Fallout review: "A big Vault Boy-style thumbs up"

GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. From the get-go, Fallout introduces us to a wasteland like no other, teeming with a unique blend of kitschy retro-futurism and barren, Mad Max-style sandy landscapes (beautifully depicted on the screen thanks to the wise choice to film on location in Namibia). It’s here in 2296 – some 200-plus years after the bombs first fell – where we find our trio of protagonists, a radiation-infused triptych spotlighting the varying sides of the wasteland. There are steel-clad zealots such as Aaron Moten’s Maximus, Old Hollywood actors-turned-irriadiated-gunslingers like Walton Goggins’ magnetic Ghoul Cooper Howard – and even some blue-sky dreamers. The latter of which, Lucy (Ella Purnell), is someone who will be familiar to anyone who has ever picked up a Fallout game. The faintly naive, doe-eyed Vault Dweller is living in an underground bunker away from the horrors of the surface with her Overseer father Hank (a game and goofy Kyle MacLachlan). This being Fallout, however, a tragic event soon propels our hero away from the artificial cornfields of the subterranean Americana and into a ravaged world filled with a whole host of mutated nasties and creatures. Along her journey, she meets Goggins’ Ghoul, and the Brotherhood of Steel’s squire Maximus. Tasked with “securing the Wasteland”, the stern Brotherhood member, at first glance, seems like the least interesting of the three protagonists. It’s to Moten’s credit, though, that a series of fumbled events launches the character into a great many surprisingly vaudeville, slapstick situations – one that he makes the most of. (Image credit: Prime Video) What we get instead is a mish-mash of tones: a big chunk of hoo-rah militarism with the Brotherhood, mixed with the absurdist undertones of the Vault – and then the Ghoul shows up to play John Wayne in a show that already feels fit to burst. It’s something the show never really shakes off, either, to its detriment. It’s a busy, busy series that continually flits back and forth just when some plots are getting going. (Image credit: Prime Video) Still, the journey is a blast throughout – pun intended. Showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet effortlessly juggle their pasts on Portlandia andCaptain Marvelrespectively to create an amalgamation of action and comedy that’s wholly unexpected, with Ella Purnell’s Lucy being the major winner of such an approach given the darker edge she exhibits as the series wears on. Fallout is also a beautiful rendition of the RPG series many grew up loving. Every minor detail and nod to the franchise’s history is present and accounted for, from real, working PipBoys to nostalgia-inducing audio cues, era-specific ragtime tunes, and even production designer Howard Cummings’ pitch-perfect Vault sets. It’s overflowing with a love, joy, and affection that is rarely seen in video game adaptations. That doesn’t always work in Fallout’s favor, mind you. The show’s continual fascination with exploring Vault 32 long after Lucy leaves does tend to bog the show down, with its eventual payoff not really making up for hours spent digging into a grand conspiracy amid Overseer politics. The aforementioned mixing of moods – often in the same scene – does occasionally come across as a bit too forced. Fallout is often at its funniest when it’s not trying to be and just letting emergent events of the Wasteland play out. It would do well to remember that if a teased second season ever comes to fruition. (Image credit: Prime Video) Fallout doesn’t always set the world on fire, but it certainly ranks as one of the best video game adaptations so far – even if it is frequently guilty of squeezing too many players into its main quest. In that respect, it keeps the spirit of the 100-hour games: a lot to like, but perhaps too much of it. Still, we get something I would have thought impossible: a hilarious, frenetic, overstuffed Fallout that appeals to long-term fans while standing alone as a bizarrely anarchic slice of madcap mayhem at the end of all things. Fallout, starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins, and Kyle MacLachlan, is streaming from April 10 on Prime Video. For more, we’ve also got some exclusive insight from the cast and creators on the new series which you can read below: More info More CATEGORIESAmazon Prime VideoStreaming Services CATEGORIES More about fallout tv showFollowing Fallout TV show’s win at the Game Awards, the producer jokingly thanks New Vegas fans for “not burning down my house” and promises they will be “thankful” for what’s coming in season 2Walton Goggins has revealed why he’s “scared” to return for Fallout season 2Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► More about fallout tv showFollowing Fallout TV show’s win at the Game Awards, the producer jokingly thanks New Vegas fans for “not burning down my house” and promises they will be “thankful” for what’s coming in season 2Walton Goggins has revealed why he’s “scared” to return for Fallout season 2Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► More about fallout tv showFollowing Fallout TV show’s win at the Game Awards, the producer jokingly thanks New Vegas fans for “not burning down my house” and promises they will be “thankful” for what’s coming in season 2Walton Goggins has revealed why he’s “scared” to return for Fallout season 2 More about fallout tv show Following Fallout TV show’s win at the Game Awards, the producer jokingly thanks New Vegas fans for “not burning down my house” and promises they will be “thankful” for what’s coming in season 2Walton Goggins has revealed why he’s “scared” to return for Fallout season 2 Following Fallout TV show’s win at the Game Awards, the producer jokingly thanks New Vegas fans for “not burning down my house” and promises they will be “thankful” for what’s coming in season 2 Following Fallout TV show’s win at the Game Awards, the producer jokingly thanks New Vegas fans for “not burning down my house” and promises they will be “thankful” for what’s coming in season 2 Walton Goggins has revealed why he’s “scared” to return for Fallout season 2 Walton Goggins has revealed why he’s “scared” to return for Fallout season 2 Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► Latest 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” See 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Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”