Bethesda’sFallout 3was the beginning of a new era for the post-apocalyptic, RPG series. When it released in 2008, it shot the cult, former-isometric franchise to overnight stardom, but it was likely a long way from what the third entry would wind up. For you see,Fallout 3(codenamedVan Burenat one point) was once helmed by original developer Black Isle Studios, but was sadly cancelled several years before theElder Scrollscreator took over.
Skip forward to today, and we now have a sort of revival of the game. Modders have brought this original concept to life, or at least their interpretation of what they felt it was going to be. As spotted byInsider Gaming, user PJ Hexer “and co” have unleashedFallout Yesterday, a mod forFallout 2that purports to carry on what Black Isle never got to complete.
The mod is described as a “fan-made implementation of the original, canceledFallout 3,” which has been built inside the second game’s engine. As a result, it retains the more isometric, turn-based approach that the series was originally known for back in the 1990s.
As it was (maybe) intended
Fallout Yesterdayboasts a brand-new storyline (no doubt taking cues from the long-deadVan Burenproject), multiple races, traits and perks, new items, weapons, locations, and plenty more to be getting on with. The modders describe it as the “biggestFalloutgame ever.” Whether they’re referring to Black Isle’s intended vision or this particular mod remains to be seen.
If you haveFallout 2, this may be one to check out, especially if you pine for the days of the classic, role-playing shenanigans of a bygone PC era. To this end, older fans will appreciate what PJ Hexer and co have attempted to accomplish here.
The cancellation ofVan Burenback in 2003 is definitely one of those “what if” situations. If this had made it to publication, it would have been the official thirdFalloutgame. While it was allegedly going to be more 3D, it’s highly unlikely it would have been what we ended with after Bethesda took the reins. The closest we ever go to it, it seems, is thistech demo from 2007, which is described as being “extremely buggy.” I very briefly checked it out and, yeah, it’s definitely got the beginnings of one of the classics.
There are traces of the ill-fatedFalloutall over the internet, mentioned in places likeIGN’s 2017 Obsidian interviewor the now-archivedVideoGamerNew Vegaspreview. As you can see, it was to retain the isometric look the earlier games in the series were known for, something thatFallout Yesterdayalso honors. There was also another attempt to revive the OG with theVan Buren Project, which just hammers home how much fans really wanted this to be a thing.
Fallout Yesterdayis probably the closest we’ll get to ever wondering whether Black Isle Studios’ offering would have been as much of a mainstream success as the one we got. Especially given thatFallout 3is not related to theVan Burenstoryline, according to whatWikipedianotes. Had the original released instead, we may never have gottenFallout 4,Fallout 76, or even – GASP –Fallout: New Vegas; (irradiated) food for thought.
