8/10
Fallout 4’s first proper expansion gives the impression that the fans have been listened to.
Although we enjoyed the main game, the majority felt it lacked many of the things that made the Fallout series special; the choices between good, evil, and somewhere in between, the tactical decisions to go in guns blazing or silent and stealthy, and the ability to shape the world with your actions.
The adventure in Far Harbor does a better job of allowing players the chance to play their way, as you meet and help/hinder the Harbor citizens, the synth refugees, or the Children of Atom cultists. Your own moral viewpoints will be the major factor in deciding who to sympathise with and how to deal with problems that arise. So much more satisfying than the main games common ‘go here and kill everyone’ routine.
Much like the main game, a simple premise leads on to a more involved power struggle. Nick Valentine has been contacted to investigate a missing person case, and he wants his friend the Sole Survivor to help out.
The Sole Survivor (you) can go it alone, but for the sake of the expansion’s story, it is practically a must that you travel with Nick. His presence on the case opens up a lot of potentially important stuff that will be missed if he’s not with you.
On the island you’ll have the opportunity to work with another new follower, but he’s best left alone until Nick’s part is finished.
The island of course offers new weapons, new armour, more settlements to build on, and new ferocious enemies. You’ll often be warned about the dangerous radioactive Fog that covers most of the island forcing the human inhabitants to live in technologically protected pockets of safe atmosphere, but generally you can leave your Power Armour or Hazmat suits behind, as the maddening mist is not all that much of a problem.
And as Fallout’s biggest expansion to date, there is more to it than the main storyline. There are a number of side quests to complete, including a great murder mystery that lets you really play detective.
Here’s hoping that future updates will carry on the trend of expanding the more interesting parts of the game.
