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#REDIRECT [[Fallout (series)#Post-War conditions]] |
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{{Infobox fictional race |
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| name = Super Mutant |
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{{Rcat shell| |
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| franchise = ''Fallout'' |
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{{R to related topic}} |
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| first = ''[[Fallout (video game)|Fallout]]'' (1997) |
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| creator = |
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| distinctions = |
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| image = SuperMutant.png |
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| caption = Render of a typical Super Mutant from ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'' |
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'''Super Mutants''' are a fictional race of [[posthuman]] beings from the [[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|post-apocalyptic]] ''[[Fallout (series)|Fallout]]'' [[video game]] franchise. Within series lore, Super Mutants are originally ordinary human beings that have been mutated to be much larger and stronger as a result of exposure to a genetically engineered viral mutagen. The Super Mutants of the ''Fallout'' series tend to be depicted as savage and innately violent beings who, as a result of their transformations, lost a substantial amount of intelligence and often have cannibalistic tendencies. While Super Mutants tend to form their own factions or societies and are usually hostile to civilized humans, some have chosen to live peacefully alongside humans in settlements across the post-apocalyptic wasteland. |
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Among the most recognizable and integral elements of the ''Fallout'' [[intellectual property]] (IP), Super Mutants have appeared in every media of the franchise, and have been the subject of numerous [[Mod (video games)|fan mods]] of ''Fallout'' series games. Certain individual Super Mutant characters have been well received by critics for their characterization, although the role the Super Mutant race have played throughout the history of the franchise have been the source of contention for some commentators. |
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==Characteristics== |
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The Super Mutants of the ''Fallout'' series were first introduced in 1997's ''[[Fallout (video game)|Fallout]]'' as the results of human experimentation with a strain of the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV), which transforms the subjects into a hulking monstrous humanoid form. The FEV, an artificially-created virus by a defense contractor and research corporation contracted by the American government, was originally meant to protect against various forms of biological warfare.<ref name="CBR"/> Subsequent games in the ''Fallout'' series feature other antagonistic factions that employ different strains of the FEV to create Super Mutants.<ref name="CBR"/> For example, Vault Tec, the technology company which built the nuclear fallout shelter facilities called Vaults, deliberately exposed the occupants of Vault 87 to a modified strain of the FEV as part of an unethical experiment called the Evolutionary Experimentation Program.<ref name=Rewrite>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/11/15/3-ways-fallout-76-rewrites-its-own-lore|last= Leblanc |first=David|date=November 16, 2018|title=3 Ways Fallout 76 Rewrites Its Own Lore|access-date=May 29, 2021|website=IGN|language=en-us}}</ref> The Institute, an elusive faction of scientists in ''[[Fallout 4]]'', kidnap the inhabitants of the surrounding region and subject their victims to another strain of FEV for experimentation. Super Mutants created by the Institute are less intelligent compared to other variants but are capable of speaking like normal humans.<ref name="CBR">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/fallout-history-legacy-super-mutants/|title=Fallout: The History and Legacy of the Super Mutants|work=Comic Book Resources|author=Robert Koumarelas|date=March 28, 2021 |access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref><ref name=Cinema>{{Cite web|last=Joest |first=Mick|date= July 30, 2020 |title=9 Fallout Video Game Creatures That Need To Appear In The Amazon Series|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2551515/9-fallout-video-game-creatures-that-need-to-appear-in-the-amazon-series|access-date=May 28, 2021|website=CinemaBlend}}</ref> |
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The physiology of a Super Mutant is very different compared to ordinary humans; the most immediately noticeable effects are their immense size and strength, their different skin color, and their immunity to radiation damage. A standard Super Mutant's skin tone is usually green or yellow and stands approximately 10.4 feet tall, 7.8 feet when hunching, and weighs around 800 pounds.<ref name="Behemoth">{{cite journal |last=Appleton |first=Conor |title=Could a super mutant behemoth really exist?|url=https://journals.le.ac.uk/ojs1/index.php/jist/article/view/2721/2563|date=April 19, 2018|volume=7|journal=Journal of Interdisciplinary Science Topics|publisher=The Centre for Interdisciplinary Science, University of Leicester|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> The Nightkin, an elite Super Mutant caste, have gray-blue colored skin and largely retain their pre-existing intellect unlike their lesser brethren.<ref name="Lily">{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/fallout-new-vegas-companion-lily-trivia/|title=Fallout New Vegas: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Companion Lily|work=TheGamer|author=Michael Caruso|date=April 30, 2021 |access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> They are often equipped with cloaking devices known as "Stealth Boys" and developed schizophrenia from prolonged use.<ref name="Lily"/><ref name=Tabitha>{{Cite web|last= McWhertor |first=PMichael|date= April 5, 2010|title=Fallout: New Vegas Preview: Meet Sunny, Dinky & Tabitha|url=https://kotaku.com/fallout-new-vegas-preview-meet-sunny-dinky-tabitha-5530358|access-date=May 29, 2021|website=[[Kotaku]]|language=en}}</ref> Other varieties of Super Mutants encountered in ''[[Fallout 3]]'' and ''[[Fallout 4]]'' grow much larger when they age. An immensely large variety first introduced in ''Fallout 3'', the Behemoth, stand at roughly 20 feet tall and could grow up to 30 feet in height.<ref name="Behemoth"/> |
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In comparison to the series' other notable mutated beings like [[Ghoul (Fallout)|ghouls]], Super Mutants are very formidable opponents in combat.<ref name=Battle/> Behemoths in particular are capable of overpowering opponents like [[Deathclaw]]s and hordes of Feral Ghouls with little difficulty, and are unexpectedly nimble for their size.<ref name=Battle>{{Cite web|last=Good |first=Owen|date= November 22, 2015|title=100 super mutants! 10,000 ghouls! Who's left standing in Fallout 4's biggest battle so far?|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/11/22/9778834/fallout-4-10000-ghoul-battle-video-super-mutants|access-date=May 28, 2021|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Behemoth"/><ref name=Swan>{{Cite web|last=Hernandez |first=Patricia|date= November 14, 2015|title=A Fallout 4 Boss That Scared The Crap Out Of Me|url=https://kotaku.com/a-fallout-4-boss-that-scared-the-crap-out-of-me-1742453400|access-date=May 29, 2021|website=[[Kotaku]]|language=en}}</ref> In spite of their physically impressive qualities, Super Mutants are sterile and cannot reproduce as the gametes of the reproductive system consist of "half-cells" using split DNA, which could be perceived as "damage" by the FEV, and in the attempt to "repair" them, it would render the subject infertile.<ref name=GameSpot>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains/page7.html?tag=stitialclk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111033632/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains/page7.html?tag=stitialclk |archive-date=2011-11-11 |url-status=dead |title=The Ten Best Computer Game Villains: The Master |publisher=GameSpot |date=2013-01-06 |accessdate=2013-08-11}}</ref> |
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==Development== |
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Concept artist [[Adam Adamowicz]] was responsible for conceptualizing the ''Fallout 3'' iteration of the Super Mutant, in particular the Behemoth variant.<ref name=NYTimes>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/arts/video-games/adam-adamowicz-artist-for-lush-video-game-worlds-dies-at-43.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219151123/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/arts/video-games/adam-adamowicz-artist-for-lush-video-game-worlds-dies-at-43.html |archive-date=February 19, 2012 |url-status=live|title=The Ten Best Computer Game Villains: The Master |publisher=New York Times |date=February 19, 2012 |accessdate=2013-08-11}}</ref> In a 2008 developmental diary titled "Conceptual Design", Adamowicz said he was inspired by a line of dialogue from the 1974 film ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'' about the dim-witted but strong and tough character Mongo, Adamowicz wanted the game's Super Mutants to look like "they would step into a tree shredder, for relaxation.".<ref name=Adamowicz /> He described their musculature to be straining at the bone structure underneath, evoking a caricature of a person with well developed muscles "in the throes of radioactive testosterone poisoning, and liking it".<ref name=Adamowicz /> The armor and equipment used by the Super Mutants of ''Fallout 3'' are predominantly based on salvaged material, such as car hoods and fenders crudely pounded into chest plates and pauldrons, and lawn mower blades welded onto helmets.<ref name=Adamowicz /> The idea behind this design approach is to show recognizable real world elements being twisted to a more violent purpose, which conveys a sinister resourcefulness by these creatures to survive in a highly dangerous post-apocalyptic world.<ref name=Snacks/> |
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Adamowicz noted that his “[[Scrapheap Challenge|junkyard wars]]” approach to designing the Super Mutants' armor and weapons inspired a number outlandish designs for homemade weapons, with some of them implemented in the final game.<ref name=Adamowicz>{{cite web|url=https://fallout.bethsoft.com/eng/vault/diaries_diary4-5.14.08-pg1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517105116/https://fallout.bethsoft.com/eng/vault/diaries_diary4-5.14.08-pg1.html |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |url-status=dead|title=Conceptual Design|author=Adam Adamowicz |website=Bethesda|date=May 14, 2008 |accessdate=May 29, 2021}}</ref> Adamowicz incorporated numerous visual gags into the character design for the Behemoths; examples given include their wielding of parking meters as if they are police batons and carrying their victims bound by shopping carts on their backs, which they will occasionally consume when they get hungry.<ref name=Adamowicz /> |
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[[Obsidian Entertainment]], the developers of ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'', initially considered allowing players the opportunity to play as a ghoul or a Super Mutant for their protagonist in ''New Vegas''. The team faced technical limitations as ''New Vegas'' shared the same engine as ''Fallout 3'', and the developers realized that the game engine's equipment system would not work properly for player characters which use non-human character models after Bethesda provided advice discouraging the addition of the proposed feature.<ref name=Vegas>{{Cite web|last=Purchese|first=Robert|date=September 13, 2017|title=Fallout: New Vegas was once Fallout: Sin City and had three playable races|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-09-12-fallout-new-vegas-was-once-fallout-sin-city-and-had-three-playable-races|access-date=May 28, 2021|website=Eurogamer|language=en}}</ref> Modiphius founder Chris Birch said the inclusion of Super Mutants as a playable race in the officially licensed ''Fallout'' tabletop roleplaying game, developed by his company to be part of their design decision to make the game "authentically ''Fallout''".<ref name="Tabletop">{{Cite web|date= May 14, 2021|title=The Fallout tabletop RPG lets you play as a ghoul, super mutant or robot|url=https://www.wargamer.com/fallout-tabletop-rpg/release-editions|access-date=May 28, 2021|work=Wargamer|author=Callum Bains}}</ref> |
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==Appearances== |
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Super Mutants have appeared in every ''Fallout'' video game as both non-player characters and hostile antagonists. They are first introduced in the first ''Fallout'' as part of an ambitious effort by a grotesque mutated being known as "[[The Master (Fallout)|The Master]] of the Super Mutants", to create a single, perfect "[[master race]]" and remove inequalities which have been the cause of strife among humans.<ref name=GameSpot/> The Master was originally Dr. Richard Moreau, who was accused of murder and exiled from his home Vault. He later befriended a wasteland trader named Harold, whose caravans had been increasingly harassed by mutant creatures. The two organized an expedition to find out where these mutants were coming from, but their followers were wiped out when the group discovered the Mariposa Military Base and attempted to breach its defenses. Richard ultimately fell into a vat of FEV in the base but survived; driven insane and severely mutated, he calls himself "The Master" and begins experimenting with FEV using animals and - as "visitors" arrive - humans. The Master's goal involves punishing and ultimately replacing humanity with his Super Mutants due to their ineptness and misuse of nuclear technology, with the menace of the resulting Super Mutant army known as Unity driving the game's main narrative.<ref name=GameSpot/> Harold also survives and transforms into a unique mutated creature due to his exposure to the FEV at Mariposa, and makes recurring appearances throughout the series as a friendly non-player character. |
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Following the death of The Master at the ending of the original ''Fallout'', the remnants of his Unity organization are hunted by the [[Brotherhood of Steel]], who would label them "[[Frankenstein's Monster]]s" as a derogatory term. Survivors scatter from their base of operations beneath a cathedral and go their separate ways to find a new purpose: some resort to become raiders and resume their violent ways against humanity, while individuals like Marcus and Lily Bowen congregate together in non-violent communities and attempt to live in peace with humans and ghouls.<ref name="CBR"/><ref name="Lily"/> |
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Players could recruit Super Mutant characters as [[Party (role-playing games)|traveling companions]] or allies in the sequel to 1997's ''Fallout''. Noteworthy companion characters throughout the series include Marcus in ''[[Fallout 2]]'', Fawkes in ''Fallout 3'', Lily Bowen in ''Fallout: New Vegas'', and Strong in ''Fallout 4''. Super Mutants are available as a playable race in the ''Fallout'' tabletop roleplaying game released in 2021.<ref name=Vegas/> |
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==Cultural impact== |
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===Promotion and merchandise=== |
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Super Mutants are featured as part of a range of ''Fallout''-themed [[Funko Pop]] figurines which were first released in 2015, and are described one of the franchise's "iconic characters".<ref name=Funko>{{Cite web|last=Saed|first=Sherif|date=July 21, 2015|title=Fallout gets cute figurines featuring iconic characters|url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/07/21/fallout-gets-cute-figurines-featuring-iconic-characters/|access-date=May 28, 2021|website=VG247}}</ref> Super Mutants have been marketed as figurines for ''Fallout: Wasteland Warfare'', a [[miniatures wargame]] which adapts the ''Fallout'' universe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.modiphius.net/products/fallout-wasteland-warfare-survivors-unusual-allies|title=Fallout: Wasteland Warfare - Super Mutants: Skirmishers|website=Modiphius Entertainment|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> |
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===Critical reception and analysis=== |
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Commenting on Adamowicz's developer diary post in 2008, Joseph Leray from ''Destructoid'' praised the creative vision and art style for the Super Mutants of ''Fallout 3'' as "delightfully twisted", and said these aesthetic elements were key ingredients "that makes post-apocalyptic stories work".<ref name=Snacks>{{Cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/fallout-3-concept-art-and-dev-diary-also-snacks-86249.phtml|title=Fallout 3 concept art and dev diary: Also, snacks|last= Leray|first=Joseph|website=Destructoid |date= May 16, 2008|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> Some of the best side quests in ''Fallout 4'' according to ''The Escapist's'' Ron Whitaker involve conflicts with Super Mutants, with one that culminates in the recruitment of Strong as a companion character noted to be a highlight by Whitaker.<ref>{{cite news |title=8 Fallout 4 Side Quests You Should Definitely Seek Out|author=Ron Whitaker|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/8-fallout-4-side-quests-you-should-definitely-seek-out/|newspaper=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |date=May 26, 2017 |accessdate=May 29, 2021}}</ref> Some individual Super Mutant characters have received critical acclaim.<ref name="Paste">{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/fallout/fallouts-best-companions/|title=Fallout’s Best Companions|date= November 5, 2015 |author=Javy Gwaltney |work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste Magazine]]|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> For example, the Nightkin character Lily Bowen has been praised for her characterization and has appeared in "top" character lists, including ''Polygon's'' "The 70 best video game characters of the decade".<ref name="Greatest">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/11/27/20974490/greatest-video-game-characters-2019-2010-skyrim-witcher-splatoon|title=The 70 best video game characters of the decade|date=November 27, 2019|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Paste"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/fallout-new-vegas-companions-are-terrific-183988.phtml |
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|title=Fallout: New Vegas' companions are terrific|last= Devore|first=Jordan|website=Destructoid |date= September 15, 2010|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> |
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In a paper published by the [[University of Leicester]], Conor Appleton scaled an ordinary Super Mutant up to the size of a Behemoth and used dimensional analysis to determine the plausibility and viability of such a creature's existence.<ref name="Behemoth"/> After examining the Behemoth's physiology using in-universe data and discussing how it may be affected by gravity, Appleton concluded that it is unlikely that such a creature would survive in reality.<ref name="Behemoth"/> |
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===Fandom=== |
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Super Mutants are a recognizable element of the ''Fallout'' franchise. Some characters are particularly popular with players. Fawkes from ''Fallout 3'' was among the top-voted characters in a RPG character poll organized by IGN in 2014.<ref name="Poll1">{{cite web |url= https://www.ign.com/star-wars-knights-of-the-old-republic/85193/feature/the-ultimate-rpg-party-revealed|title=The Ultimate RPG Party Revealed|date=December 17, 2014 |work=IGN |access-date=May 29, 2020 |url-status= dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217231416/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/17/the-ultimate-rpg-party |archive-date=December 17, 2014}}</ref> Super Mutant characters and their physiology are also the subject of popular works derived from [[fan labor]], such as [[Mod (video games)|mods]], [[music video]]s and [[fan film]]s.<ref name=Strong>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/au/fallout-4-music-video-strong/|date=March 11, 2016|title=Fallout 4 music video lets super mutant Strong play you the song of his people|author=Connor Sheridan|website=GamesRadar|accessdate=May 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fallout: Nuka Break – Red Star Proves This Week’s Best Fan Film|author=Earnest Cavalli |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/fallout-nuka-break-red-star-proves-this-weeks-best-fan-film/|newspaper=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |date=July 12, 2013 |accessdate=May 29, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Preston">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/see-fallout-4s-preston-garvey-in-his-final-forma-super-mutant/|title=See Fallout 4's Preston Garvey in his final form—a super mutant|author=Christopher Livingston |date=October 8, 2019|publisher=PC Gamer|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> |
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On the other hand, the portrayal of Super Mutants following the transition of the series' ownership to Bethesda have been a source of contention for some fans. Story elements introduced in ''Fallout 3'' contradicted lore in the first ''Fallout'', developed by series creators [[Interplay Entertainment]], which established that Super Mutants were originally created by the Master in 2103, while the Vault 87 FEV experiment took place in 2078.<ref name=Rewrite/> In a report about the ''Fallout'' [[fansite]], ''No Mutants Allowed'', Luke Winkie from ''Kotaku'' highlighted criticism from community members about the creative and design decisions in video games developed by Bethesda Game Studios: one aspect of contention involved the ubiquity of Super Mutants as ordinary "mob bad guys" in the early game levels of ''Fallout 3'', which departed from the perspective of escalation presented in the original games' stories, gameplay mechanics and setting.<ref name="kotaku_relent">{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/the-relentless-champions-of-classic-fallout-1715984448 |title=The Relentless Champions Of Classic Fallout |last1=Winkie |first1=Luke |date=September 29, 2015 |website=Kotaku |access-date=December 20, 2015}}</ref> The presence of Super Mutants in ''Fallout 76'' also proved to be a controversial [[Retroactive continuity|retcon]] with series fandom, as the game established that its iteration of Super Mutants is native to the region and thus unrelated to the Super Mutants in previous games.<ref name=Rewrite/><ref name=Unofficial>{{Cite web|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|date=September 13, 2017|title=An (unofficial) explanation for why super mutants are in Fallout 76 |
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|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-10-20-an-unofficial-explanation-for-why-super-mutants-are-in-fallout-76|access-date=May 29, 2021|website=Eurogamer|language=en}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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*[[Hulk]], a superhero character with similar traits |
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*[[Orc]], a similar species of cannibals and raiders associated with [[high fantasy]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.falloutwiki.com/Super_mutant Super Mutant] at [[Fallout Wiki|the ''Fallout'' Wiki]] |
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{{Fallout series}} |
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[[Category:Bethesda characters]] |
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[[Category:Fallout (series)]] |
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[[Category:Fictional monsters]] |
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[[Category:Genetically engineered characters in video games]] |
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[[Category:Microsoft antagonists]] |
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[[Category:Mutant characters in video games]] |
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[[Category:Science fiction video game characters]] |
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[[Category:Video game characters introduced in 1997]] |
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[[Category:Video game species and races]] |
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[[Category:Fictional super soldiers]] |
Revision as of 22:24, 26 April 2024
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