Awesome Graphics: Fallout 3
Well readers, ‘tis the season for sequels and in this case, we have an awesome 3rd installment with Fallout 3.
Before I start, I want everyone to know that I am unfamiliar with Fallout 1 and 2 so I don’t know how the games tie together, if they do at all.
Fallout 3 starts with a grim prologue; the year was 2077 when the human race decided it would be a good idea to unleash their nuclear weapons onto the world. Needless to say, the world became a wasteland and civilization as we know it came to a halt. But there were fallout shelters, called vaults, where many survivors took refuge. This is where you were born.
The game starts with your birth where you determine what gender you are and what you will look like when you grow up. Then the game takes you through your adolescence, learning skills that will help you later in the game. On your 19th birthday you find out that your father has escaped the vault (which is a no no) and now the authorities are after you.
Your only hope is to escape the vault yourself. This is when the game really starts.
It is hard to describe the gameplay of Fallout 3 but I think I can sum it up. This isn’t your average first person shooter; it feels kind of like The Elder Scrolls or Half-life.
The reason I liken this game to The Elder Scrolls is because of the upgrade feature. Throughout the game you will level up and be able to upgrade your stats like speech or strength.
You can also select perks which are like power ups for your stats. This feature took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting such a deep role playing experience in a game that has been portrayed as a fast paced shooter.
The only gripe I have is the length of the game. Believe me when I tell you; Fallout 3 is huge. This is by no means a bad thing, but I would have liked to get a little farther before reviewing it. If you have the time, it’s nice to play through such a big game, but if you’re on a time limit you’re going to have to rent it more than once.
The graphics are absolutely phenomenal. While looking around the wasteland I couldn’t help but get an eerie chill up my spine thinking “Wow, so this is the power of nuclear weapons. Nothing has been left unfinished, even the burning piles of slag look beautiful. Everything from the water to the sky to the hollowed out remains of Washington D.C. are highly detailed and make the game that much more realistic.
I had no problems with the graphics besides a couple hiccups during intense fire fights, but nothing to complain about.
Controls are where we have a problem. While you’re able to switch between 1st and 3rd person views you are stuck with a 1st person control scheme. I would have liked a customizable control scheme because I like to play in 3rd person and it feels like controlling a tank with the 1st person control.
The analog sticks also feel a little mushy. They seem to have a lot of give while moving which isn’t good. For fast paced games like this you need tight controls and they just didn’t deliver.
I will say that the combat felt ok in spite of the tankish controls. It’s really exciting when you get into a fire fight with raiders or super mutants.
When the dust has settled, Fallout 3 is a great game with plenty for all. The stat upgrade feature will draw RPG fans while the selection of weapons will attract shooter fans.
I had a blast (no pun intended) playing Fallout 3 and I think you will too.
Worth It?
Fallout 3
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3 & PC
Rating: M for Mature
Price: $60
Final score: 8.5 out of 10
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