Fallout, a name that has been etched into the pages of history much like its sibling The Elder Scrolls. There is simply too much to cover when it comes to games like this so i'll endeavour to be as short and concise as possible while also covering the basics. In addition i'll write a brief personal opinion on each of Fallout 3's DLC's so you can know what to expect. Now Fallout 3 is a little dated now considering it's running off a modified engine that powered Oblivion, but after going back and playing this again for about the fourth run-through I've established it's not about the flashy graphics, it's about the experience and atmosphere Fallout 3 offers. Bethesda did a remarkable job creating the Fallout world the way they did and for it was definitely one of those life changing games. The sheer level of just how immersive this game was for its time back in 2008 was brilliant and the DLC's only further strengthened the experience.
So for those who don't know or can't remember here's a brief recap about the main story line and the world of Fallout 3. You are the Lone Wanderer, a lost soul who after escaping from Vault 101 pursues his/her father's footsteps in bringing life back to the vast ruins of the Capital Wasteland. These vaults were scattered across the land in preparation for the inevitable nuclear holocausts of future wars, many of its inhabitants chose to live in these vaults for generations rather than face the harsh reality of the outside world. Many of the outsiders now have become divided into two major factions, the Brotherhood of Steel, who fight for the freedom of the people and wish to save the Capital Wasteland, and the Enclave lead by President Eden who wishes to see the world purged of all these outcasts and 'imperfect' people. Only you, the Lone Wanderer, can decide that fate of the Capital Wasteland and only through your actions will the future of this bleak chapter in history be written.
The gameplay in Fallout in my personal opinion was flawless and even with the implementation of the V.A.T.S. I still found it exceptionally fun. Inventory management, gun and apparel degradation and the slue of collectibles and special weapons all added to the great atmosphere of the game and made exploration so very rewarding! There was definitely mixed opinions regarding V.A.T.S. being that it was a crutch and did slow down gameplay but the great thing is that it was all optional. For those who are unfamiliar with what V.A.T.S. is, essentially it's a mechanic in which you pause combat and can tactfully damage or kill your enemies using energy; think of it as magic (MP) that gradually restores over time much like any other RPG. The vast world had many locations to explore and secrets to find. Much like Skyrim it was one if those games where you could just walk for hours across the wastes encountering many interesting characters and animals.
Veteran players will know that taking on Death Claws early in the game is suicide making the game just that little but more immersive as not every area is fair game. Traversing the treacherous wastes can be as simple as just walking from here to there however the city itself can only be reached via mazes of subway tunnels which while interesting at first can become a little repetitive after a while. Many Super Mutants roam the Washington ruins and make for some intense street stand offs at times. From Megaton to Rivet City to Raven Rock there's always interesting places to explore that offer either unique weapons, armour, characters and even side quests. Playing through again I still have my old favourites in terms of guns and armour, the good old Terrible Shotgun still provides me with hours of entertainment. Coupled with this and the level if perks and upgrades you can achieve it makes for a very fun adventure that all gamers should at least play once in their lifetime.
Fallout 3 E3 2008 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYZpR51XgW0
Broken Steel:
So here's a quick little review on each of the DLC's so you know what to expect. Broken Steel takes directly after the main storyline ends, providing you have the DLC installed. After the fall of the Enclave in the Capital Wasteland, should you decide to side with the Brotherhood, you will assist in one final mission to rid the world of the Enclave resistance. Ultimately you will travel to new areas outside of the current game to a mobile Enclave platform that you must infiltrate and destroy. This DLC can become a little frustrating at times as it is exceptionally easy to get over burdened by Enclave soldiers, especially on the harder settings. As the first DLC installment to the game it will raise the level cap by ten and also add extra types of weapons, characters and enemies all across the Capital Wasteland. Overall though Broken Steel is a fun five hour add on that ties up the main story line cleanly while also allowing you to see the fruits of your fathers work and what he wanted to achieve.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-19LLwhs9E
Operation Anchorage:
Now here is where the DLC starts to get really fun and changes course from the main story. After receiving a distress call from some Brotherhood outcasts you discover that they seek the weapons within an old armoury hidden in the Capital ruins but are unable to access the vault. In order to do so you must complete the armoury's simulation of the Battle of Anchorage against the Chinese. In the simulation you are taken to the rocky cliffs and snow covered plains of Alaska where you are introduced to new weapons, skills and enemies, the hardest being the Chinese stealth soldiers who are capable of using cloaking methods and deadly katana attacks. The DLC again lasts for about a lengthy five to six hours which is great considering the content and rewards you can reap from the armoury in the end. Overall I think this add-on is great as it shows the level of variety that can be put into the Fallout universe and is a fun little adventure to add to its existing rich history.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOHXl3NYOOw
The Pitt:
Now here's where the DL to starts amp up and get quite difficult in terms of the choices you make and the experience required. I recommend being a higher level for The Pitt and the two DLC's to follow as it's just going to be a little less frustrating for you. Generally I play the game in the order I've listed the DLC's post main quest. So getting back to it, The Pitt is to the far north and is a new area entirely to explore. You'll receive a distress call from Wernher, a man who hails from the north and speaks of a distant city lead by ruthless slavers. You must pose as a slave and investigate the rumours that a cure has been discovered for the plague that has been surrounding the city for years. Ultimately you can decide in the end to help the slaves or the slavers and the outcome of The Pitt. It's a short DLC that can be completed in less than five hours but there is a fair chuck of exploration and new weapons and armour to find so it can easily become a lengthy experience.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWzcjYaXjhA
Point Lookout:
Easily my most favourite DLC just because there is so much content and world to explore. At any point after installing this DLC you can head to a boat moored in the southern part of the Capital Wasteland which will take you to Point Lookout. Far to the south you will be greeted with beaches and thick intense swampland as far as the eye can see, after all Point Lookout's area is about one-fifth the size of the Capital Wasteland! There's a great deal to explore and lots of side quests, such as pursuing the trail of a long dead Chinese spy. The main quest you'' be presented with is the feud going on between two scientists Desmond, a surviving ghoul, and Calvert a brain that survives in a jar. The main story is a little wacky with some dark humour thrown in but it's fun to say the least. The main purpose I feel of Point Lookout was to add an additional area to the Fallout 3 world with rich content and a creepy dark surrounding it. I still travel back just to endlessly wander the swamps and it's still just as fun!
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nirmblvcPHc
Mothership Zeta:
Finally there is Mothership Zeta, the last DLC in the Fallout 3 universe. As you can tell by the name this game involves aliens and spaceships, sounds good in theory yes? Well Mothership Zeta is a lot of fun and I enjoyed it but what brings it down is the level of repetitiveness. After investigating a crashed alien spacecraft on Earth you are teleported to this distant ship in outer space. The objective of Mothership Zeta is to escape the spaceship and wipe out the aliens before they destroy Earth; a interesting premise in a Fallout game but still easy to wrap your head around. While there are new outfits and a slue of weapons to collect it still manages to get a little bogged down. At first it's a lively change to the rubble of the capital Wasteland but once you've seen one alien test chamber you've seen them all. Now don't judge it too much, it is heaps of fun but just go into the game with a level head and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iwFhq57o-M
I hope you've all enjoyed this lengthy Fallout 3 review, next I'll touch on Fallout new Vegas and why it didn't receive the praise it was hoping for, as well as all the DLC's too of course. Everyone should definitely play Fallout 3 at least once in their lifetimes as it is one of those life changing games. It's fun, addictive and there's always going to be something new to surprise you. Have fun!
Platforms: PC, PS3 & 360
Score: 9.7 / 10
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