Why Is The Ghoul So Powerful in Fallout? Explained with One Video Game Mechanic
Prime Video’s Fallout uses many video game mechanics in its story which explains how the Ghoul is capable of taking down anyone and anything all by himself.
Summary:
- In Prime Video ’s Fallout TV show, the Ghoul is capable of amazing feats like tanking bizarre damage or instantly dispatching large groups of enemies.
- The series largely relies on the original video games’ mechanics, which makes some scenes and decisions unobvious and weird to new fans.
- The Ghoul’s unique power is thanks to the fact that he is a maxed-out main character who has played “the game” for over two centuries and knows it all.
Out of Fallout the TV show’s four main characters (yes, Norm is still one of them whether you like it or not), the Ghoul is the most enigmatic and powerful one, albeit not the most good-natured. His feats in any fight are nothing short of admirable, and he often comes off as inhumanly capable — but there’s an actual explanation for how he’s so much stronger than anyone else that goes beyond “he’s just badass.”
Fallout Makes Use of Video Game Mechanics
Prime Video’s TV show famously uses many mechanics from the original video games in its story, and while some of them may surprise new audiences, they explain a lot of blatantly weird stuff that happens on the screen. It starts from certain sounds when characters open doors or their inventories and strange dialogues…
…But goes well beyond that, justifying the events that transpired during the story.
For instance, Doctor Wilzig’s ridiculous “luck” when running away from active turrets was a reference for turrets’ bizarrely low hitting chance in Fallout 1 & 2; and the Ghoul’s eating mid-gunfight after taking several shots to the body is a nod to how in the video games, eating restores Health and allows the player to keep fighting.
The Ghoul Is a Maxed-Out Main Character
The explanations for the Ghoul’s unique survivability and skills in Prime Video’s TV show is also rooted in video game mechanics, believe it or not. He’s not just a typical “rule of cool”-powered character who’s badass for the sake of it — there is a reason for why he can tank immense damage and kill his enemies with one great shot.
The Ghoul is a maxed-out main character.
Having been around for over two centuries, the Ghoul knows the Wasteland like the back of his hand. He’s done so many “quests” that he’s effectively reached maximum level by the start of the show. That’s why he’s so proficient with most things (Skills and Perks), has so much health (Health Points), and always knows what to do.
No wonder no one can pose a real threat to him… And why he’s addicted to everything. He’s just been playing the game for way too long to be mortal anymore.