Fallout 4's overhauled, voiced dialogue system is easily one of its most criticised elements, with many fans believing that its simplicity takes away from what made the more complex speech trees of previous titles enjoyable. Although we don't think it's quite as bad as some make it out to be, we can certainly see where the criticism is coming from, and now, Bethesda's own Todd Howard has admitted that the dialogue system isn't as good as it perhaps could have been.
"Obviously the way we did some dialogue stuff, that didn't work as well," he said in an interview with GameSpot. "But I know the reasons we tried that – to make a nice interactive conversation – but [it was] less successful than some other things in the game. For us, we take that feedback, and I think long term."
However, Howard then goes on to say that he believes the release's most recent expansion, Far Harbor, is an improvement in this regard. "[It's] like the choices you have in the end. When we have an opportunity with something like Far Harbor, like 'Okay, how many ways can it end?' Let's give them more choice with something like that." And, indeed, we'd agree that the add-on does feel more refined than the main game in terms of player choice.
What do you think of Fallout 4's dialogue system? Are you a fan or does it feel toned down? Stop and choose your response in the comments section below.
[source gamespot.com, via vg247.com]
Comments 13
While I haven't played it, I liked that they went with a voiced protagonist because I feel having a silent one in this day and age doesn't make sense. I guess maybe they just didn't want to give the voice actors enough dialogue to flesh it out.
@adf86 It is a good thing to have but I think going with a no voice protagonist would have made the game better
Voice and good dialogue system can coexist.
Agree that the dialogue system isn't the best, not horrible, but still a bit shallow.
Also agree that Far Harbor rose above the main game as far as choice / thoughtful conversations.
I really don't like when the protagonist doesn't speak. It might not have been the best in Fallout 4 but I would still take it over not speaking.
Personally I don't think Fallout 4's system is that bad, but a combination of messy writing and some overly simplistic interactions do hold it back. But yes, as mentioned above, good dialogue AND a voiced character can coexist. Just look at The Witcher 3, and to a slightly lesser extent, Dragon Age: Inquisition.
I just don't like not knowing exactly what my character will actually say. There's no substitute for meeting your first ghoul and reading "Gah! F***! What are you?!" as the first response, laughing, then moving on to the other responses. 4 gives a faster pace to the convos, which I don't necessarily like, but it does fit in with the "convos don't pause the world" feature slightly better than in Skyrim
Compare it to the old infinity engine RPG's (Fallout, Planescape, Baldur's Gate etc) and it's laughably simple and insultingly basic. Those games had many more outcomes but again, that could be down to it only being text and not fully voiced. It felt like every choice mattered whereas in Fallout 4, the outcome was the same no matter what dialogue option you picked.
I found it boring. They really need to hire some decent wrtiers.
It was quite basic (like ME3 ) but I think a voiced character is much better than a mute. I liked the voice of the female lone survivor especially her over the top Silver Shroud impression.
The dialogue system isn't great - the worst part is that its abbreviated down so its not always obvious what the dialogue will end up saying.
@ApostateMage "It was quite basic (like ME3 )"
Yeah ME3 was bad for so many reasons, although the game was brilliant compared to most, in comparison to 1 or 2 the chatting sections were completely rubbish.
Same for Fallout 4, the game is amazing compared to most no doubt about it. Yet has anyone ever been sucked in to a mission story in Fallout 4? I ended up skipping most of the dialogue as it was terrible.
I am really enjoying FO4 however the conversations with npc's is not even close to being as interesting as FO3 and NV. FO4 has some moments like with Myrna, but overall it is generic and boring. Then there is also the tedious process of buying from vendors.
I just can not believe Bethesda thought the dialogue was interesting. Was it an attempt to simplify the game or to use less ram or something? Then too why was an excellent weapons hotkey system changed to a new less functional system.
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