Perhaps I'm a bit biased when I speak about this game; after all, I am a huge fanboy of the original Fallout games, and indeed, Fallout 2 happens to be my favorite game of all time. So, when I say that Fallout 2 is a marvelous game that bests all other games in the series, and perhaps bests all other WRPGs (although I admit, that's debatable), you can take that as fanboyism if you like...even though it's not. Fallout 2 is a masterpiece of the classic WRPG era, and the genre itself. While its story may not be as strong as that of its predecessor, Fallout 2 still carries a strong plot, with the same deep, morally gray factions and meaningful choices that Fallout 1 was praised for. Plus, it continues the story of Fallout 1 and sticks to Fallout canon, unlike, well, EVERY OTHER FALLOUT GAME! And yes, I know, the ridiculous amount of pop-culture references and times that the fourth wall is broken may annoy some fans, but it was all done with comedic intent, and it was quite successful in its humor. Unlike Fallout 1, Fallout 2 combines the black comedy and the ironic nature of its retrofuturistic setting with strong writing that is often quite funny, leading to an overall more immersive and more enjoyable experience. However, where Fallout 2 truly bests most other WRPGs is in its sense of non-linearity in an expansive world, and the depth of its RPG mechanics. If you want to be a crafty genius who gets by on his words, you (mostly) can. If you want to be a dumb-as-nails brute who kills everyone (and I mean everyone) with big guns, you can (and the result of such a "stupid game" is quite hysterical). If you want to tick off some people while keeping good relations with others, you can, thanks to Fallout 2's reputation mechanic. And if you want one of the finest turn-based WRPG combat systems available, well, you've got that too. Not to mention a vastly improved AI interface from Fallout 1 (hell, the interface in everything is just improved in general), and more variety in the locations (of which there are more of than in Fallout 1). So essentially, you're getting a lengthy game with a ridiculous amount of depth, a game that is one of the greatest WRPGs of all time, for only $6. "But what of the infamous glitches?!" you say. Well, I've got news for you: it's 2010, and we have fixes for those. Just Google "Killap's Restoration Patch" and "Fallout 2 High Resolution Patch" and you're good to go. Oh, and the former of those "patches" adds a ridiculous amount of cut content to the game, aside from just squashing nearly every bug in the game. It's impossible for me to sum up why Fallout 2 is good in a few words, but I'd certainly start with "immersive" and "deep," before concluding with the phrase "probably the only legitimate Fallout sequel in a decade." So, if you like old-school WRPGs, if you like games with excellent atmospheres, plotlines, and WRPG mechanics, if you like WRPGs with oceans of depth, and if you like Fallout in general, Fallout 2 is the game for you. The best in the series? Most definitely. The best WRPG of all time? Debatable, but I'd certainly place it in the running. Point being: it's a damn, damn, damn, damn, damn good game, and you're wasting your $6 by not buying it.
First, let me say that in my honest opinion, Fallout 2 is better than its predecessor in just about every field (with the exception of story). Fallout 2 is my favorite game; Fallout 1 is my third favorite. Fallout 2 is the best in the series; Fallout 1 is a close second. Yet, if you asked me which one would place higher on a "greatest games of all time list," I'd say Fallout 1 every time. Because while Fallout 2 was evolutionary, Fallout 1 was one of the most revolutionary RPGs of all time. The story in Fallout 1 is one of its strongest aspects. As the Vault Dweller, you're cast out of the safety of your vault and into an unfamiliar world, one nearly torn to shreds by a nuclear apocalypse. You're tasked with saving your vault by finding a replacement water chip, and that sense of urgency immediately kicks in thanks to the game only giving you a limited time to do so. And once you find that water chip, that timer disappears, and you're free to explore the world at your leisure, during which you are also out to stop the super mutant menace. From Ron Perlman's classic narration at the beginning to the ironic ending, its a masterful tale ripe with excellent writing and memorable characters, especially the Master, who is undoubtedly the epitome of Fallout characters. And yet, Fallout's greatest strength in its story is simply how it immerses you in this world, and the atmosphere it creates. While it drew influences from the classic Wasteland, Fallout's retro-futuristic take on the post-apocalypse was unique, and the way it orchestrated this concept through its art design and dialogue really sucks you in. And of course, I'd be embarrassed if I neglected to mention Fallout's pitch-perfect dark humor. You know that "chilvarious up their own buttcrack, holier than thou" Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 3 that didn't fit Fallout canon whatsoever (you know, the canon that Fallout 1 set)? Well, in Fallout 1, they're a-holes. A-holes obsessed with technology who send you to your radioactive death AS A JOKE. If that's not dark humor, I don't know what is. Like its successor, Fallout 1 also shines as a truly non-linear role playing experience with a deep character creation system. Thanks to the groundbreaking SPECIAL system that this game introduced, you can be any character you want. And your choices are all important, and what you do in the world will affect how other treat you. For instance, not only can you destroy the Master by killing him or proving his plan to be flawed, but you can also join him. How many games do you know where you can actually side with the main villain, and the game will give you an ending to reflect that? And of course, Fallout comes with its signature combat system. It may be slow by today's standards, but its tactical, involves RPG mechanics (which RPG combat should), challenging, and fun. A given playthrough will only taken 20 hours, and while that's not much as far as modern RPGs go, it has more replay value than most of them. Still, Fallout 1 has its problems (and because it can't be modded, these are still present). The AI interface is virtually nonexistent. You have to pickpocket your followers to access their inventories without bartering (and I mean literally having to pay your followers to give you back your items); Ian has a nasty habit of shooting you in the back, and trying to keep Dogmeat alive in Mariposa is absolute hell (but you'll still do it because you love that dog so much). And if any of your followers locks you in a corner, you had better pray that they move or you have an earlier save or you'll have to restart the game. You can't trade more than 999 caps at a time (that's more annoying than it sounds). There are a few unfinished quest threads, and while your choices will affect the endings and be highlighted in the ending slide show, most end up involving some settlement being destroyed by the super mutants because you returned there after some number of days (which is kind of stupid). And yet, everything that's good about Fallout 1 outweighs these problems by a landslide. When I first played Fallout 1 eight years ago, I restarted it four times before finishing it on my fifth try. Two times were for bad character builds, once was for killing a Vault 13 resident, and therefore, not being able to complete the main quest, and once was for falling into that Brotherhood deathtrap I mentioned. Most games I would've given up on by the fifth time, but Fallout 1 was just that much fun that it was worth it, and I'm happy to have stuck with it. Fallout 1 was a revolutionary RPG, setting the standard for immersion and atmosphere, and pioneering the concept of a truly non-linear role playing game. And SPECIAL is still the finest character creation system ever conceived. So, is Fallout 1 better than FOBOS, Tactics, and Fallout 3. It's better than all of them combined by a landslide. Is it better than New Vegas? Yes, but not by leaps and bounds. It's one of the best and greatest RPGs of all time, and led to the conception of one remarkable series. And in comparison to Fallout 2, I think I'll end this review with a quote by one Gimp00: "The main thing you will find in FO1 is there is less of everything. Of course, it should come as no surprise that the first game in the series would be smaller than the sequel...Still, the gameplay and story are just as strong, and except for a few control (interface) issues that were improved for FO2, you are going to love FO1 just as much. One aspect in which FO1 is not smaller than FO2 is in it's overall level of kickass-ness." Well said, Gimp00, well said. So yes, buy this game; it's worth every penny
