Fallout 76was not the best-received game at launch. The series’ first multiplayer-focused game sawmediocre reviews when it came out in 2018and a generally lukewarm reaction from players. Criticism included numerous bugs and balance issues and the perhaps ill-advised decision not to have NPCs at launch.
However, Bethesda’s open-world multiplayer RPG eventually managed to cultivate a dedicated following. This is primarily due to the developers’ work supportingFallout 76with regular updates and new content. One of these updates added several new ransom encounters, one of which is a funny reference toFallout 3’swackiest quest.
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Reddit user Laser_3 noticed the shout-out, uploaded a cropped screenshot to Discord, and shared a link to it on theFallout 76subreddit. The Random Encounter consists of a conversation between two characters referred to as Comic Book Expert and Comic Book Genius. The Expert asks the Genius who would win in a fight between the AntAgoniser and The Mechanist, a reference to the Superhuman Gambitquest fromFallout 3. The Comic Book Genius ultimately put his money on the Mechanist, saying that robots versus ants would be an “Easy win for the robots.” That’s an accurate guess given how their battle plays out inFallout 3.
Bethesda introduced the AntAgoniser and The Mechanist during the Superhuman Gambit quest. It begins when players arrive inFallout 3’stown of Canterberry Commons, the base of operations for the games traveling merchants. Upon their first visit, players will witness a battle between the two scenery-chewing “superheroes” and their minis, consisting of several robots and giant ants. Players can put an end to the pair’s costumed hijinks and are rewarded with one of two unique armor sets.
InFallout 3, only the AntAgoniser was explicitly emulating a comic book villain from before the apocalypse. However, it was later clarified, or perhaps retconned, that the Mechanist also starred in pre-war comic books and radio plays. Another character calling themselves the Mechanist appears in theAutomatronDLC forFallout 4, but the dialogue inFallout 76clearly references the humorous quest fromFallout 3.
Fans in theFallout 76subreddit were amused by the reference, with one person jokingly asking if Bethesda might be teasing a new quest. Another fan said they’d wear an Ant Queen outfit if Bethesda added it to the game. A version of the Mechanist’s outfit was at one point available throughFallout 76’sAtomic Shop microtransaction store. Thus, a purchasable AntAgonizer costume might not be completely impossible.
Fallout 76is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
