Fallout 3 Hands On Part 2
Bethesda’s take on the post apocalyptic classic. How does it play?
Tags: Fallout 3 Categories: PC Previews, PS3 Previews, Previews, Xbox 360 Previews
Posted by Mike "Two Tone" McConnell on Sep 28th, 2008
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Fallout is one of the most beloved series in all of gaming. The tales of post-apocalyptic America were unrivaled in both depth and freedom. A classic RPG character system gave a lot of skill customizations. At the demise of developer Black Isle, fans lamented the death of the franchise. When they heard that Bethesda was going to pick up the series, well let’s just say the phrase: “Oblivion with guns” was tossed out far more than was really necessary, but it was understandable as they had burned enough by Interplay with a couple of disappointing spin-offs.
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With a mix of trepidation and excitement, I finally got my hands on Fallout 3. The SPECIAL system is intact, and your character design will be nearly identical to the original games. This was a huge relief, as character design was such a huge part of the series’ aesthetic. By putting the game into first person perspective and removing the turn based action changes the dynamic considerably. It was good to see that some of the core of the original games and gameplay was still there.
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Once you find yourself making your way from the Vault you’ll realize that this is a far different world than earlier titles. I mean “Oblivion with guns isn’t that far off”, but that system allows for a level of detail that the old games never achieved. When you emerge into the daylight for the first time to see the ruins and wastelands stretch off in every direction, it’s astounding. No more traveling by Red Line, on a darkened Pip Boy map.
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Speaking of the Pip Boy, it has been upgraded and enhanced. It is still the center of your world in Fallout, allowing you to check your map, stats, and look up the information on your current quests. And as a strange addition, there are now lone voices broadcasting in the wastes, As you emerge from the vault you can find a radio station that plays the signature sounds of the Fallout Universe: doo wop and jazz.
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Combat is entirely different from the first two games in the series. Essentially the engine is a first person shooter or an action game that seems to be simplified, losing all of the tactical elements from Fallout and Fallout 2. For long time fans this is going to be a bit of a disappointment. What it does retain is the aimed shots, now termed the VATS system. Essentially you press a button and the familiar system pops in, allowing you to spend the rest of your available Action Points on combat, aiming at specific areas of the body. It is possible to take out certain sections of an opponent’s body and cripple them by taking out their legs or simply shooting off their heads. Each body part will have a percentage of an accurate hit and players will have to choose how they want their shots to be played out. Then these shots are acted out in slow motion, displaying the bloody kills the games were famous for. It isn’t something you’ll use all the time, but it allows for some crucial strategy that sweetens the pot.
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This may not be something that everyone is going to understand as a downside. In the original games, you could easily just slaughter your way through the game. This usually branded you as the sort of scoundrel that people would best avoid, but it was always a play style you had to try. Fallout 3 does not allow for this strategy, you will quickly be put in your place.
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Fallout 3 changes the game from its roots entirely. It is a mixed bag, as nostalgic fans will only be appeased by the setting, and then the actual RPG system. As it is all still there going on in real time, the scope of the landscape and the rich detail of it will amaze even the most hardened cynic. Bethesda has given us their take on the Fallout universe, and it may not be perfect, but it is certainly a good “next” step in the franchise.
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Tags: Fallout 3
Posted by Mike "Two Tone" McConnell on Sep 28th, 2008 and is filed under PC Previews, PS3 Previews, Previews, Xbox 360 Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
