Fallout 76: Nuclear End

There was a bit where I didn't record what happened in 76. Truth be told, it was a bunch of repair and fetch quests for the Free States. I started to become a bit disengaged from the game after this point. I was still enjoying myself, but the story had become mundane, even with the promise of being able to launch a nuke.

Back to the moment at hand:

The Free States didn't have enough computing power, so I impersonated a US senator, hacked into government servers, and (accidentally) got the attention of a mysterious AI named MODUS. MODUS led me to the Whitespring. This is where I'm now at. in the basement of the Whitespring on the doorstep of a secret US bunker.

As I explore the bunker I learn the AI pulled a GLADOS and gassed the prior inhabitants. However, /I/ would be so lucky to be on MODUS' good side. He explained he was the central computer of the Enclave, a secret organization meant to preserve humanity. There are a few unsettling things that seemed to go on down here, but ultimately it really was the US government's command hub over Appalachia.

Now MODUS wanted me to prove I was worthy of using the Enclave's network. So he had me run some errands, and upload him into some remote networks to expand his power.

So I exited the bunker and began the task of becoming an Enclave officer.

During this task, I found a few unsettling things, one of which was a terminal STRONGLY suggesting we were in a simulation. It didn't lead anywhere though.

Once getting MODUS connected and trust gained, I gained access to Appalachia's nuclear silos. I started fighting my way solo through the silo's defenses, when another wanderer came thru and helped me out. It was for the best because there were a LOT of robot manufacturing devices and they kept spewing out. Eventually we fought our way thru to the control center, defended the robot key-carriers and launched a nuke into the Scorch beast nest.

Entered the nest, killed some remaining scorch beasts and then....game over. Well not /really/ game over. We learn the the Scorch bests were man-made, though not intended. The hive-mind of the beasts is supposed to be broken, but you don't notice it. (Lets just assume it takes a few years.)

There was still a lot of side quests and exploring to do. I uncovered the mystery of Nuka Cola putting radioactive materials in their beverages. Visited Uncanny Caverns and learned about the cave-boy.

I unlocked a hidden cache to find an alien pistol and what looked like a cryo machine, but could not look inside. I discovered the cult of the moth-man and found an intriguing, yet dead monstrosity, lying there, unexplained. This was probably the greatest mystery of them all.

Stumbled upon a cargobot mating ritual, a smart dog, a skeleton catapult and vault 96, sealed of course.

Exploring, finding interesting sites and repeat. This became the norm of the game. I tried the 'multiplayer experience', teaming up and such, but I didn't enjoy it as much as exploring solo.

I think that's what much of Fallout 76 boils down for me. A game of exploring this uncharted world, making your mark, and discovering the secrets of the past. Yet with the bugs and just 'unfinished' feel of the game, I think I'll put the game down for now and wait for Bethesda to give the game a good 'ol iron-out. 76 wasn't the shit-storm the reviews made it to be. Yes it was different from other Fallout games. Yes Bethesda should have spent another 6 months making sure it was finished. But at it's core, its a fun game of discovery and wonder. I got lost in the game, forgetting even to take screenshots to help document my journey.

Overall I'd say 76 is a 7/10, with the score hopefully going up in the future.