So I recently finished Fallout 3. I have to say, it is one of the best games I have played in a very very long time. If you haven't picked it up yet, go get it. In a winter season of great games, Fallout 3 stands out for me amongst greats like Left 4 Dead and Fable II. Check my review after the jump.
One of the greatest aspects of the game might be my biggest complaint. It is impossible to play this game for a half hour. I found myself loading my game to "just do a quest" and ending up playing for hours. There is nothing wrong with being so engrossed in a game that you completely lose track of time, as a matter of fact, it's great. BUT when you have other things to do such as work, studying, or giving time to family and friends or significant other, it could be a problem.
Pros:
V.A.T.S.: This system is such a huge improvement over ESIV: Oblivion, Bethesda's previous game. At first I was a bit undecided on the new fighting method. It seems as bit out of place to stop live action. Fortunately you quickly get used to it. One of the extra treats is slow-mo destruction of your targets body. It can be quite entertaining.
Length: I'm a little afraid to check how many hours I have already put into the game, but I assure you it is a lot. I am nowhere near completing the game or even 2/3s of the way through discovering every location on the map. There are so many quests and so many different ways to complete them that replay value is near endless.
Scenery: The landscape is beautifully destructed. The world outside the vault definitely looks and feels like what a post-apocalyptic world should. When you finally get to the National Mall the ruins are so well designed, enough left to make you want to visit. Be a tourist.
Gameplay: Although I was already very used to Oblivion's gameplay, I fell right in to the controls. Things become very familiar very quickly. Only complaint is this, I am embarrassed on how long it took me to realize that you have to hold donw "B" to be able to turn your light on. Something that I could definitely have used early on in the game. Maybe I should have read the directions.
Story: The story-line is fantastic. While in search of your father, I found myself truly wanted to find out what happened. What was he working on. Why did he leave me behind. I was eventually distracted by the many side quests which have their own involved story arcs. All in all, a great story.
Cons:
Leveling: One of the things I enjoyed most about Oblivion is that you were able to continue leveling up your character. Part of the replay value was to finish making your character the best he could be. Not so in Fallout. You cap at level 20. I suppose that it makes the game a little more enjoyable if you aren't some super human that can never get hurt, not to mention the strategy involved in making a character you like playing as most. Although, if you like attaining everything, seeing all the possible perks and not being able to choose them can be disheartening. Not to mention I didn't realize that you capped at 20. I would have definitely done things differently.
I do hear that the coming DLC will raise the possible level as well as include new perks.
Completing the game: Another cool aspect of Oblivion was that after you finish the game you were able to continue found quests and even find new ones. Again, this is not so in Fallout. Once you beat the game, thats it. You get an ending depending on how you played the game and then credits. I was disappointed when I wasn't able to go explore the outcomes of my decisions, finish open quests and explore the rest of the map. Of course you can always load up your save and not beat the game.
Dogmeat: After I lost my dog in Fable II I truly missed him. You get so used to having him around that you can't help but be a little sad after he's gone. On the other hand, I felt no attachment to Dogmeat. Why? First of all some bloody raiders killed him before I knew the poor pup. Secondly, I was still raw about losing my dog from Fable II. Maybe you will have a different experience. I hope you do. What is the take home message: save, save a lot.
All in all I am very impressed with the game. Any complaint was by comparing it to Bethesda's previous game. After playing what the winter offered Fallout 3 is just a cut above the rest. Go buy it if you haven't.
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