Confession time: I am an elitist jerk. Case in point, I am presented with the opportunity to review the most anticipated game of 2015 a week before it launches. The game in question is Fallout 4. My initial reaction? Whining, of course, because I had to play it on the PS4.

Improved graphics; spoken dialog adds to story immersion; crafting system allows for weapon and armor customization; lots to do in game

Some odd NPC path-finding behavior; one crash during prolonged gameplay; jury is still out on settlement building

Think calm and composed thoughts…Oh forget that folks! Fallout 4 is finally here and it's been an absolute blast to experience. It's been seven grueling long years since Bethesda Softworks and Bethesda Game Studios released Fallout 3 onto the masses and over those years millions of players have...

Positives Vast immersive world with dynamic weather Sense of belonging in the world Crafting system and an actual use for all that junk

Negatives NPC pathing and Dogmeat still gets in the way Delays in conversation moments Sound mixing

Bethesda games like Fallout 3, Skyrim, and Oblivion are similar in key ways. They're absolutely massive, containing both a hefty amount of freedom and technical troubles. Fallout 4, in the most reductive sense, also fits into that description.

I've one through on multiple playthroughs and play styles with this game. I dare say nearly as many as Skyrim. The simple main focus of fusing your son is paired brilliantly in the travelers you meet and the plights they face as side quests. By the way there is a plethora of them as well.

Fans of the series will no doubt be overjoyed to note that the core spirit of the last few titles remains mostly intact with Fallout 4 , though its deviations may prove to be jarring for some.

Going back to the very start of Fallout 4 , Bethesda's follow-up to Fallout 3 and New Vegas took on a different aspect of surviving a nuclear holocaust, one that was more focused on an internal journey than just keeping ghouls and super mutants at bay.

A rich story with layered player choice; better than the main game; Themes that tackle contemporary issues are what great sci-fi should be; Memorable new characters; Adds shading to Fallout's best companion; Nick Valentine; Lots of side missions; even one that can be done once you leave Far Harbor

Lots of side missions; even one that can be done once you leave Far Harbor

"There's no way Bethesda is announcing Fallout 4 for this year. Every time they announce a new game we see it behind closed doors, and then they release it the next holiday season," I remarked to my team at E3 2015, citing experience culled from over a decade of working with the Maryland-based...

Crafting / Modding / Building engine is amazing; Enemies are dangerous and slightly smarter; Goodbye desaturated greens and browns; Solid voice work

NPCs remain two-dimensional and dull; Side quests quality varies wildly; Some bugs and audio repetition/glitching; Two hard lockups on XB1; zero on PC

It's more Fallout. If you liked Fallout 3, you'll probably like this.

The same great immersive systems and gameplay we've come to expect from Bethesda

Not much really "new" here to talk about; the additions feel almost vestigial and don't enhance the game overall

As the sole survivor of Vault 111, you enter a world destroyed by nuclear war. Every second is a fight for survival, and every choice is yours. Only you can rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Welcome home.

The bombs have dropped and Fallout 4 is climbing out of the rubble, explore a devastated Boston landscape in the year 2287 over two centuries after the world was taken to the edge by nuclear war.

New settlement building and item crafting – Massively improved gunplay

Dumb down of role playing – Less quests than previous titles