Fallout 4: Automatron

 PC
User Score
4.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 167 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 167
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 167
  3. Negative: 70 out of 167

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  1. JaydenPickens
    Feb 20, 2019
    5
    This dlc is really short and reminds me of the first dlc for Fallout 3 which you could also finish in an hour or so. It was short and interesting. I liked the choices at the end. Still this shouldn't be a dlc in the first place as it looks just like the side quest from the main game. 10$ for this is an atrocity. This should be a free dlc, because one hour of gameplay from one mission isThis dlc is really short and reminds me of the first dlc for Fallout 3 which you could also finish in an hour or so. It was short and interesting. I liked the choices at the end. Still this shouldn't be a dlc in the first place as it looks just like the side quest from the main game. 10$ for this is an atrocity. This should be a free dlc, because one hour of gameplay from one mission is not worth any money. Especially when it's a game like Fallout 4 which wasn't good in the first place. Pickens rethinks his life choices.… Expand
  2. nilsy
    Jan 16, 2017
    7
    Its not a "WOW MUST HAVE!!!" type of dlc, its more off "hmm ok well that wasnt a bad choice to get i guess"

    Little bit small, and the robot building is "ok" but you can definitely see how it could been so much better. Overall the value for money is like always worse for a DLC then the fullgame and this is no exception looking at each dollar you can find better value. If you can find    Its not a "WOW MUST HAVE!!!" type of dlc, its more off "hmm ok well that wasnt a bad choice to get i guess"

    Little bit small, and the robot building is "ok" but you can definitely see how it could been so much better.

    Overall the value for money is like always worse for a DLC then the fullgame and this is no exception looking at each dollar you can find better value.
    If you can find a good deal on the DLC go ahead and get it otherwise your not missing much.    … Expand
  3. Unladenswallow0
    Apr 1, 2016
    5
    Very linear DLC. It has some more stuff for you to stick onto your weapons. Nothing that made me go wow. Honestly i would have rather spent the 10 euro on a sandwich and a coffee. If you didn't like fallout 4, this will not make you change your mind in anyway. A pretty poor, uninspired DLC from bethesda who are known for their high quality content.
  4. Vroix
    Apr 4, 2016
    7
    Making your own robot is an interesting addition. But personally I think it's overpriced.
    It should've been in the base game.
    Don't expect much from the quest and story, just build your own robot and have fun. Things I like: + Make my own robots with lot of mods. + Modify Codsworth and Curie to my own liking + Tesla weapon and Tesla Power Armour Things I dislike: - Story and    Making your own robot is an interesting addition. But personally I think it's overpriced.
    It should've been in the base game.
    Don't expect much from the quest and story, just build your own robot and have fun.

    Things I like:
    + Make my own robots with lot of mods.
    + Modify Codsworth and Curie to my own liking
    + Tesla weapon and Tesla Power Armour

    Things I dislike:
    - Story and quest are meh
    - It's overpriced
    - Robots take companion slot

    If you get it from the season pass before March, it's worth it I think. Otherwise only buy it when it's on sale.    … Expand
  5. GamingPoptartTV
    Mar 25, 2016
    5
    When my friend told me that the new Automatron DLC was dropped for Fallout 4 I though for $10 this DLC and its content was good. Would I say its on the level of Skyrims Dawnguard. No. The most fun you will mainly have will be gunning down robots and then building your own. Its painstakingly average and this DLC will just have you wishing more.
  6. rgrekejin
    Mar 23, 2016
    7
    Automatron is, overall, a pretty decent little DLC package. I probably wouldn't pay the full $10 for it, but if you've already got the season pass, it's a more than adequate reason to venture out back into the Commonwealth for a few hours.

    Automatron has a short, clever little story peppered with the usual sidelong references, inside jokes, and memorable characters Fallout games are    Automatron is, overall, a pretty decent little DLC package. I probably wouldn't pay the full $10 for it, but if you've already got the season pass, it's a more than adequate reason to venture out back into the Commonwealth for a few hours.

    Automatron has a short, clever little story peppered with the usual sidelong references, inside jokes, and memorable characters Fallout games are famous for. The new Robot crafting mechanic is no more or less shallow than the rest of the crafting experience found in the main game. If you were expecting it to revolutionize crafting, or even provide you with a deep and interesting sub-system, you're out of luck. But if you were okay with the depth of the crafting system in the main game, the new system is, at least, no worse.

    There are several new enemy types in Automatron, most notably a robot-themed Raider gang, and several new robot enemies that appear to be randomly generated from the various parts available in the crafting system. It can be hard to notice this during fast-paced gameplay, though - even though no two Scrapbots look identical, for instance, very few of the available parts have any sort of a unique visual style, and most enemy 'bots end up just looking like randomly thrown together heaps of scrap metal.

    This DLC also includes two new locations - a home base for the new Raider tribe, and a secret lair for the primary antagonist. Both locations rank among the most interesting and well-designed dungeons in the game. As an added bonus, they also contain large amounts of the more rare scrap components that you'll be using a lot of if you're making and modding robots, so it's nice to know someone on the design team was thinking ahead.

    As far as negatives go, it's short (obviously) at around 2-3 hours total playtime for the story mode, and it doesn't really add any new or interesting mechanics to the game. Some new guns, new armor, new enemies and crafting? Sure. But nothing beyond that. Essentially, if you liked the base game, this is more of the same. It wouldn't feel out of place to tackle in the middle of a new playthrough.    … Expand
  7. TragicShow
    Mar 22, 2016
    5
    I came into this expecting a quest line reminiscent of that of the Dawnguard DLC for Skyrim. However, I was left feeling very disappointed. For one, this DLC is nothing like what we have come to expect from previous Fallout DLCs as it lacks severely in depth, it also does not even have half the content of previous Bethesda DLC titles such as Dawnguard that have been priced at twentyI came into this expecting a quest line reminiscent of that of the Dawnguard DLC for Skyrim. However, I was left feeling very disappointed. For one, this DLC is nothing like what we have come to expect from previous Fallout DLCs as it lacks severely in depth, it also does not even have half the content of previous Bethesda DLC titles such as Dawnguard that have been priced at twenty dollars.

    The story line is fun, I guess. However, it has a grand total of four quests which take at most four hours to complete only if you are early in the game and have to spend time travelling to the different locations and scrounging for parts for your robot. (very minor spoiler ahead regarding what the quests are like) The first quest is the introductory quest, which is basically show up to point A, listen to conversation, and then complete quest. The next two quests are basically fetch quests, and then the last quest has you go to the Mechanists' layer to confront them. After that, you get endlessly repeating sidequests akin to "another settlement needs your help".

    What little quest content is there is nowhere near diverse enough to call it an experience that you would not be able to find in the base game otherwise. That being said, there is a fun addition to the game in which you can create your own robot. In all honesty, that's really what you're paying for here, but I would say even that isn't worth it unless you really want to customize your own companion as Fallout 4 seems to be centered around customizing everything anyway.

    So is it worth buying? Well, as I said: it adds very little to the game. The few quests it comes with are like every other Fallout 4 quest so there's nothing special there, and the whole robot companion system is really up to personal preference if you really think having a custom companion is worth ten dollars because that's pretty much all you're getting with this DLC.    … Expand
  8. Sjalka
    Mar 23, 2016
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This DLC is .... essentially a "stuff pack" with a single multi-stage, but very linear, mission.

    The novelty of the stuff wears off quickly - and the "must collect all possible parts..." becomes irrelevant, because one gets them kind of automatically during the course of the mission.

    Compared to add-ons like "Old World Blues" or even the much more linear "Dead Money" or "Lonesome Road" ... this DLC pales in comparison (and shame).

    The quest itself is not bad per se. But it is a mission that can be done - and possibly will be done within 1 or 2 hours by most players - because most players have by that time finished the main storyline and are armed to the teeth.
    Compare this one mission to the .... if my memory does not betray me ... almost a hundred tasks in Old World Blues - on a new medium sized location, tightly packed with over a hundred points of interest to explore in an open world manner, with rich lore and exciting storyline. Or compare it to Dead Money (not the players most favourite) - that changed the way you had to play the game completely - turning the game into a hide and seek with some puzzle elements - but most of all ... a VERY different atmosphere (almost Bioshock-like).
    The closest add-on might be Lonesome Road, which was very linear, too - but still offered a richer story - and new locations.

    But what all those comparisons have in common is that they were 10 times if not more bigger than the Automatron DLC.

    In one word - this DLC is "disappointing".

    It is about as rich in content as a new map for "the Sims".

    So why still a 5 out of 10? - It offers content that ... i reckon ... could not have been modded. It offers quality content. But it does not change the gameplay, nor does it enrich it. It does not offer anything to the end game, nor the early or mid game.

    ps.:

    What bothered me a "little" is that the hideout of the Mechanist felt more secure than even the Institute (considering they have a sewer entrance) - with those dozens (literally) of heavy - almost comical - safe doors.    … Expand
  9. iampattyjack
    Mar 28, 2016
    7
    Automatron is a good piece of add-on content that brings an interesting new mechanic to Fallout 4. However I would have appreciated more.

    The questline in Automatron sees you tracking down “The Mechanist”, a mysterious robot creator that has been sending out machines of death to hassle the commonwealth. Of course it’s up to you to stop this with the help of new robot companion, Ada.    Automatron is a good piece of add-on content that brings an interesting new mechanic to Fallout 4. However I would have appreciated more.

    The questline in Automatron sees you tracking down “The Mechanist”, a mysterious robot creator that has been sending out machines of death to hassle the commonwealth. Of course it’s up to you to stop this with the help of new robot companion, Ada.

    The questline takes between two to four hours to complete, depending on your difficulty, et cetera. For the most part it is an enjoyable romp in which you are consistently facing robotic enemies with varied abilities.

    The story is fun and hosts an interesting premise, with “The Mechanist” and one other character being standouts. I would have liked to interact with these characters more as your robot companion is painfully generic. Bethesda seems to be intent on only providing you with followers that have a neutral or good alignment.

    I’d also like to mention that they did try to offer multiple ways to complete the questline, which is appreciated.

    The robots that try to kill you are crafted with a plethora of deadly intentions in mind. They are combinations of assaultrons, protectrons, sentry bots and everything in between. You will face a mish-mash of these enemies throughout the campaign, with each utilizing many combat strategies both melee and ranged.

    The only irritating part about fighting off these new foes is they have a tendency to explode upon death. Considering much of the questline takes place inside a dungeon I found myself falling in close quarters to their postmortem explosions. It felt like cheap deaths.

    The big new mechanic introduced allows you to create your own robots or upgrade your existing ones via robot work stations. These stations work like your general workstations in which you can utilize found items or craft different parts to create or upgrade your robotic automatons.

    There are a decent amount of options to craft a death machine. My favorite part was upgrading Codsworth to be a fully functioning sentry bot with an assaultron laser beam. That type of thing is what I really enjoy about the creation aspects in Fallout 4.

    I also found an assaultron head that I can shoot like a pistol. That’s awesome.

    Overall Automatron is a fun piece of DLC, but perhaps not worth the 10 dollar price tag it is currently released at. If you were really looking forward to it, chances are you’ve already purchased the season pass.

    For everyone else, maybe wait until it drops in price a bit.    … Expand
  10. Itsapaul
    Mar 26, 2016
    7
    Decent at what it does, but man I wouldn't wanna pay $10 for this. Most of the season pass I paid for is going into the big DLC that's not out yet though, so this is a fine distraction. Build robots!
  11. giskarduk
    Mar 23, 2016
    7
    hat Fallout 4 Automatron delivers is a new workbench for crafting robots that uses up a lot of resources so you are going to run out extremely quickly and a short uninspired quest line.

    Leaving random bot bad guys in the wasteland for you to shoot at and gather resources from when you are done with the story, if you can call "shoot this, shoot that, kill the main bad guy" to be a story    hat Fallout 4 Automatron delivers is a new workbench for crafting robots that uses up a lot of resources so you are going to run out extremely quickly and a short uninspired quest line.

    Leaving random bot bad guys in the wasteland for you to shoot at and gather resources from when you are done with the story, if you can call "shoot this, shoot that, kill the main bad guy" to be a story at all.

    Is it worth £7.99... Not for quests or the uninspired story, there is only about 1 or 2 hours of gameplay in the DLC, so it fails my value for money test by a large margin.

    Taken as part of the original game though, it works rather well but what it supplies is pretty much what the default game did to death already. Eg combat, crafting and grinding.

    What Fallout 4 needed is not in this DLC at all.

    Fallout 4 is lacking a good story, lacking any kind of half decent RPG options, it is entirely combat and grinding and half the world does not respawn fully anyway, so once you get to level 45, your pretty much searching every corner for something to shoot at.

    Assigning Robots to Settler jobs seems to be a bit Gitchy and does not work for all Robots. My first robot did not support such a feature and could not have its AI turned on for it. My Second robot could have an AI turned on for it and did work as a settler. Not sure why they were different, might have missed something.

    I guess there is more to this than is explained in the DLC.

    Since this is working, I am changing my thumbs down to a thumbs up.    … Expand
  12. Mandulum
    Jan 1, 2018
    6
    Five Word Review: Just an extra mission, fella.
    Favorite Thing: Build-a-robot is a nice addition.
    Least Favorite Thing: It felt like an extended side-quest. There was nothing surprising or unique.

    Date Completed: 2017-12-27
    Playtime: 4h
    Enjoyment: 6/10
    Recommendation: Maybe. If you're looking for more FO4 and it's cheap I'd get it. Just don't expect to much from it.
  13. completo3
    Dec 15, 2020
    5
    1º DLC de Fallout 4, ni bueno ni malo, es decente, la ultima misión es bastante buena y la zona esta muy chula, además de añadir patrullas de robots por el mapa después de terminar el DLC. Es un DLC de relleno, no molesta.
  14. CableBear
    May 8, 2023
    5
    The game spawned in robots that wanted to kill you right when you started the dlc but the dlc wasn't bad per say. I guess it was average.

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. CD-Action
    Jun 29, 2016
    45
    Creating your own robots is cool, but pointless due to their terrible AI. Why invest a fortune in upgrades if your dumb metal buddy will probably get stuck on a first rock he encounters? [06/2016, p.55]
  2. Areajugones
    Apr 12, 2016
    70
    Automatron, the first Fallout 4 DLC, focuses on robot companion customization, and really achieves a good result there. Nevertheless, the story is very short and, in spite of a really intriguing beginning, the ending feels extremely abrupt. However, this content pack is still a really enjoyable one and can provide, without any doubt, a few hours of fun.
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  3. Gamer.nl
    Apr 9, 2016
    55
    Fallout 4: Automatron could have been a brilliant part of a bigger DLC package, but just like it is now is simply not worth your money. The changeable robots are cool, but the missions are way too short and not memorable at all.
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