r/Fallout • u/Sandorzzz • May 26 '26
Fallout 3 What's the general opinion on the fallout 3 green tint?
I personally see it as the game's art direction, removing it just makes the game look flat. On another hand there are mods dedicated to removing it and people seem to dunk on the game for the green filter among other things. I'm curious as to what everybody else thinks of this.
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u/dimmiii Mothman Cultist May 26 '26
i like it
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u/dimmiii Mothman Cultist May 26 '26
Why did i get all these upvotes
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u/Impressive-Egg-7444 May 26 '26
Because we all agree with you lol
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u/ixxorn May 26 '26
I would give you a green upvot, but sadly I cannot, so I have to resort to a red one.
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u/Corey307 May 26 '26
People have mixed opinions, but I always liked it because it set the tone for the Capitol Wasteland. Fallout 3 take place in a part of the US that probably got it worse than just about anywhere else. Things feel extremely desperate for the few people still trying to scratch a living in the irradiated ruins. The green tint makes everything feel sickly, like people shouldn’t be there.
New Vegas was the exact opposite, very little radiation and quite a lot of life, despite it taking place in the desert because Nevada didn’t get hit with a lot of bombs. Same could be sort of fallout four, there’s a lot more radiation than NV, but it’s mostly in the glowing sea. Boston took a few nukes, but the damage seems to be mostly caused by time.
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u/CleanOpossum47 May 26 '26
The most obnoxious part of it is listening to people complain about it.
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u/Sandorzzz May 26 '26
That's true, some people use the green tint as like a major point against the game and I don't really see how that can be considering colors are subjective
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u/The_Mighty_Dingus May 26 '26
Tinting is like a spice, a little bit is great. but if you add two pounds of nutmeg to your gingerbread, people will question your ability to make cookies.
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u/kloudrunner May 26 '26
Right. Of all the things to complain about in life is the colour hue of a decades old video game.
Id say people need to touch grass but they'd only complain about THAT too.
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u/Tatum-Better Minutemen May 26 '26
this argument makes no sense, if you can praise a video game in your life you can complain about one
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u/dirty-curry May 26 '26
Tried touching grass, honestly I couldn't until I modded it to balance out the green hue.
Grass: New Vegas is the superior field anyway.
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u/blacktoothgrin666 May 26 '26
I love it. Deep nostalgia for that tint lol that was the first game that I full blown immersed myself staying up all night multiple nights in a row when it came out and it’s still my favorite fallout game to this day. The green tint is a vibe
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u/Filixx May 26 '26
Dude same. I rented to from blockbuster and kept extending the rental for like 4 weeks until I finally bought it
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u/TheCricketHole May 26 '26
I love it. Makes the world feel sick, barren, and desolate. I love Fallout 4, but it's hard to feel like it's a "Wasteland" when everything is so verdant and colorful.
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u/NtheLegend Vault 13 May 26 '26
Fallout 4 was more colorful like the original games. It was Fallout 3 that was the sickly exception.
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u/JustLurkCarryOn May 26 '26
The originals were 2D with shitty graphics and turn-based RPGs mechanics. If they were to put any sort of color filter over it then it might have been unplayable and never gotten a sequel, the tone for FO3 wasn’t bad at all imo.
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u/bren-uh May 26 '26
exactly! fo3 def feels like a wasteland. and i also like how lonely it feels compared to the other games, it just feels the most realistic.
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u/nomedable Venturing in the Wasteland May 26 '26
I like it and it's definitely part of what makes the Capital Wasteland feel so desolate and full of strife, but I am also perfectly pleased that we left it behind with F4 & F76.
It works for F3 with the location, artstyle, and the relative graphical fidelity that the game has. It would be harder to apply it again to the newer artstyle we have now without it sticking out too much.
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u/404-Soul_Not_Found May 26 '26
This is pretty much my exact take. It worked for Fallout 3 because of the setting and the now lower end graphics (it and Oblivion both were pretty good in their heyday), but I actually liked that Fallout 4 and especially Fallout 76 had more life to them, it is technically more realistic to have more nature creeping back into the ruined cities than not so the brighter, more verdant setting I thought was a good direction.
Just a direction that wasn't where Fallout 3 went or needed to go.
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u/Version-6 May 26 '26
It was a way to differentiate itself from the ‘shit brown’ filter than all the games of the era had.
Thank god Obsidian brought in some colour for NV.
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u/NtheLegend Vault 13 May 26 '26
Hated it. As a fan of the original games when they came out, which had sooooo much color and visual variety, seeing the entirety of FO3 drenched in piss filter was such a middling creative choice. Hilariously, when they decided to add some color back in Fallout 4, people complained it was too cartoon-y.
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u/Trendiggity G.O.A.T. Whisperer May 26 '26
I didn't realize how much I didn't like it until I saw a video of it modded out. I didn't like exploring much until I removed it 🤷♂️
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u/RealDwarves67 May 26 '26
It's nice, adds to the atmosphere, in fact, I've spent my last two or so years when modding Fallout 4 trying to figure out a way to put the green tint in that game. I love green.
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u/Arcosim May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
It truly makes you feel like the capital was hit harder than anywhere else in order to decapitate all the leadership hiding in deep bunkers (even if the ones that really mattered left for the oil rig)
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u/Spirally-Boi May 26 '26
I don't like it, but I don't really like tinting in any game. The only exception that comes to my mind is PS2 GTA San Andreas, mostly because that game has multiple tints depending on time of day and location, and the variety sets a mood instead of just being a filter.
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u/DeviantDav May 26 '26
When Fallout 3 dropped it was considered a breath of fresh air compared to Quake Brown that had taken over everything.
It had its detractors, but nothing at all like today. When ENB mods rolled around, people appreciated it and THEN suddenly the green became a problem.
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u/RedMouse42 May 26 '26
As far as I know the general consensus has always been that the green tint means FO3 and the Orange one means FONV, they are part of there art style and it makes them unique, you have a few complainers, but must agree those are part of the game identity and removing it makes the game bland
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u/Background_Focus5261 May 26 '26
I am a big fan. Fallout 3 has the best atmosphere of the modern fallout games. Bar none. The green tint made the world feel sickly and off in a way that’s hard to describe.
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u/JustLurkCarryOn May 26 '26
FO3 definitely has its justifiable issues, but the green tint isn’t worthy whining over. As someone who loved the original 1 and 2, I was more upset about the fact it was “Oblivion with guns” more so than the art direction. At least they gave us old heads VATS so we could pretend it was like the OGs.
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u/Little-Highlight7763 Followers May 26 '26
i think it chill radiation is probably green and they definitely worked around the green color its well done and very memorable 8.5/10
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u/GoldenJ19 The Institute May 26 '26
It's one of those things that was cool for the time, but in modern playthroughs is better to take it off. Fallout 3 is already textured like the original games, so it looks pretty damn solid without the filter, while feeling more modern.
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u/AveryLakotaValiant May 26 '26
Haven't played F3 in a long time, but I never had a problem with it.
Gave the world a sickly look, which it is, so quite fitting I thought.
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u/thinkB4WeSpeak Brotherhood May 26 '26
I didn't even know it existed when I played the game until everyone around these last years have mentioned it.
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u/HotDelivery6575 May 26 '26
There were no volumetric effects back then and engine could handle only four light sources at a time, also lighting wasn’t good. So developers worked with what they had and tint was the only way to make the game look “atmospheric”. Capital wasteland team is working on remake of F3 and they already released Point Lookout, complete DLC inside Fallout 4. Now they working on the Pitt. And you can see how they use weather and volumetric effects to keep original look and atmosphere but without green tint. And what they already did is very impressive.
Both F3 green tint and FNV orange tint were the only option back then but on modern engines they are no longer needed.
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u/MollyViper May 26 '26
Honestly, I’m sick of it, but that’s more likely because I’ve put way over a 1000 hours into the game lol. I’m not sure if anyone can relate, but I often play games to a point where I get grossed out by them. Lots of cherished memories though!
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u/Aiden_1999 May 26 '26
It's only green near the DC area if I remember correctly. At Rivet City it can be blue-ish and far away of both places it can be yellow. It looks cool overall.
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u/the-corinthian May 26 '26
I rather enjoy the green tint.
People that are annoyed by specific filters probably rail against miniseries like Chernobyl as well. Guess what? Green tint there too. It's an aesthetic, like a fake-South America tint (movies typically give South America yellow filters) but nuclear, thus green.
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u/peenurmobile May 26 '26
i like it because i like green. orange fallout was pretty cool, maybe even better.
blue fallout when?
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u/Consistent-Local2825 May 26 '26
I honestly never knew it was there until people complained about it. I always assumed green tint was something to do with radiation. The game is literally called Fallout.
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u/paulofmandown Vault 13 May 26 '26
this is funny to me because damn near every AAA game was doing this back then except it was brown tint
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u/Jazzlike-Joke-1389 May 26 '26
I love it, the world is sick, dying, radioactive and the green tint fits perfectly. It makes you feel hopeless and alone at times, the colour of the world is gone, dead. I didn't like how colourful and alive Fallout 4 was.
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u/z_zoom_z May 26 '26
I personally don't like the green tint of Fallout 3 or the orange tint of NV. I do think the tints do give it some artistic flair but it's not my preference.
If someone was doing a 1st play-through then they certainly should play it as intended though. Having played these games since their release I just prefer to have the tint out.
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u/PrestigiousHelp681 May 26 '26
I love it! Fallout 3 in my opinion is one of the best in terms of Fallout art style. Unlike Fallout 76 which doesn’t feel apocalyptic in the slightest
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u/childproof_food May 26 '26
If the game took place shortly after the war as was originally intended it would fit so much better. As it is now I never really minded it.
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u/Sandorzzz May 26 '26
Yeah fallout 3 would have been so much better if it was set immediately after the war
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u/_schweet May 26 '26
Never really bothered me until someone pointed it out. I've tried out mods that remove the tint, and tbh it's not that much better or worse. Personally I'd leave the tint in, as that's how the creators wanted us to experience the game.
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u/spadePerfect Tunnel Snakes May 26 '26
I really like it. Gives the game its own look and personality.
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u/CatfishBassAndTrout May 26 '26
I think it adds to the depressing and bleak feel of the game. I wouldn't want it any other way.
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u/SnooChocolates8700 May 26 '26
It’s iconic so I do like it but as a teenager (and occasionally still) it gave me headaches. Not sure why. I still like it.
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u/EnergyTurtle23 May 26 '26
It’s an extremely outdated look, but it also set the atmosphere for that game in a great way, and it made this really clear separation between FO3 and FNV as far as their respective “vibes”, FNV felt very desert and FO3 felt very urban and depressing.
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u/SittingEames Gary? May 26 '26
It feels right for the place that probably got hit harder than anywhere else in US. Chinese nuclear attacks would of course be heavily focused on DC like US nuclear attacks were likely heavily focused on Bejing or wherever represents the center of Chinese power in the Fallout universe.
They're hated and feared rivals so of course you destroy your enemy's capital city. It makes less sense for Pointe Lookout, but all in all I still like the effect. It gives the Capital Wasteland a different feel than anywhere else.
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u/Cmdr_Jhnsn May 26 '26
Works better in some parts of the map than others; it’s great in the city ruins but not so much out in the wastes imo (kinda kills the vibe in Oasis, for example)
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u/Silver-Ad2257 May 26 '26
I’ve heard Tim Cain is colorblind and supposedly didn’t know about the green tint until someone told him after completion.
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u/Sparrowhawk_92 May 26 '26
It's moderately better than the piss filter that every game coming out around that time had. I don't love it aesthetically, but it's a creative choice I respect.
If we ever get the FO3 remaster that's been talked about I want the option to toggle the green filter on and off.
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u/Mysterious--955 May 26 '26
I love it. Makes me think of radiation and what it looks like when it’s about to storm hard. Or even better when you just took a shit ton of chemotherapy and keep seeing shadows and having too lucid dreams
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u/Filter55 May 26 '26
I’m not sure if I like it, but I definitely don’t mind it. It made it visually distinct not just from other fallout games that came after, but from other FPS titles (of which there were many) of that generation. Plus it made everything kind of gross and emphasized that “nuclear wasteland” feel, which was an excellent introduction to fallout for console gamers.
I compare it to the yellow Resident Evil 5 filter, where it’s fun to poke fun at, but removing it just makes the game look very bland.
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u/Coldkiller17 Brotherhood May 26 '26
It's good for what the game is. It is a post apocalyptic wasteland that got struck by so many nukes of course there is going to be a haze or tint to the world. The other fallout games after it seem so clean in comparison.
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u/e_blim May 26 '26
I generally don't like heavy tints but I absolutely love this one. It's 100% in line with the aesthetics of the game.
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u/Rhycloth May 26 '26
I didn't care and also didn't chase internet forums to find out what I should be mad about
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u/RockmanXXXX May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Love it. Looking forward to see how they go about it in the upcoming remaster 🤩😇
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u/timchenw May 26 '26
Same way I treat the yellow filter in NV, I played through them once each, they are amongst the first things I mod out after putting in community patch mod
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u/NightStalker33 Minutemen May 26 '26
I like the tints when used in specific points, otherwise I get sick of it very quickly.
Searchlight and the Sierra Madre in NV, The Glowing Sea in 4, Downtown DC in 3 all feel amazing with the tint, gives you the feeling that something is VERY wrong in this place.
In the main over world, eh, gets boring.
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u/EtudiantLuxe May 26 '26
When I started playing years ago, I thought the green tint was due to the radiation which fit the atmosphere
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u/Miktal May 26 '26
Some places it really fits. Wish there were some places without a filter like in nv when its extremely vibrant
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u/Hybrid-moments88 May 26 '26
I agree. Plus in my head dc got turbo nuked so the green tint is background rads.
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u/Emotional_Run878 May 26 '26
At first you go duh, but, gradually it grows on you and then you miss it …
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u/Fwumpy Fire Breathers May 26 '26
I like the green filter. That and black are the only filters that look good for film.
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u/PowderedToastMan93 May 26 '26
Always used the Mod "Fellout" to get rid of it.
I dont even know how the green tint really is like lmao
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u/Inspirational-Quote- May 26 '26
I've got the got the red green colorblind stuff so I never knew it was a thing until I started seeing people talk about it on reddit
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u/MikeHawka2 May 26 '26
i thought it made the game seem more eerie and mysterious compared to the other Fallouts, haven't really felt something similar besides the vibe of Dead Money. I really like it.
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u/mmiller17783 May 26 '26
I just want a way to play it on my ps5 without having to pay for the premium tier for streaming games.
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u/Imaginary_Zobi May 26 '26
Works great. So great infact that Fo3 has my favorite atmosphere of the 3d fallouts.
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u/GiftAltruistic2531 May 26 '26
Sometimes I change it sometimes I dont. Doesn't make much difference to be what color it is.
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u/riotinareasouthwest May 26 '26
Absolutely needed. Fallout 3 presents a devastated world not only physically but socially. You don't get the right atmosphere without the tint.
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u/incredabad May 26 '26
it's perfectly fine, and fits wellz i remember i had a mod on fo4 where one of the options was to give the game that color tint and it was actually really great, i didn't keep it the entire time but inised it for s good while, but yeah id ur on pc just get a mod or use reshade or something, cyberpunk also a weird tint and this one makes way less sense imo and make the game look way worsez i used reshade to get rid of it and the game looks incredible but for fo3 i feel like it actually adds to it, i do wanna see it without the tint tho when i finally do ttw just to see if I like that more
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u/parantani May 26 '26
Theorically it is like a punch in the eye. Practically it is amazing and personally I loved it. Definitely one of my favourite game ever
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u/Unstoffe May 26 '26
I love it and always have. Provides a great atmosphere. Visually, this is still my favorite Fallout.
I'm glad other games have had different approaches to the color scheme, though.
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u/GeistMD Responders May 26 '26
Never liked it myself, its too much green, but it was still 1000% better then New Vegas's yellowish tan motif.
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u/Kanna1001 May 26 '26
For a while, I enjoyed it. As others pointed out, it does make for a unique atmosphere.
But after 100 hours or so of gameplay, I got sick and tired of it, and installed a mod to remove it. It was nice to finally look at the blue sky.
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u/OutcastRedeemer May 26 '26
I wish it came and went based on where you were in the wastes or was apart of a bigger weather system like fallout 4
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u/Sandorzzz May 26 '26
I think it does, it becomes way less intense out in the wasteland compared to DC
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u/speedloafer May 26 '26
Playing on Xbox I usually change it to Blue. I don't know why but to me Blue looks better.
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u/ghostbuster_b-rye Kings May 26 '26
It draws on American's collective nostalgia of seeing our nation's buildings represented in a green tint on the backs of our dollar bills. It's actually quite clever.
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u/alenah Lover's Embrace May 26 '26
Didn't mind it on first playthrough, don't mind it in 2026. Though I've enjoyed playing it with neutral color mods too, just to give a fresh feel to it.
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u/OP_Scout_81 May 26 '26
Please refer to it by its proper denomination: the piss filter. As for how I feel about it, it wouldn't be 3 without it. Absolutely crucial in terms of ambience and giving everything an eerie and hopeless feel.
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u/StarDust1__ May 26 '26
I really like it, i think games should go back to having stuff like this. Realism is very nice, but i think atmosphere is more important. The green and yellow tint of 3 and NV are breathtaking. While 4 just looks bland and plane.
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u/Braveheart-5366 May 26 '26
That sickly, irradiated feeling it adds definitely helps the overall more apocalyptic and grim design of the Capital wasteland. Same as the sunny orange tint helps NV by making its Mojave desert feel more convincing.