After 25 years of exploring the world of Fallout, players have discovered nearly every inch of this immersive reality. From caps to weapons to synths abound, there has been a lot to explore.
Some fans, however, have stumbled across a few hidden details that most Fallout players never notice. Many have taken to fan forums to share their discoveries, and through that have found that the games are more detailed than anyone had ever really realized. What are the most interesting secrets that gamers on Reddit have uncovered within the Fallout franchise?
Comments on Armor
In many games that allow for character customization, the character's look will be utterly ignored by the world around them. Fallout isn't one of those franchises. In fact, in Fallout: New Vegas, characters will explicitly spell out a reaction to a player's costume.
"[Legate] Lanius will comment regarding your armor depending on what faction d armor it is," says Reddit Stormspear. It's a very nice touch, especially since it adds an element of realism to the world, given that a player's decisions really will impact the world around them.
Irradiate a Hill
Fallout is a franchise that depends on the concept of a world ravaged by radioactive, well, fallout. Of course, that sometimes means that players can actually use radioactivity as a weapon. "I found out that in Cottonwood Cove up a mountain, you can drop a lot of radioactive barrels and irradiate anything in the area," says Redditor mlgisawsome02.
It's something only a diehard fan would know about Fallout, but that makes it all the more impressive. Developers putting that much effort into a strategy that few players will ever notice is always irable, and it really shows in Fallout.
Free Loot in a Makeshift Shelter
Part of the fun of Fallout is scavenging for both food and the best video game currency — caps. So Fallout often has surprising stashes in strange locations. One Reddit managed to find a Fallout 4 shelter filled with loot.
"It’s a makeshift fallout shelter under one of the northern houses in Sanctuary Hills," says Reddit deadeyediqq. "Not really much of a piece of lore, but early game loot as a reward for inquisition." While most players will never even know it exists, having that stash can mean the difference between a difficult second playthrough and one involving some fun times and overpowered players.
Extra Life on Hacks
A lot of the gameplay of Fallout involves hacking through the world to get access to stashes, doors, and enemy defenses. But many players may not really know the best way to hack.
"When you are doing the hacking, there is a hidden way to get extra lives and remove incorrect answers. Look for any pairs of (), [], {} or and click on the first one," explains Reddit Mandemon90. "It will either remove [the] wrong answer or reset your tries. And if you for example have
Aliens Were Always Canon
Aliens have long been the topic of discussion in Fallout communities, but some fans argue that their arrival isn't exactly a recent development. "Aliens were canon before Mothership Zeta. Skynet specifically states he was made from salvaged alien technology in 2," says Reddit Rampage470. "Also if you want to take game guides as canon, the Fallout 1 guide says the stuff the Master used to suppress the Psykers' powers were made from 'strange technology, possibly alien.'"
If that's true, it makes early games extremely interesting, and many fans will likely pore through the games to see if there are any other hints of aliens hidden in the early days of the franchise.
How Elder Maxson Came To Power
The lore of Fallout is one of its most interesting aspects. With some incredibly fascinating NPCs who have some of the best quotes in the Fallout games, searching for lore about Fallout characters is something many fans consider a pastime. But the Fallout 4 Elder of the East Coast branch of the Brotherhood of Steel has a lot of lore that many fans never noticed.
"It’s never stated outright in [Fallout 4], but based on terminal entries in the Prydwen you can find a dark secret about how the contemporary Elder Maxson came to power," says Redditor Custis_Long. Given that the terminal entries reveal that Elder Maxson may have committed a coup against the former Elder, it's certainly one that deserves to be better known.
Anger the Yesman
Sometimes, there's nothing more fun in a video game than being a problem and annoying NPCs. Fallout: New Vegas offers players the opportunity to do just that. So long as they make one specific decision, they get to reap the benefits.
"If you blow up the Securitron army in The Fort, YesMan will constantly ively whine about it," says Reddit mikeburnfire. "This also mandates that you destroy the dam in the endgame - saving it is no longer an option." While it is a big step to take just to annoy Yesman, it does add some realism to the world and some development to Yesman to know that it will never forget, and never forgive.
Make Sure To Tip!
For players who really want to mimic life on a farm, some fans have discovered that it is in fact possible to tip cattle in the game, so long as a player wants to. "You can tip Brahmin by crouching and pressing the action button," says lakotian on Reddit.
Still, while it isn't quite the scariest quest in the Fallout franchise, watching Brahmin roll onto its side isn't a sight for sore eyes. With creatures that big, watching them tip can be a shocking scene indeed. It does, however, add to the immersion of the game, as any action like that means that the game is granting fans the utter ability to control the player character — even if it may not be for the most moral causes.
Get the Best Gun Early
For players looking to have one of the most devastating weapons in the Fallout franchise, it is possible to get one early in New Vegas. "Put points into lockpick. In the safe at the Bison Steve Hotel, a unique .357 revolver called Lucky is found," says Redditor YellowTheKid. "The ammo isn't rare, and it can get you through a good chunk of the game."
It's an excellent tip that can really help drive players through difficult challenges and through replays. Besides, it's always fun to see extremely specific caches and to benefit from having lockpicking skills.
Bullets Can Through Gas Leaks
Some areas of Fallout have heavy radioactive leaks, causing a strong visual distortion whenever players stumble across those areas. But some Fallout fans have discovered some fascinating tricks to get around the effects.
"It will ignite if any laser, fire, or explosives-based weapon is fired into it from a safe distance, however, bullets can through without setting it off." says Reddit _JackDoe_. "If you are actually inside or close enough to the gas leak itself and you fire your gun, the spark from the gunpowder in the bullet can set it off." It just goes to show the level of detail that went into the development of the games, and just how versatile any player can be when exploring the world of Fallout.
