There are some high expectations surrounding what kind of experiencesFallout 5will eventually bring to fans of the longstanding Bethesda franchise, and, while it may be some time before this project sees the light of day, a lot of anticipation already exists around it. While it is true that Bethesda’s attention will likely shift over toThe Elder Scrolls 6once the post-launch content plans forStarfieldhave been delivered, recent successful projects like Prime Video’sFalloutTV show have given a renewed flare to the franchise’s community.
It seems more important than ever thatFallout 5goes out of its way to create a distinct atmosphere and overall identity compared to the games that came before it, with the unique world ofFallout: New Vegasbeing a large contributing factor to that particular game’s success. The presence of Sunset Sarsaparilla and its associated gameplay avenues were a great way to differentiateNew Vegasfrom otherFalloutprojects, andFallout 5should consider featuring its own regional drink alongside the usual presence of Nuka-Cola.
Sunset Sarsaparilla Could Inspire Some of Fallout 5’s Most Distinct Content
The nuclear-ravaged landscapes of theFalloutfranchiseare its most defining feature, with remnants of the franchise’s technologically advanced pre-war civilization being eclipsed by the brutal and unforgiving aftermath of nuclear war. One of the most lingering features ofFallout’s pre-war life is the presence of Nuka-Cola, a range of bottled soft drinks that dominated the United States long before the series' Great War.
Not only canplayers find a wide range of Nuka-Cola drinkswithin the vast majority of majorFalloutsettings, but Nuka-Cola bottlecaps also serve as the iconic currency of the franchise’s post-war world, underscoring just how influential the range of drinks are on the series as a whole. With Nuka-Cola and its variants being used in-game to restore health, temporarily boost stats, and more, the storytelling and gameplay potential of this in-universe product speaks for itself, with 2010’sNew Vegasboldly putting its own spin on this.
There are 14 currently-known flavors and variants of Nuka-Cola throughout theFalloutfranchise, being a testament to the in-game potential of this kind of product.
The ariddeserts ofNew Vegasand its debauchery-filled cities were enough to separate the game fromFallout 3’s East Coast focus, and the additional presence of Sunset Sarsaparilla as a major drink competitor to Nuka-Cola in the region added another memorable level of worldbuilding to the project. As the older company between itself and Nuka-Cola, Sarsaparilla maintained a strong presence in the American southwest, with Obsidian Entertainment smartly linking the drink to a range of unique gameplay opportunities.
Sunset Sarsaparilla In-Game Benefits Are Worth Emulating in Fallout 5
For example,New Vegasfeatured the Sunset Sarsaparilla headquarters as a detailed location that players could infiltrate and explore, with an iconic quest also being present for the player to collect 50 rare blue star Sarsaparilla caps to unlock some lucrative rewards within the HQ. While the Sunset Sarsaparilla headquarters lacks the size and pomp ofother franchise locations likeFallout 4’s Nuka-World expansion, it set a great precedent thatFallout 5could continue with a standout drink of its own.
The bottlecap market ofFalloutplaces its drinks on an unusual pedestal for the franchise, andFallout 5’s major setting should aim for the same kind of unique iconography and recognizability asNew Vegas. While it is currently unconfirmed whereFallout 5will take place, there is always room for pre or post-war products to add a level of worldbuilding with clear in-game use, and a standout fresh product akin to Sunset Sarsaparilla could be a great way to flesh out the next steps of the franchise’s infamous wastelands.
