Fallout

Yes, it has a few flaws. If you listen carefully and long enough, you'll even hear a few die-hard fans complain about a few things: it's missing a few iconic elements of Fallout lore that would be introduced later, you can be accidentally killed by your own party members with alarming frequency, the turn-based combat can sometimes take too long to resolve, and there are skills/perks that are objectively less useful than others. However, there are very few games that can lay a greater claim to "best turn-based RPG". If you like retro-futurism, black humor, or post-apocalyptic fiction, this is the game for you. The graphics and gameplay are old-school 1990s-era, but if you're at GOG.com, you probably don't care. Don't let the fanatics tell you that you can't call yourself a Fallout fan without having played this game, but you'll definitely be missing out.

Digital releases of this incredible game have always been based on the original European versions, with kids removed and tweaked drug dialogue. This is nothing new and not worth getting your underwear in a twist. "Destroys atmosphere"? A bit of a stretch—although it nixes one minor side quest. More importantly, the Euro releases lacked the 1.2 bugfix. So you do what we've always done and install the TeamX 1.2.1 patch (optionally followed by their 1.3.5 dialogue improvements), which restores kids, animations, crash fixes and drug references. There, sorted. As to the game, it's a must-play for any pc gaming superfan. Reports of impenetrability due to age are overblown. Sprites and animations are detailed and full of character. The over-world is intentionally bleak, until suddenly punctuated by fascinating locations and engrossing npcs. I'd only caution new and old gamers alike to at least skim the manual (a well-written and funny in-universe 'survival guide'), specifically the UI/HUD section. Although the first of the truly 'modern' CRPGs—standing proud next to og Baldur's Gate & Planescape—this is where old-skool design sensibility rears its head and can indeed be a source of frustration; how to get different cursors for different actions; where all the sometimes tiny hud elements are; how to reload weapons or access the location (body-part) aiming popup etc. There are no tutorials for these things and you'll save yourself a headache by at least knowing where this info can be found in the included pdf. Once au-fait with the hud you're set for a tight, absorbing introduction to the Fallout world, as an ignorant nobody on a vital mission to save their home. It's a relatively short adventure, easily completable in a week or so. It does have a timer but this is extendable through lore-friendly in-game means just by talking to people, allowing the freedom to wander off the beaten path. Vitally, it has the most replay value of any entry in the series bar New Vegas.

They removed the goodies.

It's my 2nd copy of original Fallout, bought it because it's awesome game (one of the best RPGs ever) and I wanted to get rid of CD version. Well, saddly, GOGs fallout version is bugged as hell, for instance the whole Necropolis was dead before my first visit, ghouls were dead but standing like they were alive. Another bug - I can't get medical help for my crippled limb, which was a feature for original Fallout, right now medics are only concerned about my freaking HP. The game is still awesome, it supports high resolution without external patches, but as a melee character not being able to run until I boost my doctor skill is ruining my fun.

While the newer Fallouts are fun in their own right, I think the first two games in the series captured the atmosphere of a post apocalyptic wasteland best. The first Fallout in particular has a sense of danger and dread that the sequels never truly recaptured (though Fallout 2 comes close). Part of that is due to Mark Morgan's incredibly atmospheric score (known also for his amazing contributions to Planescape: Torment), but I think what really makes the classic Fallout games tick is that your choices actually matter. Thanks to its systems and wonderful character creation options, Fallout is ridiculously open ended, allowing for many different builds and solutions. To this day it stands out among the CRPG genre for its ingenious design. The game can be brutal and even frustrating at times (thanks mostly to its unfriendly user interface and lack of hand holding), but... the game trusts your intelligence, which makes believing in its harsh world much easier. Yes, if you're not careful, you can end up in an unwinnable scenario, which is why it's important to pay attention and save! And then save again for good measure. If you're a fan of the franchise, or CRPGs in general you simply need to play Fallout 1. This is where it all started, and it offers an experience that contains what is still arguably the best story in the series. Fallout 2, with its expanded world and refined gameplay, may actually be the better 'game', but Fallout 1 is still a masterpiece of design. Plus, with its short play time, it's highly replayable.