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What happens when two games are too similar? Well, it is likely that one of them has copied the other. But what if they are from the same development team? Well, something like that has happened with the Westworld game from Warner Bros. and the well-known Fallout Shelter from Bethesda. Two games that, originally, seem to be the same, but have their similarities and differences.
This whole situation has come to a head after the publication of Westworld a few days ago on Google Play and the App Store.The game bears many similarities with what was seen in Fallout Shelter. So many that they even share a bug or code failure. Something that has not gone unnoticed by Bethesda, and that has led them to denounce Warner Bros. and the developers Behavior Interactive for using the same source code, exclusive by contract, for the Westwortld game. But how are these two games alike and how are they different?
Graphics
It's obvious, and never better said. And it is that not only the aesthetics are the same, it is also appreciated in the animations of the characters. You just have to look at the perspective of the world that is presented to us in both games. In both Fallout Shelter and Westworld we see a world with depth, where the rooms under the terrain (who said they were copies?), are seen in perspective, being able to change it when moving around the map. All this while the characters seem to be made of paper, drawn in two dimensions and without depth, but very animated, yes.
Of course, the characters in Bethesda don't have really expressive eyes like the ones in Westworld. Not even their clothes look alike. But yes their movements, their ways of interacting and how they walk around the place There is no doubt that they share source code, although each one applied to their own aesthetics and location .
Goals
Although the games may look alike, their goals are slightly different from each other. Yes, in both Fallout Shelter and Westworld you have to manage a colony. And yes, in both you have to look for the happiness of the people who pass through the facilities But here the theme of each game says a lot in both cases.
In Westworld, the parallel reality of creating an amusement park of alternate realities makes the focus not only on the hosts that we must create in the facilities. But in keeping guests happy with each experience We control this kind of androids, and we improve them, but always with the aim of satisfying humans. All with a Wild West look and other vintage locations.
In Fallout Shelter we find ourselves in a territory destroyed by radiation and the dangers of the post-apocalyptic world It is our refuge that has to guarantee not only the continuity of human life, but the happiness and comfort of it.Of course there is also contact with the outside world, be it collecting supplies from the Wasteland on risky expeditions or receiving bandits. In short, subtle differences but that take us to two very different worlds.
Characters
In both games they are the key. Without it, it would be impossible to meet objectives, evolve the place and reach new heights and tasks Of course, while in Fallout Shelter they are human beings, in Westworld we are talking about android hosts , although without forgetting the humans who inhabit the facilities of Delos.
In Fallout Shelter we must rescue or create people. It is a refuge, but also an ecosystem that needs characters to defend itself, generate energy, prepare food, etc. Over time we grow fond of some of these characters who have allowed us to achieve goals, or in which we have invested time and resources to make them improveOf course, his life is not infinite. In addition, we can customize them with clothes and weapons that modulate their characteristics.
Something similar happens in Westworld with the hosts. These beings learn from every interaction with the humans they satisfy. They level up and develop their preconceived abilities. Also, if we have the elements, we can associate dream objects and characteristics to them to give them more abilities. We can even sacrifice some of them to improve our favorites or more decisive and offer them new skills or more rank. And it is that the reconstruction is necessary to satisfy the most demanding guests. Something that generates an even deeper mechanic than in the Bethesda game.
Resources
It's one of the big differences. And it is that, when the characters you manage do not need to eat, drink, or be happy, things are easier.We are talking about Westworld, where the hosts do not need more than maintenance to survive. This is carried out at the Delos facilities, where there are laboratories and special rooms for analysis and repair. In the case of repairing them, only synthetic blood is needed, or liquid to print new units. However, the resource that allows us to advance in the game is money This is obtained through the guests that arrive in Westworld, or by performing tasks and fulfilling goals. It's just one type of resource, and more rides and more development rooms can be built with it. Something that makes the future of the game much easier than in the Bethesda title.
And the thing is that in Fallout Shelter things get complicated when you play with three variables, in addition to the caps that function as money. In the first place, energy, which must be enough for all the members of the bunker and all the necessary facilities to grow and survive.In addition, the population must be fed, so it is better to have good cooks in charge of the kitchen. And without forgetting the water. In the end, this scheme forces us to be very attentive to the balance of the population, knowing that building new rooms will force us to generate more energy and accommodate more people, creating a new paradigm and seeking a new balance. Something that can be quite complex.
Gameplay
With everything seen so far we can understand how using the same code in two games makes things look the same, even though they have different mechanics. However, what counts is the user experience, the gameplay, what it feels like on a day-to-day basis. Well, after trying both games, we must state that the similarities are stronger than the differences, although there are also some.
In Fallout Shelter we find a game that focuses on maintaining balance while evolving and enlarging the place.ArWe track characters where they are needed, and try to evolve them to be more efficient and capable. All this without forgetting to explore the Wasteland to get extra material. Basically to do all this we move with double taps to enter the different rooms, drag gestures and simple and long presses. It is a comfortable but quite elaborate system that forces us to learn the different gestures to be agile in the game. It's not difficult, but it can be a bit overwhelming for inexperienced players. Of course, its mechanics and that mentioned balance are what we will take the longest to master
Westworld gameplay, however, seems a bit more polished in this regard, or at least simpler at first. We double-tap to enter rooms, but we also have shortcuts in the bottom right corner to perform quick actions without having to enter the room.Now, while in Fallout Shelter collecting resources from each room was done with a single tap, in Westworld we must see an end of interaction screen with each guest to find out how everything has gone. This can be somewhat boring and heavy. Although, in general terms, it is more comfortable and easier when it comes to developing all your experience.
Which is better?
The answer is too relative And, since these are such thematic games, the fan characteristic is what prevails in this case. Lovers of the HBO series will find plenty of references here and there in the Westworld game that will encourage them to continue exploring. However, those who have enjoyed the Fallout franchise will find a fun spin-off in Bethesda's mobile game.
Westworld seems more polished and easy to play from the start Its mechanics don't seem as deep and complex, although there are real challenges. And some goals are not easy to achieve. For its part, Fallout Shelter can be a real headache when it comes to managing all its mechanics, something that focuses it more on resource management enthusiasts
