Fallout 76: Wastelanders Review

In addition to introducing fully voiced NPCs to the world of Fallout 76, Wastelanders brings a brand-new main questline, new locations, new enemies, new weapons, a new reputation system and much more.

The 60+ hours worth of new and refreshed content is definitely a step in the right direction after the base game’s troubled launch and enhances the existing shoot and loop formula well. While some technical problems persist, the way the team has handled the expansion has given much needed life into the wasteland that can only be further improved upon with subsequent updates. The bulk of Wastelanders’ new story-centric quests are definitely better played solo, but the new events, daily quests and discoverables that come with the update are equally as fun to experience with friends old and new, and signify a brave new direction for the online title going forward.

Wastelanders gives to the longtime Fallout lovers an experience way more similar to the series they always knew. Unfortunately, the overall experience it still is plagued by bugs and Creation Engine looks and feels as outdated as ever.

Wastelanders represents a small revolution for the general enjoyment of Fallout 76, a return to the classic canons of the saga that opens up new and interesting perspectives on the future of the title. A year and a half after the game’s release, Bethesda has finally followed up on the audience’s demands by implementing a long series of substantial changes that significantly alter the game’s narrative balance.

Fallout 76 has improved with the introduction of Wastelanders. The region of West Virginia now feels more alive with an increased populace, deeper quests and a greater focus on your place in its living, breathing world. But many of its problems remain, and haven’t been improved with such a major expansion. Far few players occupy each session, making multiplayer feel like a lazy afterthought instead of something that defines the experience.

Playing solo can still be entertaining, but the moments of loneliness hang over the player like a cloud while they’re traveling from point A to point B. In the end, it comes down to personal preference — some will enjoy the solemn journeys found in Appalachia, while others will only play when friends are online, but even without them, the Wastelanders update is a step in the right direction.

The Wastelanders update at least solidifies Fallout 76 as something that’s worth recommending to series fans who are interested in multiplayer. The new storyline is great, but not as easy to play with friends as it should be.

Wastelanders transforms Fallout 76 from a technical and conceptual disaster to a merely flawed online experience, which has a far better online community than it deserves.

I brought Fallout 76 on ps4 one month before this expansion, right now i’ve more than 100 hours of play. I started playing Fallout on pc in ’90 and Fallout 3 for me was a little trauma; I read a lot of angry review of Fallout 76 saying that this is not a real Fallout game and it’s true: is not an isometric turn based rpg.

To be honest in Fallout series we have: 2 isometric turn based rpg, 1 isometric tactic shooter, 1 action isometric rpg/shooter, 3 modern rpg single player and Fallout 76. Can we really discuss about what is a “standard” Fallout game ?

In more than one month i didn’t find any game breaking bug, the online experience is fluid and like any Fallout game you are free to explore and eventually die if you go in the wrong direction.

The graphic, might seem “old” but when you find certain ( huge ) structures and you see in real time an atomic explosion at the opposite part of the map… is not pre-calculated: another player dropped a bomb and you can literally see it.

The game ( before Wastelanders ) will not help you: you’ll have to struggle until you’ll reach higher level and unlock the right perks ( yes your initial SPECIAL points will be 1111111 and you’ll have to survive until you’ll get strong enough )

And now the Wastelanders part, I played and helped some friends that brought Fallout after this expansion.

For new player Wastelanders will be the only starting quest: is more progressive than the original one and in my opinion help the new players to not lose themselves in the first hours of play.

For the old players is a revolution: the world came up to life; all the location have new quests, new npc, new enemies.

The thing that impressed me more of this “dlc” is that is not a simply add-on: the world has been re-defined.

Anyway Fallout 76: Wastelanders is giving me the same feelings of the first Fallout I played on pc.

I avoided this game at launch because well, we all know why. But when Wastelanders dropped and I read about it, I said sure, used copies cost next to nothing. Worth a shot. I’ve now sank 100+ hours and sold several friends on it. Sure, it still has some weird bugs here and there, but it’s far more functional than games like Red Dead Online. Nothing really game breaking. Just weird stuff will happen every so often. Appalachia is by far my favorite Fallout map. It’s beautiful to look at. Appalachia is home to me in RL. So all of the folk lore incorporated in this game is just stuff we’re all familiar with here at home. Pepperoni rolls and Wendigos baby! Either way, I’ve played every Fallout to date and I’d say this is the only one in league with New Vegas. I think Wastelanders is a considerably better effort than FO3 or 4. They really turned this turd into something great.