Political Fallout
Fallout 3 is big. Really big. You might think it's a long way to the corner store, but that's peanuts to Fallout.
There is much to love in Fallout. The world is big. The density of content is astounding. While it is a wasteland you travel through, you can't go very far without coming across some sort of landmark, mini-quest, or full fledged dungeon. There is just so much to do. So many people to talk to. Even more to shoot. You could spend over a hundred hours questing and not even touch the main story.
At the same time, the combat does get a bit repetitive. Once you're out of the early levels, and depending on which upgrades you pick, it can also become dead easy. Between levels 10 and 20 I died once, and even that one could have been avoided had I been paying attention.
This incarnation of the Fallout world does have a fascinating storyline that makes exploring and running into the occasional baddie more than worthwhile. You do get large elements of the story from the main quest, but the more time you put into exploring the more of the story you will uncover. As science fiction, it's very well done, and as you identify more and more with your character, you become part of the story yourself.
I lived in Washington D.C. for two years, which added to the enjoyment. I've been in those Metro stations. At one point I realized I wasn't using the map to get around downtown because I knew the way from living there. The retro-future spin they put on everything is an added bonus.
Fallout 3 is a big, sprawling, and wonderful RPG. The combat is a little weak at times, but the wonder of the story and beautiful, broken world more than make up for it. I'm eagerly looking forward to the DLC coming the first three months of 2009.
