5 elements Fallout portrayed accurately (& 5 it didn't) with respect to the OG game

Prime Video’s Fallout premiered in April 2024 and quickly became one of the fan-favorites, and was lauded by the fans of the game franchise. The post-apocalyptic series is adapted from the popular Fallout game franchise. It follows Ella Purnell’s Lucy, who goes on a quest in the wastelands of Los Angeles in search of her father.

The Emmy-nominated series is hailed for trying to portray the atmosphere, story, and other important details of the role-playing game. From weapons, aids, to the absurd sense of humour, the show has tried to incorporate many such details. However, to make the show more coherent, they have also changed certain things or added some minute details to make the characters and the story more appealing and well-rounded. Here’s a list of 5 elements from the Fallout series that were portrayed accurately (& 5 it didn’t) from the game franchise.

Disclaimer: This entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.

---

5 elements Fallout portrayed accurately (& 5 it didn't) with respect to the OG game

10) Events depicted in the show are similar to the game- Accurate portrayal

Prime Video’s Fallout series might not follow the game to the t, but it does incorporate many sequences similar to the games. For example, the show follows Lucy’s story of searching for her father, which is the catalyst for Fallout 3. Furthermore, the scene Lucy walks out of her Vault into the bright sunlight is a callback to Bethesda’s similar moment as she walks out into the open.

Another scene would be the nuclear explosion, which appears to be similar to Fallout 4’s prologue sequence.

---

9) Focus on backstories- different

One of the most important aspects of a successful show is the narrative, which accounts for and ties up all the loose ends to create a cohesive story. Due to this, the show has taken some creative liberties to serve as an answer and build up a story, such as providing a backstory of Walton Goggins’s Cooper Howard, which might reveal the circumstances around him becoming a Ghoul.

Other than that, it also provides backstories about Vault Boy’s Thumbs Up and how it came into existence.

---

8) Weapons and armour design

When it comes to weapons, the Prime Video series has a combination of unique weapons created for the series and also seen in the Fallout games. For instance, the Tommy Guns were featured in Fallout 2 and 4, and Lucy is also seen using a 10mm pistol, depicted in Fallout 4. Furthermore, Laser Rifles and pistols, and also the Brotherhood’s Vertibird guns, can be seen in the game franchise.

Moreover, the game's popular element, the Pipboy, was also portrayed accurately in the Prime show. The device is an invaluable element of the game and also plays an important role in the show as it contains all kinds of data, from weather reports, maps, to scanning radiation levels. Apart from that, the series has also portrayed the T-60 armour of the Brotherhood just like in Fallout 4.

---

7) The medication of the Ghouls- different from the game

Ghouls are described as human beings who have mutated after going through heavy radiation in both the game and the series. However, one aspect of the Ghouls that was entirely new was the introduction of the medication consumed by the Ghouls to prevent them from turning feral.

In the games, no medication could help the ghouls from turning into feral, zombie-like ghouls. This is a new addition created for the TV show.

---

6) Vault 33 - Accurate portrayal

One of the main highlights of the post-apocalyptic series is its portrayal of Vault 33. From minute details such as doors and windows, to emergency override switches, all appear similar to the game depicted in Fallout 4 and 76. The vault door, moving gantry, and control panel all of these things appear similar to the game franchise, bringing the game to life through the series.

---

5) Changes in the NCR- different from the game

In Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout 2, the New California Republic was depicted as one of the most powerful democratic organizations with great military and political power. However, in season 1 of the series, NCR was depicted as an organisation that had lost most of its lost due to some catastrophic event.

While season 2 might introduce more about NCR, bringing it similar to the game but the season 1 NCR looked different from the one in the game.

---

4) Fallout threats- Accurate portrayal

While the prime series is yet to depict one of the main and terrifying threats, Super mutants, it has still incorporated many other life-threatening creatures, such as a mutant bear that Maximus fights with is taken from the game.

Other than that, the feral Ghouls that Lucy encounters and the Radroaches seen in episode 2 are also portrayed accurately in the post-apocalyptic series.

---

3) The bombing of Shady Sands- different from the game

The capital of NCR, Shady Sands, is an important location in the Fallout games and is mentioned in Fallout 4 and New Vegas, which are set in 2281. However, in the show, it is revealed that the capital was bombed by Hak MacLean in 2277, and the people in Vault 4 actually are the survivors of the event.

This creates a small glitch in the world-building of the game, but might be used to move the story further in the show.

---

2) Music- Accurate portrayal

While creating the same atmosphere as the game, the series incorporates the same music from the 1940s and 50s that was also featured in the franchise. For instance, Orange Colored Sky by Nat King Cole, featured in the premiere episode of season 1, was also used in Fallout 4 and 76.

Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall, featured in episode 2, was also played in Fallout 3 by Radio DJ Three Dog. However, the most popular song used in the episode was I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire, a song which you would instantly recognise if you have played Fallout 4 or 76, and was also a part of the marketing for Fallout 3.

---

1) Revelation of the beginning of the war

The most important change that the show incorporated was the revelation of the beginning of the war. For a long time, it was suggested that during the war between the US and China, China might have been the one responsible for dropping the bombs that resulted in the destruction and caused the apocalypse.

However, the show revealed that it was none other than Vault-Tec that actually destroyed everything for their own gains, and they are depicted as the main antagonist of the narrative.

---

Also Read: When Life Gives You Tangerines: 5 Moments Chung-seop and Geum-myeong's relationship mirrored Gwan-sik and Ae-sun's