#anyways happy birthday fallout 3 *ugly cries*

[mensajeroseis]

So as someone who has a big love for fallout 3 do you see it with a central theme of some kind?

You sent this like a month ago and IM SO SORRY I GOT CAUGHT UP AND EXHAUSTED BY OTHER THINGS TILL THEN TO HAVE MY ANSWER READY...

Inherently yes, no matter how mediocre and not fully in depth Emil's writing is. I think I find both fallout 3 and 4's to be swept up by bethesda's ambitions as a studio, compared to the rest of the series. Also since they both involve looking for family members, their main objectives can feel kind of shallow because of how similar they are. But I think FO4 is the weaker of the two. ANYWAY. I can gleam a few themes from the story of fallout 3, some that are what I assume to be the barebones writing Todd and Emil wanted to show. And other's I just come up with from my own analysis and observations/experiences playing the game.

The biggest theme I pick up on is Rebirth. It's shown in several ways : You start the game being born, and when you leave the vault you are born once more. Both scenes parallel each other with a bright light. Supermutants kidnap wastelanders and submerge them in FEV to be reborn ; that in itself can link itself to fallout 1's themes of assimilation/The Master's idealization of a world reborn. That also coincides with The Enclave's return also showcases them wanting America to be reborn in the image they see fit. The line itself, "we're born in the vault, we die in the vault." Being broken by the Lone Wanderer also speaks to the theme of rebirth in a way too. Every action the Lone Wanderer does irt most quests has to do with the rebirth of ideas, people, etc. If you're good at least, but even then if you choose to be evil. You break a cycle regardless and cause change. Change is rebirth, growth is apart of birth, etc.

A theme I conjectured around February of last year, centered on Communism and Capitalism. What I desire from the world of fallout 3—the renewal of a society built upon the ruins of another ; is the active choice to confront the imperialism and propaganda of an old world as to not repeat history. To break a cycle.

The obvious conflict is a confrontation of greed and an inevitable power vacuum that the wasteland has fostered due to survival of the fittest outside of protected settlements. A commentary about privilege and class could also be had within those environments. Anyways what I'm saying is, James should have been an eco-marxist.

I think I'm just rambling now. You could probably pick up more philosophical themes surrounding the concept of religion and rebirth as well. I mean, with Qualtoth in the game irt Point Lookout you can make a very interesting connection there. There's plenty of lofty themes and ideas I can get from fallout 3. But that's because I love it so much. My interpretation of the story and the characters themselves, how MY lone wanderer interacts in the world is different than how Bethesda spit it out.

Here's my ending note :