Fallout 3

[Murdock Sampson]

So I bought Fallout 3. Figured I'd write one of my really long reviews.

O... M... G...

If you want the shortened version of this so you don't have to read it all, let me just leave it at this: BUY THIS GAME.

Any and all possible complaints you could have are either invalid or trivial compared to this games greatness. My praising of this game is going to be pretty long so I'm going to break it down into sections and sub-sections.

Gameplay

Really it's quite difficult to rate this game's gameplay. Because this game can be played anyway you want. You could be a ninja, specializing in melee, stealth, and agility. You could be a brute, too stupid to even talk. You could never fire a weapon. You could never kill anyone. You can specialize in lock-picking. You can play directly through the main quest, do every side quest, or just run around with a weapon you built yourself shooting teddy bears at giant super mutants.

If you read here (http://fallout.bethsoft.com/eng/vault/diaries_diary7-10.27.08.html), you'll find descriptions of characters that a world artist for a game made up. This just shows you can specialize in anything. At some times you'll get stuck wondering what to skills to level up, but really all you have to do is specialize, you can always create a new character. And sometimes I just want to run around and collect knick-knacks.

The combat system in the game is brilliant. Although it strays from the turn-based combat system in the previous games, V.A.T.S. (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System... I think) brings back a turn-based feel, but still you can use the traditional shooting system, which is good enough for me, and should be for anyone.

"Oblivion with guns," is sometimes what this game is described as. Although this is usually a joke about the similarities between Bethesda's earlier Elderscrolls game, this shoud be enough. But really this game is so much different. Other than differences in setting, atmosphere, characters, etc. I think the story really is touchable and the feeling you get from the game is very new.

Story/Setting/Characters

The setting of Fallout 3 is still in the Fallout universe, however the story has no connections to the other Fallout games. The story is realistic and enticing, and just the look of the landscape gives you a feeling of the post-apoctalyptic atmosphere. Yes, I did say post-apoctalyptic. So it is like most other games, but it pulls it off so well. Characters are genuine and believable, which is also just super.

Graphics/Sounds

Yeah I hate that this would even matter in a game this great. The graphics are up to the standard set by gamers, so that shouldn't be a problem. Sometimes animation is a little glitchy, but that's just a NPC running into a table for a while. Sounds are... I really don't know, appropriate. I don't see how these small factors can have that much of a difference in one's opinion of the game, but even if they do, it doesn't matter because they're both great.

G.E.C.K.

I'd just like to take a chance to say that if you haven't gotten the game already and have the system requirements, consider getting this game for Windows. This is mostly because Bethesda just released a Creators Kit (Garden of Eden Creators Kit), free for download. Using this tool "users can create, modify, and edit any data for use with Fallout 3, from building landscapes, towns, and locations to writing dialogue, creating characters, weapons, creatures, and more." I think I'm going to try it out regardless of the fact that I can't use the stuff I make.



So this game gets a: Super100A+/10

Thanks for listening to my rambles!

~Sampson

[WoozyJoJo]

G.E.C.K.

Tell me after you try the G.E.C.K.. I've pretty much played the Xbox 360 version dry, and I'm considering selling it and buying it for PC, because I know good mods can make a game like fallout last 5x longer.

[CostlyAxis]

My brother got Fallout 3, and so I've been playing his copy. I haven't beaten the main story yet, but I'm level twenty and have found nearly every location. There are a few things that seem to constantly annoy me:
1. Guns just don't seem to work when they need to. (Might be my controller breaking, but I can't see that being possible the way I take care of it)
2. The menu system isn't exactly great with terrible responsiveness that gets you killed.
3. The dull colors are not my style.
4. Level twenty is as far as you can level up to.
5. Your skills do not increase by doing certain activities, only by leveling up.
6. Can't open doors while reloading, and guns that are still in good shape need to reload twice.
7. ......

However, there are also many things I like:
1. Enemies are generally fun to kill.
2. Cannibalism is an effective method to regain health. Yum!
3. Huge open world to explore.
4. Easy to make and retain caps.
5. You'll almost never run out of ammo. (If ammo had weight, I'd be screwed)
6. So many weapons to choose from, though half are useless.
7. You can unlock the cargo hold on those mutated cows. (I wonder where the key goes....)
8. ........



So, if I were to get this game, it would be for the PC. I've gotten somewhat bored of Fallout 3 already, considering I played Oblivion from dawn to dawn for two months straight. (8 a.m. - 12 a.m.)

Edit: Got Fallout 3 for the PC. :)

Edit 2: My review! (based on playing experience from the Xbox 360 and PC versions) a work in process...too bored to continue..

Gameplay:
Within a few minutes, you'll be walking around and soon after possibly running n' gunning your way out of Vault 101. Immediately, you're thrown into the massive, post-apocalyptic world of D.C. On your quests you'll be sneaking, killing, negotiating, and plotting with the locals of this world, friend and enemy alike. There's much promise with this broad approach, but how well did it work out?
Combat: Xbox 360
For the most part, combat can be the joy of this game, or the bane of it. Whether it be your guns breaking, that broken leg of yours messing up your aim, the responsiveness of the Pip-boy, or even double reloads; there is much to enjoy. Kills are generally satisfying as the carnage stacks up, and it's never disappointing to see your mini-nuke in action...unless it misses. However, with some creatures, battles are just annoying as such with the bees and Super Mutants (among other things). There are some weapons that you'll probably use only once or twice due to their complete lack of firepower, and so you'll become over-dependent on a select few. Oh yeah, don't pick a fight with a kid who has a gun, they'll win.

Combat: PC
Mods you say; a sword that kills enemies over five hundred feet away, missile launchers that fire ten missiles, pistols that make heads explode? Oh yeah it's fun with modding and console commands. With mods, the challenge of anything vanishes, and while that's fun at first, it just gets more fun as you make weapons do more and expand them such as a missile launcher that shoots laser beams. Dr. Evil would be proud.

Other than mods, combat remains the same with all the faults and glories of the Xbox 360 version.

Graphics
Outlook Xbox 360:
Playing in HD just looks beautiful with this game. The objects are detailed, and the NPCs have been improved from Oblivion giving them a more human appearance. While the Pip-boy is definitely not the greatest to see and use, you can change the color to help. The visuals will certainly bring no disappointment when playing in HD, but playing in SD certainly doesn't help with the menu system.

Outlook PC:
Now I have a Pentium 4 3.2 GHz processor, 3 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia 8600 graphics card, and this game still looks good (http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg94/CostlyAxis/Fallout3Sig.png). Even after sacrificing some quality for a better frame rate, the game looks just like the Xbox 360 version in SD.

Visual Design:
Fallout 3 succeeds in showing a world ravished by nuclear bombing with it's dull and un-lively coloring that is unfortunately, unappealing to the eyes. That being said, the world is still fun to explore and there are some unique architecture to see.

[mega thumbs]

i had a look at GECK and you must have a fully running fallout 3 game for the PC to start out with, but it looks good. looks like you can do quests and everything. depends if you have a fast enough computer though to run the game. my computer just isn't fast enough, and i like consoles better. but if you wanted Geck you would have to buy the pc version. your choice, it's the same game, just with different controles.

[Murdock Sampson]

My brother got Fallout 3, and so I've been playing his copy. I haven't beaten the main story yet, but I'm level twenty and have found nearly every location. There are a few things that seem to constantly annoy me:
1. Guns just don't seem to work when they need to. (Might be my controller breaking, but I can't see that being possible the way I take care of it)
2. The menu system isn't exactly great with terrible responsiveness that gets you killed.
3. The dull colors are not my style.
4. Level twenty is as far as you can level up to.
5. Your skills do not increase by doing certain activities, only by leveling up.
6. Can't open doors while reloading, and guns that are still in good shape need to reload twice.
7. ......



Yeah i noticed problems like that. I've also noticed a lot of small errors, like creatures falling threw the ground, player falling into rocks, a characters arm extending forever.

However these are generally small things and really with a world map that big, you can't expect them to playtest everything.

4 and 5, i noticed those things too. Although that strays from normal RPGs, i hate normal RPGs. and if you focus perks and skills to a group of 5-7 you won't have problems dispersing points.

And for 3, if you're talking about the HUD, you can change the colors. If you're talking about the landscape, which I'm pretty sure you are, i find they're really appropriate for the atmosphere. The colors do vary a bunch so it kinda makes up for it.

[CostlyAxis]

Yeah i noticed problems like that. I've also noticed a lot of small errors, like creatures falling threw the ground, player falling into rocks, a characters arm extending forever.

However these are generally small things and really with a world map that big, you can't expect them to playtest everything.

And for 3, if you're talking about the HUD, you can change the colors. If you're talking about the landscape, which I'm pretty sure you are, i find they're really appropriate for the atmosphere. The colors do vary a bunch so it kinda makes up for it.
I did focus my skills to a set of about eight or nine, but as soon as I hit level twenty, every shortcoming of this system revealed itself. I couldn't do anything besides kill, break locks, and heal.

For the colors, I much preferred Oblivion's style of coloring, but I can understand why the colors are so bland; it's a post-apocalyptic world. The colors still aren't pleasing to see after awhile.

Another rare occurrence of a glitch was when my shotgun ricocheted off an unarmed civilian straight back into me. My brothers and I were literally staring in awe as we watched my character die in slow motion at the feet of someone who didn't even have a gun (the only other NPC that had a shotgun was dead).

P.S. Stretchy body fun :) (http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg94/CostlyAxis/ScreenShot45.jpg)

However, the PC version makes up for this in many ways. Yay swords that kill from over five hundred feet away!

[Murdock Sampson]

yeah with the GECK you can make quests and stuff so really theres no end to content.

I hate you people with functional PCs.

[CostlyAxis]

yeah with the GECK you can make quests and stuff so really theres no end to content.

I hate you people with functional PCs.
My PC was bought back in 2004. You can't tell me your computer isn't better?

DLC that will lift the maximum level cap. Hooray! (http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/937/937202p2.html).

[Null Parameter]

DLC that will lift the maximum level cap. Hooray! (http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/937/937202p2.html).
Not for PS3 :(

[CostlyAxis]

Not for PS3 :(
Why don't they ever release content on the PSN? All I've seen from Bethesda in terms of addons was Shivering Isles. However, to get the addons for the PC, I'll have to get the disk(s) or Paypal (which I don't have...)

[Null Parameter]

I'm guessing that Sony doesn't want to pay licensing fees, while Microsoft will.

[HLG Viper]

Greattttt gaamemeee,, Seriously, I love it. I haven't even played through the game yet, after like 12 hours of gameplay. One thing that annoys me and thjat seems to happen ever so often is when a texture stretches through the air covering the whole screen. It has happened 4 times for me. You can't see anything except for the ground 5 feet ahead of you, and the texture is only in one direction (i.e if i face the north, it'll appear, if i face the east, it won't bother me).

I have it for the 360 and i basically agree with sampson and his review.

[Murdock Sampson]

My PC was bought back in 2004. You can't tell me your computer isn't better?


My computer was bought in 2004, and all of its stuff says its from 2002.

Combine that with the fact that my brothers and I download a lot of crap onto this computer, and my dad has never been dedicated enough to spend money building the proper computer (with virus filters and such, and a lot more memory space), and you have my crappy computer.

I've never been able to get any PC game made after 2000 or so to work on this computer. I don't think it's been updated a lot either.

[MNM1245]

Fallout 3=God of all RPGs and GECK=Cherry on Top

[DeathDriver86]

I have to concur with your review. This game is leaps and bounds over many others as far as game-play, re-playability, and content. The DLC alone is enough reason to buy this game, as it adds so much more into the vast world that already comes with the game. If you're having second thoughts, just get it. You won't be dissapointed.

[Muahahahahaa]

However, there are also many things I like:
1. Enemies are generally fun to kill.
2. Cannibalism is an effective method to regain health. Yum!
3. Huge open world to explore.
4. Easy to make and retain caps.
5. You'll almost never run out of ammo. (If ammo had weight, I'd be screwed)
6. So many weapons to choose from, though half are useless.
7. You can unlock the cargo hold on those mutated cows. (I wonder where the key goes....)
8. ........





:scared: You forgot about Brahman tipping!!

[MNM1245]

lol you know what else is fun? MIRVing Megaton. The MIRV is just so much fun to shoot people with:D

[CostlyAxis]

lol you know what else is fun? MIRVing Megaton. The MIRV is just so much fun to shoot people with:D
I'd say shooting a special modded rocket launcher is more fun. :)
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg94/CostlyAxis/Kaboom.gif

[MNM1245]

Or the modded Minigun Rocket Launcher which shoots rockets instead of minigun bullets:D The rate of fire on it would be insane.

[DeathDriver86]

I've also seen mods of a Barret .50 cal sniper rifle in this game...with a guy popping a Deathclaw in the face with one shot, only to have it do about 39 cartwheels before landing half a mile away. Fun.

Also the Pitt DLC came out recently, played and completed it and I must say it was worth every penny. Great storyline, and pretty sweet looking goodies you can get too.