VATS

V.A.T.S. or the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System) is a visually dynamic, stat-based combat system in Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76.

Background
V.A.T.S. is a type of advanced combat technology created by the Vault-Tec Corporation. While using V.A.T.S., the otherwise real-time combat is paused or slowed. The user can target and inflict damage on specific body parts, utilizing Action Points to do so.

Games

 * VATS (Fallout 3)
 * VATS (Fallout: New Vegas)
 * VATS (Fallout 4)
 * VATS (Fallout 76)

Behind the scenes

 * V.A.T.S. was initially inspired by the crash mode featured in the Burnout series of games, with Todd Howard describing it as "Burnout crash mode with body parts."
 * According to Emil Pagliarulo, the acronym of V.A.T.S. was a homage to the vats of FEV at the Mariposa Military Base in Fallout.
 * During the development of Fallout 3, a slow-motion system for V.A.T.S. was considered, though the pause system was ultimately chosen in order to allow players to "assess the situation tactically." In Fallout 4, V.A.T.S. was modified into a slow-motion style mode.
 * A Fallout Retrospective video about VATS was released as part of Fallout 25th Anniversary, featuring Emil Pagliarulo, Joshua Sawyer, and Istvan Pely.

Videos
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