Amazon Prime’sFalloutshow has received widespread praise and critical appeal since it was released over one month ago. Many fans not only appreciated how accurate many of the sets and props were to the video games, but also enjoyed how it remained true to prior games and continued their story. One thing that both new and old fans could agree on is that the show features a lot of fun comedy in a way that only aFallouttitle could provide. This success and seeming leaning towards comedy may be a benefit towards Bethesda’s other premiere video game series:The Elder Scrolls.
The Elder Scrolls and Fallout Comedy Compared
WhileThe Elder ScrollsandFalloutgames play similarly as RPGs in Bethesda’s style, their approaches to comedy are very different.Falloutis based on a world that got stuck in 1950’s Americana, so much of its style of comedy is still somewhat familiar to players today. The way characters talk and act inFalloutis not too unlike how common people talk today, so NPCs' comedic acts or dialogue is still pretty accessible without deep familiarity with the game’s lore. A player can get comedic joy from tricking a Founding Father Button Gwinnett robot into giving away the Declaration of Independence to a British king, just as a player can get a laugh out of messing with an Enclave soldier over the radio or intercom.
In contrast,The Elder Scrollsis set in a fantasy world filled with its own countries, cultures, and complex history. Due to this, some comedy may be difficult for players to comprehend at first until they learn more about the games’ lore. For instance, players might not understand why it’s funny for atalking dog to be working with a Daedric PrinceinSkyrimif they don’t know what a Daedric Prince is or that talking dogs in this world are uncommon.
Elder Scrolls and Fallout’s Gameplay-based Comedy
That’s not to say both franchises’ comedy is purely based on lore or the world itself. Players can still get a lot of fun out of playing through the game and interacting with random NPCs and enemies. Gamers could get a laugh out of watching a little girl destroy raiders with her menacing sentry bot or watching adragon grab a Whiterun guard into the airjust as they’re attempting to make an arrest. Players can make comedy of their own in either game as well, such as placing a basket over a shop owner’s head to steal treasured items or bringing over a ferocious deathclaw to take down some frustrating NPCs.
A More Comedic Elder Scrolls 6 and Beyond
The Elder Scrolls6may not release for five or more years, but in that time, Bethesda could infuse the game with some of the more comedic styling seen in theFalloutshow. A further emphasis on comedy could make the world of Tamriel a bit lighter among the endless dungeons full of draugrs and complex political disputes.
This new focus on the comedic side ofThe Elder Scrollscould even lead to a live-action show adaptation of Bethesda’s other well-known IP. While there are numerous shows set in a fantasy world, not many feature a lot of positive comedy, at least shows that aren’t animated. Adding a more comedic edge toThe Elder Scrollscould lead to an eventual adoption that will stand out among other live-action fantasy shows such asHouse of the DragonorThe Witcher.
More widespread and accessible comedic interactions would simply be a nice addition to the swaths of sweetroll jokes and odd appearances ofThe Lusty Argonian Maidfound inThe Elder Scrollsgames.A bigger emphasis on theFalloutshow’s style of comedy could help the next entry inThe Elder Scrollsfeel more modern after its long hiatus. It may even create new running gags for fans to laugh at in futureThe Elder Scrollsgames for years to come.
The Elder Scrolls 6is rumored to be set in the provinces of either Hammerfell or High Rock, directly west ofSkyrimon the continent of Tamriel.
