Highlights
- The Fallout series features Mister Handy robots that play different roles in each game, such as assisting the player or being hostile.
- The Mister Handy robots were introduced in 2037 and were designed for general-purpose maintenance and construction work.
- There are different variations of Mister Handy robots, each specialized for specific tasks like farming, childcare, medical work, and combat.
In Fallout 4 and the series' previous installments, the player explores the dangerous life of a nuclear war survivor from different perspectives. In the first two games, the player is a 'chosen one' type of character that needs to fulfill an important mission in order to save their vault/village from destruction. In Fallout 3, the character seeks to find their lost father and help them finish a project that will improve everyone’s lives in the wasteland. The player is a parent in Fallout 4 trying to find their offspring this time around. One element stays constant throughout the sequels: the Mister Handy robots.
The original Fallout game has only one Mister Handy bot. Its name is Unit 462, and it can help the player clean up FEV vats and blow up a force field emitter in the Mariposa Military Base. The deactivated bot in Fallout 2 doesn’t have a name, but it’s hostile to the player and constantly spits science fiction references. The Mister Handy robots in the latest sequels are more friendly, with Fallout 3’s Andy taking care of the players as they grow up. Codsworth in Fallout 4, on the other hand, is a loyal butler to the player character before and after the Great War.
RELATED: Starfield’s Exploration Could Be Made Better With One Fallout Mechanic
The Origin of Fallout’s Mr. Handy Robot Line
The Mr. Handy Robots were introduced to the mainstream market in 2037 for general-purpose maintenance and construction work. Its manufacturer, General Atomics International made the Mr. Handy bots so efficient, reliable, and durable that they only received one major hardware update two years after its release. The company continued to improve the robot’s design in collaboration with RobCo Industries. The result of the partnership is a model that’s capable of initiative and self-programming, making Mr. Handy the perfect companion both in the workplace and at home. It became a fixture in families across the United States as a domestic servant robot by the 2070s.
The General Atomics International + RobCo model is mostly seen in the first two Fallout games. It features a barrel-shaped trunk and six arms that can do anything from walking the dog to operating plasma casters. Since these early models were programmed mostly for military purposes, they were hostile to the players before getting repaired. The latest RobCo models started appearing in newer games, with a notable example being Victor from Fallout: New Vegas. These were tuned mostly for assisting with domestic tasks. As such, the robots were often non-hostile and often had a history with the protagonist as their robot servant. However, these newer models are as capable as their older iterations when it comes to combat if the need arises.
The Different Variations of Mr. Handy Robot
General Robotics International and RobCo also created specialized versions of their Mr. Handy Robots:
- Mister Farmhand: This robot is equipped with agricultural tools for farming tasks
- Mister Frothy: This is a bot that’s made to store and distribute Nuka-Cola products.
- Miss Nanny: This bot is made specifically for caring for and raising newborns, as well as assisting medical professionals in their everyday tasks and research.
- Mister Gutsy: Players can encounter Mister Gutsy in Fallout 4. Its specialization is vague, but its heavier armor and plasma weapon make it an excellent bodyguard and even a battlefield combatant.
- Mister Orderly: Like Miss Nanny, this robot has modifications specifically made for medical work and research.
- Mister Torturer: The intended use of this robot is exactly what its name sounds like. It was used by the government as a grotesque tool for interrogation of enemies of the state.
Some players see Mister Handy Robots as an afterthought, leaving them behind in their homes or settlements. However, they make great companions when given the chance. Fallout 4’s Codsworth, for example, is a great fighter and offers purified water once a day. These bots are also interesting in terms of their history and design. They’ve evolved into hyper-intelligent and sentient beings capable of anything, from cooking breakfast to holding the line against a band of Fallout raiders.
Fallout 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE: Fallout 4's Next-Gen Update is Long Overdue
