Fallout 3, My Review (spoiler free!)

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
It's finally up! I worked pretty hard on this and have been waiting to get this to you guys.

Here is a snip:
Just a few feet in front of me stands a balding, wiry man who wants to kill me. He snaps at me with a loathsome tone for asking a line of ethical questions about his occupation of slave trader. Sun-weathered skin cracks around his mouth as he barks "get yer ass out of here if you don't like it then!" I relent and cool him down a bit. I inform him that I would like to inspect and possibly acquire several of his goods, but I am swiftly denied.

Perhaps he knows of my true intent, to rescue two children who have recently vanished from a neighboring shantytown. He hints to me that I can gain entrance to his slave pen if I offer him the right sum of caps, which are the legal tender in the Wastelands. Better yet, giving him a slave from a nearby town might improve my odds. I question whether I should even continue this harrowing discussion as I eye the road behind me.

I notice a raggedy man in a hockey mask standing behind him, holding a rifle. I quickly pull out my combat shotgun and literally blow the balding slaver's head right off. The grunt in the background raises that shotgun of his, but I put an end to things before he can even pull the trigger. I have found a more favorable solution and fashioned my own means of entry outside of the dialog tree. I'll continue my search for those kids, but first I'll pick these bodies clean of munitions and rations. This was my way of doing things in one of the numerous side-quests in Bethesda's long-awaited and skeptically-approached take on the Fallout franchise, Fallout 3.

http://arstechnica.com/reviews...s/fallout-3-review.ars

Enjoy. :)
 

oznerol

Platinum Member
Apr 29, 2002
2,476
0
76
www.lorenzoisawesome.com
Oh, you geyed it to us, good.

Edit: Less funny now with edits. Still a good article.

Actually, it's a very good article - and it covers some of the differences between Oblivion that I've yet to encounter in the game. Good stuff. Didn't know they took out the auto-leveling, but also didn't know there was no "mount" - was expecting a car of some sort.

Looking forward to getting the dog.

Also, this probably should have been posted in the Fallout 3 thread.
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
Originally posted by: ducci
Oh, you geyed it to us, good.

Edit: Less funny now with edits. Still a good article.

Actually, it's a very good article - and it covers some of the differences between Oblivion that I've yet to encounter in the game. Good stuff. Didn't know they took out the auto-leveling, but also didn't know there was no "mount" - was expecting a car of some sort.

Looking forward to getting the dog.

Also, this probably should have been posted in the Fallout 3 thread.

Thanks for hte kind words man. I didnt post it in the main thread because it would get buried quickly and I worked really hard on this piece. :p

Yes, the "gey" was removed! :laugh:
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
Thanks for the great review. I must own this game! I was an Oblivion whore, putting over 160 hours into Oblivion and Shivering Isles, so this is a must for me. Now to convince the wife that I should be able to shell out $60 on a game this payday.....
 

R Nilla

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2006
3,835
1
0
:thumbsup: Well-written and nicely done. Reading this review isn't helping me put off Fallout 3 until later in November or as an Xmas gift.

Oh, and:

To sweeten the pot, Fallout 3 offers over 200 variant endings for a tailor-made finale that cleverly incorporates screenshots taken throughout your game.
:Q
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
Originally posted by: trmiv
Thanks for the great review. I must own this game! I was an Oblivion whore, putting over 160 hours into Oblivion and Shivering Isles, so this is a must for me. Now to convince the wife that I should be able to shell out $60 on a game this payday.....

Overall I enjoyed F3 more than Oblivion (if that wasnt obvious from the review).

The variety in narrative/loctions is stunning--but seeing it all will require a large chunk of time. I want to go back and play it right now, but I just have other things on my plate.
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
Originally posted by: R Nilla
:thumbsup: Well-written and nicely done. Reading this review isn't helping me put off Fallout 3 until later in November or as an Xmas gift.

Oh, and:

To sweeten the pot, Fallout 3 offers over 200 variant endings for a tailor-made finale that cleverly incorporates screenshots taken throughout your game.
:Q


Thanks Nilla. Yes the customized ending is definitely a :shocked: moment.
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
That review was spectacular. Nice work.

My only real dilemma now is deciding whether to buy it for PC or 360.

PC = Mods, but less graphical and animated performance with my rig.
360 = Rockin HDTV and graphical stability, but no mods.


SO HARD TO CHOOSE!
 

R Nilla

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2006
3,835
1
0
Originally posted by: Xavier434
That review was spectacular. Nice work.

My only real dilemma now is deciding whether to buy it for PC or 360.

PC = Mods, but less graphical and animated performance with my rig.
360 = Rockin HDTV and graphical stability, but no mods.


SO HARD TO CHOOSE!

I'd think 360 first, then PC later at a discounted price once there are a lot of worthwhile mods available. At least, that's what I'd do if I had a PC that was even remotely capable of playing this game.

I wonder how soon a mod to make the pipboy take up the whole screen will appear.
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
Originally posted by: R Nilla
Originally posted by: Xavier434
That review was spectacular. Nice work.

My only real dilemma now is deciding whether to buy it for PC or 360.

PC = Mods, but less graphical and animated performance with my rig.
360 = Rockin HDTV and graphical stability, but no mods.


SO HARD TO CHOOSE!

I'd think 360 first, then PC later at a discounted price once there are a lot of worthwhile mods available. At least, that's what I'd do if I had a PC that was even remotely capable of playing this game.

I wonder how soon a mod to make the pipboy take up the whole screen will appear.

Ya, I am leaning towards that too. As it stands, there is no guarantee that I will want to use many mods but it is guaranteed that I want to play Fallout 3 as is right now and I want it to both look and run perfectly.
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
Originally posted by: Xavier434
That review was spectacular. Nice work.

My only real dilemma now is deciding whether to buy it for PC or 360.

PC = Mods, but less graphical and animated performance with my rig.
360 = Rockin HDTV and graphical stability, but no mods.


SO HARD TO CHOOSE!

I would just recommend the 360. With the VATS system, combat on a gamepay is a non-issue . Also, the game looks really good on the 360.
 

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
Originally posted by: warcrow
Originally posted by: Xavier434
That review was spectacular. Nice work.

My only real dilemma now is deciding whether to buy it for PC or 360.

PC = Mods, but less graphical and animated performance with my rig.
360 = Rockin HDTV and graphical stability, but no mods.


SO HARD TO CHOOSE!

I would just recommend the 360. With the VATS system, combat on a gamepay is a non-issue . Also, the game looks really good on the 360.

Only problem is that VATS uses action points, and action points take some time to recharge. So you can't go fully turn-based. However, that's compensated for because you take no damage while you're in VATS. You can even take a few potshots at the enemy while you're waiting for your APs to recharge.

Myself, I got it for the 360 mainly because I don't like having to deal with the little problems that always seem to crop up when I play a PC game. Not to mention the DRM, installing it, and it's just less comfortable to play that way.
 

erwos

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2005
4,778
0
76
Well, one other thing that makes VATS handy is that it centers your reticule on the target of your choice. If they're polite enough to stand still or not move too fast, that's enough for shooting them in real-time.
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
Only problem is that VATS uses action points, and action points take some time to recharge. So you can't go fully turn-based. However, that's compensated for because you take no damage while you're in VATS. You can even take a few potshots at the enemy while you're waiting for your APs to recharge.

Myself, I got it for the 360 mainly because I don't like having to deal with the little problems that always seem to crop up when I play a PC game. Not to mention the DRM, installing it, and it's just less comfortable to play that way.

I thought that Fallout 3 doesn't have DRM? Or are you referring to PC games in general?
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
Originally posted by: warcrow
Originally posted by: Xavier434
That review was spectacular. Nice work.

My only real dilemma now is deciding whether to buy it for PC or 360.

PC = Mods, but less graphical and animated performance with my rig.
360 = Rockin HDTV and graphical stability, but no mods.


SO HARD TO CHOOSE!

I would just recommend the 360. With the VATS system, combat on a gamepay is a non-issue . Also, the game looks really good on the 360.

Only problem is that VATS uses action points, and action points take some time to recharge. So you can't go fully turn-based. However, that's compensated for because you take no damage while you're in VATS. You can even take a few potshots at the enemy while you're waiting for your APs to recharge.


Yup--that's basically what I said it my review. :)
 

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
Originally posted by: Xavier434
Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
Only problem is that VATS uses action points, and action points take some time to recharge. So you can't go fully turn-based. However, that's compensated for because you take no damage while you're in VATS. You can even take a few potshots at the enemy while you're waiting for your APs to recharge.

Myself, I got it for the 360 mainly because I don't like having to deal with the little problems that always seem to crop up when I play a PC game. Not to mention the DRM, installing it, and it's just less comfortable to play that way.

I thought that Fallout 3 doesn't have DRM? Or are you referring to PC games in general?

Maybe it doesn't. I didn't really look into it. I had other reasons for choosing the 360 version anyway.

Ha! Interesting that DRM has become so pervasive and intrusive that even DRM-free games have reduced sales.
 

SpanishFry

Platinum Member
Nov 3, 2001
2,965
0
0
will i be left out having never played the first 2?

I have no idea what the references are to VATS, APs, auto-level, etc.
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
0
Originally posted by: SpanishFry
will i be left out having never played the first 2?

I have no idea what the references are to VATS, APs, auto-level, etc.

Nope. Not at all. Any kind of familiarity with western RPGs will help though.
 

Dorkenstein

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2004
3,554
0
0
You don't have to play the first two to like this game. If you had played the first two you would only recognize certain items and history, and maybe chuckle at some humor. Apart from that you can dive right in. VATS is new to Fallout 3 anyway, its just a targeting system for aiming at certain body parts in combat.
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
0
Originally posted by: Dorkenstein
You don't have to play the first two to like this game. If you had played the first two you would only recognize certain items and history, and maybe chuckle at some humor. Apart from that you can dive right in. VATS is new to Fallout 3 anyway, its just a targeting system for aiming at certain body parts in combat.

Aiming for certain body parts was used in 1 & 2 as well. VATS is Bethesda's way of taking the targeting system from Fallout 1 & 2 and finding a way to use it in the style they went with for Fallout 3.
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
Originally posted by: SpanishFry
will i be left out having never played the first 2?

I have no idea what the references are to VATS, APs, auto-level, etc.

My review explains all of that and includes this:

"Despite the fact that this is my first experience with a Fallout game, I was completely enthralled with story and game play, the plot of which I have been careful to barely mention at all."