I recently noticed a few videos where people were playing in third person, which kind of surprised me. Now, in Bethesda's previous game, Skyrim, I would be in third person most of the time except for specific situations like archery and some spell casting. I'm a console player. I had become pretty good at switching from third to first and vice versa without thinking about it. I prefered third for melee as I didn't like the lack of peripheral vision first person offers.



For Fallout 4, I tried third person but I just can't do it. I'm always in first person mode as I find it easier to aim (First Person Shooter, duh). At least with the voiced protagonist we get to see our character once in a while I guess during dialogues, so that's a plus as I like to spend time creating and "dressing up" my characters.



So I'm just wondering if people that frequent the forum play in third, first person, or both (switch-hitter to keep the baseball theme going), and if the platform they're playing on has any impact on that choice.



Discuss why you prefer one over the other.

For me it depends on the situation. I'm generally 3rd person outdoors and 1st person indoors. It's almost always 1st person when doing grenades though. The arc is much easier to read.

I like 3rd for traveling and large scale battle as I have better peripheral vision.

I prefer 1st for grenades and sniping (when not using VATS) and sneaking. Just more realistic and makes aiming so much better.

I guess I should learn to switch like I did in Skyrim then. I just don't see any benefit for third person in Fallout. Perhaps for a melee character? Haven't tried that type of build yet.

I actually find 3rd person irritating for melee action. When I'm out and about, I miss having peripheral vision, that's why I'm usually in 3rd when traveling.

Third person, I actually feel more immersive that way to see a character represent me being attack physically instead just seeing my screen being swiped. Plus, I spend a ton of time creating a character and dress them up not just to see a pair of hands.

I only use first person if the control being stupid, and it happens quite a lot like you can't open or pick up certain things in third person.

I guess I could try that. I'm ashamed to say I've only recently discovered you could play with the "zoom" in third person to adjust the field of view. I feel stupid because that was there in Skyrim also. Maybe that could help.

I really dislike third person perspective. The Mass Effect games were the only games I've played all the way through in spite of being third person, and they were only tolerable because they were cover shooters. Had they been melee brawlers I never would have gotten past the first. As much hype as there is for The Witcher 3, I know I'll never play it because it doesn't offer a first person perspective.

How on earth is third person more immersive?

Dont get me wrong - playing that way is completely fine - but its not freakin' immersive.


In reality are you stood behind yourself watching your perfectly-formed bum jiggling about in a nuclear wasteland? No. Immersion is about realism and getting lost in a world which, from my perspective, requires the perspective of an actual human being; first person.

I have to play FP. I can't stand TP, since Heretic 2. I played ESO FP which is supposedly a no no, but I dominated enough of the game to keep me happy.

I can't play first person, I get really dizzy, so it's not like it's a choice for me first of all.

Immersive is subjective, isn't it? In the first place, it's a video game, so we know it's make believe, but how we engage in that make believe is kinda depending on how we see ourselves playing the game.

When I play third person, I feel like I'm role playing as the character, I like to see what I do every step of the way as that character. I feel thrilled when my character get attacked. It's more immersive for me when I can see what happen to my character instead of just the screen. In first person, personally for me, it just feels like the screen moving around, the scare is not really there when I get attacked since it just feels like the screen being swiped and blood suddenly appear on the screen instead of seeing myself being shot and blood pouring out. I guess I'm more of a visual person. This is why I try to make the character who look like me as much as possible, because it represents me being a part of the story. I play third person games mostly growing up, so I guess I have a different perspective while playing the game than someone who grow up playing first person.

I have to agree with you on this. Even though I played Skyrim mostly in third person, I believe first person is more "immersive". I tried, but I just couldn't do it because of the lack of peripheral vision. The human eye sees further to the sides than 180 degrees. We're not flies, but still. But for immersion only, I would choose first person for sure.

After i wrote that, i looked up the definition of immersion;


deep mental involvement in something.


So, yes. It is your choice to believe that and i apologise, i'll rephrase - for REALISM, its first person.

But for me thats immersion, being that person and not just an embodiment following along

I play 1st person both on PC and Console (Xbox one)

This I can relate with. When I used to play first person shooters on my PC (wasn't always a peasant), I would sometimes get dizzy. It never happens on console though for me.

I live my life in third person. The view from up here is awfully depressing.

Try the pompadour wig. Might cheer you up.

I went with switch hitter, but I mostly play in first person. When I'm out in the open I like to switch to third just to see my character, especially when I get new gear. Any time I have to do anything besides roaming around, I jump right into first. Any time I'm indoors or exploring a new area, I'm in first. For some reason I get caught off guard more when I'm in third person view (as weird as that sounds).

90% first person, 10% third person to check out my character.

Always use 3rd person in their games since Oblivion(my first entry). Exceptions are when i'm looting rooms i go to 1st to see things closer. One thing though power armor in dungeons in FO4 is annoying in 3rd person where it is very hard to see right.

I've always despised 1st person games need to see my character.

* first person has no peripheral vision so it always seems annoying not see whats right next to you, like a horse with blinders on. I can agree 3rd person is more immersive to me as well.

Always first person in Beth games whether I'm playing on the PC or the console. I switch back and forth depending on where/when I'm playing.

I'm on PC and I nearly always play in first person. For what it's worth, sometimes when I'm recording a game play video I'll play in third person solely for the sake of showing off my modded armor/clothing. Some people do play in third person almost all the time, but I'm guessing that many people aside from me also switch to third person for the sake of recording a video.

Fight and loot in First...explore in Third. Really like that Bethesda gives us a clickable option.

First person indoors and 3rd person outdoors.

99% third person . I even find aiming easier in third with this game. Also in pretty much any game I've ever played, in first person melee , I just die.

I tend to switch back and forth between first and third person. Mostly it depends on where I am in game, and what I'm doing. If I'm out roaming around the wastes, most likely I'm in third person. Indoors, or in combat, I'm almost always in first person. Conversation, I'm always in first person as well.

As for pc or console, I don't even see why that question is even relevant to which way you play the game.