Fallout

The game is old, but the story and concepts of this game remain fresh. When I first played this game (way back when it first came out) I thought I was primarily interested in playing as a warrior. I didn't realize I was putting equal amounts of energy into my character's dialogue abilities until, in the final boss confrontation, I managed to actually talk him down from his evil ways and convince him to give up his fight ... my warrior was a warrior-diplomat and I ended the game peacefully. Absolutely floored me how much the decisions you make in the game influence the possibilities you could go down. The factions you can join and the end stories you generate are reflected by your gameplay. Still one of the most satisfying game experiences I've ever had.

I played Fallout many years ago. Decided to give it another spin for no particular reason other than I felt playing a classic RPG. It's actually very enjoyable. My current adventure is very different from the last two and either I forgot a ton, or I'm actually discovering a lot of new content this time around. I think the best part about Fallout gameplay is that unlike most other RPGs it does not have the dominant gameplay "style". You aren't expected to always fight, or always sneak or be a great conversationalist. Not within the same game and using the same character. You can try things and sometimes fail, then recover either by using brute force or running away. You can even partially compensate for your character deficiencies by using in-game objects (books, drugs, explosives, etc). So there are three separate ways in which the game is open-ended. You can chose how to develop your character at each stage of the game. This is somewhat standard for RPGs. Then you can chose how to approach a particular quest or problem. This less standard. Finally, you can largely chose where to go, when to go there and what to do. This is great. I like the diversity of non-combat or "helper" items. (Ropes, tools, books, water flasks. All are usable or useful in some way.) I like the fact that there are only a handful or armors and they provide drastically different levels of protection. Makes each one a meaningful acquisition. Weapons are a bit more varied, but not the same ridiculous level as in most fantasy games. Less is more. The setting is what this game is renowned for, for a good reason. The worst part about the game is probably the awful AI of your companions who don't level up, can't use armor, can't use most drugs and can't be directly controlled. (You can arm them with decent guns, though.) The second worst is the fact that at higher levels of combat it becomes more random. Someone can lend a critical hit that bypasses damage reduction. Hard to mitigate.

- Fallout was one of the first role playing games I ever played. It holds a special place in my heart, as I'm sure it does for many older gamers. - A clear indication of its success is the fact that DECADES later, fans still keep coming back for yet another playthrough, trying out different builds, installing unofficial patches and mods made by a very dedicated community. - That being said, I can't exactly recommend Fallout to newer gamers. Its dated graphics, clunky UI, severe lack of hand-holding when it comes to quests, frustrating RNG during combat, awkward companion A.I. - I'm afraid these are things only the older fans can look past. - It's definitely worth checking out, just remember to adjust your expectations before journeying into the Californian Wasteland.

One of the most unforgettable adventures a man can have within confines of a computer game. An incredible, deep game, with choices, consequences, great mechanics, believable, big world and so much atmosphere it could share with other games and still not come short. A classic.

Wish I wrote this review when I played this game like a decade ago. God what a fantastic experience. This game proves you don't need fancy graphics to tell an amazing story and immerse you completely into it's world. I still have fond memories of Junktown, the small village you see soon after leaving the vault. Google mods for first time playing. There's a few that add a lot of benefits for the first time experience. Since Fallout I've played all of Mass Effect, DA: Origins, all of the Witchers and other RPGs, all fantastic games in their own right. Fallout from before the millenium still is the best I've ever played.