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.
