Summary
- Fallout 76 may not be perfect, but its mutations add a compelling twist to post-apocalyptic gameplay.
- Embracing mutations brings a mix of benefits and drawbacks, making each choice in the game unique and engaging.
- While mutations aren't always permanent, players can experiment and strategize with perks like Starched Genes to enhance their experience.
Fallout 76 is Bethesda's online multiplayer answer to the continuously growing post-apocalyptic franchise. Although the game was met with divisive feedback at its original launch in 2018, Fallout 76 has had a bit of a renaissance as of late. After the massive popularity of Amazon Prime's live-action series earlier this year, the entire Fallout franchise saw a massive resurgence in players. Although the hype has died down since April, there are still plenty of newcomers still coming to Fallout 76 to see what the hype is about.
Set in the mountains of Appalachia, Fallout 76 may not be a perfect entry in the series, but it is a compelling chapter. In traditional Fallout fashion, the threat of post-nuclear radiation is around practically every corner, whether it is the radiation itself or the product of the wasteland, like Ghouls and Honey Beasts. It's common to think that any contact with radiation is a danger, and that is mostly true. However, sometimes the mutations that come from this contact can have varying benefits, which can be a learning curve for new players.
Fallout 76 Players Are Calling for a Cosmetic Change
Some Fallout 76 players are calling on Bethesda for a cosmetic change they believe will significantly improve the way certain characters look.
Fallout 76's Mutations Can Have Unexpected Perks
Mutation Benefits May Not Be Clear to Players at First
Of course, there are plenty of reasons to avoid these mutations. For some players, keeping one's character as human and healthy as possible is the ideal goal. However, there are others who wish to experiment with what mutations from radiation can do. Fallout 76 is filled with compelling concepts, and embracing mutations is a special feature of the game. With every mutation, there is a pro and a con, and sometimes those pros are worth keeping around for a while.
For the most part, these mutations are permanent, unless players ingest Radaway. That is the only way to remove a mutation entirely. However, this can be a frustrating discovery for those who have been enjoying mutations only for them to disappear unexpectedly. Perks in Fallout 76 vary greatly, and the diverse mutation perks and negative effects can be both amusing and horrifying.
The Starched Genes perk allows players to keep their mutations.
For example, the Bird Bones mutation gives players +4 Agility and makes falling from heights more gradual, but it also decreases one's Strength by 4. Furthermore, the Herbivore mutation causes players to gain double the benefits from eating vegetables while being unable to eat meat. Each mutation has its own fascinating negative side effect that mirrors the benefit, which is why mutations aren't always so bad. Mutations like Speed Demon and Twisted Muscles can even make players feel like a god, regardless of the negative side effects.
Mutations in Fallout 76 Are Worth a Try
Although it isn't a perfect game, Fallout 76 is many fans' favorite installment in the series because of such compelling concepts, like mutation experimentation. Fallout 76 has fun with the franchise's lore, and that is what makes these mutations worth the potential harm. It is understandable why some players would want to avoid dealing with any negative side effects in general, but mutations like Twisted Muscles' 25% melee increase can really make the hassle of 50% less gun accuracy feel more worth it.
Mutation serum recipes that are designed to give players specific mutations are found in The Whitespring Bunker, but they cost a whopping 24,000 caps.
At the end of the day, Fallout 76's mutations are an intriguing way for players to experience the game in a fresh light. It's the natural response to avoid standing in pools of water or eating tainted food, but it can also be surprising and entertaining to find out what the result is. There is a lot to discover in Fallout 76, and some of the best discoveries can be with one's own character.
Fallout 76
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 54 /100 Critics Rec: 9%
