Mama Bear in the Wasteland: Why You Should Play Fallout 4 as a Female
- Ben Stembridge
- Aug 2, 2016
- 5 min read
Fathers. Fatherhood. Fatherly love. Fatherly protection. All of these themes have been explored by video games again and again. Titles have navigated the emotional and social landscapes of performing a father's duties for decades now. In recent years, we've played through the eyes of fathers in game after game. We've even seen a staggering number of non-biological fathers. To name a few examples, Red Dead Redemption, Telltale's The Walking Dead, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Heavy Rain, The Last of Us, BioShock Infinite and so many others have expanded our understanding of the relationship between child and male parent (or guardian). With all that being said, let me ask you something - play as a mother recently?
While motherly characters have commonly been featured in games for years now, very rarely have players been given the opportunity to step in the unique boots of a mother. So often are mothers used as narrative devices, ways to motivate a primary character's actions or intentions, or even their personalities. In BioShock Infinite, Elizabeth's mother's betrayal and redemption influences her outlook on her own childhood. In The Legend of Zelda series, Link's mother delivers him to safety during war and dies, later inspiring Link's heroic deeds. In Assassin's Creed III, Connor's mother is killed during a raid on their village, setting his quest in motion. Games, like movies, follow the popular trend of killing or disappearing mothers. As the most biologically nurturing of parents, their absence can usher in moving and effective thematic character developments. But if mothers are just as narratively (and realistically) important as fathers, then why don't we get to play as them more?
The answer to that question is clearly complicated, and may require some more thought on all our parts. While we search for that social communication answer, the trend of leaving mothers out of games may be ending. Bethesda's Fallout 4 may be just the breath of fresh motherly air gamers of all sorts have been looking for. This most recent incantation in the beloved series pins players against the radioactive wasteland of 2287 Boston. Players survive the nuclear annihilation that transformed the Earth, but at great cost. While in your vault shelter, your infant child is kidnapped and your spouse murdered. Upon starting the game, players have the option to choose their gender and appearance, choosing either the father role or the mother role (a classic component of Bethesda's many open world games, à la The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim). Ladies and gentlemen, this is the way you want to play Fallout 4. Trust me.
Playing as a woman provides gamers with a unique and fascinating perspective, and frankly the best gaming experience that this masterpiece can offer. Fallout 4 gives players this opportunity to see through a mother's eyes, and this choice is paramount for the story. How many damn times must a man avenge his spouse's murder and save his child? Many, many times. Fallout lets the ladies have their turn. During my play-through, my "Sole Survivor" was named Beth, and boy Beth is one successful Wastelander. Aside from being an encouraging example of equal representation of the sexes, playing as Mama Beth gave me some serious perspective. Traveling throughout the Commonwealth from the warmth of Diamond City to the mutated forests of the Wasteland, all in the pursuit of my kidnapped son felt daunting in the best way. I wasn't Geralt of The Witcher 3 on an significant but equally enormous quest to find the child of prophecy, his adoptive daughter Ciri. Rater, I was an average mother searching a desolate and hostile land for my infant son, my actual child. While Fallout games are famous for the relaxed approach to narrative direction, Beth felt the urgency to find Shaun at all times.
So what other reasons are there to put your feet in the shoes of a female Fallout 4 character? Great question, internet. Our first answer is Courtneay Taylor. The experienced voice actress, known for her work in Mass Effect and other games pulls off a commendable performance as a woman in the wasteland. I'd be lying to you if I said that the novelty of playing as a woman doesn't help the experience, but Taylor outshines that novelty with a great delivery of dialogue and personality. As per many Fallout games, players are allowed to steer conversations in many directions, with any tone they want. Taylor's voice acting works wonders as I have Beth act impatient, hopeful or inquisitive. Interactions with other people in the Wasteland are seen through a wonderful lens from the female point of view.
Aside from seeing the quest of the mother as the definitive way to play this game, playing as a women as its own unique differences. While Bethesda strives to make male and female play-throughs equal, the female Sole Survivor's experiences are slightly different. One of my favorite differences will be experienced by everyone who plays the game as a woman. The intro to Fallout 4 is narrated by the male option of the Sole Survivor, an army veteran. If you choose to play as a woman, your veteran husband is immediately stripped of his power over the narrative, initiating a fascinating and sudden shift to the wife, in my case Beth.
The way certain characters talk and refer to you changes as a woman, and those changes are based somewhat around your sex. As a male player, this lent me some serious perspective in regards to how narratives and video game worlds treat women. Even primary characters such as some villains approach their conversations with you form a different angle. In fact, its during conversations with adversaries in which Courtneay Taylor's more powerful voice acting comes through. Beth got pretty intense at times, and it was interesting to see that I had essentially facilitated a simple house wife's transformation into a battle-hardened mama bear.
Fallout 4 is your chance to explore a new point of view, formerly overlooked throughout the world of video games. Along with its fantastic portrayal of a woman surviving in a nuclear death trap, this release works best as a mother's journey to find her son (and raise some hell in the Commonwealth while she's at it). I highly recommend playing this game as a woman, especially for you other male gamers out there. The play-through provides the kind of unique and entertaining gaming experience that is so highly sought after by today's modern player.
Ben Stembridge, Editor-in-chief
Ben leads the reviews and news coverage for Game Chop. He also offers opinions on games and the industry, covering a wide range of genres and platforms. Ben especially enjoys discussions on game narratives, design styles, and independent titles.
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