Aim for the eyes
The first stage of the Fallout marathon of late 2008 has been completed. Fallout has joined my 'finished games' list (I was late posting about Jade Empire, I've actually been playing Fallout for the last week and a half).
I did use a basic walkthrough, so I knew where to go and what to do next (I usually use one only to check that I haven't missed any quests). I'm sure that wandering around in the wastelands for months is part of the charm of the game (which gives you no help), but with Fallout 3 sitting on my PC waiting to be played I just don't have the time.
I had tried to play Fallout before, years ago (I think it was Fallout2, but the engine is the same) and had got nowhere with it. I was coming off FPSs like Half-Life, and real-time RPGs like Morrowind - the turn based combat in Fallout was so foreign and confusing to me I just exited the game and never went back. This time, once I'd got the hang of it, I found the more tactical combat to be the most interesting and exciting part of the game - something that all you turn-based players will not find surprising. Gambling to risk my last Action Points on another shot at a Super Mutant knowing that if I didn't bring him down with it I was toast (very few HP left), but if I went into my inventory to heal instead he'd almost certainly finish off my companion in his next turn, was pretty tense - my shot took his head off and I punched the air behind my keyboard.
Haydn Fox, 32
S.P.E.C.I.A.L.: 5-7-6-5-6-6-5
Traits: One Hander, Fast Shot
Tagged Skills: Small Guns, First Aid, Sneak
Perks Taken: Swift Learner
Level Achieved: 5 (retired)
Martin Fayn, 31
S.P.E.C.I.A.L.: 8-5-6-6-4-9-6
Traits: Gifted, Skilled
Tagged Skills: Small Guns, Steal, Speech
Perks Taken: Swift Learner, More Criticals, Tag! (Energy Weapons)
Level Achieved: 16
My first character, Haydn Fox, got abandoned at the Hub when I realised that I'd made some uncorrectable mistakes in his build and progress. I swallowed the time-hit of having to start over and my new guy, Martin Fayn, made it all the way through with the help of Ian (a recruitable NPC), and Dogmeat (a dog). Ian I managed to keep alive, although I told him to stay put in town towards the end; Dogmeat got shredded by a mini-gun in the Military Base (he doesn't listen to 'stay') :(.
The main story itself isn't anything special, but the environment and atmosphere is what makes the game (so reading the walkthrough actually didn't spoil much). It gave me a few good laughs, mainly visual ones (stupid Super Mutant at the back of the group emptying his mini-gun into his ally in front of him - happened a few times, always funny). My reaction the first time I got a critical hit on a SM with the Turbo Plasma Rifle went like this - "Ah! A-hahaHAhahafuckme!". It never got old either.
I got Fallout for $6 from Good Old Games and I recommend them. They patch the game up and make sure it runs on XP/Vista, give it a new installer and bung in extras like the PDF manual, soundtrack, wallpapers etc. They offer support too. Check them out if you like older games - GOG.com
(P.S. Remember - never give your companion an SMG.)
I did use a basic walkthrough, so I knew where to go and what to do next (I usually use one only to check that I haven't missed any quests). I'm sure that wandering around in the wastelands for months is part of the charm of the game (which gives you no help), but with Fallout 3 sitting on my PC waiting to be played I just don't have the time.
I had tried to play Fallout before, years ago (I think it was Fallout2, but the engine is the same) and had got nowhere with it. I was coming off FPSs like Half-Life, and real-time RPGs like Morrowind - the turn based combat in Fallout was so foreign and confusing to me I just exited the game and never went back. This time, once I'd got the hang of it, I found the more tactical combat to be the most interesting and exciting part of the game - something that all you turn-based players will not find surprising. Gambling to risk my last Action Points on another shot at a Super Mutant knowing that if I didn't bring him down with it I was toast (very few HP left), but if I went into my inventory to heal instead he'd almost certainly finish off my companion in his next turn, was pretty tense - my shot took his head off and I punched the air behind my keyboard.
Haydn Fox, 32
S.P.E.C.I.A.L.: 5-7-6-5-6-6-5
Traits: One Hander, Fast Shot
Tagged Skills: Small Guns, First Aid, Sneak
Perks Taken: Swift Learner
Level Achieved: 5 (retired)
Martin Fayn, 31
S.P.E.C.I.A.L.: 8-5-6-6-4-9-6
Traits: Gifted, Skilled
Tagged Skills: Small Guns, Steal, Speech
Perks Taken: Swift Learner, More Criticals, Tag! (Energy Weapons)
Level Achieved: 16
My first character, Haydn Fox, got abandoned at the Hub when I realised that I'd made some uncorrectable mistakes in his build and progress. I swallowed the time-hit of having to start over and my new guy, Martin Fayn, made it all the way through with the help of Ian (a recruitable NPC), and Dogmeat (a dog). Ian I managed to keep alive, although I told him to stay put in town towards the end; Dogmeat got shredded by a mini-gun in the Military Base (he doesn't listen to 'stay') :(.
The main story itself isn't anything special, but the environment and atmosphere is what makes the game (so reading the walkthrough actually didn't spoil much). It gave me a few good laughs, mainly visual ones (stupid Super Mutant at the back of the group emptying his mini-gun into his ally in front of him - happened a few times, always funny). My reaction the first time I got a critical hit on a SM with the Turbo Plasma Rifle went like this - "Ah! A-hahaHAhahafuckme!". It never got old either.
I got Fallout for $6 from Good Old Games and I recommend them. They patch the game up and make sure it runs on XP/Vista, give it a new installer and bung in extras like the PDF manual, soundtrack, wallpapers etc. They offer support too. Check them out if you like older games - GOG.com
(P.S. Remember - never give your companion an SMG.)