Fallout 4: Five things fans want to see

Yesterday, Bethesda dropped a nuclear bombshell by way of announcing another arduous trek into the dangerous, post-apocalyptic wastes of the Fallout Universe.

Fans are – as very much expected – in quite a furor. With no actual details provided as to the nature of the game past that it's happening, questions are being flung around with more weight than ever. Where will we be going? Having seen only a few glimpses as to the landscape we'll be setting foot in, it's completely open for speculation. California? Boston? Texas? Even inside or outside the US is still unconfirmed by Bethesda.

Location isn't the only thing being discussed at length, though. Just about everything that falls under the Fallout 4 umbrella is being talked about, including gameplay features fans would – or wouldn't – like to see.

What are a few key things that could make, break or just provide a nice little touch to the upcoming title?

Cars Done Right

Cars. Automobiles. As us Brits would say, quad-wheeled-drivey-wiveys. They've been arguably THE most hotly debated – and contested – addition to the Fallout Universe for a long while. But would they serve a place in Fallout 4?

This one is entirely down to execution – do it right, you're onto something, do it wrong, you're way, way off-track.

The Fallout games thrive on their sense of exploration, a lone gun wandering a dangerous land with nothing but ammo, caps, and spurs that jingle jangle to accompany you. Many would argue that not only would cars not fit the terrain of the games, but ruin that sense of exploration.

Assuming that the terrain of Fallout 4 was made to accommodate cars, would they work? In moderation, yes.

Don't simply allow us to go cruising the entire wastes – give us specified, drive-friendly areas and make other places not-so-hospitable towards our vehicular comrades. This allows us to both experience the wonder of exploration yet offers up a new feature in driving.

You could even take this one step further and introduce vehicular enemies and combat in those drive-zones.

However you paint it, Fallout 4 would definitely benefit from cars, but only if pulled off correctly. This potential feature stands on – given how it's such a controversial subject amongst the fans – fittingly shaky ground. But if applied just right we could be blazing across that shaky ground in a souped up '50s classic without a care in the world – except for those raiders on our tail in a Mad Max-esque tank.

A New Weapon Archetype

Big guns, small guns, fun guns, laser guns, golf clubs. There's a treasure trove of things to bash skulls, sever limbs and just generally tear your enemies asunder within the wastes – what better way to define your next addition, and returning to the head of your franchise than with an all new way to murder things?

Fallout: New Vegas merged together the Big Guns and Small Guns skills into the more user-friendly "Guns," could Bethesda take a page out of this book in Fallout 4 and simply expand upon an already exist subset of weaponry?

How about throwing a few more alien weapons into the mix and separating them from the already existing Energy Weapons as "Alien Technology"?

Or introducing a unique crafting mechanic alongside "Junk Weapons"? Weapons made from bits-and-bobs you find lying around. That would certainly emphasize the feel of desperate scrounging that shines through in other aspects of the game.

More Hardcore

Hardcore Mode – a sparkly new feature given to us in Fallout: New Vegas.

Having to keep a watchful eye on your starvation and dehydration levels, every bullet having weight and needing regular sleep – what could possibly be more intimidating than that?

How do you make Hardcore Mode MORE hardcore?

How about removing V.A.T.S.?

Seems a tad harsh, no? Well, isn't that the point? It's a level of self-imposed difficulty many players already force themselves to endure for numerous reasons; immersion, the want of a greater challenge, utter lunacy, you name it, the point is it's nothing new to many of the more vehement fans.

Whether the removal of the flagship feature is a bit much in your opinion or not, some middle-ground could certainly be found – a regular Hardcore and "Hardercore" mode that then goes on to take V.A.T.S. from you?

It would give people a reason for another playthrough, and probably a reason for a trip to the therapist.

The Return Of Dogmeat

Every numbered Fallout game has had something in common.

Dogmeat.

The dog has been a steady companion through Fallouts 1, 2 and 3 – it's less speculation and more an educated guess that he'll make his token appearance in 4.

In fact, if you had watched the trailer – and lets be honest, you should have – you will have noted that a dog with a very similar design to Fallout 3's take on Dogmeat was a focal point in it. This is by no means makes Dogmeat's existence in the game a certainty, who knows, they could have just been making reference, but right now all signs are pointing to the lovable little fur-ball making a comeback.

And really, who can be mad at that? He's a very handy mobile bank, even if it is somewhat disconcerting as to why and how a dog can carry that many mini-nukes – and where, exactly?

Open-World Bosses

Deathclaws are all well and good, and they have no doubt doled out their share of deaths, but sometimes you want a little more, not just something that can kill you in one or two hits, something that can punch you clean into the lower stratosphere.

Nothing quite sends the chills up your spine like when you see a skyscraper-sized enemy stomping around his proving grounds daring any would-be hero to challenge him. MMORPG's such as World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2 have their fair share of these, Single Player games tend to stray from them – likely for fear of giving the player TOO merciless a beating.

Though Bethesda didn't have any issue including with in the form of Super Mutant Behemoths in Fallout 3, why wouldn't they re-appear in Fallout 4?

A giant, ravenous Deathclaw, a twisted remodeling of Liberty Prime or maybe even just another particularly strong walker of the wastes guarding crates full of loot – open-world bosses provide a memorable experience alongside a grudging reset to your previous save-point.

Have any other ideas about what Bethesda might include in Fallout 4? Feel free to discuss at extent, pitch your ideas or, more likely, critique mine below.