So much better than skyrim but worse in the ways that count. The better script means there's less built in option to be anyone other than the specific sole survivor character. No chance of being a Ghoul, Supermutant, Synth, Mr Handy or whatever. You are Johnny or Jane Template.

It also sucks that there's no way to end it with peace between the factions, to fight for an independent commonwealth or to reform certain factions.

The ultimate kick in the teeth is that the final dlc Nuka World has the plot basically force you into pissing off the factions back home by playing as an evil raider if you want to experience the story as intended.

Like in Skyrim you could do the civil war questline or you could play no part, there was specifically an option for a peace without taking sides if you wanted to do the main quest without doing the civil war.

Here there's no way to not side with a faction if you want to finish the main game.

There is a lot I like about this game but it is ruined by the procedural generation meaning the worlds feel the same and that the story does not develop organically. Additionally this game is slow and grindy but without the rewarding feeling of finally breaking the back of a game. The quests that are in the game have poor detection so you can end up stuck.

To be clear I love the alien translation mechanic but there comes a point when even that is pointless because you realise to can just reload and brute force the multiple choice responses.

For what this wants to be this is perfect. A peaceful exploration game with cool tech, collecting and making aquariums, crafting, base building and a beautiful world with a fantastic story that is not in your face. It won't be for everyone but it's not trying to be.

My singular complaint is that it would be nice to carry both the sea moth and the prawnsuit in the cyclops as they have different uses situationally.

I played it on the DS. A lot of value for money. Great fun, but the camera is annoying at times and the controls are fiddly so there are deaths for stupid reasons. I have to continually fight the game's camera and controls to play it.

Other than that the world design and levels are great.

From what I played and have seen in letsplays I love it. I had to abandon the game when I could not beat the Mr Freeze fight though. Tell me to 'git gud' all you like if a game makes me rage quit I'm not going to waste my time going back.

I'm only not giving it five stars because it clearly has bugs up the wazoo I may have only completed all of it once with mods but I love it so much and have replayed it so many times.