Fallout

The synths in FO4 always seemed like a random boogeyman, apart from a few jump scares and fights that doesn't really matter, they don't seem to be that scary.

The entire institute thing about replacing people with synths is just dumb, they already have synth birds to spy on the commonwealth, why replace people at all? Better to just introduce new people with less risk of detection

Yep! That was my take.

Spoilers: when one of your followers discovers they were secretly a synth, it wasn't a big realization. It was like, "Yeah okay so imma go explore over there and kill some more super mutants. You wanna come and carry my burden or nah?"

Bethesda just can't seem to nail strong consistent storytelling. At least not compared to Rockstar, or dare I say it, Ubisoft. Which is weird because their DLC, like Shivering Isles/Tribunal & Blood Moon, and Far Harbor were pretty good in the story department.

I get creepiness with headphones on. Even non noise cancelling ones. I'm using Soundcore Aeroclips and it's incredibly fun and spooky. Also, turn the radio to classic or off for the creepiest experience.

Far Harbour was the best part of the game; actually felt like a real RPG instead of a themepark

quick-save game.

Not if you play survival mode, the only way to play 4.

If you save-scum then that is on you for not knowing how to play a role-playing-game.

Making non-optimal choices is part of the gameplay to weave better stories.

That's exactly what I was thinking. At no point do I ever see the synths being a problem. By default they're strictly driven by the institute and have no autonomy, on their own they're literally a slave class vying for freedom. No one ever turns on you, no one ever betrays you, every single character you encounter is exactly honest about who they are and whether or not they're good people.

If they wanted a sense of paranoia, they should have had encountera where you're attacked by doubles of your recently dismissed party members, or characters with more than one dimension.

the good synth plot is in FO3.

"Another settlement needs your help! I'm too busy walking in circles around Sanctuary"

If raiders are using the corvega assembly plant as a base for the third time this play session, maybe we should take over that as the settlement instead of Outpost Zimonja, Preston.

My wife had a custom birthday card made for me with the Minutemen logo and "Happy birthday! Another settlement needs your help!"

>Yes
     >Yes, but angry
>No, but eventually yes.

I think you’re right that the tech doesn’t connect to anything else. You just have to believe that the Institute existed and developed in relative isolation underground, with a lot of great science minds inventing things. In that way, it actually makes sense that synth tech isn’t connected to anything else. But I still agree that thematically, it’s kinda off. Nuclear power in everything down to motorcycles… that’s on-theme. Artificial humans indistinguishable from the real thing? That’s different. Still, I’m okay with different.

Nah, it fits. The aesthetic isn't pure retro futurism. There was a healthy amount of later sci-fi mixed from the start with the body horror of the master and super mutants. That sort of stuff feels more 80s than 50s or 60s. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was written in 68 and Blade Runner was made in 82. That mix of both old and new sci-fi is part of what makes Fallout such an interesting setting.

It's strange that you take exception to the one aspect that is most likely. You're apparently okay with super mutants, death claws, ghouls, and giant bugs, etc. but not robots?

It's 200 years in the future, and the Institute has continued development that whole time, it fits perfectly because it's future tech. It was just developed in secret.

I think it fits pretty well

I prefer the mostly serious tone of the first two games. It makes the goofy elements contrast much better. If it's all goofy I don't really think the jokes land - kinda like in Borderlands.