Game Reviews

Fallout 3 for Xbox 360
Rated M

Destined to be a classic and still played years from now!

It finally happened. The human race succeeded in nuking itself into oblivion, and the world was reduced to a radioactive wasteland where the survivors and their descendants would struggle to eke out a living amidst radioactive fallout, roving gangs of sadistic raiders and horribly deformed mutants. Fallout 1 and 2 were released over ten years ago and took place in the remains of California and Nevada, with the player visiting the husks of famous cities like San Francisco and Reno. Fallout 3 shifts drastically to Washington DC and the first-person perspective, made famous by shooters and the Elder Scrolls series of RPGs. You reprise the roll of the lone wanderer who must this time venture into the wastes to find his or her missing scientist father. Along the way, you'll visit famous landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Capitol Building and the radioactive hole that used to be the White House. As a huge fan of the first two outings in the Fallout series, I was both pleased and disappointed with Fallout 3. On one hand, Bethesda did a great job capturing the feel of the series. There are still numerous pop culture references, and the 1950s Americana flourishes and pervasive black humor remain. The world is expansive, especially after the five DLC add-on packs, and invites tons of exploring. You can be evil incarnate, a complete angel, or a Mad Max-style amoral avenger. The choice is yours. Unfortunately, Fallout 3 is a bit easier than the first two in the series. It's easy to build a jack-of-all-trades super character, taking away from the strategic specializations you were forced to decide from in the earlier titles. The main storyline and overall writing is considerably weaker, as well. Luckily, these deficiencies are more than balanced by the sheer atmosphere and amount of locations and items in the gameworld. Fallout 3 is a must-have for anyone who appreciates classic computer RPGs that allow you to create and play the character you want. This game can be quite dark and violent, so those who are squeamish will want to steer clear. Also suggested: Fallout 1 and 2, Wasteland, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

Ian D 28
07/29/2009

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