Posted March 25, 2009
For the "wanderer" reader (and possible buyer) I have little more to say that has not been covered by other reviews. However, Fallout being one of my favorite games of all times, I’ve let my vanity convince me into writing yet another review.
Let me start by saying that I was never that much into rpg games. In fact I was drawn to Fallout due to its sci-fi pos-apocalyptic setting. Well! I came for the nukes and I stayed for everything else.
It is truly rpg material done wonderfully from the very start with character creation with enough stats to make each character truly unique but organized in such a way that you understand them all in a minute or two. Playing the entire game as a diplomatic good doer, a brainy Mr fix-it, a deadly sniper, a small frame pacifist or a half witted yet colossal brute or even as a pure bastard, or a weird combination of the above is up to you! Replayable to the full with a sense that your actions will always matter since in so many quests it is not only possible to chose how to solve the quest (do you persuade them with your talk or do you let your guns do the talking) but even choose which side to help (do that nasty murder for the local mob boss or rat him out to the police). Yes it is truly open ended and at times slightly morally ambiguous.
Then you have a great storyline well crafted and compelling. It comes off naturally, is inventive and smart and has sufficient depth to reel you in as the game progresses.
Add to this core formula a decent amount of places and characters to interact with, a plethora of weapons and equipments all done in sufficient numbers to give you a notion of choice and variety but not too much so that you would feel a bit lost. Frankly it can feel like it could be bigger once you finish the game the second or third time but is this balanced amount that in my opinion allows non rpg gamers (like myself) to fully enjoy an rpg (for greater amounts of everything try Fallout 2).
If this sounds like it is enough of a reason to try the game let me tell you there’s more. Good graphics in an isometric perspective (quite good for the time), one hell of a great opening cut scene, a lovable retro-futuristic style were 21st century technology comes dressed in 1950’s clothes because nothing speaks Mutually Assured Destruction like that age. And last but not the least comes the humor. Remember the possibility to play it like a bastard? Plenty of clever insults and one-liners abound, and if you ever wanted to play a game that lets you kick anything that moves (man, mutant, creature, you name it) in the groin now is your chance! Plus a plethora of pop culture references here and then, from the expected Mad Max reference to the not so expected Dr. Who reference with plenty in between.
Sure, it is not without some minor flaws. The in-game music can be a little repetitive (but at least the first time you hear it is well appropriate for the eerie surroundings) and sound effects are decent. Some bugs here and there (all games have them right) like some character’s dialogue not being updated after your actions and some gameplay issues, specially when friendly NPC’s in your party reveal themselves to be huge adepts of the concept of collateral damage through friendly fire when it comes to you and their nagging ability to stand in your way sometimes. But all this is quite manageable.
You know when a game has been made with a lot of love by its creators. It shines in the details and Fallout is that case. For me this is the best of all rpg games out there. However I must recognize that I haven’t played that many nor are they my favorite genre so I humbly accept that I’m probably wrong. But in one thing I think most people will agree. It is one of the best and certainly the one to introduce someone to the rpg genre.
Still reading this? Do yourself a favor and try it. It speaks for itself.
Let me start by saying that I was never that much into rpg games. In fact I was drawn to Fallout due to its sci-fi pos-apocalyptic setting. Well! I came for the nukes and I stayed for everything else.
It is truly rpg material done wonderfully from the very start with character creation with enough stats to make each character truly unique but organized in such a way that you understand them all in a minute or two. Playing the entire game as a diplomatic good doer, a brainy Mr fix-it, a deadly sniper, a small frame pacifist or a half witted yet colossal brute or even as a pure bastard, or a weird combination of the above is up to you! Replayable to the full with a sense that your actions will always matter since in so many quests it is not only possible to chose how to solve the quest (do you persuade them with your talk or do you let your guns do the talking) but even choose which side to help (do that nasty murder for the local mob boss or rat him out to the police). Yes it is truly open ended and at times slightly morally ambiguous.
Then you have a great storyline well crafted and compelling. It comes off naturally, is inventive and smart and has sufficient depth to reel you in as the game progresses.
Add to this core formula a decent amount of places and characters to interact with, a plethora of weapons and equipments all done in sufficient numbers to give you a notion of choice and variety but not too much so that you would feel a bit lost. Frankly it can feel like it could be bigger once you finish the game the second or third time but is this balanced amount that in my opinion allows non rpg gamers (like myself) to fully enjoy an rpg (for greater amounts of everything try Fallout 2).
If this sounds like it is enough of a reason to try the game let me tell you there’s more. Good graphics in an isometric perspective (quite good for the time), one hell of a great opening cut scene, a lovable retro-futuristic style were 21st century technology comes dressed in 1950’s clothes because nothing speaks Mutually Assured Destruction like that age. And last but not the least comes the humor. Remember the possibility to play it like a bastard? Plenty of clever insults and one-liners abound, and if you ever wanted to play a game that lets you kick anything that moves (man, mutant, creature, you name it) in the groin now is your chance! Plus a plethora of pop culture references here and then, from the expected Mad Max reference to the not so expected Dr. Who reference with plenty in between.
Sure, it is not without some minor flaws. The in-game music can be a little repetitive (but at least the first time you hear it is well appropriate for the eerie surroundings) and sound effects are decent. Some bugs here and there (all games have them right) like some character’s dialogue not being updated after your actions and some gameplay issues, specially when friendly NPC’s in your party reveal themselves to be huge adepts of the concept of collateral damage through friendly fire when it comes to you and their nagging ability to stand in your way sometimes. But all this is quite manageable.
You know when a game has been made with a lot of love by its creators. It shines in the details and Fallout is that case. For me this is the best of all rpg games out there. However I must recognize that I haven’t played that many nor are they my favorite genre so I humbly accept that I’m probably wrong. But in one thing I think most people will agree. It is one of the best and certainly the one to introduce someone to the rpg genre.
Still reading this? Do yourself a favor and try it. It speaks for itself.