Look, the Commonwealth is a mess. If you're booting up the PS4 version of Bethesda's post-nuclear epic in 2026, you're likely dealing with a mix of nostalgia and the realization that this game is surprisingly clunky by modern standards. It's huge. It's buggy. It's brilliant. But honestly, if you wander into downtown Boston without a plan, you’re just going to end up as a snack for a Mutant Hound.
Whether you're playing the base game or the "next-gen" update that hit consoles a while back, your fallout 4 walkthrough ps4 experience starts long before you step out of Vault 111. It starts with your SPECIAL stats. Don't be that person who puts 10 points into Charisma thinking they can talk their way out of everything. You can't. This isn't New Vegas. In Fallout 4, you're going to need to shoot things. Frequently.
The Opening Hours: Getting Out of the Vault Alive
The intro is a bit of a slog. We get it. Your spouse is gone, your kid is missing, and the world is a literal crater. Once you grab that 10mm pistol and the Pip-Boy, your first real hurdle is the neighborhood of Sanctuary.
Most people just run straight to Concord. Don't do that.
Spend twenty minutes scrapping everything in Sanctuary. Seriously. Every ruined house, every fallen tree, every rusty mailbox. You need the wood and steel. Why? Because the most efficient way to level up early is through the settlement crafting system. Build a dozen signposts. Build beds. It sounds stupid, but those early XP gains help you unlock critical perks like Scrounger or Idiot Savant. If you're running a low-intelligence build, Idiot Savant is basically mandatory. The "proccing" sound effect is annoying as hell, but the triple XP is worth the headache.
Once you hit Concord, you'll meet Preston Garvey. He’s the meme that never dies for a reason. He will give you an endless stream of quests. You don't have to do them all right away. In fact, you probably shouldn't. Grab the T-45 Power Armor on the roof of the Museum of Freedom, kill the Deathclaw, and then take a breath.
Navigating the PS4 Performance Hurdles
We have to talk about the technical side. Playing a fallout 4 walkthrough ps4 session means dealing with the infamous "Boston Crash Zone." The area around Faneuil Hall and the Financial District is notorious for frame rate drops.
On a base PS4, it's rough. On a PS5 via backward compatibility, it's better, but the engine still struggles. My advice? Save often. Not just quicksaves—hard saves. The game loves to corrupt a quicksave right when you've finally found a piece of Legendary armor. Also, if you’re using mods from the "Creative Club" or the free mod menu, keep it light. Too many script-heavy mods will turn your save file into a ticking time bomb.
The Main Quest vs. The Factions
The search for Shaun is the "hook," but the factions are the meat. You've got four main players:
- The Minutemen: The "default" choice. They're good guys, but boring. Their main benefit is the Artillery Smoke Grenade, which lets you rain fire on enemies from a distance.
- The Brotherhood of Steel: If you like Vertibirds and power armor, go here. They show up in a massive airship called the Prydwen after you finish "Reunions." It's one of the coolest scripted moments in gaming history.
- The Railroad: They’re the underground spies. Even if you don't like their "save the synths" vibe, you need to do their first few missions to unlock Ballistic Weave. This is non-negotiable. It allows you to add massive damage resistance to regular clothes. You can wear a tuxedo with the armor rating of a tank.
- The Institute: The "boogeyman" of the Commonwealth. They have clean toilets and teleportation.
The turning point is the quest "Molecular Level." This is where you have to pick a side to help you build a teleporter. You aren't locked in yet, but the clock is ticking.
Essential Perks You’re Probably Ignoring
Nuance matters here. A lot of players dump points into "Gunslinger" or "Rifleman" and call it a day. That’s fine for damage, but it won't save your life.
Aquaboy/Aquagirl is a sleeper hit. The Commonwealth is full of irradiated water. Being able to swim without taking Rads—and breathe underwater—gives you a literal escape route from almost any fight. If you're overwhelmed by Raiders near the docks, just jump in the water. They won't follow you.
Then there's Local Leader. You need 6 Charisma for this. If you want to actually use the settlement system, you need this perk to establish supply lines. Otherwise, you’ll have to carry all your copper and aluminum from one side of the map to the other. It’s a nightmare. Just get the perk.
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Tactical Combat: More Than Just VATS
VATS (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System) is different in Fallout 4. It doesn't stop time; it just slows it down. You can still get hit. You can still die.
If you're on PS4, aiming with the thumbsticks can feel a bit "floaty" compared to Destiny or Call of Duty. Lean on the crit-bank system. In this game, you choose when to execute a critical hit by pressing Square when the meter is full. Save those for 1% headshots or to stop a Suicider Super Mutant from nuking you.
Actually, let's talk about those Suiciders. You’ll hear a rhythmic beeping. That’s your cue to run or aim for the right arm. If you shoot the mini-nuke in their hand, they blow up, taking out any friends nearby. It’s satisfying. It’s also dangerous if they’re five feet away from you.
The Mid-Game Grind: Diamond City and Beyond
When you finally reach Diamond City, go to the Dugout Inn. Talk to the brothers who run it. There’s a quest called "Confidence Man" that helps the local radio DJ, Travis, get some backbone. Not only does it make the radio better to listen to, but it also opens up some good loot opportunities.
While you're in the "Great Green Jewel," look for Arturo. He sells "Old Faithful," a legendary laser pistol that does double damage if the target is at full health. Mod that into a sniper rifle, and you can one-shot almost any standard enemy for the first 30 levels of the game.
Common Misconceptions About the PS4 Version
A lot of people think you need to follow the roads. You don't. In fact, following the roads is a great way to walk into a trap. The level scaling in Fallout 4 is regional. The further south and east you go, the nastier things get. If you see a sign for Quincy at level 10, turn around. You aren't ready for the Gunners there.
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Another myth? That Power Armor is for "late game." Bethesda gives you a set in the first 45 minutes. The bottleneck is Fusion Cores. To keep your armor running, look for generators in the basements of buildings like the Concord Civic Access or the Starlight Drive-In.
Navigating the Glowing Sea
Eventually, your fallout 4 walkthrough ps4 will lead you to the Glowing Sea. This is the crater where the bomb actually hit. It’s a yellow, radiation-soaked nightmare.
Don't go in there without a hazmat suit or a full suit of Power Armor. A hazmat suit gives you 1000 Rad resistance but zero physical protection. If a Radscorpion pops up, you’re paper-thin. I prefer Power Armor for this trek. Bring plenty of RadAway, even if you think you have enough. You don't.
Look for Virgil in the Rocky Cave. He’s a Super Mutant who isn't trying to eat your face. He’s the key to the third act of the game.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re sitting down to play right now, here is exactly what you should do to get ahead:
- Clear the Red Rocket: Just south of Sanctuary. It's a great player home and has all the workbenches you need in one tight circle.
- Find the Railroad: Follow the "Freedom Trail" (the red brick line on the ground in Boston). Getting that Ballistic Weave early changes the entire math of the game's difficulty.
- Invest in "Scrapper": You will always be short on screws, aluminum, and fiber optics. This perk lets you get them from common junk.
- Farm the "Hubris Comics" building: It's near Diamond City. Inside, you’ll find the Silver Shroud costume and the Grognak the Barbarian axe. Both are top-tier early to mid-game items.
- Hard Save before "The Battle of Bunker Hill": This is the point of no return for several factions. Having a save here lets you go back and see the other endings without replaying the first 40 hours.
The Commonwealth doesn't care about your feelings. It's a harsh, irradiated graveyard. But with a decent combat shotgun and enough Stimpaks, you might just find your kid. Or, you know, spend 300 hours building a massive fortress out of scrap metal and ignore the main quest entirely. Both are valid.
Keep your eyes on the horizon and your finger on the VATS button. Good luck out there.