Like many Bethesda titles,Fallout 4is renowned for the variety and frequency of its many quests. From core narrative experiences to side-quests and DLC stories, the number of quests within the game can lead to some being forgotten or not getting the recognition that they deserve.
Of course, Bethesda will be looking back at its most recent titles such asFallout 4in its inspiration for future projects. When considering what quests could inform Bethesda of how to approach future experiences, the Shipbreaker quest fromFallout 4stands a cut above the rest for one key reason.
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The Replayability of Fallout 4’s Shipbreaker Quest
The Shipbreaker quest arrived toFallout 4with itsFar Harborexpansion in 2016. The DLC was considered a bold and memorable foray into new landscapes and experiences forFallout 4, and Shipbreaker was one of its stand-out moments.
At a random pointduring exploration ofFar Harbor’s locations, the player may receive a strange radio frequency which starts the Shipbreaker quest. The quest can also be started if settlements have been built in the area, with NPCs telling the player character of Shipbreaker. It becomes apparent that Shipbreaker is the name of a legendary Fog Crawler creature that has long wreaked havoc on Mount Desert Island.
As a heavily mutated Fog Crawler, Shipbreaker can emit radio frequencies, hence the peculiar way in which the quest can begin. The most interesting element of the quest is that the location of Shipbreaker can change, being entirely dependent on where the player is upon receiving the radio signal. This provides an unusual unique spin to the Shipbreaker quest, with the overall feel and experience of the quest changing quite significantly from person to person. With the quest being so unpredictable and offering appealing rewards, it is no wonder that Shipbreaker stood out as a shining aspect of theFar Harborexpansion.
How Fallout 4’s Shipbreaker Can Inform Future Bethesda Games
It is no secret that upcoming Bethesda projects are ambitious, with a lot of industryattention being placed onStarfieldin particular. With these games possessing the same RPG formula as other Bethesda titles, the company will be doing all it can to ensure its quests stand out.
Starfieldin particular will need to keep this in mind due to the sheer scale of the title. WithStarfieldpossessing over 1,000 planets to explore, the release will likely possess an unprecedented amount of quests, even if most of these are relegated to side content. The same kind of formula seen in the Shipbreaker quest would be perfect for games likeStarfield, especially when considering its use of procedural generation.
WithmanyStarfieldplanets being procedurally generated, there is a great opportunity for these planets to contain quests that are unique for each player. Specific quest starting points on these planets could lead to wildly different locations and experiences for different playthroughs, applying Shipbreaker’s formula to a much greater scale.
Of course, Bethesda RPGs are renowned for their dedicated playerbases who often engage in multiple playthroughs, and this only increases the necessity of replayable and unpredictable quests. Given how memorable the Shipbreaker quest is despite releasing seven years ago, it is exciting to imagine how the same concept could be applied to a more modern and expansive title. It remains that quests like Shipbreaker still have a lot to teach future Bethesda titles, and the often procedurally generated worlds ofStarfieldare the perfect staging ground to carry this forward.
Fallout 4is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
