But you're never locked out of parts of the game just because you went on an ill-fated killing spree or stole some potions when a shopkeeper has his back turned. Skyrim makes you pay for doing the wrong thing by putting bounties out for you if you get caught wantonly stealing or murdering. The thing is, when you compare Fallout 3 to Skyrim, you realize that Skyrim's lack of a cohesive morality system gives you more options while removing the need to play a certain way just to keep up the guise of consistency.įallout+4+shouldn't+be+held+back+by+a+static+morality+system. And there's certainly a place for that, especially in those titles that place a distinct emphasis on exploration and non-linearity. With Bethesda undoubtedly preparing to look ahead towards its next project, what lessons can the studio take directly from Skyrim? Here are five things Skyrim did well, lessons that Bethesda should consider as it crafts Fallout 4.įallout 3 is one of those games that keeps you firmly tethered to the choices you've made. After all, while Fallout 3 is one of the great games of this generation, Skyrim looks, feels and runs a whole lot better. The company constantly iterates and learns from the mistakes of previous games, coming out stronger with each new effort. What+can+Skyrim+teach+Bethesda+moving+forward?

And they're both immensely meaty adventures that require scores and scores of hours to see and do everything. They both place an emphasis on non-linearity and on crafting the exact character that caters best to any player's preferences. But there are many similarities between the two franchises.įallout and Skyrim are both open-world, sandbox RPG games with an identifiable Bethesda style. Unlike the quasi-medieval fantasy Skyrim, Fallout is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Chances are Bethesda Game Studios' next project will be Fallout 4, its much-anticipated follow-up to 2008's smash-hit (and IGN Game of the Year) Fallout 3.

Topographical map of skyrim