimdark apocalyptic future with no way forward other than to destroy each other in pursuit of pointless aims, again and again? Can we not have something balanced between the two? Something that reaches toward the light without letting go of the somberness? Fallout's tone has one requirement, IN MY OPINION. And that's that it takes places in a nuclear wasteland in a divergent timeline, as a result of an apocalypse caused by the hands of humanity. That's fine. I really don't think there should be an addiction to being dark, or heroic, all the time.
No, Fallout shouldn't always have an alien, somber, dead feel that seeks to invoke despair, strangeness, and a sense of an abandoned world. No, it shouldn't be bravery-filled epic tale of excitement. But the singular tone always end up giving me a single lingering feeling one way or the other, and in that sense it feels sort of empty.
Anyone have any good ideas on how a mix of tone could turn out better?