Fallout 4 “A Better World” is an upcoming, story-driven mod that adds a whole new area to the game, and it showcases how much the title would have benefited from more varied landscapes. Though the mod isn’t playable on Fallout 4 yet, promotional videos such as its announce trailer and gameplay demo exhibit just how gorgeous the map is – from its gorgeous riverside scenery to its eerie, subterranean crypts.
While the terrain and overall game world of Fallout 4 have no doubt improved since Fallout 3, mods like “A Better World” take the game’s visuals to the next level. It’s no surprise then that many players are excited for the mod’s release. A project by longtime modder Elijah Houck, “A Better World” is yet another promising addition to the list of upcoming Fallout 4 quest mods.
Fallout 4 Mod ‘A Better World’ Explained
“A Better World” follows the story of two former Institute scientists, Jo and Liz. Having escaped from the organization, the two flee to Abbot County, all the while evading the Institute goons pursuing them. However, not all is as it seems when the player arrives in the idyllic countryside. Entire Fallout 4 settlements have become ghost towns overnight, with many blaming a mysterious group known as the 14th. Worse, Jo and Liz are missing. It’s up to the player to get to the bottom of things.
According to the Fallout 4 mod description, “A Better World” features a dual setting: an old, pre-war shopping center known as Vault-Tec Plaza and the sprawling wilderness areas of Abbot County. From the announce trailer alone, players can see just how much thought was put into the world design. The outdoor areas, in particular, are fantastic. The bright greens and yellows of the forest are contrasted by the post-war desolation – the rundown cabins and empty villages.
On the other hand, the gameplay demo showcases the mod’s interior level design. It even shows that the player can take shortcuts if they pass certain Fallout 4 skill checks – a welcome addition that wasn’t as prominent in the base game. Sneaking into the 14th’s hideout, the player arrives at a large plaza. The video skips through sequences, so fans don’t get to see a complete view of the area.
However, from what’s shown, the design looks solid. It has wide, open spaces, like the central plaza, as well as cramped rooms and tight hallways. The little details also add to the overall ambiance, such as the clear signs of wear and tear or how the overgrown plants crawl across the walls. It rivals even the best Fallout 4 locations.
The end of the gameplay demo features snapshots of even more areas. Once again, players see the bright outside areas, including what looks to be a small park with its flowers blooming. Directly after that comes more dark, dreary interior areas, showcasing large spaces and verticality that just isn’t seen as often in vanilla Fallout 4.
Arguably, it’s these kinds of areas that were missing in Fallout 4. Of course, there were some large, interior levels, like the Corvega Assembly Plant or the Dunwich Borers, but areas of this caliber weren’t as common as many players would have liked. Similarly, most of the exterior terrain of Fallout 4 is more or less flat. While one could argue that this comes with the setting, it still would have been nice to see some diversity in the game’s landscapes. Fallout 4 Far Harbor does this excellently, and mods like “A Better World” just might take it to the next level.
Fallout 4 is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, while the mod “A Better World” is currently in development.
Source: ModDB