As I emerge from Vault 111 in Fallout 4 yet again, I look out over the post-apocalyptic landscapes of the Commonwealth and think about what brought me back here. The transition from the vault to the outside world is met with a searing ray of sunlight, and as my vision adjusts, I soak in a familiar sight. Sanctuary, the once idyllic picket-fenced neighborhood that served as my homestead a short while ago, is now a ramshackle hodgepodge of rusted steel, dead trees, and dilapidated structures that still somewhat resemble houses. I can still clearly recall the feeling I had when I first left this vault back in 2015, when Fallout 4 originally released. The sprawling environment stretched out before me and held with it the promise of a grand, rad-filled adventure; one that I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in. Now, all these years later, I find myself returning to try and recapture that same feeling.
