What Keeps Me Playing - Fallout 3
By AndrewG009 2 Comments
First and foremost, Oblivion is not a bad game. It is a well-written and thought-out title that has the ability to drive any fantasy fan into a fit of immersion that has the potential to leave them drooling and sitting in a pile of awe. My primary issue with the game was that the fantasy left a lot to be desired for me as a player. I enjoy alternate titles in the genre to be sure; Lord of the Rings: Two Towers, Fable and Fable 2 are a few of my choice titles. Fantasy games are not bad, but my preference as a gamer naturally gravitates towards titles such as Fallout 3, which is why my initial predisposition is quite obvious as this point. But, I never once in this article want to knock Oblivion. Bethesda knows what their doing when it comes to games.
I’ve played Fallout, Fallout 2, Tactics and even Brotherhood of Steel. Before the Fallout series came into being, the post-apocalyptic world was never done so well. The original Fallout was designed to be a dungeon crawling role-playing game, in the same vein as Blizzard’s Diablo and Interplay's Wasteland. The exception here was that the entire world felt like a dungeon dungeon to me, always leaving the player feeling, in some capacity, at the mercy of the game world. This constant danger not only persisted to keep the player feeling vulnerable, but in that susceptibility, created a genuinely entertaining environment. The constant challenge on the horizon is one of the prime appeals of the Fallout series. However, Fallout 3 was altered with formulaic precision from its predecessors, without subtracting the elements that, in my opinion, made it enjoyable.
The opening cinematic sets the stage to submerges the player into the post-apocalyptic world. From the moment the player is born in Vault 101, takes the G.O.A.T exam and subsequently escapes into the wasteland around what was Washington D.C. Bethesda seemingly has thought of everything. Character customization is spot on, allowing for players to create themselves in virtually any image they choose. Additional creation is extrapolated following the S.P.E.C.I.A.L process and the G.O.A.T exam that gives the player the abilities they’ll come to rely on later in the game. While being the training level that essentially establishes many of the rules for the player this is never done in a way that feels tedious and remains interesting enough to get the player through the vault. Even prior to the final escape, the player is given the opportunity to make last minute changes. Pending the player’s satisfaction, the character sets foot out into the wasteland.
Though wandering through the wasteland, at times for hours, the game never feels tiresome. Whether intended or not, Bethesda created a universe that allows the player to feel like an explorer. Random encounters with creatures, mutants and wasteland inhabitants, friendly or not, create a vast world that doesn’t cease to be remarkable. In particular, when discovering a new location, there is a satisfying ‘Cha-ching!’ sound and an on-screen prompt notifying the player where exactly they have found themselves. I find this tremendously compelling given that this occurs before the player even starts to investigate the settlement and intermingle with the populace. Coupled with branching dialogue options as well as the actions afforded the player, regardless of playing good or evil, provide the gamer numerous prospects to experience the game from an assortment of perspectives. In-game quests, be they downloadable content, side or mainstream, further provide the player with a plethora of fun and compelling content to sink their teeth into and keep the gaming community playing this game. Very much like a pusher, this title gives you the main quest from what you receive in the box of Fallout 3. But if you want more content, gameplay or achievements, then you have to pay. So far, four additional packs of content have been released and the ending of the main quest has been effectively removed. Theoretically, if Bethesda continues to create downloadable content, players can effectively play Fallout 3, wandering through the wasteland, until Fallout 4 is released or the end of time, whichever occurs first.
Shaping a universe is never easy, be it Oblivion or Fallout, but Bethesda handled it in such a way that was convincing and stood out in an extraordinary way. They crafted and molded a science fiction oriented world that pulls the player in and immerses them in a post-apocalyptic future. Regardless of the previous incarnations of Fallout, the game is accessible for those seeking to play, but crafted in such a way as to interest those who have been playing for years, while still paying service to the Fallout faithful. But with the chance offered to play multiple times, be it good, evil or neutral, through the title, I believe that coupled with the various perks and abilities the longevity of the game is assured. Additionally, with the commitment Bethesda has professed with downloadable content continued play has been cemented with relative certainty. Thus, with all the extras on top of the initial package received upon purchase, there is enough content for any willing gamer to supersede the one-hundred hour gameplay estimate and explore every last facet of a world Bethesda has created.
--Andrew
Guns and 50's music.