Fallout 3
Back in the mid 90s Black Isle created the post apocalyptic series Fallout. It's been eleven years since the release of Fallout 2, and the game has never had a true third title. With Black Isle out of business Bethesda, the makers of Oblivion and oddly many bowling games, took over the Fallout series. In the Black Isle games it was a point and click, PC, turn based RPG. Bethesda turned it all around making it more of a shooter, and more of a first/third person RPG. While fans didn't like that, it was a change i liked. I've only played a little bit of the other games, and plan to play more sometime, but the one thing that I truly loved about Bethesda's game was how true they were to the other games. All the way from the gritty dirty world of the Vaults to the depressing world that made the first two such classics. And truly that's what Fallout 3 is, a classic, weather you want to sit there and dis on its many flaw or how it's not true to the series, it's a hell of a game.
Fallout 3 does have a pretty fantastic story, which I think could easy be over looked. Bethesda gives you so much to do that the story itself can become a side quest, and I know that sounds weird, but I've played the game three times and on my third play through I played for about 30hours before I really ever started the story. Your man focus on the game is to
As the other two games, Fallout 3 has perks. Though in the others you get some better ones to start out with then in Fallout 3. In Fallout, you get to start out with the Bloody Mess perk, which is my favorite. Perks are basically your new abilities gained. Though they are totally optional, you can pick the same ones kinda over and over, and never get deep into them, which is the dumbest thing you could do though. Perks are extremely useful. They'll give you the ability to carry more weapons, eat people, be able to drink water and the list goes on. One thing that kinda effects your perks is how much points you have into your S.P.E.C.I.A.L and your skills. Skills are your ability to shoot, sneak, lower prices and more. Depending on how many points you have in a certain skill might unlock a perk you couldn't get before. Which adds the incentive of being diverse with your choices with that. To me, perks are the coolest thing in the game.
You'll do a good amount of random walking in the game. Which is the best way to play Fallout 3, you can stumble on random towns, like Andale, or meet people you never thought were in the game. If you don't do this, and just do the main story and some side quest, then take the game out and never play it. Because you're completely ruining the true experience of the game. I won't say anything about the random encounters I have had, because you really have to encounter then for yourself. While traveling the Wastes you can listen to the radio, which I always did. I like the songs and Three Dog is pretty entertaining. I understand that plays on the radios are repetitive but at least there's something in there to listen to. Though the music, not played on the radios, are very good and fit perfectly into the game.
I could go on and say much more about this game and how much I loved it. It is up there as one of my all time favorite games, the replay value is through the roof and the fun factor is as well (bad joke). Yes Fallout 3 is over a year old, but if you haven't picked it up, do it, if you don't like RPGs it doesn't matter, I never play them but I still enjoyed myself very much.