Fallout 76: Burning Springs Preview
Courtesy of Bethesda, I’ve spent nearly three hours hands-on with an alpha build of the Fallout 76: Burning Springs update. Admittedly, it’s the most time I’ve spent with the game since its first few days of launch in 2018. While it initially let me down, I’ve kept track of its sixty-two updates since its debut.
The development team hasn’t slept on Fallout 76 for a moment, and according to fan sentiment, their efforts have paid off. A dedicated and vocal playerbase has significantly influenced the trajectory of development, seemingly resulting in a worthy franchise entry.
Fresh & Inspired
That may be conjecture, as I hadn’t experienced it in over six years. However, during the update’s presentation, Creative Director John Rush and Production Director Bill LaCoste dropped all the right keywords to garner my attention—a map inspired by Fallout 3 and 4, new mutated monsters, a new region, bounty hunting, and Walton Goggins’ “The Ghoul.” Say less.
The Burning Springs update is the biggest since launch, taking place in scorched-earth Ohio, perhaps as a metaphor for the state’s present reality. Memes aside, traversing any unexplored region of the post-apocalyptic United States is intriguing. The Capital Wasteland remains my favorite for now, but there’s plenty to dread in the birthplace of Aviation.
Rad Hogs run rampant—an invasive, aggressive species bordering on adorable and malicious. You’ll inevitably shred countless to pieces, but according to the devs, you can tame one as a C.A.M.P. pet. Any creature across the wasteland would make a wonderful pet, if we’re being honest.
Death Dealing
Many Deathclaws and Raiders also have a strong presence across Ohio. I encountered my fair share of both during my time hands-on. That’s nice, but the Burning Springs bread and butter is found in the new Bounty Hunting missions dealt by The Ghoul, Cooper Howard, from Prime Video’s Fallout TV series.
I love the show’s first season. It’s one of the rare, excellent live-action video game adaptations. Naturally, a crossover was inevitable. Walton Goggins reprises his role of the titular character, dishing out bounties in The Last Resort saloon in Highway Town, the heart of Burning Springs.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t witness his performance during the alpha build of my time hands-on. However, the devs did share a preview video that included pieces of his voice. I’m confident that Walton will thrive in the video game counterpart of his now-iconic franchise character. His presence is an awesome addition, but it’s a bummer that he’s a glorified vendor and not a companion.
“Hey, I’ve Seen This One”
The Ghoul offers general contracts for bounty targets, known as Grunt Hunts, and public event boss-like contracts, called Headhunts. Both grant XP and rewards, respectively. Grind long enough, and he’ll reward you with his personal gun.
Many games feature bounty hunting systems and mechanics. Some do it better than others. As it stands, bounty hunting in Fallout 76 is standard fare. You accept a contract, travel to the target’s last known location, blast your Nerf gun into their bullet sponge, and collect your reward.
No aspect of my short time with the system surprised me, but it functions well. Contracts are updated regularly, so it’s worth visiting The Ghoul often for your bounty fix. Headhunt’s will likely be more appealing to the game’s dedicated fans. Headhunts are boss encounters that demand a group to tackle their prowess.
Lead Eaters
For transparency’s sake, I’ve never enjoyed bullet sponges in any game. I find it tedious, repetitive, and exhausting. There are likely methods to expedite death in Fallout 76, but during my time with Burning Springs, it took upward of five minutes on average to slay Headhunt bounties. It’s a common experience in the game, given its nature. It’s not my preferred gameplay flavor, but if you’re used to how the game functions, I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.
Across Ohio, you will also encounter new characters, factions, gear, and fish to catch. The team claims their biggest update since launch is designed for 76 veterans and newcomers—a challenging crusade for the best of designers. As I’ve admitted, I’m a Fallout 76 layman.
There are aspects of its design that have detracted my interest for years. The team’s dedication to evolving and expanding the game is commendable and inspiring. They stand shoulder to shoulder with other teams that have invested years digging their games out of the depths of criticism and elevated them to the peak of acclaim.
Multimedia Fun
I can’t imagine the challenges they’ve endured. I’m happy to see the success they’ve strived for come to life over the last few years. Burning Springs seems to be an excellent addition to the ever-expanding live service. Fallout 76: Burning Springs launches in December, aligning with season 2 of the TV series. Players couldn’t ask for better timing. For more on Fallout 76, stay tuned to COGconnected.
***Flight, hotel, and preview invitation provided by Bethesda Softworks***
