As others have said, this game is broken. I am giving only two stars--instead of the four I think it deserves--because after playing quite well into the game, a well-known bug that occurs during the story-missions bit me, and the game would not advance. Okay, I'll try again and avoid that. Then, on the second try, as I made my way through some side-missions early in the game, the game broke again. This is a fun game. I love Uplink and have played it many times, and this game has the same feel while a bit simpler in the "hacking" that the player does. It looks good and is fun to play, but I'm not going to waste my time playing a game only until it breaks. If the game becomes playable, I'll gladly revise my rating. Until then, this game is too broken to play let alone enjoy.
I bought Fallout when it was first released and have gone back to it (and Fallout 2) again and again. I played Wasteland as a kid and viewed Fallout as it's updated version. There are definitely nods to Wasteland in the game (Red Ryder, etc.), but it is it's own entity. The depth of story and character design really shine in this title as well as the art design and sly humor. I love the music, endless references, and the concept of post-apocalyptic adventure. I can't imagine any gamer who would not find this title essential to the full gaming experience. Maybe some might find it a little boring compared to modern RPGs, but the sheer depth of the experience is what I've always loved. The excitement of finally getting some powered armor is a lot of fun!
You know, for the longest time, I preferred Fallout to Fallout 2. I can't quite say why--I just did. And then i recently replayed FO2 again, and I gotta tell ya, I now prefer Fallout 2. From the inclusion of the car, to the story itself--I just prefer the sequel. Of course, give me some time, and I might shift back to Fallout. Ultimately, it's hard to separate the two. They each have so much to offer, but what they both share make each essential to any gamer: unparalleled character creation and customization, excellent stories, great humor, endless sci-fi and pop-cultural references, and on and on. The only drawback I can see for this game is that some modern (i.e., younger) gamers might be bored with the top-down, turn-based nature of the game as opposed to the action RPG gaming style of Oblivion, Mass Effect, etc. I played some of Fallout 3, but I never finished it. It was fun, and the post-apocalyptic feel was there, but it was missing the spirit of the originals. Anyway, if you enjoy sci-fi games and particularly post-apocalyptic storytelling, you must pick this game up--after you finish Fallout 1, that is. Enjoy!
