Fallout

Fallout 1-2 and Tactics are - in my opinion - the very best RPG-s of the post-apocalyptic genre. On the technical side this version runs perfectly fine and without any problems on modern PC-s. On the story side I think Fallout 2 is the perfect version of BI's concept about a p.a. game. The relationship of the two is kinda similar to Diablo 1 and 2, except that on the side of game mechanics F 1-2 are not that different. All in all I highly recommend this, but also you should approach it with an open mind and let the atmosphere suck you in.

Fallout is a real gem but this finding can only be found when you beat it 10 times. Only then you will be able to understand the complexity and possibilities in the game. Not only decisions matter but also the order of your decisions matter which leads to one of many endings. You can follow the main path - to find a water chip - or you can create your own story. Hell, I even beat the game without finding the chip (tho the Overseer thanked me for helping them, which was weird to be honest and the final cutscene should have been adjusted IMHO). There are many places you can go, many situations you may win or you may fail depending on how much developed your character actually is. There gare many quests you may not find if you do not look around properly. Tho, the game has some flaws. First of all, it's really short which also lead to minimalistic writing which moves the plot forward. Cmon, you found the chip and the Overseer then calculated that there are many Mutants out there so someone must create them, so you must destroy a lab. What? Just like that? Out of the blue? How did you calculate it? Why actually? How do you know there is a lab? If the game was longer, the writing would be ritcher so the plot would make more sense and overal it would be much more believable. Also combat can be frustrating as despite you have your companions around you, everybody just attacks you, so often every turn you have just one option - to heal yourself. Despite these flaws, Fallout is really a gem, especially when you take into account the year when the game came out. Fallout is a 1997's game and when you look even further into the history, there was no such a game in 1996 or 1995 or 1994. From today's perspective the game may look and feel a bit primitive but as I said there was no game like Fallout in 1997. Fallout is an unquestionable RPG legend. (I own GOG's classic version of Fallout which had been sold till Bethesda re-released it again scrapping the old version).

This RPG does something that I believe every RPG should: It makes player choice feel meaningful. The character creation system, with its S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats, perks and skills allow for a wide range of different builds and combinations, with many perks deeply inlfuencing and altering gameplay and possible actions you can take. This is something that is reflected on the rest of the game too, there are many different weapons to choose and combine with others, and there is almost always multiple ways of solving a problem, either through violent, pacifist, or some other means. You're never forced to follow a specific path or solution to a quest, and the game often rewards you with XP for taking a less obvious approach to solving a problem. For me, player choice is the strongest point of this game. The ambientation in general is really good too. It's not just a post apocalyptic world, but one that is slowly rising from its ashes, with new societies and power structures developing, many interacting with one another. The simplistic graphics allow your mind to "fill in the gaps" of what some parts look like, while the ambient music compliments it by setting the foreboding tone of a dying world that refuses to give up. Unfortunately, the game has lots of cut content and bugs, and it is quite obvious sometimes, such as random crashes, crashing when alt-tabbing, and quest that appear on your menu but can't be completed because they aren't finished, but these problems are never big enough to distract from the main experience. Despite it's flaws, Fallout is a really good game, with meaningful player choice, good ambientation and not very long, but still very memorable. Linux Compatibility (for me): Other than the bugs mentioned, the game runs well. I used Proton Experimental this time for the game, through April 23 to May 07, but any recent version of Proton should give good, if not better results.

NOTE: I'm a very hard reviewer, consider 3 stars a good game that I wouldn't play again. And 5 stars a good game that I will play once and again. I only review games after I finish them at least once. I do this because more than money, our time is very valuable! Fallout is the classic game that I didn't get when I was a child, because I didn't understand english. Now that it's translated (and my english is much better) I replayed again. This game is a very cool experience because you can play in different ways, with quests that suit your character. I didn't try all the combinations but I think it's possible. The story is nice and the interface is too. Now, why wouldn't I replay it a third time? Well, while the interface is well done, it's a bit aged, and from time to time there is some small glitch. And while the game can be played with a wide variety of characters, brute force is much easier. The management of your companion is poor and frustating some times (they go between 8 bandits just because one of them is running away!), and some quests are impossible to complete (checked with its wiki). Anyway, I feel proud of playing twice to this game, with two different experiences, and I recommend it, even with the mentioned flaws.

It doesn't make sense to write a whole review - Fallout is a grest role-play game set in post-apo world.