Fallout 3 - Thoughts

This summer, the one big game I have been consuming my time with is the legendary "Fallout 3." I know it has been a while since this game was released (2008), but who doesn't have a huge backlog of games to play. I went into this game not having seen much of anything gameplay-wise or mechanics-wise. It was a blank slate for me. I have never played such an open-world game, besides a disastrous attempt at "Skyrim."

And based on that aspect alone: MIND BLOWN!

"Fallout 3" encompassed such an enormous world with hundreds of locations, characters, items, and details that I can only imagine took a very, very long time to program and plan. Each character is voiced ranging from minimal to 30 minutes worth of dialogue. For times sake I was forced to skip some of the talking despite my admiration for the scripting. There are so many locations and alcoves in the game that it is impossible to explore all of them and impossible to avoid exploring. I absolutely loved it.

A genius addition to the game was the use of a radio system, to not only provide some world updates and directions toward unexplored territory, but it provided an absolute necessity in avoiding the monotony of the Capital Wasteland. Without the radio, I would have spent many hours in silence trudging through fairly empty landscapes. However, the radio (and the quick travel system) made the game fun even in the few boring sections.

The lore of the world is also just as awesome. The Pip Boy brings mechanics of health and equipment condition to life. The design of the actual Pip Boy characters are so cool; each weapon having a specialized character representation. Likewise, the perks are witty and humorous while still being useful to the game.

Additionally the history of the world is added to with every step you take, in what is Washington D.C., a city I have personally visited at least three times before. Seeing the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial really sunk in how much research was done for this game. After finiching the main series of quests I was able to use DLC to continue playing with access to additional quests. One of which was a virtual simulation of the Battle of Anchorage. Having heard characters refer to this battle via conversation throughout the game, it was one of my favorite moments to play as a soldier in this historic battle.

In the end I logged around 70 hours of game time, and probably only completed 80% of the game. I can say without a doubt, this is the most time I have ever spent on a single game. "Monster Hunter" takes a distant second, but "Fallout 3" continued to resent unique unexplored areas around every turn.

Moral of the Story: Highly Reccomend