Thanks for stopping by! This article is still a work in progress, so feel free to check back later for updates. In the meantime, take a look around if you like what you see!

Falling for Fallout Again

Welcome to Getting Re-Bethesdaized, a playful twist blending “Bethesda” with “baptized.” I hope the title resonates with all of you who’ve been pulled into Bethesda’s orbit — those who know the gravitational pull of their games, drawing us back time and again.

My latest return to the Bethesda fold was inspired by a good friend who recently embarked on a playthrough of Fallout: London. This massive overhaul mod was enough to tempt me back to Fallout myself, so I set it up on my laptop, and at first, it ran beautifully. But after a few sessions, my FPS mysteriously locked to a frustrating 20, and troubleshooting only got me so far. Rather than give up, I decided to restart from scratch, this time on my Steam Deck. The “pick up and play” convenience seemed perfect, especially for a game this huge, though I quickly realized the Steam Deck wasn’t quite cutting it on the performance front with the mods I had in mind.

Throughout all this, I kept noticing the Fallout 4 achievements bar on Steam. Having recently completed a 100% run in another game (check my last post for a hint), that familiar itch returned. And with DLC content I’d yet to explore, I decided to dive into Fallout 4 with fresh eyes, setting out to complete the achievements. What started as a small goal turned into a full adventure, and I honestly had no idea what I was getting into — but here we go!

Background with Bethesda Games

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

My first foray into Bethesda games came in 2004 when I installed Morrowind on my modded Original Xbox (a topic I’ll definitely explore in another post someday). Even though I was late to the party, this game absolutely blew me away with its variety and the seemingly endless possibilities it offered. I’d had plenty of fun with games before this, but Morrowind was the first one that made me feel truly immersed in another world. My friends and I would stay up all night taking turns completing quests, crafting spells, and exploring the game’s sprawling landscape.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Not too long after having my fill of Morrowind, a new era of gaming kicked off with the Xbox 360. One of the first titles I had to get my hands on was Oblivion! At the time, the graphical leap felt like something out of a dream—I didn’t think games could look so good. While Morrowind had its charm, the lush environments, dynamic lighting, and sprawling landscapes of Oblivion were truly a sight to behold.

Looking back now, though, I can’t help but laugh at the character models. The NPC faces, in particular, give the game a bit of a “clown show” vibe compared to the grittier, more detailed realism of Morrowind and the polished presentation of later games like Skyrim. But at the time, those rosy-cheeked, awkwardly expressive faces were the height of immersion—and they still hold a certain nostalgic charm!

Fallout 3

Next came Fallout 3. The promotional hype had me excited, but I wasn’t sure what to expect, having almost no familiarity with the earlier games in the series. Despite that, I ended up having an absolute blast. In fact, this was the only game at the time that compelled me to dive into all its DLC content as soon as it was released—a rarity for me, as I usually saved extra content for much later.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Then came the big one: Skyrim. I wasn’t messing around for this one — I was there on day one, and I still vividly remember the excitement of its 11/11/11 release date. It’s funny to look back now at how much of the game’s content has turned into memes, but back then, everything felt fresh, epic, and unforgettable.