Nuclear war is arguably one of mankind's worst inventions, yet it remains a compelling subject in fiction, including video games. The tension and drama of nuclear scenarios elevate stakes to unparalleled levels, as demonstrated in games like Fallout and Missile Command.
Fallout 4's Unforgettable Opening
While Fallout 3 is often considered a better game, Fallout 4 delivers one of the most unsettling moments in gaming. The game opens in 2077, in a retro-futuristic America, where you play as a parent of a newborn. After a Vault-Tec representative offers your family shelter in Vault 111, a peaceful day turns catastrophic.
Reports of nuclear detonations in New York and Pennsylvania interrupt a family moment. As sirens wail, you flee through chaos to a platform that lowers you into the ground just as a mushroom cloud appears. The moment is chilling, leaving those left behind to an almost certain fate.
Missile Command's Legacy
Missile Command, an iconic 1980s arcade game, tasked players with protecting cities from incoming missiles. Its trackball controls and bright flashes were memorable, and its design was influenced by Cold War tensions. The game's status was cemented when it appeared in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
An updated version, Missile Command: Recharged, offers flashy visuals and new modes, but the explosions are now black voids, losing the nuclear flash resemblance. Despite this, the game plays well and offers modifiers to tweak the experience.
War Games and AI Concerns
Revisiting the 1983 film War Games, its depiction of nuclear threats remains effective and prescient, especially with the rise of AI. The film's story about AI controlling nuclear weapons is worryingly relevant today, though one might joke about the potential cost savings for governments.
