Available On: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Format Reviewed: Xbox 360 Publisher: Bethesda Developer: Bethesda Players: 1 Online: 0

Fans have been waiting for almost 10 years for a true sequel to the cult classic post-apocalyptic RPG PC game, Fallout. The first game in the series released in 1997 with a sequel following on in 1998, but it has taken until now for someone to make the brave move and produce a third game in the series. I say brave because the Fallout series has a legion of very passionate, dedicated, and die-hard fans who will be banging at the doors of Bethesda’s offices with flaming torches in hand, baying for blood should they not do the cult RPG justice. But if anyone could do justice it has to be Bethesda right? Well, read on to find out…

It’s more than obvious that gamers the world over will draw comparisons from Bethesda’s acclaimed Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, after all it’s still one of, if not the, best console RPG’s ever created. Since Fallout 3 uses an updated Gamebryo engine, the one used for Oblivion, it’s easy to see why. But Fallout 3 is much more than just being a post-apocalyptic Oblivion with guns, as many have suggested. From the moment Ron Pearlman utters the classic words “War, war never changes!” Fallout fans will know they are back in familiar territory.

It’s hard to talk about Fallout 3 without giving away any plot details or many of the game’s surprises. For those that have never played a Fallout game let me give you a little background. The Fallout series are set in an alternative version of a late 22nd Century, which in turn is themed around the post-World War II nuclear paranoia of the 1950’s. In 2077 The Great War took place, a nuclear war that occurred on October 23, which caused immense destruction. Huge Vaults were designed by the Vault-Tec Corporation as public bomb shelters capable of supporting up to 1000 people. The people living inside these Vaults became known as vault dwellers.

Fallout 3 takes place in the year 2277, 30 years after the events in Fallout 2 and has you starting off by being born in Vault 101. This first part of the game is all about building your character, defining your traits and skills, and acts as a tutorial. I can honestly say that this is one of the most gripping tutorials and introductions to a game I have ever experienced. From the very first book you read through to the G.O.A.T personality test you take when you turn 16 is truly engrossing.

Not long into your teen years and things take a turn for the worse, what that is you will have to find out for yourself. But this leads to you having to leave the comfort and safety of Vault 101 and explore the toxic and irradiated wastelands of post-apocalyptic Washington DC. Just like in Oblivion when you leave the dungeon for the first time, leaving the vault has that same WOW factor. Seeing the twisted and barren landscape full of destruction left in the wake of numerous nuclear strikes is a true site to behold. But the best thing is, what you do next is entirely up to you.

You can choose to help, or destroy, the people of a near-by make-shift town called Megaton, or maybe explore the wastes and take advantage of some early scavenging opportunities. Exploring is the key to Fallout 3 and it’s certainly a landscape that will make you want to explore every inch. The environment is unlike the repetitive empty forests and grassy glades of Oblivion, this is a world rich in detail, interesting features, and mutated beasts. It never feels repetitive which makes every trip across the wastelands an exploration in itself.

Bethesda have certainly done their homework when creating the world too. Anyone fortunate enough to have played any of the previous Fallout games will know exactly what I mean. The location of Washington DC fits in with the same look and feel of the locations in the first two games. This is a game that has been crafted with loving care and in turn feels like a homage to the original games. Although Fallout veterans will feel at home here those new to the series will also get the exact same feeling. OK, so Bethesda have had to take a few small liberties here and there when creating certain items in the game, but that is only to make them work better which they certainly do.

The game can be played from either a third person or first person perspective, I preferred the first-person view myself but that is just a matter of taste. Same as the combat, you can play through Fallout 3 either as a standard shooter or you can use the pseudo-style turn-based combat system called the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S. for short. When encountering an enemy a quick tap of the button will pause the game, this then allows you to target specific regions on the enemy. For example, upon encountering a mutant out for my blood I enter V.A.T.S. I then target the mutant’s body and have a 96% chance of hitting, so I press the fire button, I can then go on to target his legs, arms, head, or weapon, should I wish. This can be done as long as you have time remaining which is displayed at the bottom right of the HUD. Once I am happy with my targeted regions I hit the action button and watch it play out in super-gory detail.

The V.A.T.S system works extraordinarily well and never gets tiring to watch. Seeing the red mist spray from an enemy wound, or seeing chunks of bone, skull, and flesh separate in glorious fashion from a well placed headshot really has an impact upon the emotions. But once again, saying anymore will simply ruin the surprise and impact it has on you when you first witness this beautiful ballet of gore.

As with most RPG style games these days you can go down the good or evil path. Depending on how you talk to people you meet, the decisions you make, and who you kill or save determines the ending of the game. Talking of endings it has been touted that there are over 500 possible endings, although I believe these are only slight tweaks to the end cinematic based on decisions made. Playing the game through as a nefarious type I had the most fun, but then I also missed a few of the side missions due to being a bad guy. Playing as a good guy made for a better gaming experience and made me think about what I was doing a lot more. The important thing is that the game feels so different based on those all important decisions.

I seriously can’t fault Fallout 3 in any shape or form. It offers great game play, looks stunning, full of quirky features that actually do something other than just being gimmicks, and an amusing soundtrack. To find out what I mean by that amusing soundtrack comment you will have to tune your Pip-Boy into the various radio stations. Which brings me nicely onto the Pip-Boy. When you reach your tenth Birthday you get given your very first Pip-Boy, a device that connects to your arm and aids in all manner of tasks. This has the maps of your locations, stats, objectives, inventory, and much more useful information. It really is a fully functioning tool that you will soon learn to rely on on a regular basis.

Overall Fallout 3 is a credit to the Fallout series and a credit to the guys and girls at Bethesda. There is a saying that the best things come to those who wait. In this case the long wait for the next installment in the Fallout series was certainly worth it. That is all I can say and keep it spoiler-free, so if you want to know more about the game then the simple answer I will give you is… Go buy Fallout 3 now, you won’t regret it!

A true classic, must have title!