The Fallout universe is among the most immersive in the gaming world as it tells the story of a future that could really come true in reality… some day. In the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, the Sole Survivor is often forced to survive in a world against new factions and monsters, where the rules have been modified.
Among all this chaos is one constant: Vault-Tec Corporation. The company once operated under the orders of the US government, providing all sorts of technology. Mainly, it created the infamous vaults, which worked both as bunkers for wartime, as well as gnarly science experiments. While many would agree Vault-Tec is bad to the bone, it would be wrong to say they never tried to help humankind.
10 Helpful: Survival Guides
During the Survivor’s trek through the wastelands, they’ll come across a wide variety of loot. Some of it is related to Vault-Tec, as seen in Fallout 4, where it’s possible to find lunch boxes and bobble heads the company used for marketing purposes.
The company also made a whole book for those living in the vaults, known as the Vault Dweller’s Survival Guide. At least they didn’t go into things totally unprepared, and created something to help people survive in the aftermath of a disaster.
9 Evil: Questionable Programs
Not only did Vault-Tec involve itself in a ton of experiments that took place directly within its vaults, it also made a whole bunch of other programs and initiatives that are questionable to say the least. One example is the NAPP, as seen in Fallout 4 specifically.
This Nutritional Alternate Paste Program was tested on staff and students of the Suffolk County charter school for instance, and had the unfortunate side effects turning anyone who consumed the pink, tasteless food paste into a similar shade of pink.
8 Helpful: It Tried To Innovate
Although the company has been criticized a lot for its science experiments, Vault-Tec’s intentions could still be considered good given that it only began these experiments in order to ensure humanity would have a sustainable future.
Sure, maybe that future wasn’t the one people bargained for, but at least the company was there to attempt building it. What they achieved by building these elaborate underground bunkers and all of their systems was a monumental task no other company was prepared to undertake.
7 Evil: Unprepared Vaults
Building a vault underground was no easy feat, and while lots of these structures had somewhat impressive architecture and systems, they also had their own weaknesses. Many of the vaults were not properly designed to take on several hundreds of years of persistence.
It’s believed that Vault-Tec did this on purpose, designing only a few vaults that could realistically live through the times and repopulate the world once the disaster had come to an end.
6 Helpful: Terraforming Kit
After the nuclear apocalypse, there wasn’t much left of the normal, natural world. All greenery had nearly disappeared, which is why it was vital that humanity begin from the start by rebuilding not only their own society, but also the natural environment around them.
Vault-Tec designed the Garden of Eden Creation Kit, or the G.E.C.K., which allowed for just that. This invention was absolutely brilliant as it had all the tools needed to start a brand new human settlement from scratch.
5 Evil: Secret Nuka-World Experiments
Players who have the Nuka-World expansion will have no doubt visited the decrepit amusement park that was once the jewel of the Commonwealth. Within this park, there’s actually a fake vault, an attraction called Vault-Tec: Among the Stars, which served as a propaganda machine and secret experiment for the company.
Visitors would not only be subject to fear-mongering about radiation, but they’d also be heavily monitored and exposed to radiation while inside.
4 Helpful: It Created V.A.T.S.
One of the most iconic and important gameplay mechanics in the Fallout franchise has always been V.A.T.S.. Without it, the game would no doubt look and feel very different, and it’s sort of its own unique selling point among other open-world FPS games. Well, this is but an another invention from Vault-Tec.
Designed to keep the wearer safe in the face of dangers in the new, radiation-filled world, V.A.T.S. allows for precise targeting in intensive combat situations, no matter the weapon. This is literally the thing that keeps people alive.
3 Evil: Horrible Employee Treatment
Like any dystopian corporation, Vault-Tec is far from perfect. It treats its employees much like it treats its clients and its subjects, although the line between these two is very blurry. Employees are often not aware of the tests and experiments they’re performing and are kept in the dark about the truth.
They’re also heavily regulated with an employee handbook, along with horrible rules such as 2.25 minute-long bathroom breaks. What could be a worse place to work than Vault-Tec?
2 Helpful: It Saved A Part Of The Population
Ultimately, whether players agree or disagree with Vault-Tec’s intentions and experiments, there’s no denying it did humanity at least a small service by saving a part of its population from pre-war times.
Although these were mostly pre-selected individuals who were considered ideal for the purpose of experiments, any legacy for mankind is a good legacy when in the face of total nuclear annihilation, right?
1 Evil: It Never Asked For Consent
Vault-Tec may have done humanity a service by saving a chunk of its population, but its biggest flaw is its lack of ethics. The company isn’t exactly known for being trustworthy, often keeping people in the dark or just not even telling them the truth.
Most people were actually tricked to becoming vault dwellers in the first place, without the faintest idea of what they were getting themselves into. This is akin to treating people like animals, without any regard for their consent.
NEXT: Fallout 4: The Top 10 Armor Mods So Far
