I just saw the Fallout 76 trailer. I know I'm three months late, but whatever. I'm honestly glad I stopped caring much about the game enough that I didn't know about the trailer's release in the first place, because phewie, this trailer just makes me not want to play Bethesda Fallout games anymore much more than I did before.
Just for reference, the specific trailer I'm referring to is this:
The major problem I have with that trailer is that it's seemingly much more focused on "building a community." Where's the story? Where's the RPG elements like choice and consequence? Granted, New Vegas' trailer hardly had that either, but this... heavy-handed advertising of "building a community" just seems so anti-Fallout, at least anti-the kind of Fallout I remember. It doesn't feel like Fallout at all. Feels like some glorified social sim. In fact, it feels a lot like Fallout 4, the part where you build settlements like it's The Sims. That was undoubtedly the worst gameplay Bethesda has brought to the franchise, and it's a disgrace to the first two Fallout games.
I think I'll give this a pass, unless future reviews put my doubts to ease. I've seen RPGs die before as they become commercialized (SWTOR comes to mind), and this seems like a textbook example. This game just looks so soulless and generic. Where's the edge and danger anymore? I mean, are we still playing Fallout or is this one of those Fortnite bullshit?
Anyway, I won't hold my breath for a decent Fallout 5 game. Good job, Bethesda. You're fucking up RPGs as always.