Introduction
Score: N/A
The Fallout series has been a gaming cult classic for years. Originally debuting in 1997 by Black Isle Studios, the game was an instant hit the moment it hit shelves. The series was known for open character development, strategic gameplay, dark humor, and a great wealth of post-apocalyptic lore and atmosphere. Players of the original game left the safety of an underground bunker, known as a vault, to set out into a desolate California wasteland bathed in the nuclear fallout from the Great War of 2077.
Now over a decade later, Bethesda Studios, the creators of the Elder Scrolls series, is revitalizing this old classic by bringing it both to the masses and multiple platforms. The gamer once again plays as a vault dweller searching the unknown wasteland for fame and adventure. This time the story unfolds in Washington D.C. two hundred years after the Great War. Familiar enemies and allies reemerge, the dark humor remains, and the world is still in shambles but that is the extent to which Fallout 3 replicates the originals. Gameplay has always been the crux of the series and it is in this way that Fallout 3 deviates most from the original games. It is in no way, shape or form a bad or unnecessary change but it is one that uniquely sets this game apart from both its predecessors and other modern titles.
Storyline
Score: 7/10
The basic premise of the game is that you play as a vault dweller, born and raised underground, who one day travels forth into the Washington D.C. wastes in an attempt to find your wayward father. Each section of the main quest is broken up into very specific and linear missions that lead you across the wasteland, back into your father’s arms, and against the evil remnant of the United States government – the Enclave. Unfortunately, the main story is not very engrossing. Each quest serves to introduce and familiarize the player with Fallout lore, both past and present, but fails to ever drive home any sense of urgency, importance, or emotion. Missions are extremely linear but are carefully crafted so that each quest is a unique and unforgettable experience. Overall the main quest is interesting and functional but the true attraction of the game comes through exploration.
While the main story does focus on the deeds of your daddy and your involvement in his work, the real story of the game is the one the player makes for himself. The greater Washington D.C. area is yours to explore, every inch of which is unique and interesting. Along with multiple side-quests, there are endless places to explore – including towns, junkyards, vacated vaults, abandoned factories, subway tunnels, and underground caves. It is the player’s job to create their own story but the Fallout 3 world provides endless resources to make any adventurer’s travels truly epic.
Characters
Score: 8/10
Players of the Elder Scroll series will be familiar with Bethesda’s past problems with non-playable characters. The fundamental problem is that each town in Morrowind and Oblivion is so overpopulated that every character seems be voiced by the same actor and no two non-plot related characters are very distinguishable. Fortunately, this problem has largely been addressed in Fallout 3. Because there are a limited number of populated towns and cities in the wastes of D.C., it allows each character in the Fallout 3 universe to be unique in both personality and physical appearance. Bethesda has also done a commendable job of better coaching voice actors to sound different for each character they play and it really gives the world a lot of depth and immersion because no two characters sound, look, or act the same.
Although all of Fallout 3’s characters may be detailed and interesting, they all pale in comparison to one: you. From your character’s own birth, you are able to select your own race, gender, name, and physical appearance. Along with your physical characteristics, Bethesda has employed four different character progression systems in order for the player to better define their character. Each one allows you to better define the type of character you want to be. Each system does affect your character and while there is a level 20 cap in the game, make sure to choose how to progress each system carefully because every decision is significant to gameplay.
The first of the four systems is one that has appeared frequently in modern video games but was actually a system that has been transferred over from the early Fallout games. This is the Karma system, which works as a standard morality meter. Your actions will either positively or negatively affect your karma, which will in turn affect others perception of you and consequently dialogue choices with those characters.
The second and third systems work in conjunction with one another. These systems are the SPECIAL system and the Skill system. S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stands for Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charm, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. Each one of these physical characteristics is manually set at birth and are, for the most part, permanent. Skills, on the other hand, improve with each level earned. There are thirteen skills in Fallout 3 and each one is bolstered but never limited by your character’s SPECIALs selection. For example, if your character is extremely charming, then your speech skill will take a natural boost from that attribute. However, if your character has an unnaturally low intelligence skill, it does not mean that your character’s medicine skill cannot become effective but it will start at a lower level because that particular skill is affected by the intelligence attribute.
The final system is the Perk system. This system truly separates your character apart from others moreso than any other. With every level a special passive ability, known as a perk, can be learned. Perks are unlocked based on level and certain attribute requirements but can be selected at any level-up after they have been unlocked. For example, when your character reaches level fourteen, the player can select the perk Adamantium Skeleton. This perk makes it so that your limbs receive 50% less damage than they normally would. If this perk is not selected at level fourteen, it be selected any time that character levels again. Some perks have multiple ranks. For example, only a level ten character with charisma above 5 can gain the perk Animal Friend. With this perk, no animal in the wasteland will attack you. If this perk is selected again at a later level-up, then animals will not only not attack you but will also come to your aid and protect you from enemies.
Gameplay
Score: 10/10
Gameplay has been greatly revamped since the original titles debuted over a decade ago, as well it should be. In previous incarnations of the series, players clicked on an isometric grid to move their character across both town and world maps. Battle was turned based and every move cost action points to execute. A player could not attack, reload, open his inventory, heal, or move unless he had the required action points to do so. It made gameplay slow but very strategic and rewarding. This gameplay has been replaced with a hybrid system that combines both turn based strategy and shooter elements.
While the game always plays from either a first person or over-the-shoulder third person perspective, Fallout 3 is far from a typical shooter. The standard shoot, zoom, jump, and crouch buttons are all present and mapped according to precedented shooter controls. However, with the touch of button, the player is transported into a system known as VATS (Vault-Tech Assisted Targeting System). It is a system that freezes gameplay, at any time, and allows the player to target specific areas of one or multiple opponents, to attack in succession. As with the original games, each attack spends a set number of action points which is based on the player’s agility skill. Once the bar has been completely depleted, the player must exit VATS and allow it to regenerate action points over time.
Controls
Score: 9/10
Fallout 3, with the exception of VATS, controls like any other shooter. While new to the shooter genre, Bethesda has arguably more 1st person gaming experience than any other developer in the industry. Movements and actions are tight and responsive without being touchy or overly sensitive. The only viable complaint is that, while the game controls like a shooter, it certainly does not play like one.
Graphics
Score: 8/10
While Fallout 3 will undoubtedly look different depending on the platform in which it is played, it is an undeniably beautiful piece of eye candy. Large draw distances and open environments allow for grand overviews of beautifully rendered District of Columbia wasteland. It sounds ironic but it truly makes for some gorgeous and scenic landscapes. Because the player’s attention is never on the ground below them, the player’s immediate surroundings, which are usually both bleak and uncolored, are never really noticed. Only the horizon ahead matters and in that horizon there is guaranteed to be large architecturally magnificent buildings, unique topographical landmarks, and a big beautiful sky. Bethesda shows a clear understanding of the player’s mindset and visual perspective and does a good job of playing to that strength.
Landscapes are not the only thing in Fallout 3 that are graphically impressive though. Non-playable characters and enemies alike are all rendered in amazing detail. The Fallout series has always been known for its ability to combine fictional future technology with a non-fictional 1950s appearance and Fallout 3 keeps that tradition going strong. Characters look realistic while never failing to convey Fallout 3 distinctive art style. The only real graphical drawbacks are noticeable indirectly through partially frequent game glitches and stiff facial character animation.
Sound
Score: 8/10
The music of the Fallout series has always been one of its more peculiar traditions. Because the entire concept of Fallout 3 is that, while the world continued to progress technologically, it remained in the 1950s culturally. Because this is the case, the aesthetics and music of the 1950s are ever present in the world. Through your adventures in the wastes, you will encounter various radio stations that can be played through your PipBoy3000. All of those stations play actual music from 1950s. “Maybe”, a song written and recorded in 1940 by the Ink Spots has been the cardinal song of the series since it premiered in 1997. That being said, the music fits extremely well with the environment in which it is presented. Admittedly, it sounds like a horrible concept but it really demonstrates how powerful this game’s immersion factor truly is. If only there were a larger song selection…
Unique/Extra Features
Score: 8/10
The PipBoy has always been a standard feature in the Fallout series but Fallout 3 takes it to a new level. It has always acted as an in-game menu system that functions like some odd combination between a wristwatch and a personal digital assistant. However, Fallout 3’s PipBoy3000 is an improved version of early models. The PipBoy3000 not only allows you to manage your character and equipment but also functions as a radio, digital map, quest logbook, audio tape player, and flashlight. It is an extremely convenient tool to have and one that would surely make any James Bond wannabe jealous.
Replay Value
Score: 9/10
The replay value of this game is extremely high. Four separate character customization tools (Karma, S.P.E.C.I.A.L., Skills, and Perks) all allow each new adventure to play out with entirely new and fresh experiences. While one character may be an extremely agile and evil Caucasian man who is adept at computer hacking, your next character may be a lucky Asian woman with a heart of gold, an eye like a hawk, and a hair trigger. There are literally endless possibilities on replayablity and as in Oblivion, there is more to see in the world than a thousand adventures could allow.
Overall Rating
Score: 9/10
Fallout 3 receives a 9 out of 10. Minor technical glitches and rigid facial animations cause this game to fall just short of perfection. Ironically, the game’s only other hitch is one that has been a stigma of both the Elder Scroll and Fallout series. That stigma is that it is for hardcore gamers only. The truth of the matter is that the complex gameplay systems and large open expanses may be too much for the casual gamer. Other than those minor complaints, this game is better easily one of the better buys out there on the market. The game is truly amazing and it should be owned, played, and replayed by anyone with an Xbox360, Playstation 3, or PC. Go buy it now. Stay classy, Final Fantasy Forums.
Score: N/A
The Fallout series has been a gaming cult classic for years. Originally debuting in 1997 by Black Isle Studios, the game was an instant hit the moment it hit shelves. The series was known for open character development, strategic gameplay, dark humor, and a great wealth of post-apocalyptic lore and atmosphere. Players of the original game left the safety of an underground bunker, known as a vault, to set out into a desolate California wasteland bathed in the nuclear fallout from the Great War of 2077.
Now over a decade later, Bethesda Studios, the creators of the Elder Scrolls series, is revitalizing this old classic by bringing it both to the masses and multiple platforms. The gamer once again plays as a vault dweller searching the unknown wasteland for fame and adventure. This time the story unfolds in Washington D.C. two hundred years after the Great War. Familiar enemies and allies reemerge, the dark humor remains, and the world is still in shambles but that is the extent to which Fallout 3 replicates the originals. Gameplay has always been the crux of the series and it is in this way that Fallout 3 deviates most from the original games. It is in no way, shape or form a bad or unnecessary change but it is one that uniquely sets this game apart from both its predecessors and other modern titles.
Storyline
Score: 7/10
The basic premise of the game is that you play as a vault dweller, born and raised underground, who one day travels forth into the Washington D.C. wastes in an attempt to find your wayward father. Each section of the main quest is broken up into very specific and linear missions that lead you across the wasteland, back into your father’s arms, and against the evil remnant of the United States government – the Enclave. Unfortunately, the main story is not very engrossing. Each quest serves to introduce and familiarize the player with Fallout lore, both past and present, but fails to ever drive home any sense of urgency, importance, or emotion. Missions are extremely linear but are carefully crafted so that each quest is a unique and unforgettable experience. Overall the main quest is interesting and functional but the true attraction of the game comes through exploration.
While the main story does focus on the deeds of your daddy and your involvement in his work, the real story of the game is the one the player makes for himself. The greater Washington D.C. area is yours to explore, every inch of which is unique and interesting. Along with multiple side-quests, there are endless places to explore – including towns, junkyards, vacated vaults, abandoned factories, subway tunnels, and underground caves. It is the player’s job to create their own story but the Fallout 3 world provides endless resources to make any adventurer’s travels truly epic.
Characters
Score: 8/10
Players of the Elder Scroll series will be familiar with Bethesda’s past problems with non-playable characters. The fundamental problem is that each town in Morrowind and Oblivion is so overpopulated that every character seems be voiced by the same actor and no two non-plot related characters are very distinguishable. Fortunately, this problem has largely been addressed in Fallout 3. Because there are a limited number of populated towns and cities in the wastes of D.C., it allows each character in the Fallout 3 universe to be unique in both personality and physical appearance. Bethesda has also done a commendable job of better coaching voice actors to sound different for each character they play and it really gives the world a lot of depth and immersion because no two characters sound, look, or act the same.
Although all of Fallout 3’s characters may be detailed and interesting, they all pale in comparison to one: you. From your character’s own birth, you are able to select your own race, gender, name, and physical appearance. Along with your physical characteristics, Bethesda has employed four different character progression systems in order for the player to better define their character. Each one allows you to better define the type of character you want to be. Each system does affect your character and while there is a level 20 cap in the game, make sure to choose how to progress each system carefully because every decision is significant to gameplay.
The first of the four systems is one that has appeared frequently in modern video games but was actually a system that has been transferred over from the early Fallout games. This is the Karma system, which works as a standard morality meter. Your actions will either positively or negatively affect your karma, which will in turn affect others perception of you and consequently dialogue choices with those characters.
The second and third systems work in conjunction with one another. These systems are the SPECIAL system and the Skill system. S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stands for Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charm, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. Each one of these physical characteristics is manually set at birth and are, for the most part, permanent. Skills, on the other hand, improve with each level earned. There are thirteen skills in Fallout 3 and each one is bolstered but never limited by your character’s SPECIALs selection. For example, if your character is extremely charming, then your speech skill will take a natural boost from that attribute. However, if your character has an unnaturally low intelligence skill, it does not mean that your character’s medicine skill cannot become effective but it will start at a lower level because that particular skill is affected by the intelligence attribute.
The final system is the Perk system. This system truly separates your character apart from others moreso than any other. With every level a special passive ability, known as a perk, can be learned. Perks are unlocked based on level and certain attribute requirements but can be selected at any level-up after they have been unlocked. For example, when your character reaches level fourteen, the player can select the perk Adamantium Skeleton. This perk makes it so that your limbs receive 50% less damage than they normally would. If this perk is not selected at level fourteen, it be selected any time that character levels again. Some perks have multiple ranks. For example, only a level ten character with charisma above 5 can gain the perk Animal Friend. With this perk, no animal in the wasteland will attack you. If this perk is selected again at a later level-up, then animals will not only not attack you but will also come to your aid and protect you from enemies.
Gameplay
Score: 10/10
Gameplay has been greatly revamped since the original titles debuted over a decade ago, as well it should be. In previous incarnations of the series, players clicked on an isometric grid to move their character across both town and world maps. Battle was turned based and every move cost action points to execute. A player could not attack, reload, open his inventory, heal, or move unless he had the required action points to do so. It made gameplay slow but very strategic and rewarding. This gameplay has been replaced with a hybrid system that combines both turn based strategy and shooter elements.
While the game always plays from either a first person or over-the-shoulder third person perspective, Fallout 3 is far from a typical shooter. The standard shoot, zoom, jump, and crouch buttons are all present and mapped according to precedented shooter controls. However, with the touch of button, the player is transported into a system known as VATS (Vault-Tech Assisted Targeting System). It is a system that freezes gameplay, at any time, and allows the player to target specific areas of one or multiple opponents, to attack in succession. As with the original games, each attack spends a set number of action points which is based on the player’s agility skill. Once the bar has been completely depleted, the player must exit VATS and allow it to regenerate action points over time.
Controls
Score: 9/10
Fallout 3, with the exception of VATS, controls like any other shooter. While new to the shooter genre, Bethesda has arguably more 1st person gaming experience than any other developer in the industry. Movements and actions are tight and responsive without being touchy or overly sensitive. The only viable complaint is that, while the game controls like a shooter, it certainly does not play like one.
Graphics
Score: 8/10
While Fallout 3 will undoubtedly look different depending on the platform in which it is played, it is an undeniably beautiful piece of eye candy. Large draw distances and open environments allow for grand overviews of beautifully rendered District of Columbia wasteland. It sounds ironic but it truly makes for some gorgeous and scenic landscapes. Because the player’s attention is never on the ground below them, the player’s immediate surroundings, which are usually both bleak and uncolored, are never really noticed. Only the horizon ahead matters and in that horizon there is guaranteed to be large architecturally magnificent buildings, unique topographical landmarks, and a big beautiful sky. Bethesda shows a clear understanding of the player’s mindset and visual perspective and does a good job of playing to that strength.
Landscapes are not the only thing in Fallout 3 that are graphically impressive though. Non-playable characters and enemies alike are all rendered in amazing detail. The Fallout series has always been known for its ability to combine fictional future technology with a non-fictional 1950s appearance and Fallout 3 keeps that tradition going strong. Characters look realistic while never failing to convey Fallout 3 distinctive art style. The only real graphical drawbacks are noticeable indirectly through partially frequent game glitches and stiff facial character animation.
Sound
Score: 8/10
The music of the Fallout series has always been one of its more peculiar traditions. Because the entire concept of Fallout 3 is that, while the world continued to progress technologically, it remained in the 1950s culturally. Because this is the case, the aesthetics and music of the 1950s are ever present in the world. Through your adventures in the wastes, you will encounter various radio stations that can be played through your PipBoy3000. All of those stations play actual music from 1950s. “Maybe”, a song written and recorded in 1940 by the Ink Spots has been the cardinal song of the series since it premiered in 1997. That being said, the music fits extremely well with the environment in which it is presented. Admittedly, it sounds like a horrible concept but it really demonstrates how powerful this game’s immersion factor truly is. If only there were a larger song selection…
Unique/Extra Features
Score: 8/10
The PipBoy has always been a standard feature in the Fallout series but Fallout 3 takes it to a new level. It has always acted as an in-game menu system that functions like some odd combination between a wristwatch and a personal digital assistant. However, Fallout 3’s PipBoy3000 is an improved version of early models. The PipBoy3000 not only allows you to manage your character and equipment but also functions as a radio, digital map, quest logbook, audio tape player, and flashlight. It is an extremely convenient tool to have and one that would surely make any James Bond wannabe jealous.
Replay Value
Score: 9/10
The replay value of this game is extremely high. Four separate character customization tools (Karma, S.P.E.C.I.A.L., Skills, and Perks) all allow each new adventure to play out with entirely new and fresh experiences. While one character may be an extremely agile and evil Caucasian man who is adept at computer hacking, your next character may be a lucky Asian woman with a heart of gold, an eye like a hawk, and a hair trigger. There are literally endless possibilities on replayablity and as in Oblivion, there is more to see in the world than a thousand adventures could allow.
Overall Rating
Score: 9/10
Fallout 3 receives a 9 out of 10. Minor technical glitches and rigid facial animations cause this game to fall just short of perfection. Ironically, the game’s only other hitch is one that has been a stigma of both the Elder Scroll and Fallout series. That stigma is that it is for hardcore gamers only. The truth of the matter is that the complex gameplay systems and large open expanses may be too much for the casual gamer. Other than those minor complaints, this game is better easily one of the better buys out there on the market. The game is truly amazing and it should be owned, played, and replayed by anyone with an Xbox360, Playstation 3, or PC. Go buy it now. Stay classy, Final Fantasy Forums.