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Mini-Review: VATS

Tags: #Dragonborn1721  #Mini-Reviews 
  • November 30, 2018

    Mini-Reviews are a new type of content that I'll be posting regularly that cover some of Fallout 76's new mechanics, gameplay features or really anything else about the game. Each review will only cover a single element of the game, rather than trying to delve into my complicating thoughts on the entire game...you guys know how reviews work so I'm just going to jump into it.

    VATS in Fallout 76:

    A somewhat more complicated topic than others...because it's a staple of Fallout's mechanics in a way that nothing else really is. VATS has always existed, and while it was slightly different in F4, it's still had the same fundamental effect, and has been one of the heaviest changes to how Fallout 76 functions, when regarding the Gameplay least. For those that don't know, Fallout 76 takes an interesting approach to VATS by completely removing the 'Slow Time' effect that it previously had, or even the complete pause in action that was present leading up to Fallout 4. Instead, you simply get to target an enemy (initially just an enemy, and not specific limbs) and fire away until your run out of AP. It was a change that was, honestly just about required because of the game's multiplayer status, because it'd be downright impossible to play as anything other than a VATS Sniper if you wanted to participate in PvP. So this is the method Betehsda came up with to fix this issue, and I have to say...it works so much better than I ever thought. On a more technical note. VATS uses Action Points to trigger (even if you don't 'lock' on to an enemy), and can't be used at all if you fall below a certain number of Action Points. It creates a sort of...fix for the old trick of using VATS to scan the environment for enemies, without removing it as an option.

    There's something about the lack of reality-breaking powers that feels refreshing, the ability to lock on to a target is still actually useful (BLOATFLIES!) but it's not overpowered to the point where you can lock an enemy in place until your AP runs out. It almost seems like a perfectly balanced 'fix' to the VATS system that encourages the use of it in just about all builds, but makes relying on it feel a bit less like your some sort of Godly Being sent down to purge the wastelands of your enemies. Your just a person with a fancy targeting system, which makes the game feel just a little more grounded. I'll freely admit that I never used VATS (heavily) in any other Fallout game, but I find myself turning to it a lot more in Fallout: 76, mostly just because the enemy types are a lot weirder, with some being incredibly fast (or flying) so it makes it a lot easier to hit them when they're moving. Is it a perfect system? You know what, yeah I dare say it is. Or perhaps, there was nothing else that Bethesda could've done to make VATS viable, but still limited (or not overpowered as all hell) with the MMO-focus of the game.

    As a final point, I wanted to talk about Concentrated Fire. A brilliant perk available right out of the gate that allows you to target limbs with ranged weapon. Naturally it also increases your accuracy and damage with each shot at the same target, but it's something that I think deserves conversation by itself. Concentrated Fire, is not really required for a VATS build. It's useful, and I've used it a number of times, but you can just as easily go a far as you want without touching it because it's a lot easier to just fire at an enemy than a specific limb. I like that it's a perk, rather than the limb-targeting being an automatic feature...feels, right.

     

    But maybe that's just me. What are your opinions on VATS? Anything you hate about it? love about it? Anything in between? No idea when I'll post the next Mini-Review, but it'll probably be this weekend :P

     

  • December 6, 2018

    I think the mechanic is interesting and I've read enough and heard enough lamentation about the lack of a slow down to make me chuckle. I do use VATS on occasion, but mostly for enemies that are stupid fast and are small targets, like the little critters and stuff and it does help me lock on them. 

  • December 6, 2018
    I think the mechanic is interesting and I've read enough and heard enough lamentation about the lack of a slow down to make me chuckle. I do use VATS on occasion, but mostly for enemies that are stupid fast and are small targets, like the little critters and stuff and it does help me lock on them. 

    That was basically how I started out using it, but I eventually ended up just finding it way more useful to start combat out with a VATS attack. To be fair I'm using Pistols at the moment, so my AP cost is fairly low making it a lot more viable than my Rifle/Shotgun playthrough but, yeah I'm just kind of in love with I guess. No idea why people are complaining about not slowing down time, sounds rather baffling to be honest :P

  • Member
    December 31, 2018

    So the Concentrated fire perk opens up targeting? I couldn't figure out when I first jumped in why I had to targeting options...