Game Review: Fallout 3
War Never Changes
Andrew Scagnelli
Issue date: 11/7/08 Section: Opinion
The most telling point in my experience with "Fallout 3" is what I did immediately after the game ended: I grabbed a nice cool beverage and clicked "New Game" when the main menu returned, post-credits.
"Fallout 3," developed by Bethesda Softworks, is an odd mix of first-person shooter (FPS) and role-playing game (RPG) set in the ruined retro-future wasteland of Washington DC. Its scarred world of 1950s pop tunes and mutated horrors is the direct result of an all-out nuclear war between China and the United States in the post-World War II era. Its gameplay is a mix between the open-world roaming of Bethesda's previous masterpiece, "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion," and the Chernobyl wasteland of GSC Gameworld's "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky." The game mixes the seamless world of Oblivion with the open-ended gunplay of "Clear Sky." The unique sense of style is complemented by a series of radio stations, spewing everything from propaganda to the jaunty soundtrack of pirate radio.
New to the mix is the V.A.T.S. aiming mode, which turns "Fallout 3" into a turn based shooter. Going into this mode allows a specific body part to be targeted, and grants a substantial damage increase. Each shot takes up a certain amount of action points, which recharge over time or can be restored by a number of other methods.
One of these "other methods" that permeate throughout the game is drug use. Various non-prescription drugs can change your character stats for a period of time, with repeat use leading to addiction that can only be cured by a select few medics in the game's cities. Alcohol is also available, and will increase stats at the expense of others, and consuming too much in a short time will lead to drunkenness.
"Fallout 3" is a great game, but still left me with more than a few gripes. The game is much more focused, with some areas in the city proper being little more than corridor crawls. The presentation of the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. The main quest is shorter than in "Oblivion," by about a third. Outside of V.A.T.S. mode, the gunplay is somewhat imprecise, since it is still governed by RPG die rolls. My biggest gripe is that the game world does not open up when completing the main quest.
"Fallout 3" is well worth a full-price purchase, and should keep its players well-entertained for the months to come. Despite a few gripes, the game is very good, even after multiple trips through its main quest.
Release Date: October 28, 2008
Available On: PS3, X360, PC, Steam
ESRB Rating: Mature (Age 17) for "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs"
"Fallout 3," developed by Bethesda Softworks, is an odd mix of first-person shooter (FPS) and role-playing game (RPG) set in the ruined retro-future wasteland of Washington DC. Its scarred world of 1950s pop tunes and mutated horrors is the direct result of an all-out nuclear war between China and the United States in the post-World War II era. Its gameplay is a mix between the open-world roaming of Bethesda's previous masterpiece, "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion," and the Chernobyl wasteland of GSC Gameworld's "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky." The game mixes the seamless world of Oblivion with the open-ended gunplay of "Clear Sky." The unique sense of style is complemented by a series of radio stations, spewing everything from propaganda to the jaunty soundtrack of pirate radio.
New to the mix is the V.A.T.S. aiming mode, which turns "Fallout 3" into a turn based shooter. Going into this mode allows a specific body part to be targeted, and grants a substantial damage increase. Each shot takes up a certain amount of action points, which recharge over time or can be restored by a number of other methods.
One of these "other methods" that permeate throughout the game is drug use. Various non-prescription drugs can change your character stats for a period of time, with repeat use leading to addiction that can only be cured by a select few medics in the game's cities. Alcohol is also available, and will increase stats at the expense of others, and consuming too much in a short time will lead to drunkenness.
"Fallout 3" is a great game, but still left me with more than a few gripes. The game is much more focused, with some areas in the city proper being little more than corridor crawls. The presentation of the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. The main quest is shorter than in "Oblivion," by about a third. Outside of V.A.T.S. mode, the gunplay is somewhat imprecise, since it is still governed by RPG die rolls. My biggest gripe is that the game world does not open up when completing the main quest.
"Fallout 3" is well worth a full-price purchase, and should keep its players well-entertained for the months to come. Despite a few gripes, the game is very good, even after multiple trips through its main quest.
Release Date: October 28, 2008
Available On: PS3, X360, PC, Steam
ESRB Rating: Mature (Age 17) for "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs"