The first two games created by Interplay Entertainment were notable for their innovative setting, openness of the game world and retro-futuristic style, and the voices of Ron Perlman, David Warner and other stars added a special “cinematic” feel to the process. For several years, Fallout has appeared on best-of games lists from various gaming publications.
In 1998, when the second part was released, the Interplay Films division attempted a film adaptation. Brent Friedman (Mortal Kombat 2, The Twilight Zone series) was appointed as the film’s screenwriter, but two years later the work had to be cut short due to the studio’s closure. Having created two third-party games set in the world of Fallout in the early 2000s, Interplay in 2004 sold the rights to the series to Bethesda Softworks, on whose creations the series is based.
In the alternate history of “Fallout,” advances in nuclear technology have led to the rise of a retrofuturistic society: Americans in the year 2077, surrounded by powerful devices powered by atomic energy, dress in the spirit of the 1950s , drink Nuka-Cola, eat “Sugar Bombs” cereal and praise cowboys.
Unsurprisingly, a long war for resources leads to a global nuclear conflict: most of the Earth’s population becomes extinct, but many still manage to take refuge in bunkers known as Vaults. The problems, as always, do not come alone: the world is not only exposed to radioactive contamination, but there is also a leak of a secret biological weapon: a virus of man-made evolution.
219 years later, Wonder Girl Lucy (Ella Purnell), raised in an idyllic utopia disguised as a species of Nebraska, is forced to leave Vault 33 to travel to the Wasteland, a world where humans and mutated creatures fight to survive. Along the way, she meets militaristic Brotherhood of Steel squire Maximus (Aron Moten), and former actor Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins), who has been turned into a zombie-like demon. Each of them has a mysterious past and issues that need to be resolved. At the same time, the story of Lucy’s brother, Norm (Moises Arias), develops, to whom the terrible truth about the Vaults is revealed.
Contrary to the opinion of skeptics, who are not used to expecting much from film adaptations of games, “Fallout” is almost an ideal cinematic embodiment of the game universe, created without any particular bias towards fan service. Fortunately, the series’ producers, the married tandem of Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy (“Westworld,” “Peripherals”), immediately announced that they intend to follow the Bethesda-approved canon.
The indispensable mascot of the series, Vault-boy, the Pip-Boy computer, Enclave, Brahmins, Dogmeet, bottle caps as money and dark humor – all this is in its place. In addition to the game mechanics and various game situations: immediately after the colorful prologue, fans of the game are invited to evaluate a scene that hints at the character creation process in the SPECIAL system, the heroes actively use stimulants, there is even a “Blood Bath benefit!
Those who are far from the games will not be bored either. The expectedly irresistible Kyle MacLachlan as the main character’s father, the delicious sounds of varied 50s music ranging from Nat King Cole to Johnny Cash, notable comedians (Matt Berry, Fred Armisen, Michael Rapaport) in supporting roles and ” good old-fashioned ultra-hard workers. Violence” are just some of the components of this colorful action. All the main characters arouse interest and sympathy, even the agenda is presented in such a way that you don’t really pay attention to it.
Just a week after the premiere, Amazon Studios announced the renewal of the series for a second season. According to the head of the studio, Jennifer Salke, its creators faced a very difficult task, but they exceeded the expectations of fans and even attracted millions of newcomers to the franchise. In turn, Nolan and Joy announced their eagerness to “alter the world again.” It is not in vain that the first episode is called “The End” and the last “The Beginning”; Sometimes it is useful to start from the end.
