In the late twenty-first century, war ravages the Earth, nuclear missiles being fired across the globe in a fiery, deadly inferno that scars the planet forever. Out of the ashes of this war, mutants, ghouls, vampires, mechanical constructions, and human survivors eke out a miserable, lethal existence. This is the Capital Wasteland – enjoy your stay and be sure to have a stimpack at the ready, it's a rough ride.
The World As It Stands
The world of Fallout 3 is filled with bent and rusting steel, broken ceramic and plastic, and scavengers who lift whatever they can in the dull hope of being able to sell it for a few caps – bottle caps being the currency of the Capital Wasteland.
The visuals are extremely impressive, with a world spanning around sixteen square miles that the player can explore, every single inch being impressively detailed and memorable both from a gameplay perspective and from an artistic one. Given that many players who venture into the Capital Wasteland will be using ranged weapons, cover also plays a great role in this game, a far greater role than it had previously enjoyed in Oblivion – the game engine on which Fallout 3 is based.
Introducing the V.A.T.S!
The V.A.T.S, or Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, is one of the major new facets to the game series, as well as to the genre in general. By clicking a bumper button, or a keystroke, your character can freeze time and use Action Points to do specific actions – a slow motion and tactical combat mode that greatly enhances enemy encounters.
V.A.T.S allows your character to choose multiple targets, select different parts of your opponents body to target and perhaps cripple with your weaponry – even going so far as to provide percentages of your success, similar to the predecessors in the Fallout series.
Releases and Reviews
Released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in standard editions, Fallout 3 is also available in a Collectors Edition for the console versions of the game. Included in the Collectors Edition is the game proper, a Vault-Tec Vault Boy Bobble-Head, an extremely detailed and high-quality art book, a soundtrack – all enclosed in a metal “Vault-Tec” lunchbox. Extremely groovy.
From 1Up to IGN, reviewers seem to have reached a consensus that Fallout will be very successful, is extremely innovative, and perhaps one of the most ambitious games ever undertaken. Without a doubt, it is an extremely immersive and captivating world filled with lovable, and detestable, characters. Greatly improved voice acting coupled with a fun and darkly humourous take on a post-apocalyptic future makes Fallout 3 an easy recommendation for any fan of science fiction, fantasy, or the role-playing genre as a whole.
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Nicholas Morine - Nicholas Morine Bachelor of Arts, English Language & Literature Master of Philosophy, Humanities (Candidate) Memorial University ...
