Fallout 3 and its Utter Defeat

Hello, once again. It is me, a'Travis!
I come bearing good news...
I have defeated the likes of Fallout 3, and it shall never return.... Cough, cough.
So I have had the game for two days, and in those two days I created a total game time play of...
Count 'em
24 hour and 24 seconds. In which time I completed numerous side quests, the main story line, and have explored a great area of the map. And I am still tinkering around.
There is 100 hours of gameplay available here, and I aim to find it.

So, let us being the all mighty.... Review.


Now I could start this review with the expected, what you want to hear from me. That being, me begging you to buy this game, as if you were some ignorant fool who was still on the borderline of whether or not you should buy this. Of course, I don't have to persuade anyone, because if you have yet to buy this game, it is either because you lack the funds and are currently planning your robbery of said game, or you are mentally retarded.
Either case is acceptable.
Accept the latter.
So now lets really begin.


And I want to begin it like this.

Never, in my life, in my career of video game...age, have I ever
EVER
Actually felt drawn into a story, actually been pissed off when the story line took an evil turn. Been literally angry that my character was wronged, and the good guys were wronged.
Fallout 3 showed me something new. Through the character I created, the "very good Paragon", I was able to connect with him rather than previous games, whether the character doesnt say much (Halo, Mario, Oblivion, whatever) completely and utterly. Why, I am not sure. Maybe its because the story line is so well put together. Maybe attempting to restore America gives me some sort of glory. Maybe I am a daddies boy. Whatever the case may be, honest to god emotions were spilled at certain points of this game. Something I can not say about any other game.

So, that being said, lets get specific.

Character Creation.
Best character creation sequence Ever encountered. Starting off as just popping out of your mothers vagina, you choose your sex, name, and predetermined appearance (don't ask me how, fancy future shit). You grow a year, learn to walk, then determine your set S.P.E.C.I.A.L points. (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck) by reading a childrens book. You then get some serious foreshadowing that you won't realize till much later in the game (nice). 9 years later, you get your pip boy and take your G.O.A.T. test, which determines your set skill points. And then, story takes place, blah blah blah, your off into the world. speaking of off into the world

Atmosphere and Graphics
I walked out of the vault for the first time, I was initially blinded... And once that faded... I had to change my pants.
Yes, its the same engine as Oblivion. Whatever, they did something spectacular somewhere.
The world, for lack of a better word, looks like poo poo. There are no trees, the grass is a dull brownish green, if there is any grass. Any building you see is halfway destroyed. Its a sad sight to behold. yet, they do so... sooooo beautifully. Its amazing how much thought and effort was put into making sure this place really looks like the shitter. This wasteland... well it is a wasteland. I havn't felt this immersed in a gaming enviornment, well, since oblivion.

VATS and Fighting

FPS sucks. Aiming is off. and when you are meleeing, it is exactly like Oblivion. But I feel as if they almost did this on purpose, to almost force us to take advantage of the awesome system that is VATS. It is so simple to use, it doesn't really require any additional strategy, and it takes almost no time at all (except for that damn slow motion sequence everytime). Its hard for VATS to get repetitive, but when it does, just initiate Bloody mess.

Sounds and Music
Sounds, are what you would expect, nothing out of the ordinary.
Now the music in the game, the actual Fallout music that is, is nothing extraordinary, but its pleasant. THe 50's music you hear from time to time... is unfortunately not very satisfying. You remember the three or four songs you heard from trailers and cd's leading up to launch? yah... thats about it.

Ok, i've decided to quit this sad attempt at structure and just go with how i normally write now.

Fallout 3 is everything I could ever want it to be. It is on my top ten, without a doubt.
When your arm is crippled, you can't shoot correctly because there is a black void over your cross hairs.
You can unlock a mask which keeps the Feral Ghouls from attacking you.
There is a dog that you can own.
You can have houses.
The actions you choose which determine your Karma, actually feel fluid, rather than games like Fable where its just a simple step to evil or Good.
Its scary as shit in those sewers and Subway stations.
You hate going into raider infested areas, but at the same time you love it.
Each side quest feels important, not like something they just added on to give us more content. Every quest has some sort of background, interesting story in which it is up to you whether or not you look further into it.
It is amazing to be alone in the waste lands, to look up, and see buzzards circling you.
The ending, is by far, one of the best I have ever encountered, no matter how much it pissed me off that the game ended. (thank god for multiple save files)
You can buy and sell (and free) slaves.
Every city and settlement has a unique background.
You get to STEAL the decleration of Independence.
and so much freaking more. and when I am not saying that because I really don't have any more, but just want you to assume so, I really mea... so much FREAKING more. This game has 100 hours of gameplay, and I have got 24 down. This weekend is already in the shitter because I have dedicated my life to mastering this game.
I have already created my second character, an alcoholic... an ACOHOLIC!!! What game can you do that in!?!?!?!?

oh, by the way, still havn't gone to bed. its seven in the morning. Guess what I was playing all night?


Love,
Travis