"Fallout 4" sees the return of the VATS or Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, first introduced in "Fallout 3," but it will no longer freeze time. Instead, the VATS system will put the game in super slow-motion, which still gives a player time to choose which part of the enemy to fire at, but now there's more tension and more factors to consider since the target is still moving, albeit quite slowly.
In an interview with Telegraph, game director Todd Howard explained why the changes to the iconic system was implemented.
"We found some ways to make it a bit, not a ton, but a bit more dynamic," Howard explained. "It's very, very slow and you'll see the percentages change because the person is moving behind or coming out of a wall. So queuing up the shot at the right time matters."
This slight change may not be noticeable for some and not many noticed it during the early gameplay trailers released during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2015, but this change to the VATS system can alter how a player decides how they play the game. Gamers will need to decide when to use VATS and when they do, they still need to think fast since time is still moving forward.
According to a report from GamesRadar, several other changes will be implemented as well. Critical shots will no longer be random as the player will be able to pick which shot will deal a little extra damage. Howard explained that this gives players a little bit more control over their character, which leads to a more satisfying experience playing the game.
Rumors are also spreading around that the shooting mechanics will be completely different and that player stats will no longer affect whether or not bullets hit their target. Instead, bullets will hit depending solely on the player's skills and accuracy although damage will still be dependent on player stats, type of guns, and the type of bullets used.
"Fallout 4" has no definitive release date but is expected to hit store shelves before the end of the year.
