Summary
The end of the world as humans know it is a fascinating concept game developers love to play around with, but only a handful have explored the Armageddon trope to the degree of success that Bethesda’sFallouthas enjoyed since its debut in 1997. Vaults are a big reason forFallout’s rise to stardomand subsequent dominance of the post-apocalyptic survival genre, and with every installment that releases, players look forward to uncovering the stories behind the human shelters through missions.Falloutgames typically begin in these environments, andFallout 5could look to some of the franchise’s most famous Vaults to kickstart its journey.
Opening missions can make all the difference for a video game, as gamers have increasingly little patience for slow starts and crave entertainment with guns-blazing action from the get-go. In this regard,Fallouthas tried to find a balance between easing its players into the rough climate of its Wastelands with sufficient combat entertainment, although a quick review of the starting quests inFallout’s history shows a mediocre reception to its efforts. With the wait forFallout 5dragging on and in the wake ofFallout 76’s disastrous launch campaign, Bethesda needs to change its opening formula to compete with other titles on the market and take inspiration from the franchise’s most exciting Vaults to openFallout 5’s curtains.
Unexplored Options in the Fallout Universe Could Be Perfect Starting Points
Right off the bat, a simple plug-and-play solution toFallout’s opening problems doesn’t quite line up with Bethesda’s innovative trend since only a few Vaults have appeared in more than one installment. In the canonical material, Vaults 13, 15, and 29 are the only shelters to rack up multiple features under the same name. It seems unrealistic to expect abreak from tradition withFallout 5, but a repeat feature as the starting point could be a boost.
Vault 63
Fallouthas had its fair share of conspiracy theories and potential Easter Eggs over the years, and Vault 63 is one of the newer fixations.Fallout 76’s perceived lack of depthwas a point of contention for gamers, a problem that was worsened by Bethesda’s decision to make Vault 63 inaccessible to its audience. The reasoning behind its removal fromFallout 76is still unclear, and there have been efforts and educated guesses from the fanbase to uncover its content.
The curious interest brought by its inaccessibility makes it an ideal choice to beginFallout 5. Judging fromFallout 76’s cut content, the shelter’s general ambiance would make for an excellent opening quest, from the creepy burn marks and piles of rubble in the atrium indicating a chaotic scene.
Vault 33
Every so often, TV adaptations of video games veer off-script from the source material to maintain a semblance of originality, andFallout’s upcoming seriesdoesn’t appear to be different. Although the Amazon show isn’t out yet, Vault 33 will feature in the series from the trailer, so it has become a topic of discussion. Vault 33 doesn’t exist in the canonical material, but it makes sense for Bethesda to include it inFallout 5after the visibility the TV series will bring the franchise.
Vault 33’s location is sure to make it a point of interest as the significance of its Los Angeles Boneyard site has implications for some of the New California Republic’s most prominent factions. While fans wait for the series' launch to learn more about Vault 33’s history, it has been speculated whether Bethesda would take the low-hanging fruit and bring the shelter into its franchise in future installments. As the developer seeks to avoid another launch debacle on the scale ofFallout 76, usingVault 33for its opening quest makes a lot of logical sense.
